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COEOaOia DEPOfitE 



HISTORY 



A 



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COSHOCTON COUNTY, 



OHIO: 



ITS PAST AND PRESENT, 



-Ncl740-i881.*<- 



CONTAINING 

A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF OHIO ; A COMPLETE HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY ; 
ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, VILLAGES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, INDUSTRIES, 
STATISTICS, Etc. ; A HISTORY OF ITS SOLDIERS IN THE LATE WAR ; POR- 
TRAITS OF ITS EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN ; VIEWS 
OF ITS FINEST BUILDINGS AND VARIOUS HISTORIC AND 
INTERESTING LOCALITIES; MISCELLANEOUS MAT- 
TER; MAP OF THE COUNTY; BIOGRAPHIES 
AND HISTORIES OF PIONEER FAM- 
ILIES, Etc., Etc., Etc. ( 



COMPILED BY N. N. HILL, Jr. 



JUL VZ 13«;i ^ 

^ Op WASH1N<J, 



ILLUSTRATED. 



NEWARK, OHIO: 

A. 1. IRAHAM & CO., PUBLISHERS. 

1881. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by 

A. A. GRAHAM & CO., 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



^ v^"^"^ ^" 






-x 



CARLON 4 HOLLENEECK, 

PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 



PREFACE. 



This work is presented to the reader with a due sense of its shortcomings, but a hope that it may 
not utterly fail of its mission to please, and satisfy whatever desire may have been created for a com- 
plete history of Coshocton county. The work has been accomplished with much difficulty and labor, 
but we are not unaware of the criticism that may be in store for it, largely due to the fact that almost 
every reader is personally cognizant of the facts it contains. The student of general history grants 
the truth of its stjitements without question, for the reason that he personally knows nothing of the 
events themselves; had he this knowledge, he would quickly see the imperfections of the work, and 
at once understand that the production of a covmty history, if the work be conscientiously done, is a 
most difficult and thankless undertaking. 

The publisher and compiler have labored faithfully to produce a true history, and feel under ob- 
ligations to the people of the county for the generous patronage extended, and especially so to 
Messrs. James R. Johnson, Colonel E. L. Pocock, T. C. Ricketts and Dr. S. H. Lee, of Coshocton ; 
James Le Retilley, of Roscoe ; Colonel Pren Metham, of Jeflerson township ; J. C. McBane, of Frank- 
lin township; Joseph Love, James Magness, Thomas Piatt and Joseph Heslip, of Linton township, 
and others who freely and generou.sly gave their aid, information and influence in the prosecution 
of the work. To the county officials, Messrs. John Crawford, recorder, John W. Cassingham, auditor, 
Israel Dillon, clerk, John Beaver, treasurer, and William Walker, deputy treasurer, our grateful ac- 
knowledgements are also due for courtesies extended. Among the many publications and other 
printed material used in the compilation, we are indebted to " Historical Collections of Coshocton 
County," by William E. Hunt (a very valuable aid) ; "Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio : " " His- 
torical Sketches of Coshocton and Vicinity," published in 1850, by Rev. H. Calhoun ; " The Practical 
Preacher," a Coshocton publication, as well as " Reid's Ohio in the War," and others. The war 
history was gathered largely from the old files of Coshocton papers, and from the lips of the surviving 
veterans, to many of whom the manuscript was submitted prior to publication, and by them pro- 
nounced correct. ^ 

A. A. Graham's history of Ohio' occupies the opening chapters, as it seems necessary to a com- 
plete county history, so closely ai-e the interests and history of State and county connected. The 
early history of the county was largely the work of Hon. Isaac Smucker, of Newark, who has spent 
the greater portion of his long life in historical research, and is especially well versed in the early 
history of Ohio. The chapters on the townships and the town of Coshocton are due to the faithful 
labors of John B. Mansfield, a careful writer, and now a promising attorney, who personally visited 
every portion of the county and conversed with the citizens, thus gathering from the pioneers facts 
of importance not otherwise attainable. He was ably seconded by Mr. Frank J. Longdon, to whose 
faithful work and general supervision much of the success of the enterprise is due. 

The field of labor has been one prolific of great events, especially in the years immediately pre- 
ceding the white .settlement. The valleys of the Muskingum and its tributaries teemed with human 
life in pre-historic times, as the numerous mounds and earth-works clearly attest; and, later, a great 
host of Red Men were here; and, at the confluence of these beautiful streams, whose musical names 
will forever perpetuate their memory, stood the cajiital city of one of the most intelligent of these 
tribes of the forest. 

We trust the reader will get from the following pages a faithful account of their occupation, as 
well ds the principal facts of the settlement and work of the race that succeeded them. 

N. N. H , Je. 



CONTENTS, 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER I.— Introduction, Topography, Geology, Prim- 
itive Races, Antiquities, Indian Tribes 11 

CHAPTER II.— Explorations in the West 19 

CH.VPTER III.— English Explorations, Traders, French 
and Indian War in the West, English Posscssion.s 37 

CHAPTER IV.— Pontiac's Conspiracy, Its Failure, Bou- 
quet's Expedition, Occupation by the English 48 

CH.\PTER v.— American E.xploration, Dunmore's War, 
Campaign of George Rogers Clark, Land Troubles, 
Spain iu the Revolution, Murder of the Morovian 
Indians 52 

CH.\PTER VI. — American Occupation, Indian Claims, 
Early Land Companies, Compact of 17.S7, Organiza- 
tion of the Territory, Early American Settlements in 
the Ohio Valley. First Territorial Officers, Organiza- 
tion of Counties GO 

CHAPTER VII.— Indian War of 179.5, Harnmr's Cam- 
paign, St. Clair's Campaign, Wayne's Campaign, Close 
of the War 73 

CHAPTER VIII.— Jay'.s Treaty, The Question of State 
Rights and National Supremacy, Extension of Ohio 
Settelments, Land Claims, Spanish Boundary Ques- 
tion , 79 

CHAPTER IX.— First Territorial Representatives in 
Congress, Division of the Territory, Formation of 
States, Marietta Settlement. Other Settlements, Set- 
tlements of the Western Reserve, Settement of the 
Central Valleys, Further Settlements in the Reserve 
and elsewhere 85 

CHAPTER X.— Formation of the State Government, 
Ohio a State, The State Capitals, Legislation, The 
"Sweeping" Resolutions 121 

CHAPTER XI.— The War of 1,S12, Growth of the State, 
Canal, Railroads and Other Improvements, Develop- 
ment of State Resources 127 

CHAPTER XII.— Mexican War, Continued Growth of 
the State, War of the Rebellion, Ohio's Part in the 
ConBict 132 

CHAPTER XIII.— Ohio in the Centennial, .\ddress of 
Edward D. Mansfield, LL. D.. Philadelphia, August 9, 
1S7G 138 

CHAPTER XIV.— Education, Eariy School Laws, Notes, 
Institutions and Educational Journals, School Sys- 
tem, School Funds, Colleges and Universities 148 

CHAPTER XV.— Agricullure, Aiea of the State, Early 
Agriculture iu the West, Markets, Live Stock, Nur- 
series, Fruits, Etc.; Cereals, Roots and Cucurbita- 
ceous Crops, Agricultural Implements, Agricultural 
Societies, Pomological and Horticultural Societies.... 151 

CHAPTER XVI.— Climatology, Outline, Variations in 
Ohio, Estimate in Degrees, Amount of Variability.... 103 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER XVII.— TOPOGRPHY and Geology.— Topo- 
graphy— General Geological Structure of the County- 
Local Geology 165 

CH.VPTER XVIII. — Anciij;oLOG Y. — Mound ' Builders 
and Indians— Antiquities— The DifTerent Classes of 
Moiiuds, Effigies and Inclosures— Lessons Taught by 
These Works — Implements uSed by the Mound 
Builders and Indians 180 

CHAPTER XIX.— Indians.— Geographical Location of 
the Various Tribes— The Dela wares— Their Towns in 
this County— Brief History of the Tribes of Ohio- 
Captain Pipe — White Eyes — Wingenund and Kill- 
buck— J^ctawatwees- Manners, Customs, Feasts, etc. — 
Cabins, Wigwams, Food, etc. — .\musements and 
Hunting— Removal Beyond the Mississippi 193 

CH.VPTER XX.— Bouquet's E.xpedition.— The Causes 
Which led to the Expedition— The Pontiac War- 
Bouquet Ordered to the Relief of Fort Pitt— His 
^larch From Fort Pitt — Incidents of the March — 
Indian Trails— March Down the Tuscarawa.s— Coun- 
cil with the Chiefs— Bouquet's Camp at the Forks of 
the Muskingum— The Treaty of Peace— The Recovery 
of Prisoners— Sketch of Colonel Bouquet's Life 205 

CHAPTER XXL— Colonel Brodhead's Expedition.— 
Causes of the Expedition— The Objective Point — 
March of the Army— .\rrival at the Forks of the Mus- 
kingum— Destruction of Indian Villages- Return of 
the Army — War of E.xtermination— Col. Brodhcad's 
Official Report— Biographical Sketches of Col. David 
Shepherd and Col. Daniel Brodhead 213 

CHAPTER XXII.— Wetzel and Brady.- Lewis Wetzel— 
His Character— The Wetzel Family— The Murder of 
Lewis' Father- Capture of Wetzel by the Indians- 
Ills Adventures in the Muskingum Valley— Tragedy 
at Indian Spring— The Expedition to the JIuskingum 
under McMahon— Wetzel takes a Scalp — The Turkey 
Call — Various Adventures — Imprisoned — Wetzel's 
Personal Appearance and Death. 
Samuel Brady — His Expedition to Walhonding — A Brief 
Sketch of his Life and Services 217 

CHAPTER XXIII. —Moravian Missions. — Establish- 
ment of Lichtcnau — Religious Services — Moravian 
Towns on the Tuscarawas— Abandonment of Lich- 
tcnau— Biographical Sketches of Rev. David Zeisber- 
gerand Rev. John Heckeweldcr 228 

CHAPTER XXIV. — First White OrcupATION. — Mary 
Harris— Christopher Gist— George Croghan— William 
Trent — James .Smith — Bouquet's Army— Chaplain 
Jones — David Duncan — Miirder at White Eyes — 
William Robinson— John Leeth— Brodhead's Army— 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

John Stniey— The Jroravians— The Gertys and Oth- 
ers— Heckewelder's Ride 2.36 

CHAPTER XXV.— Scraps of History.— Name— Forma- 
tion— First .Settlers and Settlements — Population- 
Flora and Fauna— Early Roads and Transportation — 
A Pioneer .School-House— Prices for Produce — Early 
Taverns— .Starting a Town — Character of the Pioneers 
— Social Gatherings — Trapping — Wild Pigeons 254 

CHAPTER XXVI.— John Chapman 264 

CHAPTER XXVII.— Pioneer Ti.mes.— Where the Pio- 
neers Came From— Their Condition and Character— 
What They Lived On— The " lYuck Patch "—Hominy 
Blocks — Mills — Cooking — Cultivation of Domestic 
Animiils — Wild Turkeys — Whisky — Superstitions — 
Dress of the Men- The Fla.\ Wheel and Loom— More 
About Clothing — "Kicking FroUcks" — Dress of the 
Women — White Kid Slippers — Dyeing— Fourth of 
July aiKl Militia Musters — Cabins and Their Construc- 
tion — Furniture of the Cabins — Hoosier Poem — Early 
Land Laws — Tomahawk Rights — Hunting — Early 
Weddings — Dancing and " House Warming " — School- 
ing. School Teachers, etc. — Spelling Schools — Conclu- 
sion 267 

CHAPTER XXVIII.— The Canai-s.— A Great Work— Cel- 
ebration of the Opening of the Ohio Canal at Licking 
Summit — Work on the Canal — First Boat — Walhond- 
irig Canal— Length, Capacity and Business of the 
Canals 283 

CHAPTER XXI.X.—RAii.noADS.— River Transportation— 
Tlio Pan Handle— E.ttracts from Hunt's History and 
the Zauesville Courier 288 

CHAPTER XXX. -Ar.RicuLTURE. — Agricultural Features 
of the County — Present Condition — Crops — Corn, 
Wheat, etc. — Fruit Culture — Stock Raising — Sheep — 
Cattle— Hogs— Horses— County Agricultural Society... 290 

CHAPTER XXXI.— COINTY Bl'tLDINGS AND OFFICERS.— 

Fir.st Jail— First Court House — The Present Court 
House— Other Public Buildings— List of County Offi- 
cers — Commissioners — Auditors — Clerks— Treasurers 
— Recorders — Sheriffs — Prosecuting Attorneys — Sur- 
veyors-Coroners — Infirmary Directors— Representa- 
tives — Congressmen, etc 297 

CHAPTER XXXII.— BENCH and Bar. — First Courts- 
Early Judges — Associate Judges — Judge Sample- 
Early Bar— First Lawyers- David Spangler— Present 
Members 306 

CHAPTER XX.>CIII,— War of 1S12.— Companies Raised 
in Coshocton Couuty— Hull's Surrender- Muster Roll 
of Johnston's RiHemen— March of Colonel Williams' 
Command— Their Services on the Frontier— Defense 
of Fort Meigs— Rev. H. Calhoun's Communication.... 310 

CHAPTER XXXIV.— War with Me.\ico.— Causes of the 
War— Muster Roll of Captain Meredith's Company— 
The Third Ohio Regiment — Its Operations in the 
Field— The Fourth Ohio Regiment and its Services- 
Close of the War 314 

CHAPTER XXXV.— War of the Rebellion.— Prepara- 
tions in Coshocton— Three Months' Men — Muster Rolls 
—Operations of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry 321 



page. 

CHAPTER XXXVT.- Wak of the Rebellion, Con- 
TixiED.— Organization of "Given's Rangers"— Their 
Assignment to the Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Depart- 
ure to the Field — Sketch of Josiah Given — Organiza- 
tion — Captain W. M. Stanley's Assignment to the 
Thirty-second Ohio, and Departure for the Field— 
Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second at Cheat Mountain 
— Twenty-fourth in the Field and Mustered out — 
Thirty-second in the Field and Mustered out 326 

CHAPTER XXXVII — War of the Rebellion, Con- 
tinued.— Fifty-first Regiment— Muster Rolls— Its Ope- 
rations in the Field 337 

CH.^PTER XXXVIII. — War of the Rebellion Con- 
tinued.— Eightieth Ohio— Time of Enlistment— Mus- 
ter Rolls of Coshocton Companies— Paducah and Cor- 
inth — On to Vicksburg — Resignation of Captain 
Mathews — Battles of Jackson and 5Iission Ridge- 
Defense of Resaca — Sherman's March to the Sea — 
Closing Scenes of the Eightieth's History 34S 

CHAPTER XXXIX. — War of the Rebellion, Con- 
tinued. — Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry — Mus- 
ter Roll— Services in the Field— Seventy-sixth Ohio- 
Muster Roll and Record 356 

CH.\PTER XL.— War of the Rebellion, Continued.— 
The Ninety-seventh- Rosters of Companies H and I — 
Review by John M. Compton— Historical Record of 
the Regiment — Correspondence and Reminiscences... 362 

CHAPTER XLI.— Warof the Rebellion, Continued.— 
Oue Hundred and Twenty-second— Muster Rolls — 
Record of its Ser\ices — Seventy-eighth Regiment— Its 
Ser^'icesin the Field 36S 

CH.\PTERXLII.— War ofthe Rebellion, Continued.— 
Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry— Its Operations in 
the Field- Thirty-seventh Ohio— A Record of its Ser- 
vices .-. 379 

CHAPTER XLIII.— War of the Rebellion, Continued. 
— Si.xty-ninth Battallion, or One Hundred and Forty- 
second O. X. G. and One Hundred and Forty-third 
O. X. G.-Review of the Sixty-ninth Battallion-Rosters 
of Five Companies— Record of the One Hundred and 
Forty-second and One Hundred and Forty-third- 
Correspondence from the Front ; 390 

CHAPTER XLIV.— War of the Rebellion, Concluded. 
—Cavalry and Artillery— Histor>' of the Ninth Ohio 
Cavalry — Roster of Company M — Correspondence 
from the Front — History of the Twenty-sixth Battery 
— Its Organization from the Thirty -second Infantry — 
Petition of Veterans, and endorsement of Coshocton 
County— Military Committee for New Organization... 396 

CHAPTER XLV.— Early History of Coshocton.— Its 
Site an Indian Village- Early Settlement— Colonel 
Charles Williams— Ebenezer Buckingham— Dr. Sam- 
uel Lee— Tradition of Louis Phillippe — The Cold 
Plague— .\. Lost Child — The Whoo-whoo Society— 
The Journal of Colonel Williams 411 

CH.\PTER XLVL— Growth of CositocTo.N'—PnE.ss— Fra- 
ternities. — Location of Tuscarawa — Description of 
Original Plat— Additions to Coshocton — Increase of 
Population — Incorporation — List of Mayors — Post- 
masters—City Hall— The Press— The Coshocton Re- 
publican—Spy—Democratic Whig 421 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

CH.\.PTER XLVII. — Mkrcantile and Other Indds- 
TBIAL INTEIIESTS.— K-vrly Tavei'ns— Present Hotels- 
First Store— Early Merchant^i— James Calder— Hedge 
and Hiiniinond- James Renfrew— Benjamin Ricketts 
—Robert llay— Present Business Directory— Banking 
—The Johnson Brothers- Ricketts Bank— First Na- 
tional Bank— Commercial Bank— Savings and Build- 
ing and Loan Association — Ferries — Coshoction Iron 
and Steel Works— Paper Mill— Various Other Indus- 
tries — Past and Present ^ 429 

CHAPTER XLVUI. — Schools and Churches of Co- 
SHOcroN.— Early Schools— First School Houses and 
Teachers— Election of Buildings— Progress and Statis- 
tics — Churches — Early Preaching — Presbyterian- 
Methodist Protestant— Methodist Episcopal — Catholic 
-German Lutheran— Baptist— Episcopal 538 

TOWNSHIP HISTOKY. 

CHAPTER XLIX.— Adams TowNSUiP.—Location— Phys- 
ical Features— Its Military Sections— Organization- 
First Ullieers-Eirly Justices— Indian Encampments 
—Early White Oecupation— Settlers— Mills— Oil— Phy- 
sicians — Schools — Churches — Bakersville 453 

CHAPTER L.— Bedford ToWNSUip.—Locatiou— Organi- 
zation— Xame—Topograph y— Early Settlers— Indians 
— First Road — Schools— Mills — Distilleries — Cannel 
Coal Oil Operations- Churches— West Bedford 461 

CHAPTER LI.— Bethlehem Tow.nship.- Name— Boun- 
daries — Streams — Surface — Soils — " Dcnman's Prai- 
rie" — Name of the Killbuck— Legend of the White 
Woman — Hunting Grounds—. lounds— The Morrisons 
— Mrs. Kimberly and the Dec. —Other Early Settlers 
— Squatters — Saw Mill — Bridge-- .ind Canal — Schools 
— Churches 470 

CHAPTER LII.— Clark Township. — Location — Topo- 
grahical Features— Organization— Name— Early Set- 
tlements— Indians— First Schools — Mills — Helmick — 
Bloomtield — Churches — Population 476 

CHAPTER LIIL — Crawford Township. — Location- 
Survey — Soil — Settlers — Population — First School — 
Industries— Churches— New Bedford — Chili 486 

CHAPTER LIV.— Franklin Township. -Boundaries- 
Physical Features— Canal and Railroad — Early Set- 
tiers and Settlements— -Major Itobinson's Captivity — 
Indians— Scliools and Ciiiirches — Taverns— Distiller- 
ies and Mills — Postolliees— Coal — Oil 491 

CHAPTER LV.— Jackson Township.— Size— Location- 
Organization — Streams — Canals — Settlement— Mills— 
Roscoe — Its Growth — Business — Schools — Physicians 
—Fire Losses, etc.— Fourth of July Celebration- 
Churches .-. 500 

CHAPTER LVI.— Jefferson Township. — Primative 
Riicc — Flint Mining — Other Remains— Topography — 
OrKanizalion— Early Settlers— Whisky-Mills— Schools 
—Coal Oil Speculations-Warsaw— Mohawk Village— 
Postoffices — Churches 510 

CHAPTER LVII.-Keene Township. -Boundary-Streams 
—Springs— Soil— Military Land— Archajology- Settle- 
ments — First i'hysicians— Mills and Distilleries — 
Early Schools— " Loud Schools" — Early Preaching- 
Keeue— Newport— Churches 523 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER LVIII.— Lafayette Township.— Organiza- 
tion— Name— First OUicers— Location-.Topography— 
Early Settlers— School Section- Prominent Men- 
Taverns— Mills— Schools— West Lafayette— Churches 
—Birmingham— Bridges— Mounds— War Matter 531 

CHAPTER LIX.- Linton Tow.sship.— Location— Name 
—Topography— Primative Races— Indians— Doughty 
—Early Settlers and Settlements— Soldiers— Wills 
Creek- Early Navigation- Ferries and Bridges— -Mills 
— Distilleries — Salt— Tanneries — Schools— Churches — 
Villages — Population 540 

CHAPTER LX.— Mill Creek Township.— Boundar>'— 
Streams— Survey— Organization— Settlement — Popu- 
lation— PostofBces— Mills — Schools— Churches 555 

CHAPTER LXI.— Monroe Township.- Boundary Topo- 
graphy—Population—Settlers—Mills—New Prince- 
ton—Spring Mountain— Churches 559 

CHAPTER LXII.— New Castle Township.— Location 
Physical Features— Scenery— Indian Mound— Indian 
Villages— Reminiscences— Block House— Early Nurs- 
ery—Thomas Butler Panther Hunt— Robert Giffen 

—Other Early Settlers— Mills— Distilleries— Other In- 
dustries—Bridges—Schools—Churches—New Castle— 
Wallionding — Mount Airy 565 

CH.\PTER LXIIL—O-tFORD Township.— Location-Phys- 
ical Features — C)rganization — Settlement — Mills — 
Distilleries— Taverns— Bridges— Schools— -Millsville — 
Evensburg— Orange— Postoffices— Churches 576 

CHAPTER LXIV.— Perry Township.— Name— Organiza- 
tion — Physical Features — Early Settlements — East 
Union— Churches— Schools— Mills 580 

CHAPTER LXV.— Pike Township.— Boundaries— Topo- 
graphy— Settlers— Slab Camp— Bear Story—Distiller- 
ies—Mills— Schools— Churches-West Carlisle 586 

CHAPTER LXVI.— Tiverton TowNsuip.—Name— Loca- 
tion— Streams-Physical Features — Aboriginal Re- 
mains—Johnny Appleseed— Early Settlers— Popula- 
tion— First School — Churches Tiverton Center — 

Rochester 594 

CHAPTER LXVIL— Tuscarawas Township.- Boundar- 
ies-Soil— Railroad and Canal— .Militjtry Sections- 
Early Settlements- Fulton's Mill— Early Milling- 
Indian History — Bouquet's E.vpedition — Indian 
Towns— Burial Gninud— .Mounds— .Murder of the In- 
dian, rhillips— Mining, itji Development in the 
Township— Canal Lewisvillc— Churches 599 

CHAPTER LXVIll.— ViKuiNiA Township.— Surveys — 
Organization— Description— First Settlers— Churches 
—Schools— Industries— Moscow— Willow Brook 610 

CHAPTER LXIX.— Washington Township.— Early Set- 
tlers-Location -Topography— Early Justices- Indian 
Camp— First Road— Mills and Distilleries— Wakaiom- 
ica PostoIUce — Schools- Churches 614. 

CHAPTElt LXX.— White Eyes Township.— Organiza- 
tion and Original Boundaries- Topography— Ancient 
Fort — Settlement— Population — PostotHccs-Avondale 
—Mills— Churches 618 

Biographical Sketches 627 

Addenda 8'25 

Errata 833 



'-•L. 



HISTOEY /OF OHIO. 



BY A.. 






R.A.HAM. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTEODUCTOEY —TOPOGRAPHY -GEOLOGY -PRIMITIVE-RACES -ANTIQUITIES -INDIAN 

TRIBES. 



THE present State of Ohio, comprising an 
extent of country 210 miles north and south, 
220 miles cast and west, in length and breadth — 
25,576,969 acres — is a part of the Old Northwest 
Territory. This Territory embraced all of the 
present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, 
Wisconsin and so much of Minnesota as lies east 
of the Mississippi Kiver. It became a corporate 
existence soon after the formation of the Virginia 
Colony, and when that colony took on the dignity 
of State government it became a county thereof, 
whose exact outline was unknown. The county 
embraced in its limits more territory than is com- 
prised in all the New England and Middle States, 
and was the largest county ever known in the 
United States. It is watered by the finest system 
of rivers on the globe ; while its inland seas are 
without a parallel. Its entire southern boundary 
is traversed by the beautiful Ohio, its western by 
the majestic Mississippi, a.nd its northern and a 
part of its eastern are bounded by the fresh-water 
lakes, whose clear waters preserve an even temper- 
ature over its entire surface. Into these reservoirs 
of commerce flow innumerable streams of limpid 
water, which come from glen and dale, from 
mountain and valley, from forest and prairie — all 
avenues of health, commerce and prosperity. 
Ohio is in the best part of this territory — south 
of its river are tropical heats ; north of Lake Erie 
are jiolar snows and a polar climate. 

The territory comprised in Ohio has always re- 
mained the same. Ohio's history differs somewhat 
from other States, in that it was never under Ter- 
ritorial government. When it was created, it was 
made a State, and did not pass through the stage 
incident to the most of other States, ?'. e., exist as 
a Territory before being advanced to the powers of 



a State. Such was not the case with the other 
States of the West ; all were Territories, with Terri- 
torial foiins of government, ere they became States. 

Ohio's boundaries are, on the north, Lake Eris, 
and Michigan ; on the west, Indiana ; on the south, 
the Ohio River, separating it from Kentucky; 
and, on the east, Pcnn.sylvania and West Vu'ginia. 
It is situated between 38° 25' and 42° north 
laritudc ; and 80° 30' and 84° 50' west longitude 
from Greenwich, or 3° 30' and 7° 50' west from 
Washington. Its greatest length, from north 
to south, is 210 miles; the extreme width, from 
east to west, 220 miles. Were this an exact out- 
line, the area of the State would be 46,200 square 
miles, or 29,568,000 acres ; as the outlines of the 
State are, however, rather irregular, the area is 
estimated at 39,964 square miles, or 25,576,960 
acres. In the last census — 1870 — the total num- 
ber of acres in Ohio is given as 21,712,420, of 
which 14,469,132 acres are improved, and 6,883,- 
575 acres are woodland. By the last statistical 
report of the State Auditor, 20,965,3714 acres are 
reported as taxable lands. This omits many acres 
untaxable for various reasons, which would make the 
estimate, 25,576.960, nearly correct. 

The face of the country, in Ohio, taken as a 
whole, presents the appearance of an extensive 
monotonous plain. It is moderately undulating 
but not mountainous, and is excavated in places by 
the streams coursing over its surface, whose waters 
have forced a way for themselves through cliffs of 
sandstone rock, leaving abutments of this material 
in bold outline. There are no mountain ranges, 
geological uplifts or peaks. A low ridge enters the 
State, near the northeast corner, and crosses it in a 
southwesterly direction, emerging near the inter- 
section of the 40th degree of north latitude with 



•^W" 



^ 



>?". 



13 



HISTORY OF OiriO. 



the western boundary of the State. This " di\ndo " 
separates the lake and Ohio River waters, and main- 
tains an elevation of a little more than thii'tccn 
hundred feet above the level of the ocean. The 
highest part is in Logan County, where the eleva- 
tion is 1,550 feet. 

North of this ridge the surface is generally level, 
with a gentle inclination toward the lake, the ine- 
qualities of the surface being caused by the streams 
which empty into the lake. The central part of 
Ohio is almost, in general, a level plain, about one 
thousand feet above the level of the sea, slightly 
inclining southward. The Southern part of the 
State is rather hilly, the valleys growing deeper as 
they incline toward the great valley of the Ohio, 
which is several hundred feet below the general 
level of the State. In the southern counties, the 
surface is generally diversified by the inequalities 
produced by the excavating power of the Ohio 
River and its tributaries, exercised through long 
periods of time. There are a few prairies, or plains, 
in the central and northwestern parts of the State, 
but over its greater portion originally existed im- 
mense gi'owths of timber. 

The '■ divide," or water-shed, referred to, between 
the waters of Lake Erie and the Ohio River, is 
less elevated in Ohio than in New York and Penn- 
sylvania, though the difference is small. To a per- 
son passing over the State in a balloon, its surface 
presents an unvarying plain, while, to one sailing 
down the Ohio River, it appeai-s mountainous. 
On this river are bluil's ranging from two hundred 
and fifty to six hundred feet in height. As one 
ascends the tributaries of the river, these blufls 
diminish in height until they become gentle undu- 
lations, while toward the sources of the streams, 
in the central part of the State, the banks often 
become low and marshy. 

The principal rivers are the Ohio, Muskingum, 
Scioto and Miami, on the southern slope, emptying 
into the Ohio ; on the northern, the Maumee, 
Sandusky, Huron and Cuyahoga, emptying into 
Lake Erie, and, all but the first named, entirely in 
Ohio. 

The Ohio, the chief river of the State, and from 
which it derives its name, with its tributaries, drains 
a country whose area is over two hundred thou.sand 
sc(uare miles in extent, and extending from the 
water-shed to Alabama. The river was firet dis- 
covered by La Salle in IfiGfl, and was by him nav- 
igated as far as the Falls, at Louisville, Ky. It is 
formed by the junction of the Alleghany and 
Monongahela rivers, iu Pennsylvania, whose waters 



unite at Pittsburgh. The entire length of the 
river, from its source to its mouth, is 950 miles, 
though by a straight line from Pittsburgh to Cairo, 
it is only tiL5 miles. Its current is very gentle, 
hardly three miles per hour, the descent being only 
five inches per mile. At high stages, the rate of 
the cuiTent increases, and at low stages decreases. 
Sometimes it is barely two miles per hour. The 
average range between high and low water mark is 
fifty feet, although several times the river has risen 
more than sixty feet above low water mark. At 
the lowest stage of the river, it is fordable many 
places between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The 
river abounds in islands, some of which are exceed- 
ingly fertile, and noted in the history of the West. 
Others, known as "tow-heads," are simply deposits 
of sand. 

The Scioto is one of the largest inland streams 
in the State, and is one of the most beautiful riv- 
ers. It rises in Hardin County, flows southeast- 
erly to Columbus, where it receives its largest 
affluent, the Olentangy or AVhetstouo, after which 
its direction is southerly untO it enters the Ohio at 
Portsmouth. It flows through one of the rich- 
est valleys in the State, and has for its compan- 
ion the Ohio and Erie Canal, for a distance of 
ninety miles. Its tributaiies are, besides the Whet- 
stone, the Darby, Walnut and Paint Creeks. 

The IMusking-um River is formed by the junc- 
tion of the Tuscarawas and Waldhoning Rivers, 
which rise in the northern part of the State and 
unite at Coshocton. From the junction, the river 
flows in a southeastern course about one hundred 
miles, through a rich and populous valley, to the 
Ohio, at Marietta, the oldest settlement in the 
State. At its outlet, the Muskingum is over two 
hundred yards wide. By improvements, it has 
been made navigable ninety-five miles above Mari- 
etta, as far as Dresden, where a side cut, three 
miles long, unites its waters with those of the Ohio 
Canal. All along this stream exist, in abundant 
profusion, the remains of an ancient civiliza- 
tion, whose history is lost in the twilight of antiq- 
uity. Extensive mounds, earthworks and various 
fortifications, are evei-ywhere to be found, inclosing 
a mute history as silent as the race that dwelt here 
and lefl these traces of their evistence. The same 
may be said of all the other valleys in Ohio. 

The Jliami River — the scenes of many exploits 
iu pioneer days — rises in Hardin County, near the 
headwaters of the Scioto, and runs southwesterly, 
to the Ohio, jiassing Troy, Dayton and Hamilton. 
It is a beautiful and rapid stream, flowing through 






-^- 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



13 



a highly productive and populous valley, in which 
limestone and hard timber are abundant. Its total 
length is about one luinared and fifty miles. 

The Maiuuee is the largest river in the northern 
part of Ohio. It rises in Indiana and flows north- 
easterly, into Lake Erie. About eighty miles of 
its course are in Ohio. It is navigable as far as 
Perrysburg, eighteen miles from its mouth. The 
other rivers north of the divide are all small, 
rapid-running streams, aflording a hirge amount of 
good water-power, much utilized by mills and man- 
ufactories. 

A remarkable feature of the topography of 
Ohio is its almo.st total absence of natural lakes or 
ponds. A few very small ones arc found near the 
water-shed, but all too small to be of any practical 
value save as watering-places for stock. 

Lake Erie, which forms nearly all the northern 
boundary of the State, is next to the last or lowest 
of America's " inland seas." It is 290 miles long, 
and 57 miles wide at its greatest pait. There are 
no islands, except in the shallow water at the west 
end, and veiy few bays. The greatest depth of 
the lake is off Long Point, where the water is 312 
feet deep. The shores are principally drift-day or 
hard-pan, upon which the waves are continually 
encroaching. At Cleveland, from the first sur- 
vey, in 1796, to 1842, the encroachment was 218 
feet along the entire city front. The entire coast 
is low, seldom rising above fifty feet at the water's 
edge. 

Lake Erie, like the others, has a variable sur- 
face, rising and falling with the seasons, like great 
rivers, called the " annual fluctuation," and a gen- 
eral one, embracing a scries of years, duo to mete- 
orological causes, known as the " secular fluctua- 
tion." Its lowest known level was in February, 
1819, rising more or less each year, until Juno, 
1838, in the extreme, to six feet eight inches. 

Lake Erie has several excellent harbors in Ohio, 
among which are Cleveland, Toh^do, Sandusky, 
Poit Clinton and Ashtabula. Valuable improve- 
ments have been made in some of these, at the 
expense of the General Government. In 1818, 
the first steamboat was launched on the lake. 
Owing to the Falls of Niagara, it could go no 
farther east than the outlet of Niagara Eiver. 
Since then, however, the opening of the Welland 
Canal, in Canada, allows vessels drawing not more 
than ten feet of water to pass from one lake to 
the other, greatly facilitatin'4 navigation. 

As early as 183(j, Dr. S.^'P. Hildreth, Dr. John 
Locke, Prof. J. H. Kiddle and Mr. I. A. Lapham, 



were appointed a committee by the Legislature of 
Ohio to report the " best method of obtaining a 
complete geological survey of the State, and an 
estimitte of the probable cost of the same." In the 
preparation of their report. Dr. Hildreth examined 
the coal-measures in the southea.stern part of the 
State, Prof Riddle and Mr. Lapham made exam- 
inations in the western and northern counties, 
while Dr. Locke devoted his attention to chemical 
analyses. These investigations resulted in the 
presentation of much valuable- information con- 
cerning the mineral resources of the State and in 
a plan for a geological survey. In accordance 
with the recommendation of this Committee, the 
Legislature, in 1837, passed a bill appropriating 
$12,000 for the prosecution of the work during 
the next year. The Geological Corps appointed 
consisted of W. W. Mather, State Geologist, with 
Dr. Hildreth, Dr. Locke, Prof. J. P. Kirtland, J. 
W. Foster, Charles Whittlesey and Charles Briggs, 
Jr., Assistants. The results of the first year's 
work appeared in 1838, in an octavo volume of 134 
pages, with contributions fi-om Mather, Hildreth, 
Briggs, Kirtland and Whittlesey. In 1838, the 
Legislature ordered the continuance of the work, 
and, at the close of the year, a second report, of 
286 pages, octavo, was i.ssued, containing contribu- 
tions from all the members of the survey. 

Succeeding Legislatures failed to provide for a 
continuance of the work, and, save that done by 
]irivat<3 moans, nothing was accomplished till 
18(!9, when the Legislature again took up the 
work. In the interim, individual enterprise had 
done much. In 1841, Prof. James Hall passed 
through the State, and, by his indentification of 
several of the formations with those of New York, 
for the first time fixed their geological age. The 
next year, he issued the first map of the geology 
of the State, in common with the geological maps 
of all the region between the AUcghanies and the 
Jlisi-issippi. Similar maps were published by Sir 
Charles Lycll, in 1845; Prof. Edward Hitchcock, 
in 1853, and by J. Mareon, in 1856. The first 
indiAadual map of the geology of Ohio was a very 
small one, published by Col. Whittlesey, in 1848, 
in Howe's History. In 1856, he published a 
larger map, and, in 1865, another was issued by 
Prof. Nelson Sayler. In 1867, Dr. J. S. Newberry 
published a geological map and sketch of Ohio in 
the Atlas of the State issued by H. S. Stebbins. 
LTp to this time, the geological knowledge was very 
general in its character, and, consequently, errone- 
ous in many of its details. Other States had been 



'V 



14 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



accurately surveyed, yet Ohio remained a kind of 
terra iiieoguita, of xvhich the geology was less 
known than any ]>art of the surrounding area. 

In ISUO, the Legislature appnipriatod, for a new 
surv'ey, §13,9(10 for its support during one year, 
and appointed Dr. Newberry Chief Geologist ; E. 
B. Andrews, Edwiu'd Orton and J. H. Klippaxt 
were appointed Assistants, and T. G. Wormlcy, 
Chemist. The result of the finst year's work 
was a volume of 164 pages, octavo, published in 
1870. 

This report, accompanied by maps and charts, 
for the first time aoeurately defined the geological 
formations as to age and area. Evidence w:is given 
which set at rest (|uestions of nearly thirty years' 
standing, and established the fact that Ohio in- 
cludes nearly double the number of f irmations be- 
fore supposed to exist. Since that date, the sur- 
veys have been regularly made. Each county is 
being surveyed by itself, and its formation ac- 
curately determined. Elsewhere in these pages, 
these results are given, and to them the reader is 
refeiTed for the specific geology of the county. 
Only general results can be noted here. 

On the general geological map of the State, are 
two sections of the State, taken at each northern 
and southern extremity. These show, with the 
map, the general outline of the geological features 
of Ohio, and are all that can be given here. Both 
sections .show the general arrangements of the 
formation, and prove that they lie in sheets resting 
one upon another, but not horizontally, as a great 
arch traverses the State. from Cincinnati to the 
lake shcjre, between Toledo and Sandusky. Along 
this lino, which extends southward to Nashville, 
Tenn., all the rocks are raised in a ridge or fold, 
once a low mountain chain. In the lapse of 
ages, it has, however, been extensively worn 
away, and now, along a large part of its course, 
the strata which once arched over it are re- 
moved from its summit, and ai'e found resting in 
regular order on either side, dipping away fi-om its 
axis. Where the ridge was highest, the erosion 
has been greatest, that being the reason why the 
oldest rocks are' exposed in the region about Cin- 
cinnati. By following the lino of this great arch 
from Cincinnati northward, it will be seen that the 
IIelderl)erg limestone (No. 4), midway of the State, 
is still unbroken, and stretches from side to .side ; 
while the Oriskany, the Corniferous, the Hamilton 
and the Huron formations, though generally re- 
moved from the crown of the arch, still remain 
over a limited area near Bellefontaine, where they 



form an island, which proves the former continuity 
cif the strata which compose it. 

On the east side of the great anticlinal axis, the 
rocks dip down into a basin, which, for several 
hundred miles north and south, occupies the inter- 
val between the Nashville and Cincinnati ridge and 
the first fold of the Alleghany Mountains. In 
this basin, all the strata form trough-like layers, 
their edges outcropjiiug eastward on the flanks 
of the AUeghanies, and westward along the anti- 
clinal axis. As they dip from this margin east- 
ward toward the center of the trough, near its 
middle, on the eastern border of the State, the 
older rocks are deeply buried, and the sm-faee is 
here underlaid by the highest and most recent of 
our rock formations, the coal measures. In the 
northwestern corner of the State, the strata dip 
northwest from the anticlinal and j)a.ss under the 
^Michigan coal basin, ]irecisely as the same forma- 
tions east of the anticlinal dip beneath the Alle- 
ghany coal-field, of which Ohio's coal area forms a 
part. 

The rocks underlying the State all belong to 
three of the great groups which geologists have 
termed '' systems," name!}', the Silurian, Devonian 
and Carboniferous. Each of these are again sub- 
divided, for convenience, and numbered. Thus 
the Silurian system includes the Cincinnati group, 
the Medina and Clinton groups, the Niagara 
group, and the Salina and Water-Line groups. 
The Devonian system includes the Ori-skany sand- 
stcjue, the Carboniferous limestone, the Hamilton 
group, the Huron shale and the Erie shales. The 
Carboniferous .system includes the Waverly group, 
the Carboniferous Conglomerate, the Coal Pleas- 
ures and the Drift, This last includes the surfiice, 
and has been divided into six parts, numbering 
from the lowest, viz.: A glacialed surface, the Gla- 
cial Drift, the p]rie Clays, the Forest Bed, the Ice- 
berg Drift and the Ten-aces or Beaches, which 
mark intervals of stability in the gradual recession 
of the water surflice to its present level. 

" The history we may learn from these forma- 
tions," says the geologist, "is something as fol- 
lows: 

" First. Subsequent to the Tertiary was a period 
of continual elevation, during which the topog- 
raphy of the country was much the same as now, 
the draining streams following the lines they now 
do, but cutting down their beds until they flowed 
sometimes two hundred feet lower than they do at 
present. In the latter part of this period of ele- ' 
vation, glaciers, descending from the Canadian 



:±. 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



15 



islands, excavated and occupied the valleys of the 
great lakes, and covered the lowlands down nearly 
to the Ohio. 

"Second. By a depression of the land and ele- 
vation of temperature, the glaciers retreated north- 
ward, leaving, in the interior of the continent, a 
great basin of fresh water, in which the Erie clays 
were deposited. 

"Third. This water was drained away until a 
broad land surtace was exposed within the drift 
area. Upon this surface grew forests, largely of 
red and white cedar, inhabited by the elephant, 
mastodon, giant beaver and other large, now ex- 
tinct, animals. 

"Fourth. The submergence of this ancient land 
and the spreading over it, by iceberg agency, of 
gravel, sand and bowlders, distributed just as ice- 
bergs now spread their loads broadcast over the 
sea bottom on the banks of Newfoundland. 

"Fifth. The gradual draining-off of the waters, 
leaving the land now as we find it, smoothly cov- 
ered with all the layers of the drift, and well pre- 
pared for human occupation." 

" In six days, the Lord made the heavens and 
the earth, and rested the seventh day," records the 
Scriptures, and, when all was done. He looked 
upon the work of His own hands and pronounced 
it " good." Surely none but a divine, omnipotent 
hand could have done all this, and none can study 
the "work of His hands" and not marvel at its 
completeness. 

The ancient dwellers of the ]\Iissis.sippi Valley 
will alwaj'S be a subject of great interest to the 
anti((uarian. Who they were, and whence they 
came, are still unanswered questions, and may 
remain so for ages. All over this valley, and, 
in fact, in all parts of the New World, evidences 
of an ancient civilization exLst, whose remains are 
now a wonder to all. The aboriginal races could 
throw no light on these questions. They had 
always seen the remains, and knew not whence 
they came. Explorations aid but little in the solu- 
tion of the problem, and only conjecture can bo 
ent<'rtained. The remains found in ( )hio equal 
any in the Valle}'. Indeed, some of them are vast 
in extent, and consist of forts, fortifications, moats, 
ditches, elevations and mounds, embracing many 
acres in extent. 

"It is not yet determined," says Col. Charles 
Whittlesey, "whether we have discovered the first 
or the original people who occupied the soil of 
Ohio. Modern investigations are bringing to light 
evidences of earlier races. Since the presence of 



man has been established in Europe as a cotcmpor- 
ary of the fossil elephant, mastodon, rhinoceros 
and the horse, of the later drift or glacial period, 
we may reasonalily anticipate the presence of man 
in America in that era. Sucl) proofs are already 
known, but they are not of that conclusive charac- 
ter which amounts to a demonstration. It is, how- 
ever, known that an ancient people inhabited Ohio 
in advance of the red men who were found here, 
three centuries since, by the Spanish and French 
explorers. 

" Five and six hundred years before the arrival 
of Columbus," says Col. Charles Whittlesey, "the 
Northmen sailed from Norway, Iceland and Green- 
land along the Atlantic coast as far as Long Island. 
They found Indian tribes, in what is now New En- 
gland, closely resembling those who lived upon the 
coa.st and the St. Lawrence when the French and 
English came to jiossess these regions. 

" These red Indians had no traditions of a prior 
people ; but over a large part of the lake country 
and the valley of the Mississippi, earth-works, 
mounds, pyi-amids, ditches and forts were discov- 
ered — the work of a more ancient race, and a peo- 
ple far in advance of the Indian. If they were 
not civilized, they were not barbarians. They 
were not mere hunters, but had fixed habitations, 
cultivated the soil and were possessed of consider- 
able mechanical skill. We know them as the 
Mound-Builders, because they erected over the 
mortal remains of their j)rincipal men and women 
memorial mounds of earth or unhewn stone — of 
which hundreds remain to our own day, so large 
and high that they give rise to an impression of 
the numbers and energy of their builders, such as 
we receive from the pyramids of Egypt." 

]\Iight they not have been of the same race and 
the same civilization? Many competent authori- 
ties conjecture they are the work of the lost tribes 
of Israel ; but the best they or any one can do is 
only conjecture. 

" In the burial-mounds," continues Col. Whit- 
tlesey, '• there are alwaj's jjortions of one or more 
human skeletons, generally partly consumed by 
fire, with ornaments of stone, bone, shells, mica 
and copper. The largest mound in Ohio is near 
Jliamisburg, jMoutgomery County. It is the 
second largest in the West, being nearly soventy 
feet high, originally, and about eight hundred feet 
in circumference. This would give a supci-ficial 
area of nearly four acres. In 18(54, the citizens 
of Bliamisburg sunk a shaft from the summit to 
the natural surface, without finding the bones 



rv 



-^ 



16 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



or ashes of the grent in:m for Tvhom it tv;is 
intended. The exploration has considerably 
lowered the mound, it being now about sixty feet 
in height. 

" Fort Ancient, on the Little Miami, is a good 
specimen of the military defenses of the Mound- 
Builders. It is well located on a long, high, nar- 
row, precipitous ridge. The parapets are now 
from ten to eighteen feet high, and its perimeter 
is sufficient to hold twenty thousand fighting men. 
A notlier prominent example of their works exists 
near Newark, Licking County. This collection 
presents a great variety of figures, circles, rectan- 
gles, octagons and parallel banks, or highways, 
covering more than a thousand acres. The county 
fair-ground is permanently located within an 
ancient circle, a quarter of a mile in diameter, 
with an embankment and interior ditch. Its high- 
est place was over twenty feet from the top of the 
moat to the bottom of the ditch." 

One of the most curious-shaped works in this 
county is known as the "Alligator," fi'om its sup- 
posed resemblance to that creature. When mca.s- 
ured, several years ago, while in a good state of 
preservation, its dimensions were two hundred 
and ten feet in length, average width over sixty 
feet, and height, at the highest point, seven feet. 
It appears to bo mainly composed of clay, and is 
overgrown with gra.ss. 

Speaking of the writing of these people, Col. 
Whittlesey says : " There is no evidence that they 
had alphabetical characters, picture-writing or 
hieroglyphics, though they must have had some 
mode of recording events. Neither is there any proof 
that they used domestic animals for tilling the soil, 
or for the purpose of erecting the imposing earth- 
works they have left. A very coarse cloth of 
hemp, flax or nettles has been found on their 
burial-hearths and around skeletons not consumed 
by fire. 

" The most extensive earthworks occupy many 
of the sites of modern towns, and arc always in 
the vicinity of excellent land. Those about the 
lakes are generally irregular earth forts, while 
those about the rivers in the southern part of the 
State are generally altars, pyramids, circles, cones 
and rectangles of earth, among which fortresses or 
strongholds arc exceptions. 

" Those on the north may not have been cotom- 
jiorary or have been built by the same people. 
They are far less prominent or extensive, which 
indicates a people less in numbers a.s well as ind\is- 
try, and whose principal occupation was war among 



themselves or against their neighbors. This style 
of works extends eastward along the south shore 
of Lake Ontario, through New York. In Ohio, 
there is a space along the water-shed, between the 
lake and the Ohio, where there are few, if any, 
ancient earthworks. It appears to have been a 
vacant or neutral ground between different nations. 

" The Indians of the North, dressed in skins, 
cultivated the soil very sparingly, and maiuitactured 
no woven cloth. <_>n Lake Sujierior, there are 
ancient copper mines wr<:)ught by the Mound- 
Builders over fifteen hundred years ago." Copper 
tools are occa.sionally found tempered sufficiently 
liard to cut the hardest rocks. No knowledge of 
such tempering exists now. The Indians can give 
no more knowledge of the ancient mines than they 
can of the mounds on the river bottoms. 

" The Indians did not occupy the ancient earth- 
works, nor did they construct such. They were 
found as they are now — a hunter race, wholly 
averse to labor. Their abodes were in rock shel- 
ters, in caves, or in temporary sheds of bark and 
boughs, or skins, easily moved from place to place. 
Like most savage races, their habits are unchange- 
aljle ; at least, the example of white men, and 
their effijrts during three centuries, have made 
little, if any, impression." 

AVhen white men came to the territory now cm- 
braced in the State of Ohio, they found dwelling 
here the Iroquois, Dclawares, Shawanees, IMiamis, 
Wyandots and Ottawas. Each nation was com- 
posed of several tribes or clans, and each was 
often at war with the others. The first mentioned 
of these occupied that part of the State whose 
northern boundary was Lake Erie, as far west as 
the mouth of the Cuyahoga Iliver, where the city 
of Cleveland now is ; thence the boundary turned 
southward in an in-egular line, until it touched the 
Ohio River, up which stream it continued to the 
Penn.sylvania State lino, and thence northward to 
the lake. This nation were the implacable foes of 
the French, owing to the fact that Champlaiu, in 
1G09, made war against them. They occupied a 
largo part of New York and Pennsylvania, and 
were the most insatiate conquerors among the 
aborigines. When the French first came to the 
lakes, those monsters of the wilderness were engaged 
in a war against their neighbors, a war that ended 
in their conquering them, pussessing their terri- 
tory, and absorbing the remnants of the tribes into 
their own nation. At the date of Chamjilain's 
visit, the southern shore of Lake Eric was occupied 
by the Erics, or, as the orthography of the word is 



V 



' >" 



IIISTOEY OF OHIO. 



17 



sometimes given, Erigos, or Enicnous.* About 
forty years afterward, the Iroquois ( Five Nations) 
fell upon them with such fury and in such force 
that the nation was annihilated. Those who 
escaped the slaughter were absorbed aiuong their 
conquerors, but allowed to live on their own lauds, 
paying a sort of tribute to the Irocjuois. This was 
the policy of that nation in all its conquests. A 
few years after the conquest of the Eries, the 
Iroquois again took to the war-path, and swept 
through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, even attacking 
the ]Mississippi tribes. But lor the intervention 
and aid of the French, these tribes would have 
shared the fate of the Huvons and Eries. Until 
tlie year 1700, the Iroquois held the south shore 
of Lake Erie so firmly that the French dared not 
trade or travel along that side of the lake. Their 
missionaries and traders penetrated this part of 
Ohio as early as 1650, but generally suifered 
death for their zeal. 

Having completed the conquest of the Hurons 
or Wyandots, about Lake Huron, and murdered 
the Jesuit missionaries by modes of torture which 
only they could devise, thoy permitted the residue 
of the Hurons to settle around the west end of 
Lake Erie. Here, with the Ottawas, they resided 
when the whites came to the State. Their country 
was bounded on the south by a line running 
through the central part of Wayne, Ashland, 
Richland, Crawford and Wyandot Counties. At 
the western boundary of this county, the line di- 
verged northwesterly, leaving the State near the 
northwest corner of Fulton County. Their north- 
ern boundary was the lake ; the eastern, the Iro- 
quois. 

The Delawares, or " Lenni Lenapes," whom the 
Iroquois had subjugated on tlieSus(|uehanna, were 
assigned by their conquerors hunting-grounds on 
the Muskingum. Their eastern boundary was the 
country of the Iroquois (before defined ), and their 
northern, that of the Hurons. On the west, tliey 



♦Father Louis Hennepin, in his work pul'lisheil in 16S4, thus 
allmU'S to the Kri.rs: ■'Tlifso good futhers," r.ffTriiig to tho 
lM-i"st3, *' wero great friends cif the lluroim, vlio tolil them that tlie 
Iroquois went to war beyond Vir;rinia, or Jlew Swcdi-n, near a lake 
wliich they called ^ Eri'je,' or ^ ErU,'' which signifies Uh^ cut,* or 
* mition ai the en/,' and because these savages brought captives from 
this nation in returning to their cantons along this lake, th.t 
Hurons named it, in their language, ' Eriyp,' or ' Erilcr,' ' the hike of 
the c'i(,' and which our Canadians, in softening the word, have 
tailed ' Lake Krie.' " 

Charlevoix, writing in, 1721, says; "Tho name it bears is that 
of an Indian natioi ot^ the HuroTi ( Wyandot) language, which was 
f >rmerly seatM on it-t banks, and who have been entirely destroyetl 
by the Iroquois. Erie, in that language, signifies *caf,* and, in 
i^oine acounts, this nation is called the 'cat jrition.' This name, 
P'-obably. comes from tho large numbers of that animal found in 
this region." 



extended as far as a line drawn from the central 
part of Richland County, in a semi-circular direc- 
tion, south to the mouth of Leading Creek. Their 
southern boundary Wiis the Ohio River. 

West of the l)elawares, dwelt the Shawances, a 
troublesome people xs neighbtjrs, whether to whites 
or Indians. Their country was bounded on the 
north by the Hurohs, on the cast, by the Dela- 
wares ; on the south, by the Ohio River. On the 
west, their boundary w:ls determined by a line 
drawn southwesterly, and again southeasterly — 
semi-circular — from a point on the southern 
boundary of the Hurons, near the southwest corner 
of Wyandot County, till it intersected the Ohio 
River. 

All the remainder of the State — all its western 
part from the Ohio River to the Michigan line — - 
was occupied by the Miamis, Mineamis, Twigtwees, 
or Tawixtawes, a powerful nation, whom the Iro- 
quois were never fully able to subdue. 

These nations occupied the State, partly by per- 
mit of the Five Nations, and partly by inheritance, 
and, though composed of many tribes, were about 
all the savages to be Ibund in this part of the 
Northwest. 

No sooner had the Americans obtained control 
of this country, than they began, by treaty and 
purchase, to acquire the lauds of the natives. 
They could not stem the tide of emigration ; peo- 
ple, then as now, would go West, and hence the 
necessity of peacefully and rightfiilly acquiring the 
land. " The true basis of title to Indian territory 
is the right of civilized men to the soil for pur- 
poses of cultivation." The same maxim may be 
applied to all uncivilized nations. When actjuired 
by such a right, cither by treaty, purchase or con- 
quest, the right to hold the same rests with the 
pov?er and development of the nation thus possess- 
ing the land. 

The English derived title to the territory 
between the AUeghauies and the Mississip])i partly 
by the claim that, in discovering the Atlantic coast, 
they had po.s.session of the land from "ocean to 
ocean," and partly by the treaty of Paris, in Feb- 
ruary, 17C3. Long before this treaty took place, 
however, she had granted, to individuals and colo- 
nics, extensive tracts of land in that part of Amer- 
ica, based on the right of discovery. The French 
had done better, and had acquired title to the laud 
by discovering the land itself and by consent of 
the Indians dwelling thereon. The right to pos- 
sess this country led to the French and Indian 
war, ending in the supremacy of the English. 



) Vy 



18 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



The Five Nations claimed the ten-itory in ques- 
tion by right of conquest, and, though professing 
friendship to the English, watched them with jeal- 
ous eyes. In IGS-t, and again in 1726, that con- 
federacy made cessions of lands to the English, 
and these treaties and cessions of lands were re- 
garded as sufficient title by the English, and were 
insisted on in all subsequent treaties with the 
Western Nations. The following statements were 
collected by Col. Charles Whittlesey, which 
show the principal treaties made with the red men 
wherein land in Ohio was ceded by them to the 
whites: 

In September, 1726, the Iroquois, or Six Na- 
tions, at Albany, ceded all their claims west of 
Lake Erie and sixty miles in width along the 
south shore of Lakes Erie and Ontario, from the 
Cuyahoga to the Oswego River. 

In 174:4, this same nation made a treaty at 
Lancaster, Penn., and ceded to the English all 
their lands "that may be within the colony of 
Virginia." 

In 1752, this nation and other Western tribes 
made a treaty at Logstown, Penn., wherein they 
confirmed the Lancaster treaty and consented to 
the settlements south of the Ohio River. 

February 13, 1763, a treaty was made at Paris, 
France, between the French and English, when 
Canada and the eastern half of the Jlississippi 
Valley were ceded to the English. 

In 1783, all the territory south of the Lakes, 
and east of the Mississippi, was ceded by England 
to America — the latter country then obtaining its 
independence — by which means the country was 
gained by America. 

October 24, 1784, the Six Nations made a 
treaty, at Fort Stanwix, N. Y., with the Ameri- 
cans, and ceded to them all the country claimed 
by the tribe, west of Pennsylvania. 

In 1785, the Chippewas, Delawares, Ottawa.s, 
and Wyanduts ceded to the United States, at 
Fort Mcintosh, at the mouth of the Big Beaver, 
all their claims east and south of the "Cayahaga," 
the Portage Path, and the Tuscarawas, to Fort 
Laurens (Bolivar), thence to Lnramie's Fort (in 
Shelby County ) ; thence along the Portage Path to 
the St. Mary's River and down it to the "Omee," 
or JIaumee, and along the lake shore to the 
" Cayahaga." 

January 3, 1786, the Shawanees, at Fort Fin- 
ney, near the mouth of the Great Miami (not 
owning the land on the Scioto occupied by them), 
were allotted a tract at the heads of the two 



Miamis and the Wabash, west of the Chippewas, 
Delawares and Wyandots. 

February 9, 1789, the Iroquois made a treaty 
at Fort Harmar, wherein they confirmed the Fort 
Stanwix treaty. At the same time, the Chippewas, 
Ottawas, Delawares, and Wyandots — to which the 
Sauks and Pottawatomies assented — confirmed the 
treaty made at Fort Jlclntosh. 

Period of war now existed till 1795. 

August 3, 1795, Gen. Anthony Wayne, on 
behalf of the United States, made a treaty with 
twelve tribes, confirming the boundaries estab- 
lished by the Fort Harmar and Fort Mcintosh 
treaties, and extended the boundary to Fort Re- 
covery and the mouth of the Kentucky River. 

In June, 1796, the Senecas, represented by 
Brant, ceded to the Connecticut Land Company 
their rights east of the Cuyahoga. 

In 1805, at Fort Industry, on the jMaumee, the 
Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Shawa- 
nees, Menses, and Pottawatomies relinquished all 
their lands west of the Cuyahoga, as far west as 
the western line of the Res( rve, and south of the 
line from Fort Laurens to Loramie's Fort. 

July 4, 1807, the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyan- 
dots, and Pottawatomies, at Detroit, ceded all that 
part of Ohio north of the Maumee River, with 
part of Michigan. 

November 25, 1808, the same tribes with the 
Shawanees, at Brownstown, Jlich., granted the 
Government a tract of land two miles wide, from 
the west line of the Reserve to the rapids of the 
Maumee, for the purpose of a road through the 
Black Swamp. 

September 18, 1815, at Springwells, near De- 
troit, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Wy- 
andots, Delawares, Senecas and Miamis, having 
been engaged in the war of 1812 on the British 
side, were confined in the grants made at Fort 
Mcintosh and Greenville in 1785 and 1795. 

September 29, 1817, at the rapids of the 
IMauniee, the Wyandots ceded their lands west of 
the line of 1805, as far as Loramie's and the St. 
!Marj''s River and north of the Maumee. The 
Pottawatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas ceded the 
territory west of the Detroit line of 1807, and 
north of the Maumee. 

October 6, 1818, the Miamis, at St. Mary's, 
made a treaty in which they surrendered the re- 
maining Indian territory in Ohio, north of the 
Greenville treaty line and west of St. jMary's River. 

The numerous treaties of peace with the West- 
ern Indians for the delivery of prisoners were — 



Ji* 



^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



19 



one by Gen. Forbes, at Fort Du Quesnc (Pitts- 
burgh), in 1758 ; one by Col. Bradstreet, at Erie, 
in August, 1764 ; one by Col. Boquct, at the 
mouth of the WalhonJing, in November, 1764: ; 
in May, 1765, at Johnson's, on the Mohawk, and 
at Philadelphia, the same year; in 1774, by Lord 
Dunmoro, at Camp Charlotte, Pickaway County. 
By the treaty at the Maumee Rapids, in 1817, 
reservations were conveyed by the United States 
to all the tribes, with a view to induce them to 
cultivate the soil and cease to be hunters. These 
were, from time to time, as the imjiracticability of 
the plan became manifest, purchased by the Gov- 
ernment, the last of these being the Wyandot 
Reserve, of "twelve miles square, around Upper 
Sandusky, in 1842, closing out all claims and com- 
posing all the Indian difficulties in Ohio. The 
open war had ceased in 1815, with the treaty of 
Ghent. 

" It is estimated that, from the French war of 
1754 to the battle of the JIaumce Rapids, in 
1794, a period of forty years, there had been at 
least 5,000 people killed or captured west of the 



Alleghany Mountains. Eleven organized military 
expeditions had been carried on against the West- 
ern Indians prior to the war of 1812, seven regu- 
lar engagements fought and about twelve hundred 
men killed. Mcjre wiiites were slain in battle than 
there were Indian braves killed in military expedi- 
tions, and by privat,; raids and murders ; yet, in 
1811, all the Ohio tribes combined could not mus- 
ter 2,000 warriors." 

Attempts to determine the number of persons 
comprising the Indian tribes in Ohio, and their 
location, have resulted in nothing better than 
estimates. It is supposed that, at the commence- 
ment of the Revolution, there were about six 
thousand Indians in the present confines of the 
State, but their villages were little more than 
movable camps. Savage men, like savage beasts, 
are engaged in continual migrations. Now, none 
are left. The white man occupies the home of 
the red man. Now 

"The verdant hilla 
Are covered o'er with growing grain, 
And white men till the soil, 
Where once the red man used to reign." 



CHAPTER II. 

EARLY EXPLORATIONS IN THE WEST. 



W"HEN war, when ambition, when avarice 
fail, religion pushes pnward and succeeds. 
In the discovery of the New World, wherever 
man's aggrandizement was the paramount aim, 
failure was sure to follow. When this gave way, 
the followers of the Cross, whether Catholic or 
Protestant, came on the field, and the result before 
attempted soon appeared, though in a diflerent way 
and through diflerent means than those supposed. 
The first permanent eflbrts of the white race to 
penetrate the Western wilds of the New World 
preceded any permanent English settlement north 
of the Potomac. Years before the Pilgrims 
anchored their bark on the cheerless shores of Cape 
Cod, "the Roman Catholic Church had been jilant- 
cd by missionaries from France in the Eastern 
moiety of Maine; and LeCaron, an ambitious 
Franciscan, the companion of Champlain,had pa.ssed 
into the luinting-gTounds of the Wyandots, and, 
bound by the vows of his life, had, on foot or pad- 
dling a bark canoe, gone onward, taking alms of the 
sav;igcs until he reached the rivers of Lake 



Huron." This was in IGl 5 or IGIG, and only 
eight years after Champlain had sailed up the wa- 
ters of the St. Lawrence, and on the foot of a bold 
cliff laid the foundation of the present City of 
Quebec. From this place, founded to hold the 
country, and to perpetuate the religion of his King, 
went forth those cniissaricsof the Cross, whose zeal 
has been the admiration of the world. The French 
Colony in Canada was suppres.sed soon after its es- 
tablishment, and for five years, until 1622, its im- 
munities were enjoyed by the colonists. A grant 
of New France, as the country was then known, was 
made by Louis XIIT to Richelieu, Champlain, 
Razilly and others, who, immediately after the res- 
torati(jn of Quebec by its English conquerors, entered 
upon the control and government of their provinre. 
Its limits embraced the whole basin of the St. 
Lawrence and of such other rivers in New France 
as flowed directly into the sea. While away to 
the south on the Gulf coast, was also included a 
country rich in foliage and claimed in virtue of 
the unsuccessful efforts of Coligny. 



'f- 



20 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Religious zeal as iiiucli as commercial prosperity 
had influenced France to obtain and retain the de- 
pendency of Canada. The commercial monopoly 
of a privileged company could not foster a 
colony; the climate was too vigorous for agricult- 
ure, and, at first there was little else except relig- 
ious enthusiasm to give vitality to the province. 
C'hamplain had been touched by the simplicity of 
the <_)rder of St. Francis, and had selected its priests 
to aid him in his work. But another order, more 
in favor at the Court, was interested, and succeed- 
ed in excluding the mendicant order from the New 
AYorld, established themselves in the new domain 
and, by thus enlarging the borders of the French 
King, it became entrusted to the Jesuits. > 

This "Society of Jesus," founded by Loyola 
when Calvin's Institutes first saw the light, saw an 
unequaled opportunity in the conversion of the 
heathen in the Western wilds; and, as its mem- 
bers, pledg(^d to obtain power only by influence of 
mind over mind, sought the honors of ojieniug the 
way, there w;is no lack of men ready fur the work 
Through them, the motive power in opening the 
wilds of the Northwest was religion. " Religious 
enthusiasm," says Bancroft, "colonized New Eng- 
land, and religious enthusiasm founded Montreal, 
made a cumiuest of the wilderness about the upper 
lakes, and cxjiloi-ed the Jlississippi." 

Through these priests — incrciised in a few years 
to fifteen — a way was made across the West from 
Quebec, above the regions of the lakes, below 
which they dared not go for the relentless Blohawks. 
To the northwest of Toronto, near the Lake Iro- 
quois, a bay of Lake Huron, in September, 1634, 
they raised the first humble house of the Society of 
Jesus among the Hurons. ■ Through them they 
learned of the great lakes beyond, and resolved 
one day to explore them and carry the Gospel of 
peace to the heathen on their shores. Before this 
could be done, many of them W'cre called upon to 
give up their lives at the martyr's stake and re- 
ceive a martyr's crown. But one by one they 
went on in their good work. If one fell by hun- 
ger, cold, cruelty, or a terrible death, others stood 
ready, and carrying their lives in their liands, 
established otlier missions about the eastern shores 
of Lake Huron and its adjacent waters. The 
Five Nations were for many years hostile toward 
the French and murdered them and their red 
allies whenever opportunity presented. For a 
quarter of century, they retarded the advance of 
the missionaries, and then only after wearied with 
a long struggle, in which they began to see their 



power declining, did they relinquish their warlike 
propensities, and allow the Jesuits entrance to their 
country. While this was going on, the traders 
and Jesuits had penetrated farther and farther 
westward, until, when peace was declared, they 
had seen the southwestern shores of Lake Superior 
and the northern shores of Lake Michigan, called 
by them Lake Illinois.* In Augu.st, 1U54, two 
young adventurers penetrated the wilds bordering 
on these western lakes in company with a band of 
Ottawas. Returning, they tell of the wonderful 
country they have seen, of its vast forests, its 
abundance of game, its mines of copper, and ex- 
cite in their comrades a desire to see and explore 
such a country. They tell of a vast expanse of 
land before them, of the powerful Indian tribes 
dwelling there, and of their anxiety to become an- 
nexed to the Frenchman, of whom they have 
heard. The request is at once granted. Two 
missionaries, Gabriel Dreuillettes and Leonard 
Gareau, were selected as envoys, but on their way 
the Heet, propelled by tawny rowers, is met by a 
wandering band of Mohawks and by them is dis- 
pt^rsed. Not daunted, others stood ready to go. 
The lot fell to Rene Blesnaid. He is charged to 
visit the wilderness, select a suitable place for a 
dwelling, and found a mission. With only a short 
Warning he is ready, "trusting," he says, "in the 
Providence which feeds the little birds of the 
desert and clothes the wild flowers of the forest." 
In October, lOGO, he reached a bay, which he 
called St. Theresa, on the south shore of Lake 
Superior. After a residence of eight months, he 
yielded to the invitation of the Hurons who had 
taken refuge on the Island of St. Michael, and 
bidding adieu to liis neoph_vtcs and the French, he 
departed. While on the way to the Bay of Che- 
goi-me-gon, probably at a portage, he became 
separated from his companion and was never after- 
ward heard of Long after, his cassock and his 
breviary were kept as amulets among the Sioux. 
Difficulties now arose in the management of the 
colony, and for awhile it was on the verge of dis- 
solution. The King .sent a regiment under com- 
mand of the aged Tracy, as a safeguard against 
the Iroquois, now proving themselves enemies to 



* Mr. C. W. ButterfieUl, author of Cfa>rforfftt Campaign, ftncl 
Rood authority, says: ",Iohn Nicholot, a Frenchman, If-lt Quebrc 
ii'iii Three Uivera in the summer ut l(j;Jl, and vieiteil the HunuiK t>n 
G'orijian Bay, tho Cuippcwaa ot the Sault Ste. 31arle, and lli.. Wiii- 
nrhagoea in Wiaconsin, returning to Quebec in the summer i.f lt;35 
This was the first wliite niun to see any part (»f the Nortliwcnt 
Territory. In IGll, two Jesuit pri'-sts were at the Sault Ste. Uliirio 
foi- a lirief time. Then two French tratlei-s reached Lalte Siiperior, 
ftuii after them came tliat tide of cmigratiou on which the French 
baaed their chiiui to the country." 



'^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



21 



tlic French. Accompanying liim were Courcellos, 
as Governor, and M. Talon, who subsetiucutly fig- 
ures in Northwestern liistory. By lliU.J, affairs 
were settled and new attemj)ts to found a mission 
among the lake tribes were projected. 

"With better hopes — undismayed by the sad 
fate of their predecessors" in August, Claude 
Allouez embarked on a mission by way of Ottawa 
to the Vnr West. Early in September he reached 
the rapids througli which rush the waters of the 
lakes to Huron. Sailing by lofty sculptured rocks 
and over waters of crystal purity, he reached the 
Chippewa village just a.s the young warriors were 
bent on organizing a war expedition against the 
Sioux. Commanding peace in the name of his 
King, he called a council and oifcred the commerce 
and jn'otection of his nation. He was obeyed, and 
soon a chapel arose on the shore of the bay, to 
which admiring crowds from the south and west 
gathered to listen to the story of the Cross. 

The scattered Hurons and Ottawas north of 
Lake Superior ; the Pottawatomies from Lake Mich- 
igan ; the Sacs and Foxes fi-om the Far West ; the 
Illinois from the prairies, all came to lu!ar him, and 
all besought him to go with them. To the last 
nation Allouez desired to go. They told him of a 
" great river that flowed to the sea, "and of ''their 
Viist prairies, where herds of buffalo, deer and 
other animals grazed on the tall grass." "Their 
country," said the missionary, "is the best field 
for the Go.spel. Had I had leisure, I would have 
gone to their dwellings to see with my own eyes 
all the good that was told me of them." 

He remained two years, teaching the natives, 
studying their language and habits, and then 
returned to Quebec. Such was the account that 
he gave, that in two days he was joined by 
Louis Nicholas and was on his way back to his 
mission. 

Peace being now established, more missionaries 
came from France. Among them were Claude 
Dablon and Jacques IMarquettc, both of whom 
went on to the mission among the Cliijipcwas at the 
Sault. They reached there in 1GU8 and found 
Allouez busy. The mission was now a reality and 
given the name of St. Mary. It is often written 
" Sault Ste. Marie," after the French method, and 
Ls the oldest settlement by white men in the bounds 
of the Northwest Territory. It ha.s been founded 
over two hundred year.s. Here on the inhospitable 
northern .shores, hundreds of miles away from 
friends, did this triumvirate employ themselves in 
extendinsr their relitrion and the influence of their 



King. Travereiug the shores of the great lakes 
near them, they pass down the "Western bank of 
Lake Michigan as far as Green Bay, along the 
southern shore of Jjake Superior to its western ex- 
tremity, everywhere preaching the story of Jesus. 
" Though suffering be their lot and martyrdom 
their crown," they went on, only conscious that 
tliey were laboring for their Master and would, in 
the end, win the crown. 

The great river away to the West of which they 
heard so much was yet unknown to them. To ex- 
plore it, to visit the tribes on its banks and preach 
to them the Gospel and secure their trade, became 
the aim of Marquette, who originated the idea of 
its discovery. While engaged at the mission at the 
Sault, he resolved to attempt it in the autumn of 
1G69. Delay, however, intervened — for Allouez 
had exchanged the mission at Che-goi-me-gon for 
one at Green Bay, whither Marquette was sent. 
While here he employed a young Illinois Indian 
to teach hiiu the language of that nation, and there- 
by prepare himself f jr the enterprise. 

Continued commerce with the Western Indians 
gave protection and confirmed their attachment. 
Talon, the intendant of the colony of New France, 
to further spread its power and to learn more of the 
country and its inhabitants, convened a congress 
of the Indians at the Falls of St. Mary, to which 
he sent St. Lusson ou his behalf Nicholas Perrot 
sent invitations in every direction for more than a 
hundred leagues round about, and fourteen nations, 
among them Sacs, Foxes and Miamis, agreed to be 
present by their embassadors. 

The congress met on the fourth day of June, 
1671. St. Lusson, through Alhmez, his interpre- 
ter, announced to the assembled natives that they, 
and through them their nations, were placed under 
the protection of the French King, and to him 
were their furs and peltries to be traded. A cross 
of ci;dar was raised, and amidst the groves of ma- 
ple and of pine, of elm and hemlock that are so 
strangely intermingled on the banks of the St. 
Mary, the whole company of the French, bowing 
before the emblem of man's redemption, chauted to 
its glory a liymn of the seventh century : 

"The banners of heaven's King advance; 
The mysteries of the Cross shines forth."* 

A cedar colunm was planted by the cross and 
marked with the lilies of the Bourbons. The 
power of France, thus uplifted in the West of 
which Ohio is now a part, wiis, however, not destined 



'■ Bancroft. 



" >i^ C 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



'.^ 



to endure, and the ambition of its monarchs was 
to liave only a partial fulfillment. 

The same year that the congress was held, ]Mar- 
quettc had founded a mission among the Hurons 
at Point St. Ignace, on the continent north of the 
peninsula of Michigan. Although the climate 
was severe, and vegetation scarce, yet fish abounded, 
and at this estabHshment, long maintained as a 
key to further explorations, prayer and praise were 
heard daily for many years. Here, also, Jlarquette 
gained a footing among the founders of ^Michigan. 
While he was doing this, AUouez and Dablon were 
exploring countries south and we,st, going a.s far as 
the Mascoutins and Kiekapoos on the Milwaukee, 
and the Miamis at the head of Lake Blichigan. 
Allouez continued oven as far as the Sacs and Foxes 
on the river which bears their name. 

The discovery of the INIississippi, heightened by 
these explorations, was now at hand. The enter- 
prise, projected by Jlarquette, was received with 
favor by M. Talon, who desired thus to perpetuate 
his rule in New France, now drawing to a close. 
He was joined by Joliet, of Quebec, an emissary 
of his King, commissioned by royal magnate to 
take possession of the country in the name of the 
French. Of him but little else is known. This 
one excursion, however, gives him immortality, 
and as long as time shall last his name and that of 
Marquette vrill endure. When Marquette made 
known his intention to the Pottawatomies, they 
were filled with wonder, and endeavored to dis- 
suade him from his purpose. "Those distant na- 
tions," said they, " never spare the strangers; the 
Great River abounds in monsters, ready to swal- 
low both men and canoes; there are great cataracts 
and rapids, over which you mil be da.shed to 
pieces; the excessive heats will cause your death." 
"I .shall gladly lay down my life for the salvation 
of souls," replied the good man; and the docile 
nation joined him. 

On the !)th day of June, 1G73, they reached 
the village on Fox River, where were Kiekapoos, 
Mascoutins and Miamis dwelling together on an 
expanse of lovely prairie, dotted here and there by 
groves of magnificent trees, and where was a 
cross garlanded by wild flowers, and bows and ar- 
rows, and skins and belts, offerings to the Great 
!Manitou. Allouez had been here in one of his 
wand<:'rings, and, a.s was his wont, had left this 
emblem of his faith. 

Assembling the natives, Marquette said, " ISIy 
companion is an envoy of France to discover new 
countries ; and I am an embassador from God to 



pres- 
The 



enlighten them with the Go.spel." Ofiering 
ents, he begged two guides for the morrow. 
Indians answered courteously, and gave in 
return a mat to serve as a couch during the long 
voyage. 

Early in the morning of the next day, the 10th 
of June, with all nature in her brightest robes, 
these two men, with five Frenchmen and two Al- 
gonquin guides, set out on their journey. Lifting 
two canoes to their shoulders, they quickly cross 
the narrow portage dividing the Fox from the 
Wisconsin River, and prepare to embark on its 
clear waters. "Uttering a special prayer to the 
Immaculate Virgin, they leave the stream, that, 
flowing onward, could have borne their greetings 
to the castle of Quebec. 'The guides returned,' 
says the gentle IMarquette, 'leaving us alone in 
this unknown land, in the hand of Providence.' 
Fi-anec and Christianity stood alone in the valley 
of the Mississippi. Embarking on the broad 
"Wisconsin, the discoverers, as they sailed west, 
went solitarily down the stream between alternate 
prairies and hillsides, beholding neither man nor 
the wonted beasts of the forests ; no sound broke 
the silence but the ripple of the canoe and the 
lowing of the buffalo. In seven days, 'they en- 
tered happily the Great River, with a joy that 
could not be expressed;' and the two birchbark 
canoes, raising their happy sails under new skies 
and to unknown breezes, floated down the calm 
magnificence of the ocean stream, over the broad, 
clear sand-bars, the resort of innumerable water- 
fowl — gliding past islets that swelled from the 
bosom of the stream, with their tufts of massive 
thickets, and between the wild plains of Illinois 
and Iowa, all garlanded with majestic forests, or 
checkered by island gi'oves and the open vastness 
of the prairie."* 

Continuing on down the mighty stream, they 
saw no signs of human life until the 25th of 
June, when they discovered a small foot-path on the 
west bank of the river, leading away into the 
prairie. Leaving their companions in the canoes, 
Marquette and Joliet followed the path, resolved 
to bi-avc a meeting alone with the savages. After 
a walk of six miles they came in sight of a village 
on the banks of a river, while not far away they 
discovered two others. The river was the " Mou- 
in-gou-e-na," or Moingona, now corrupted into 
Des Jloines. These two men, the first of their 
race who ever trod the soil west of the Great 



9 ""V 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



23 



River, commended tlienisolvcs to Crod, and, uttering 
a loud cry, advanced to tlio nearest village. 
The Indians hear, and thinking their visitors 
celestial beings, four old men advance with rever- 
ential mien, and oifcr the pipe of peace. "We 
are Illinois," said they, and they oifered the calu- 
met. They had lieard of the Frenchmen, and 
welcomed them to their wigwams, followed by the 
devouring gaze of an astoni.shed crowd. At a 
great council held soon after, Marquette published 
to them the true God, their Author. He also 
spoke of his nation and of his King, who had 
chastised the Five Nations and commanded peace. 
He questioned them concerning the Gre<it River 
and its tributaries, and the tribes dwelling on its 
banks. A magnificent feast was spread before 
them, and the conference continued several days. 
At the close of the sixth day, the chieftains of the 
tribes, with numerous ti'ains of warriors, attended 
the visitcjrs to their canoes, and selecting a peace- 
pipe, gayly capai'isoned, they hung the sacred 
calumet, emblem of peace to all and a safeguard 
among the nations, about the good Father's neck, 
and bid the strangers good speed. "I did not 
fear death," writes Marquette; "I should have 
esteemed it the greatest happiness to have died 
for the glory of God." On their journey, they 
passed the perpendicular rocks, whoso sculptured 
sides .showed them the mon.sters they should meet. 
Farther down, they pass the turgid flood of the 
Missouri, known to them by its Algonquin name, 
Pckitanoni. Resolving in his heart to one day 
explore its flood, INIarquette rejoiced in the new 
world it evidently could open to him. A little 
farther down, they pass the bluffs where now is a 
mighty emporium, then silent as when created. In 
a little less than forty leagues, they pass the clear 
waters of the beautiful Ohio, then, and long after- 
ward, known as the Wabash. It.s banks were in- 
habited by numerous villages of the peaceful 
Shawanees, who then quailed under the incursions 
of the dreadful Iroquois. As they go on down the 
mighty stream, (he canes become thicker, the insects 
more fierce, the heat more intolerable. The prairies 
and their cool breezes vanish, and forests of white- 
wood, admirable for their vastness and height, crowd 
close upon the pebbly shore. It is observed that the 
Cliickasaws have guns, and have learned how to 
use them. Near the latitude of 33 degrees, they 
encounter a great village, who.se inhabitants pre- 
sent an inhospitable and warlike front. The pi]ic 
of peace is held aloft, and instantly the savage foe 
drops his arms and extends a friendly greeting. 



Remaining here till the next day, they are escorted 
f )r eight or ten leagues to the village of Akansea. 
They are now at the limit of their voyiige. The 
Indians speak a dialect unknown to them. The 
natives show furs and axes of steel, the latter prov- 
ing they have traded with Eurojieans. The two 
travelers now learn that the Father of Wa- 
ters went neither to the Western sea nor to the 
Florida co:ist, but straight .south, and conclude not 
to encounter the burning heats of a tropical clime, 
but return and find the outlet again. They 
had done enough now, and must report their dis- 
covery. 

On the ITth day of July, 1673, one hundred 
and thirty-two years after the disastrous journey 
of De Soto, which led to no permanent results, 
Marquette and Joliet left the village of Akansea 
on their way back. At the 3Sth degree, they en- 
counter the waters of the Illinois which they had 
before noticed, and which the natives told them 
afforded a much shorter route to the lakes. Pad- 
dling up its limpid waters, they see a country un- 
surpassed in beauty. Bro.ad prairies, beautiful up- 
lands, luxuriant gToves, all mingled in excellent 
harmony as they ascend the river. Near the head 
of the river, they pause at a great village of the 
Illinois, and across the river behold a rocky prom- 
ontory standing boldly out against the landscape. 
The Indians entreat the gentle missionary to re- 
main among them, and teach them the way of life. 
He cannot do this, but promises to return when he 
can and instruct them. The town was on a plain 
near the present village of Iltica, in La Salic 
County, 111., and the rock was Starved Rock, 
afterward noted in the annals of the Northwest. 
One of the chiefs and some young men conduct 
the party to the Chicago River, where the pre.sent 
mighty city is, from where, continuing their jour- 
ney along the western shores of the lake, they 
reach Green Bay early in September. 

The gi-eat valley of the West was now open. 
The "Messippi" rolled its mighty flood to a south- 
ern sea, and must be .sully explored. Marquette's 
health had keenly suffered by the voyage and he 
concluded to remain here and rest. Joliet liasten- 
ed on to Quebec to report his discoveries. During 
the journey, each had preserved a description of 
the route they had passed over, as well as the 
country and its inhabitants. While on the way 
to Quebec, at the foot of the rapids near Montreal, 
by some means one of Joliet's canoes became cap- 
sized, and by it he lost his box of papers and two 
of his men. A greater calamity could have 






:^ 



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24 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



hardly happened him. In a letter to Gov. 
Fnmtenac, Joliet says: 

" I had escaped every peril from the Indians ; I 
had passed forty-two rapids, and was on the point 
of disembarkini;-, liill of joy at the siiecess of SO 
lont; and difficult an enterprise, when my canoe 
capsized after all the danger seemed over. I lost 
my two men and box of papers within sight of the 
French settlements, which I had left almost two 
years before. Nothing remains now to me but 
my life, and the ardent desire to employ it in any 
service you may please to direct." 

When Joliet made known his discoveries, a 
Te Deiim was chanted in the Cathedral at Quebec, 
and all Canada was filled with joy. The news 
crossed the ocean, and the French saw in the vista 
of coming years a vast dependency arise in the val- 
ley, partially explored, which was to extend her 
domain and enrich her treasury. Fearing En- 
gland might profit by the discovery and claim the 
country, she attempted as far as possible to prevent 
the news from becoming general. Joliet was re- 
warded by the gift of the Island of Anticosti, in 
the St. Lawrence, while JMarquetto, conscious of 
his service to his Master, was content with the 
salvation of souls. 

Marquette, left at Green Bay, suffered long with 
his malady, and was not permitted, until the au- 
tumn of the following year (1674), to return and 
teach the Illinois Indians. With this purpose in 
view, he left Green Bay on the 25th of October 
with two Frenchmen and a number of Illinois and 
Pottawatomie Indians for the villages on the 
Chicago and Illinois Rivers. Entering Lake 
Michigan, they encountered adverse winds and 
waves and were more than a month on the way. 
Going some distance up the Chicago River, they 
found Marquette too weak to proceed farther, his 
malady having assumed a violent form, and land- 
ing, they erected two huts and prepared to pass 
the winter. The good missionary taught the na- 
tives here daily, in spite of his afflictions, while 
his companions supplied him and themselves with 
food by fishing and hunting. Thus the winter 
wore away, and Mar( (uette, renewing his vows, pre- 
pared to go on to the village at the foot of the 
rocky citadel, where ho had been two years before. 
On the ir.th of March, 1(375, they left their huts 
and, rowing on up the Chicago to the portage be- 
tween that and the Desplaines, embarked on their 
way. Amid the incessant rains of spring, they 
were rapidly borne down that stream to the Illi- 
nois, on whose rushing flood they floated to the 



object of their destination. At the great town the 
missionary was received as a heavenly messenger, 
and as he preached to them of heaven and hell, 
of angels and demons, of good and bad deeds, 
they regarded him as divine and besought him to 
remain among them. The town then contained an 
immense concourse of natives, drawn hither by the 
reports they heard, and assembling them before him 
on the plain near their village, where now arc pros- 
perous farms, he held before their astonished gaze 
four large pictures of the Holy Virgin, and daily 
harangued them on the duties of Christianity and 
the necessity of conforming their conduct to the 
words they heard. His strength was fast declining 
and warned him he could not long remain. Find- 
ing he must go, the Indians furnished him an 
escort as far as the lake, on whose turbulent waters 
he embarked with his two faithfiil attendants. 
They turned their canoes for the Mackinaw Mis- 
sion, which the afflicted missionary hoped to reach 
before death came. As they coasted along the 
eastern shores of the lake, the vernal hue of May 
began to cover the hillsides with robes of green, 
now dimmed to the eye of the departing Father, who 
became too weak to view them. By the 19th of 
the month, he could go no farther, and requested 
his men to land and build him a hut in which he 
might pass away. That done, he gave, with gi-cat 
composure, directions concerning his burial, and 
thanked God that he was permitted to die in the 
wilderness in the midst of his work, an unshaken 
believer in the faith he had so earnestly preached. 
As twilight came on, he told his weary attendants 
to rest, promising that when death should come he 
would call them. At an early hour, on the morn- 
ing of the 20th of May, 1G75, they hoard a feeble 
voice, and hastening to his side found that the gen- 
tle spirit of the good mis.sionary had gone to heav- 
en. His hand grasped the crucifix, and his lips 
bore as their last sound the name of the Virgin. 
They dug a grave near the banks of the stream 
and buried him as he had requested. There in a 
lonely wilderness the peaceful soul of Marquette 
had at last found a rest, and his weary labors closed. 
His companions went on to the mission, where 
the news of his death caused great sotrow, for he 
was one beloved by all. 

Three years after his burial, the Ottawas, hunting 
in the vicinity of his grave, determined to carry 
his bones to the mission at their home, in accor- 
dance with an ancient custom of their tribe. Hav- 
ing opened the grave, at whose head a cross had 
been planted, they carefully removed the bones and 



"V 



^1 



'-^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



25 



cluaninp; thorn, a fiiiierai procession of thirty canoes 
boro them to the Mackinaw JMission, sinfiing tho 
songs he had taught them. At the shores of the 
mission tho bones were received by the priests, and, 
with groat ceremony, buried under the floor of the 
rude cliapel. 

'While JMarquetto and Joliet were exploring the 
head-waters of the "Great Kiver," another man, 
fearless in purpose, pious in heart, and loyal to 
his country, was living in Canada and watching 
the operations of his fellow countrymen with 
keen eyes. When the Freneli first saw the in- 
hospitaljle shores of tho St. Lawrence, in 1535, 
under the lead of Jacques Cartier, and had opened 
a new country to their crown, men were not 
lacking to further extend the discovery. In 1608, 
Champlain came, and at the foot of a cliff on that 
river founded Quebec. Seven years after, he 
brought four Rocollet monks; and through them 
and the Jesuits the discoveries already narrated 
occurred. Champlain died in 1G35, one hundred 
years after Cartier's first visit, but not until he 
had explored the northern lakes as far as Lake 
Huron, on whose rocky shores he, as the progenitor 
of a mighty race to follow, set his feet. He, with 
others, held to the idea that somewhere across the 
country; a river highway extended to the Western 
ocean. The reports from the missions whose 
history has been given aided this belief; and not 
until Marquette and Joliet returned was tlie delu- 
sion in any way dispelled. Before this was done, 
liowever, tho man to whom reference has been 
made, Robert Cavalier, better known as La Salle, 
had endeavored to solve the mystery, and, while 
living on his grant of land eiglit miles above 
JIontreal,liad indeed effected important discoveries. 

La Salle, the next actor in the field of explor- 
ation after Champlain, was born in ](i-l3. His 
father's family was among the old and wealthy 
burghers of Rouen, France, and its members 
were fre(|uently entrusted with important govern- 
mental positions. He early exhibited such traits 
of character as to mark him among his associates. 
Coming from a wealthy family, ho enjoyed all the 
advantages of his day, and received, for the times, 
an excellent education. He was a Catholic, 
though his subsequent life docs not jjrovo him 
to have been a religious enthusiast. From some 
cause, he joined the Order of Loj-ola, but the cir- 
cumscribed sphere of action set for him in the 
order illy concurred with Jiis independent dis- 
position, and led to bis separation from it. This 
was effected, however, in a good spirit, as they 



con.siderod him fit for a different field of action 
than any presented by the order. Having a 
brother in Canada, a member of the order of St. 
Sulpicc, he determined to join him. By his 
connection with the Jesuits ho had lost his share 
of his father's estate, but, by some means, on his 
death, which occurred about this time, ho was 
given a small share; and with thi.s, in 1G6C, 
he arrived in Montreal. All Canada was alive 
with the news of the explorations; and La 
Salle's mind, actively grasping the ideas he 
afterward carried out, began to mature plans for 
their perfection. At Montreal he found a semi- 
nary of priests of the St. Sulpico Order who were 
encouraging settlers by grants of land on easy 
terms, hoping to establish a barrier of settlements 
between themselves and the Indians, made ene- 
mies to the French by Champlain's acti(ms when 
founding Quebec. Tho Superior of tho seminary, 
learning of La Salle's arrival, gratuitously offered 
him a grant of land on the St. Lawrence, eight 
miles above Montreal. The grant, though danger- 
ously near the hostile Indians, was accepted, and 
LaSallo soon enjoyed an excellent trade in furs. 
While employed in developing his claim, ho learned 
of the great unknown route, and burned with a 
desire to solve its existence. He applied himself 
closely to the study of Indian dialects, and in 
three years is said to have made great progress 
in their language. While on his farm his 
thoughts oft«n turned to the unknown land away 
to the west, and, like all men of his day, he 
desired to explore the route to the Western sea, 
and thence obtain an ea.sy trade with China and 
Japan. The " Great River, which flowed to the 
sea," must, thought they, find an outlet in tho 
Gulf of California. While musing on these 
things, Marquette and Joliet were preparing to 
descend the Wisconsin; and LaSallc himself 
learned from a wandering band of Senecas that a 
river, called the Ohio, arose in their country and 
flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it 
would require eight months to reach its mouth. 
This must be the Great River, or a part of i;,: 
for all geographers of the day considered the 
Mississippi and its tributary as one stream. Plac- 
ing great confidence on this hv])othesis. La Salle 
repaired to Quebec to ol)tain the sanction 
of Gov. Courcelles. His plausible statements 
soon won him the Governor and M. Talon, and 
letters patent were issued granting the exploration. 
No pecuniary aid was offered, and La Salle, hav- 
ing expended all bis means in improving his 



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>^. 



26 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



estate, was obliged to sell it to procure the 
necessary outfit. The Superior of tlie seminary 
being favorably disposed toward him, purchased 
the greater jiart of liis improvement, and realiz- 
ing 2,800 livres, he purchased four canoes and the 
necessary supplies for the expedition. The semi- 
nary was, at the same time, preparing for a similar 
exploration. The priests of this order, emulating 
the Jesuits, had established missions on the north- 
ern shore of Lake O.utario. Hearing of populous 
tribes still further west, they resolved to attempt 
their conversion, and deputized two of their number 
for the purpose. Ou going to Quebec to procure 
the necessary supplies, they were advised of La 
Salle's expedition down the Ohio, and resolved to 
unite themselves with it. La Salle did not alto- 
gether favor their attempt, as he believed the 
Jesuits already had the field, and would not care 
to have any aid from a rival order. His dispo- 
sition also would not well brook the part they 
assumed, of asking him to be a co-laborer rather 
than a leader. However, the expeditions, merged 
into one body, left the mission on the St. Law- 
rence on the Gth of July, 1UG9, in seven canoes. 
The party numbered twenty-four persons, who 
were accomj);uiied by two canoes filled with 
Indians who had visited La Salle, and who now 
acted as guides. Their guides led them up the 
St. Lawrence, over the expanse of Lake Ontario, 
to their village on the banks of the Genesee, 
where they expected to find guides to lead them 
on to the Ohio. As La Salle only partially under- 
stood their language, he was compelled to confer 
with them by means of a Jesuit stationed at the 
village. The Indians refu.sed to furnish him the 
expected aid, and even burned before his eyes a 
prisoner, the only one who could give him any 
knowledge he desired. He surmised the Jesuits 
wore at the bottom of the matter, fearful lest the 
disciples of St. Sulpice should gain a foothold in 
the west. He lingered here a month, with the 
hope of accomplishing his object, when, by chance, 
there came by an Iroquois Indian, who assured 
them that at his colony, near the head of the lake, 
they could find guides; and offered to conduct 
them thither. Coming along the southern shore 
of the lake, they passed, at its western extremity, 
the mouth of the Niagara River, where they heard 
for the first time the thunder of the mighty cata- 
ract between the two lakes. At the village of the 
Iroquois they met a friendly reception, and were 
informed by a Shawanese prisoner that they could 
reach the Ohio in six weeks' time, and that he 



would guide them there. While preparing to 
commence the journey, they heard of the missions 
to the northwest, and the priests resolved to go 
there and convert the natives, and find the river 
by that route. It appears that Louis Joliet met 
them here, on his return from visiting the copper 
mines of Lake Superior, under command of M. 
Talon. He gave the priests a map of the country, 
and informed them that the Indians of those 
regions were in great need of spiritual advisers. 
This strengthened their intention, though warned 
by La Salle, that the Jesuits were undoubtedly 
there. The authority for Joliet's visit to them 
here is not clearly given, and may not be true, 
but the same letter which gives the account of 
the discovery of the Ohio at this time by La Salle, 
states it as a fact, and it is hence inserted. The 
missionaries and La Salle separated, the former to 
find, as he had predicted, the followers of Loyola 
already in the field, and not wanting their aid. 
Hence they return from a fruitless tour. 

La Salle, now left to himself and just recovering 
from a violent fever, went on his journey. From 
the paper from which these statements are taken, 
it appears he went on to Onondaga, where he pro- 
cured guides to a tributary of the Ohio, down 
which he proceeded to the principal stream, on 
whose bosom lie continued his way till he came to 
the M\s at the present city of Louisville, Ky. It 
has been asserted that he went on down to its 
mouth, but that is not well authenticated and is 
hardly true. The statement that he went as far as 
the falls is, doubtless, correct. He states, in a letter 
to Count Frontenac in 1677, that he discovered 
the Ohio, and that he descended it to the falls. 
Moreover, Joliet, in a mea.sure his rival, for he was 
now preparing to go to the northern lakes and 
from them search the river, made two maps repre- 
seuting the lakes and the Mississippi, on both of 
which he states that La Salle had discovered the 
Ohio. Of its course beyond the falls, La Salle 
does not seem to have learned anything definite, 
hence his discovery did not in any way settle the 
great (jucstion, and elicited but little comment. 
Still, it siiuiulated La Salle to more effort, and 
while musing on his plans, Joliet and Marquette 
push on from Green Bay, and discover the river 
and ascertain the general course of its outlet. On 
Joliet's return in 1673, he seems to drop from 
further notice. Other and more venturesome souls 
were ready to finish fi\e work begun by himself 
and the zealous Marquette, who, left among the 
far-away nations, laid down his life. The spirit of 



-^s^ 




c/riyOypv (yV^n^^^ 



O^^'n^i^ Ma.^ 





^ne^^' 




HISTORY OF OHIO. 



29 



La Salle was equal to the enterprise, and as ho now 
harl returned from one voyage of discovery, he 
stood ready to solve the mystery, and gain the 
country for his King. Before this could be ac- 
complished, however, he saw other things must be 
done, and made preparations on a scale, for the 
time, truly marvelous. 

Count Frontenac, the new Governor, had no 
sooner established himself in power than he gave a 
searching glance over the new realm to see if any 
undeveloped resources lay yet unnoticed, and what 
country yet remained open. He learned from the 
exploits of La Salle on the Ohio, and i'rom Joliet, 
now returned from the West, of that immense 
country, and resolving in his mind on some plan 
whereby it could bo formally taken, entered 
heartily into the plans of La Salle, who, anxious to 
solve the mystery concerning the outlet of the 
Great River, gave him the outline of a plan, saga- 
cious in its conception and grand in its compre- 
hension. La Salle had also informed him of the 
endeavors of the English on the Atlantic coast to 
divert the trade with the Indians, and partly to 
counteract this, were the plans of La Salle adopted. 
They were, briefly, to build a chain of liirts from 
Canada, or New France, along the lakes to the 
Mississippi, and on down that river, thereby hold- 
ing the country by power as well as by discovery. 
A fort was to be built on the Ohio as soon as the 
means could be obtained, and thereby hold that 
country by the same policy. Tims to La Salle 
alone may be ascribed the bold plan of gaining the 
whole West, a plan (mly thwarted by the force of 
arms. Through the aid of Frontenac, he was 
given a proprietary and the rank of noliility, and 
on hi.s proprietary was erected a fort, which he, in 
honor of his Governor, called Fort Frontenac. It 
stood on the site of the present city of Kingston, 
Canada. Through it he obtained the trade of the 
Five Nations, and his fortune was so far assured. 
He next repaired to France, to perfect his arrange- 
ments, secure his title and obtain means. 

On his return he built the fort alluded to, and 
prepared to go on in the pro.secution of his plan. 
A civil discord arose, however, which for three 
years prevailed, and seriously threatened his 
projects. As soon a,s he could extricate himself, 
he again repaired to France, receiving additional 
encouragement in money, grants, and the exclusive 
privilege of a trade in buffalo skins, then consid- 
ered a source of great w<^alth. On his return, he 
wa.s accompanied by Henry Tonti, son of an illus- 
trious Italian nobleman, who had fled from his 



own country during one of its political revolutions. 
Coming t(5 France, he made himself famous as the 
founder of Tontine Life Insurance. Henry Tonti 
possessed an indomitable will, and though he had 
suffered the loss of one of his hands by the ex- 
plosion of a grenade in one of the Sicilian wars, 
his courage was undaunted, and his ardor un- 
dimmed. La Salle also brought recruits, mechanics, 
sailors, cordage and sails for rigging a ship, and 
merchandise for traffic with the natives. At 
Montreal, he secured the services of JI. LaMotte, a 
person of much energy and integrity of character. 
He also secured several missionaries before he 
reached Fort Frontenac. Among them were 
Louis Hennepin, Gabriel Ribourde and Zenabe 
Membre. All these were Flemings, all Recollets. 
Hennepin, of all of them, proved the best assist- 
ant. They arrived at the fort early in the autumn 
of 1G78, and preparations were at once made to 
erect a vessel in whicli to navigate the lakes, and 
a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River. The 
Senecas were rather adverse to the latter proposals 
when La Motte and Hennepin came, but by 
the eloquence of the latter, they were pacified 
and rendered friendly. After a number of vexa- 
tious delays, the vessel, the Griffin, the first on the 
lakes, was built, and on the 7th of August, a year 
after La Salle came here, it was launched, passed 
over the waters of the northern lakes, and, after a 
tempestuous voyage, landed at Green Bay. It was 
soon after stored with furs and sent back, while 
La Salle and his men awaited its return. It was 
never afterward heard of La Salle, becoming 
impatient, erected a fort, pu.shed on with a 
part of his men, leaving part at the fort, 
and passed over the St. Jo.seph and Kankakee 
Rivers, and thence to the Ilhnois, down whose 
flood they proceeded to Peoria Lake, where 
he was obliged to halt, and return to Canada 
for more men and supplies. He left Tonti 
and several men to comjilete a fort, called 
Fort " Crevecoeur " — broken-hearted. The Indians 
drove the French away, the men mutinied, and 
Tonti was obliged to flee. When La Salle returned, 
he found no one there, and going down as far as 
the mouth of the Illinois, he retraced his steps, to 
find some trace of his garrison. Tonti was found 
safe among the Pottawatomies at Green Bay, and 
Ileuuopin and his two followers, sent to explore 
the head-waters of the ]Mississi]ipi, were again 
home, after a captivity among the Sioux. 

La Salle renewed his force of men, and the third 
time set out for the outlet of the Great River. 



V 



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30 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



lie left Canada early in December, 1G81, and by 
February G, 1G82, reached the majestic flood of 
the mighty stream. On the 24th, they ascended 
the Chickasaw Bluifs, and, while waiting to find 
a sailor who had strayed away, erected Fort Prud- 
homme. They passed several Indian villages fur- 
ther down the river, in some of which they met 
with no little opposition. Proceeding onward, ere- 
long they encountered the tide of the sea, and 
April C, they emerged on the broad bosom of the 
Gulf, "tossing its restless billows, limitless, voice- 
less and lonely as when born of chaos, without a 
sign of life." 

Coasting about a short time on the shores of 
the Gulf, the party returned until a sufficiently 
dry place was reached to effect a landing. Here 
another cross was raised, also a column, on which 
was inscribed these words: 

" LoDis LE Grand, Roi de France et de Navarre, 
Regne; Le Neuvieme, Avril, 1682." * 

" The whole party," says a " proces verbal," in 
the archives of France, " chanted the Te Deum, 
the Exaudiat and the Domiiie salviim fuc Rrgcm, 
and then after a salute of fire-arms and cries of 
Vive le Roi, La Salle, standing near the column, 
said in a loud voice in French : 

"In the name of the most high, mighty, invin- 
cible and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by 
the grace of God, King of France and of Navarre, 
Fourteenth of that name, this ninth day of April, 
one thousand sis hundred and eighty two, I, in 
virtue of the commission of His Majesty, which I 
hold in my hand, and which may be seen by all 
whom it may concern, have taken, and do now 
take, in the name of His IMajesty and of his suc- 
cessors to the crown, possession of this country of 
Louisiana, the seas, harbor, ports, bays, adjacent 
straights, and all the nations, people, provinces, cities, 
towns, villages, mines, minerals, fisheries, streams 
and rivers, conipi'ised in the extent of said Louisiana, 
from the north of the groat river St. Louis, other- 
wise called the Ohio, Alighin, Sipore or Chukago- 
na, and this with the consent of the Chavunons, 
Chickachaws, and other people dwelling therein, 
with whom we have made alliance ; as also along 
the river Colbert or Mississippi, and rivers which 
discharge themselves therein from its source beyond 
the Kious or Nadouossious, and this with their 
consent, and with the consent of the Illinois, 31 cs- 
igamcas, Natchez, Koroas, which are the mo.st con- 
siderable nations dwelling therein, with whom also 

* Louis the Great, King of France and of Navarre, reigning the 
ninth clay of April, 16S2. 



we have made alliance, either by ourselves orothers 
in our behalf, as far as its mouth at the sea or 
Gulf of Mexico, about the twenty-seventh degree 
of its elevation of the North Pole, and also to the. 
mouth of the River of Palms ; upon the a.ssurance 
which we have received from all these nations that 
we are the first Europeans who have descended or 
ascended the river Colbert, hereby protesting 
against all those who may in future undertake to 
invade any or all of these countries, peoples or 
lands, to the prejudice of the right of His Majesty, 
acquired by the consent of the nations herein 
named." 

The whole assembly responded with shouts and 
the salutes of fire-arms. The Sieur de La Salle 
caused to be planted at the foot of the column a 
plate of lead, on one side of which was inscribed 
the arms of France and the following Latin inscrip- 
tion: 

Robertvs Cavellier, cvm Domino de Tonly, Legato, 
R. P. Zenobi Membro, Recollecto, et, Viginti Gallis 
I'rimos Hoc Flvmen inde ab ilineorvm Pago, enavigavit, 
cjvsqve ostivm fecit Pervivvm, nono Aprilis cio ioc 
LXXXII. 

The whole proceedings were acknowledged be- 
fore La Metaire, a notary, and the conquest was 
considered complete. 

Thus was the foundation of France laid in the 
new republic, and thus did she lay claim to the 
Northwest, which now includes Ohio, and the 
county, whose history this book perpetuates. 

La Salle and his party returned to Canada soon 
aft«r, and again that country, and France itself, 
rang with anthems of exultation. He went on to 
France, where he received the highest honors. 
He was given a fleet, and sailors as well as colon- 
ists to return to the New World by way of a south- 
ern voyage, expecting to find the mouth of the 
]Mi.ssissippi by an ocean course. Sailing past the 
outlets, he was wrecked on the coast of Texas, and 
in his vain endeavors to find the river or return to 
Canada, he became lost on the plains of Arkansas, 
where he, in 16S7, was basely murdered by one of 
his followers. " You are down now. Grand Ba.shaw," 
exclaimed his slayer, and despoiling his remains, they 
left them to be devoured by wild beasts. To such 
an ignominious end came this daring, bold adven- 
turer. Alone in the wilderness, he was left, with 
no monument but the vast realm lie had discov- 
ered, on whose bosom he was left, without cover- 
ing and without protection. 

" For force of will and vast conception ; for va- 
rious knowledge, and quick adaptation of his genius 



V 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



31 



to untried eircumstiinccs ; for a siiblimo magnani- 
mity, that resigned itself to the will of Heaven, 
and j'et triumphed over afflic-tion by energy of 
purpose and unfaltering hope — ho had no superior 
among his countrymen, lie had won the affec- 
tions of the governor of Canada, the esteem of 
Colbert, the confidence of Seignelay, the favor of 
Louis XIV. After the beginning of the coloniza- 
tion of Upper Canada, ho perfected the discovery 
of the ]Mi.ssissippi from the Falls of St. Anthony 
to its mouth ; and he will be remembered through 
all time as the father of colonization in the great 
central valley of the West."* 

Avarice, passion and jealousy were not calmed by 
the blood of La Salle. All of his conspirators per- 
ished by ignoble deaths, while only seven of the sis- 
teen succeeded in continuing the journey until 
they reached Canada, and thence found their way 
to France. 

Tonti, who had been left at Fort St. Louis, on 
" Starved Rock" on the Illinois, went down in 
search of his beloved commander. Facing to find 
him, he returned and remained here until 1700, 
thousands of miles away from friends. Then he 
went down the Mississippi to join D'Iberville, who 
had made the discovery of the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi by an ocean voyage. Two years later, he 
went on a mission to the Chiekasaws, but of his 
subsequent history nothing is known. 

The West was now in possession of the French. 
La Salle's plans were yet feasible. The period of 
exploration was now over. ' The great river and 
its outlet was known, and it only remained for that 
nation to enter in and occupy what to many a 
Frenchman was the "Promised Land." Only 
eighteen years had elapsed since IMarquctte and 
Joliet had descended the river and shown the 
course of its outlet. A spirit, less bold than La 
Salle's would never in so short a time have pene- 
trated for more than a thousand miles an unknown 
wilderness, and solved the mystery of the world. 

When Joutel and his companions reached France 
in 16S8, all Europe was on the eve of war. Other 
nations than the French wanted part of the New 
World, and when they saw that nation greedily 
and rapidly accumulating territory there, they en- 
deavored to stay its progress. The league of Augs- 
burg was formed in 1687 by the princes of the Em- 
pire to restrain the ambition of Louis XIV, and 
in 1688, he began hostilities by the capture of 
I'hilipsburg. The nest year, England, under the 

* Rancrofl. 



lead of William III, joined the alliance, and liciuis 
found himself compelled, with only the aid of the 
Turks, to contend against the united forces of the 
Empires of England, Spain, Holland, Denmark, 
Sweden and Norway. Yet the tide of battle wa- 
vered. In 1689, the French were defeated at 
Walcourt, and the Turks at Widin ; but in 1 690, 
the French wore victorious at Charleroy, and the 
Turks at Belgrade. The next year, and also the 
next, victory inclined to the French, but in 1693, 
Louvois and Luxemberg were dead and Namur 
surrendered to the allies. The war extended to the 
New World, where it was maintained with more 
than equal success by the French, though the En- 
glish population exceeded it more than twenty toone. 
In 1688, the French were estimated at about 
twelve thousand souls in North America, while the 
English were more than two hundred thousand. 
At first the war was prosecuted vigorously. In 
1689, De. Ste. Helene and D'Iberville, two of the 
sons of Charles le Mornc, crossed the wilderness 
and reduced the English forts on Hudson's Bay. 
But in August of the same year, the Iroquois, the 
hereditary foes of the French, captured and burned 
Montreal. Frontenac, who had gone on an ex- 
pedition against New York by sea, was recalled. 
Fort Frontenac was abandoned, and no French 
posts left in the West between Trois Rivieres and 
Mackinaw, and were it not for the Jesuits the en- 
tire West would now have been abandoned. To 
recover their influence, the French planned three 
expeditions. One resulted in the destruction of 
Schenectady, another, Salmon Falls, and the third, 
Casoo Bay. On the other hand. Nova, Scotia was 
reduced by the colonies, and an expedition against 
Montreal went as far as to Lake Champlain, where 
it failed, owing to the dissensions of the leaders. 
Another expedition, consisting of twenty-four ves- 
sels, arrived before Quebec, which also failed 
through the incompetency of Sir William Phipps. 
During the succeeding years, various border con- 
flicts occurred, in all of which border scenes of 
savage cruelty and savage ferocity were enacted. 
The peace of Ryswick, in 1697, closed the war. 
France retained Hudson's Bay, and all the places 
of which she was in possession in 16SS; but the 
boundaries of the English and French claims in 
the New World were still unsettled. 

The conclusion of the conflict left the French 
at liberty to pur.sue their scheme of colonizaticm 
in the'Missis,sippi Valley. In 1698, D'Iberville 
was sent to the lower province, wliich, erelong, 
was made a separate independency, called Louisiana. 



""'I 5) 



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33 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Forta were erected on IVIobile Bay, and the division 
of the territory between the French and the 
Spaniards was settled. Trouble existed between 
the French and the Chickasaws, ending in the 
cruel deaths of many of the leaders, in the 
fruitless endeavors of the Canadian and Louisi- 
aniau forces combining against the Chickasaws. 
For many years the conflict raged, with unequal 
successes, until the Indian power gave way before 
superior military tactics. In the end. New Orleans 
was founded, in 1718, and the French power 
secured. 

Before this was consummated, however, France 
became entangled in another war against the 
allied powers, ending in her defeat and the loss 
of Nova Scotia, Hudson's Bay and Newfound- 
land. Tlie peace of Utrecht clo.sed the war 
in 1713. 

The French, weary with prolonged strife, 
adopted the plan, more peaceful in its nature, of 
giving out to distinguished men the monopoly of 
certain districts in the fur trade, the most pros- 
perous of any avocation then. Crozat and 
Cadillac — the latter the founder of Detroit, in 
1701 — were the chief ones concerned in this. 
The foundin^g of the villages of Kaskaskia, Ca- 
hokia, Vincenncs, and others in the Mississippi 
and Wabash Valleys, led to the rapid develop- 
ment, according to the French custom of all 
these parts of the West, while along all the chief 
water-courses, other trading posts and forts were 
established, rapidly fulfilling the hopes of La 
Salle, broached so many years befure. 

The Fronch had, at the beginning of the 
eighteenth century, four principal routes to their 
western towns, two of which pa.ssed over the soil 
of Ohio. The first of these was the one followed 
by Jlarfjuette and Joliet, by way of the Lakes to 
Green Bay, in Wisconsin ; thence across a portage 
to the Wisconsin River, down which they floated 
to the Mississippi. On their return they came 
up the Illinois River, to the site of Chicago, 
whence Joliet returned to Quebec by the Lakes. 
La Salle's route was first by the Lakes to the St. 
Joseph's River, which he followed to the portage 
to the Kankakee, and thence downward to the 
INIississippi. On his second and third attempt, 
he crossed the lower peninsula of Michigan to 
the Kankakee, and again traversed its waters to 
the Illinois. The third route was established 
about 1716. It followed the .southern shores of 
L;ikc Eric to the mouth of the Mauniee River; 
following this stream, the voyagers went on to the 



junction between it and the St. Marj-'s, which 
they followed to the " Oubache " — Wabash — and 
then to the French villages in Vigo and Knox 
Counties, in Indiana. Vincennes was the oldest 
and most important one here. It had been 
founded in 1702 by a French trader, and was, at 
the date of the establishment of the third route, 
in a prosperous condition. For many years, the 
traders crossed the plains of Southern Illinois to 
the French towns on the bottoms opposite St. 
Louis. They were afraid to go on down the 
" Waba" to the Ohio, as the Indians had fright- 
ened them with accounts of the great monsters 
below. Finally, some adventurous spirit went 
down the river, found it emptied into the Ohio, 
and solved the problem of the true outlet of the 
Ohio, heretofore supposed to be a tributary of the 
Wabash. 

The fourth route was from the southern shore 
of Lake Erie, at Presqueville, over a portage of 
fifteen miles to the head of French Creek, at 
Waterford,'Penn.; thence down that stream to the 
Ohio, and on to the Mississippi. Along hll these 
routes, ports and posts were carefiilly maintained. 
Many were on the soil of Ohio, and were the first 
attempts of the white race to possess its domain. 
Many of the ruins of these posts are yet found on 
the southern shore of Lake Erie, and at the 
outlets of .streams flowing into the lake and the Ohio 
River. The principal forts were at JIackinaw, at 
Presqueville, at the mouth of the St. Joseph's, on 
Starved Rock, and along the Father of Waters. 
Yet another power was encroaching on them: a 
sturdy race, clinging to the inhospitable Atlantic 
shores, were coming over the mountains. The 
murmurs of a conflict were already heard— a con- 
flict that would change the fate of a nation. 

The French were extending their explorations 
beyond the Mississippi; they were also forming a 
political organization, and increasing their influence 
over the natives. Of a pa.ssive nature, liowever, 
their power iind their influence could not with- 
stand a more aggressive nature, and they were 
obliged, finally, to give way. They had the 
fruitful valleys of the West more than a century; 
yet they developed no resources, opened no mines 
of wealth, and left; the country as passive as they 
found it. 

Of the growth of the West under French rule, 
but little else remains to be said. The .sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon race on the Atlantic coa.st, and their 
progenitors in England, began, now, to turn their 
attention to this vast country. The voluptuousness 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



33 



of tho French court, tlicir neglect of the true 
basis of wealth, agriculture, anil the repressive 
tendencies laid on the colonists, led the latter {o 
adopt a hunter's life, and leave the country unde- 
veloped and ready for the people who claimed the 
country from "sea to sea." Tlu'ir exjilorers were 
now at work. The change wa.s at hand. 

Occasional mention has been made in the his- 
tory of the State, in prcecdiiip; pages, of settle- 
ments and trading-posts of the French traders, 
explorers and missionaries, within the limits of 
Ohio. The Freixh were the first white men to 
occupy the northwestern part of the New World, 
and though their stay was brief, yet it opened the 
way to a sinewy race, living on the shores of the 
Atlantic, who in time came, saw, and conquered 
that part of America, making it what the people 
of to-day enjoy. 

As early as 1669, four years before the discov- 
ery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette, 
La Salle, the famous explorer, discovered the Ohio 
River, and paddled down its gentle current as far 
as the falls at the present city of Louisville, but he, 
like others of the day, made no settlement on its 
banks, only claiming the country for his King by 
virtue of this discovery. 

Early in the beginning of the eighteenth cent- 
ury, French traders and voyagers passed along the 
southern shores of Lake Erie, to the mouth of the 
Maumee, up whose waters they rowed their bark 
canoes, on their way to theu- outposts in the Wa- 
bash and Illinois Valleys, established between 
1675 and 1700. As soon as they could, without 
danger from their inveterate enemies, the Irorjuois, 
ma.sters of all the lower lake country, erect a 
trading-post at the mouth of this river, they did 
60. It was made a depot of considerable note, 
and was, probaljly, the first permanent liabitation 
of white men in Ohio. It remained until after 
the peace of 1703, the termiuatidn of the French 
and Indian war, and the occupancy of this country 
by the l']nglish. On the site of tlie French trading- 
post, the British, in 1794, erected Fort Miami, 
which they garrisoned until the country came 
under the control of Americans. Now, Maumee 
City covers the ground. 

The French had a trading-post at the mouth of 
the Huron River, in what is now Erie County. 
When it was built is not now known. It was, how- 
ever, probably one of their early outposts, and 
may have been built before 1750. They had an- 
other on the shore of the bay, on or near the site 
of Sandusky City. Both this and the one at the 



mouth of the Huron River were abandoned before 
the war of the Revolution. On Lewis Evan's map 
of the British Middle Colonies, published in 1755, 
a French fort, called "Fort Junandat, built in 
1754," is marked on the east bank of the San- 
dusky River, several miles below its mouth. Fort 
Sandusky, on the western bank, is also noted. 
Several Wyandot towns are likewise marked. But 
very little is known concerning any of these 
trading-]i(i.sts. They were, evidently, only tempo- 
rary, and were abandoned when the English came 
into possession of the country. 

The mouth of tlie Cuyahoga River was another 
important place. On Evan's map there is marked 
on the west bank of the Cuyahoga, some distance 
from its mouth, the words ^^ French House," doubt- 
less, the station of a French trader. The ruins 
of a house, found about five miles from the mouth 
of the river, on the west bank, are supposed to 
be those of the trader's station. 

In 1786, the j\Ioravian missionary, Zeisberger, 
with his Indian converts, left Detroit in a vessel 
called the ^Mackinaw, and sailed to the mouth of 
the Cuyahoga. From there they went up the 
river about ten miles, and settled in an abandoned 
Ottawa village, where Independence now is, which 
place they called " Sdint's Jicst." Their stay was 
brief, for the following Ajiril, they left for the 
Huron River, and settled near the site of Milan, 
Erie County, at a locality they called New Salem. 

There are but few records of settlements made 
by the French until after 1750. Even these can 
hardly be called settlements, as they were simply 
trading-posts. The French easily affiliated witli 
the Indians, and had little energy beyond trading. 
They never cultivated fields, laid low fore.'its, and 
subjugated the country. They were a half-Indian 
race, so to speak, and hence did little if anything 
in developing the West. 

About 1749, some English traders came to a 
place in what is now Shelby County, on the 
banks of a creek since known as Loramie's 
Creek, and established a trading-statitm with the 
Indians. This was the first English trading-place 
or attempt at settlement in the State. It was here 
but a short time, however, when the French, hear- 
ing of its existence, sent a party of soldiers to the 
Twigtwees, among whcini it was founded, and de- 
manded the traders as intruders ujnin French ter- 
ritory. The Twigtwees refusing to deliver up 
their friends, the h^-ench, assisted by a large party 
of Ottawa.s and Chippewas, attacked the trading- 
house, probably a block-house, and, after a severe 



'V 



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34 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



battle, captured it. The traders were taken to 
Canada. Tliis fort was called by the English 
" Pickawillany," from which "Piqua" is probably 
derived. About the time that Kentucky was srt- 
tled, a Canadian Frenchman, named Lorumie, 
established a store on the site of the old fort. He 
was a bitter enemy of the Americans, and fur a 
loni^ time Loramie's store was the headquarters of 
mischief toward the settlers. 

The French had the faculty of endearing them- 
selves to the Indians by their easy assimilation of 
their habits; and, no doubt, Loramio was equal to 
any in this respect, and hence gained great influ- 
ence over them. Col. Johnston, many years an 
Indian Agent from the United States among the 
Western tribes, stated that he had often seen the 
" Indians burst into tears when speaking of the 
times when their French father had d(jminion 
over them ; and their attachment always remained 
unabated." 

So much influence had Loramie with the In- 
dians, that, when Gen. Clarke, from Kentucky, 
invaded the IMiami Valley in 17S2, his attention 
was attracted to the spot. He came on and burnt 
the Indian settlement here, and destroyed the store 
of the Frenchman, selling his goods among the 
men at auction. Loramie fled to the Shawanees, 
and, with a colony of that nation, emigrated west 
of the Mississippi, to the Spanish possessions, 
where he again began his life of a trader. 

In 179-1, during the Indian war, a fort was 
built on the site of the store by Wayne, and 
named Fort Loramie. The last ofiicer who had 
command here was Capt. Butler, a nephew of 
Col. Richard Butler, who fell at St. Clair's defeat. 
While here with his family, he lost an interesting 
boy, about eight years of age. About his grave, 
the sorrowing father and mother built a substantial 
picket-fence, planted honeysuckles over it, which, 
long after, remained to mark the grave of the 
soldier's boy. 

The site of Fort Loramie was always an im- 
portant point, and was one of the places defined 
on the boundary line at the Greenville treaty. 
Now a barn covers the spot. 

At the junction of the Aiiglaize and Maumee 
Rivers, on the site of Fort Defiance, built by Gen. 
Wayne in 179-1, was a settlement of traders, 
established some time before the Indian war 
began. "On the high ground extending tVom the 
Maumee a quarter of a mile up the Auglaize, 
about two hundred yards in width, was an oj)en 
space, on the west and south of which were oak 



woods, with hazel undergrowth. Within this 
opening, a few hundred yards above the point, on 
tjie steep bank of the Auglaize, were five or six 
cabins and log houses, inhabited principally by 
Indian traders. The most northerly, a largo 
hewed-log house, divided below into three apart- 
ments, was occupied ae a warehouse, store and 
dwelling, by George Ironside, the most wealthy 
and influential of the traders on the point. Next 
to his were the houses of Pirault (Peru) a French 
baker, and McKenzie, a Scot, who, in addition to 
merchandising, followed the ocwipatiou of a silver- 
smith, exchanging with the Indians his brooches, 
car- drops and other silver ornaments, at an 
enurmiius profit, for skins and furs. 

Still further up were several other fami- 
lies of . French and English ; and two Ameri- 
can prisoners, Henry Ball, a soldier taken in St. 
Clair's defeat, and his wife, Polly Meadows, 
captured at the same time, were allowed to live 
here and pay their masters the price of their 
ransom — he, by boating to the rapids of the Blau- 
mce, and she by washing and sewing. Fronting 
the house of Ironside, and about fifty yards from 
the bank, was a small stockade, inclosing two 
hewed-log houses, one of which was occupied by 
James Girty (a brother of Simon), the other, 
occasionally, by Elliott and McKee, British 
Indian Agents living at Detroit."* 

The post, cabins and all they contained fell 
under the control of the Americans, when the 
British evacuated the shores of the lakes. 
AVhile they existed, they were an undoubted 
source of Indian discontent, and had much to do 
in prolonging the Indian war. Tin; country 
hereabouts did not settle until some time after 
the creation of the State government. 

As soon ivs the French learned the true source 
of the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, both were made 
a highway to convey the products of their hunt- 
ers. In coursing down the Ohio, they made 
trading-places, or depots, where they could obtain 
furs of the Indians, at accessible points, generally 
at the mouths of the rivers emptying into the 
Ohio. One of these old forts or trading-places 
stood about a mile and a half south of the outlet 
of the Scioto. It was here in 1740; but when 
it was erected no one could tell. The locality 
must have been pretty well known to the whites, 
however; for, in 178.5, three years before the 
settlement of Jlarietta was made, four families 



*NarratIvo of 0. M.Spencer. 



■^0 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



35 



made an incflfectual attempt to settle near the same 
place. Tliey were from Keutucky, but were 
driven away by the Indians a .short time after 
they arrived, not being allowed to build cabins, 
and had only made preparations to plant corn 
and other necessaries of life. While the men 
were encamped near the vicinity of Piketown, 
in Pike County, when on a hunting expedition, 
tliey were surprised by the Indians, and two of 
them slain. The others hastened back to the 
encampment at the mouth of the Scioto, and 
hurriedly gathering the families together, fortu- 
nately got them on a flat-boat, at that hour on its 
way down the river. By the aid of the boat, 
they were enabled to reach Maysville, and gave 
up the attempt to settle north of the Ohio. 

The famou.s "old Scioto Salt Wurk.s," in Jack- 
son County, on the banks of Salt Creek, a tributary 
of the Scioto, were long known to the whites before 
any attempt was made to settle in Ohio. They 
were indicated on the maps published in 1755. 
They were the resort, for generations, of the In- 
dians in all parts of the West, who annually came 
here to make salt. They often brought white 
prisoners with them, and thus the salt works be- 
came known. There were no attempts made to 
settle here, however, until after the Indian war, 
which closed in 1795. As soon as peace was as- 
sured, the whites came here for salt, and soon after 
made a settlement. Another early salt spring 
wa.s in what is now Trumbull County. It is also 
noted on Evan's map of 1755. They were occu- 
pied by the Indians, French, and by the Americans 
as early as 1780, and perhaps earlier. 

As early as 1701 Jloravian missionaries came 
among the Ohio Indians and began tlicir labor.s. 
In a few years, under the lead of Revs. Fredrick 
Post and John Heckewclder, permanent stations 
were established in several parts of the State, chief- 
ly on the Tuscarawas River in Tuscarawas County. 
Here were the three Indian villages^Shocuburn, 
Gnadenhutten and Salem. The site of the first is 
about two miles south of New Philailclphia ; Gna- 
denhutten was seven miles further south, and about 
five miles still on was Salem, a short distance from 
the present village of Port Wa.shington. The first 
and last named of these villages were on tlic west 
side of the Tuscarawas Eiver, near the margin of 
the Ohio Canal. Gnadenhutten was on the ea.st 
side of the river. It was here that the brutal 
massacre of these Christian Indians, by the rangers 
under Col. Williamson, occurred March 8, 1782. 
The account of the massacre and of these tribes 



appears iu these pages, and it only remains to 
notice what became of them. 

The hospitable and friendly character of tliesc 
Indians had extended bej'ond their white breth- 
ren on the Ohio. The American people at large 
looked on the act of Williamson and his men as an 
outrage on humanity. Congress felt its influence, 
and gave them a tract of twelve thousand acres, 
embracing theb' foiTuer homes, and induced them 
to return from the northern towns whither they had 
fled. As the whites came into the country, their 
manners degenerated until it became necessary to 
remove them. Througli Gen. Cass, of IMichigan, 
an agreement was made with them, whereby Con- 
gress paid them over $6,000, an annuity of $400, 
and 24,000 acres in some territory to be designated 
by the United States. This treaty, by some means, 
was never effectually carried out, and the princi- 
pal part of them took up their residence near a 
Jloraviau missionary station on the River Thames, 
in Canada. Their old churchyard still exists on 
the Tuscarawas River, and here rest the bones of 
several of their devoted teachers. It is proper 
to remark here, that Mary Heckewclder, daughter 
of the missionary, is generally believed to have 
been the first white child born in Ohio. How- 
ever, this is largely conjecture. Captive women 
among the Indians, before the birth of Mary 
Heckewclder, are known to have borne children, 
which afterward, with their mothers, were restored 
to their friends. The assertion that Mary 
Heckewclder was the first child born in Ohio, is 
therefore incorrect. She is the first of whom any 
definite record is made. 

These outposts are about all that are known 
to have existed prior to the settlement at Mari- 
etta. About one-half mile below Bolivar, on 
the western line of Tuscarawas County, are the 
remains of Fort Laurens, erected in 1778, by 
a detachment of 1,000 men under Gen. Mc- 
intosh, from Fort Pitt. It was, however, occu- 
pied but a short time, vacated in August, 1770, as 
it was deemed untenable at such a distance from 
the frontier. 

During the existence of the six years' Indian 
war, a settlement of French emigrants was made 
on the Ohio River, that deserves notice. It illus- 
trates very clearly the extreme ignorance and 
credulity jirevalent at that day. In May or June 
of 1788, Joel Barlow left this country for Europe, 
" authorized to dispose of a very large body of 
land in the West. " In 1790, he distributed pro- 
posals in Paris for the disposal of lands at five 



-^ e) 



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:>£ 



36 



HISTORY OP OHIO. 



shillings per acre, which, says Volney, " promised 
a climate healthy and delightful ; scarcely such a 
thing as a frost in the winter ; a river, called by 
way of eminence ' The Beautiful, ' abounding in 
fish of an enormous size ; magnificent fi)rests of a 
tree from which sugar flows, and a shrub which 
yields candles ; venison in abundance ; no military 
enrollments, and no quarters to find for soldiers." 
Purchaser.s became numeroiis, individuals and 
whole families sold their property, and in the 
course of 1791 many embarked at the various 
French sea-ports, each with his title in his pocket. 
Five hundred settlers, among whom were many 
wood carvers and guilders to His Majesty, King of 
France, coachmakers, friseurs and peruke makers, 
and other artisans and artistes, equally well fitted 
for a ft-ontier life, arrived in the United States in 
1791-92, and acting without concert, traveling 
without knowledge of the language, customs and 
roads, at last managed to reach the spot designated 
for their residence. There they learned they had 
been cruelly deceived, and that the titles they held 
were worthless. Without food, shelterless, and 
danger closing around them, they were in a position 
that none but a Frenchman could be in without 
despair. Who brought them thither, and who was 
to blame, is yet a disputed point. Some affirm 
that those to whom large grants of land were made 
when the Ohio Company procured its charter, were 
the real instigators of the movement. They failed 
to pay for their lands, and hence the title reverted 
to the Government. This, coming to the ears of 
the poor Frenchmen, rendered their situation more 
distressing. They never paid for their lands, and 
only through the clemency of Congress, who after- 
ward gave them a grant of land, and confirmed 
them in its title, were they enabled to secure a foot- 
hold. Whatever doubt there may be as to the 



causes of these people being so grossly deceived, 
there can be none regarding their suflerings. They 
had followed a jack-o-lantern into the howling 
wilderness, and must work or starve. The land 
upon which they had befti located was covered 
with immense forest trees, to level which the coach- 
makers were at a loss. At last, hoping to conquer 
by a coup de main, they tied ropes to the branches, 
and while a dozen pulled at them as many fell at 
the trunk with all sorts of edged tools, and thus 
soon brought the monster to the earth. Yet he 
was a burden. He was down, to be sure, but as 
much in the way as ever. Several lopped off the 
branches, others dug an immense trench at his side, 
into which, with might and main, all rolled the 
large log, and then buried him from sight. They 
erected their cabins in a cluster, as they had seen 
them in their own native land, thus affording some 
protection from marauding bands of Indians. 
Though isolated here in the lonely wilderness, and 
nearly out of funds with which to purchase pro- 
visions from descending boats, yet once a week 
they met and drowned care in a merry dance, 
greatly to the wonderment of the scout or lone 
Indian who chanced to witness their revelry. 
Though their vivacity could work wonders, it would 
not pay for lands nor buy provisions. Some of those 
at Gallipolis (for such they called their settlement, 
from Gallia, in France ) went to Detroit, some to 
Kaskaskia, and some bought land of the Ohio 
Company, who treated them liberally. Congress, 
too, in 1795, being informed of their sufferings, 
and how they had been deceived, granted them 
24,(100 acres opposite Little Sandy River, to which 
grant, in 1798, 12,000 acres more were added. 
The tract has since been known as French Grant. 
The settlement is a curious episode in early West- 
ern history, and deserves a place in its annals. 




^0 






^ 



IS k_ 



-'— ^t^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



37 



ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS- 



CHAPTER III. 

-TRADERS— FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR IN THE WEST — ENGLISH 
POSSESSION. 



AS has been noted, the French title rested on 
the di-scoveries of their mis.sion;tries and 
traders, upon the occupation of the country, and 
upon tlie construction of the treaties of liyswick, 
Utrecht and Aix hi Chapelle. The EngHsh 
chiims to the same region were based on the fact 
of a prior occupation of tlie corresponding coast, 
on an opposite construction of the same treaties, 
and an alleged cession of the rights of the 
Indians. The rights acquired by discovery were 
conventional, and in equity were good only 
between European powers, and could not affect the 
rights of the natives, but this distinction was dis- 
regarded by all European powers. The inquiry of 
an Indian chief embodies the whole controversy: 
" Where are the Indian lands, since the French 
claim all on the north side of the Ohio and the 
P>nglish all on the south side of it?" 

The English charters expressly granted to all 
the original colonies the country westward to the 
South Sea. and the claims thus set up in the AVest, 
though held in abeyance, were never relinquished. 
The primary distinction between the two nations 
governed their actions in the New World, and led 
finally to the supremacy of the English. They 
were fixed agricultural communities. The French 
were mere trading-posts. Though the French 
were the prime movers in the exploration of the 
West, the English made discoveries during their 
occupation, however, mainly Ijy their traders, who 
penetrated the Western wilderness by way of the 
Ohio River, entering it from the two streams which 
uniting form that river. Daniel Coxie, in 1722, 
published, in London, " A description of the 
English province of Carolina, by the Spaniards 
called Florida, and by the French called La Louis- 
iane, as also the great and famous river Mescha- 
cebe, or Mississippi, the five vast navigable lakes 
of fresh water, and the parts adjacent, together 
with an account of the commodities of the growth 
and jiroduetion of the said ])rovincc." The title 
of this work exhibits very clearly the opinions of 
the English people respecting the West. As early 
as 1l!:}(), Charles I granted to Sir Robert Heath 
" All that part of America lying between thirty- 



one and thirty-six degrees north latitude, from sea 
to sea," out of which the limits of Carolina were 
afterward taken. This immense grant was con- 
veyed in 1638, to the Earl of Arundel, and after- 
ward came into the posse.ssion of Dr. Daniel Coxie. 
In the pro!3ccution of this claim, it appeared that 
Col. Wood, of Virginia, from 1()54 to 1004, ex- 
plored several branches of the Ohio and " JMescha- 
cebe," as they spell the Mississippi. A Mr. Need- 
ham, who was employed by Col. Wood, kept a 
journal of the exploration. There is also the ac- 
count of some one who had explored the Missis- 
sippi to the Yellow, or Missouri River, before 1()76. 
These, and others, are said to linve been there 
when La Salle explored the outlet of the Great 
River, as he found tools among the natives which 
were of European manufacture. They had been 
brought here by English adventurers. Also, when 
Iberville was colonizing the lower part of Louis- 
iana, these same persons visited the Chickasaws 
and stirred them up against the French. It is also 
stated that La Salle found that some one had been 
among the Natchez tribes when he returned from 
the discovery of the outlet of the ^Mississippi, and 
excited them again.st him. There is, however, no 
good authority for these statements, and they are 
doubtless incorrect. There is also an account that 
in 1678, several persons went from New England 
as far south as New Mexico, " one hundred and 
fifty leagues beyond the Mesehacebe," the narrative 
reads, and on their return wrote an account of the 
expedition. This, also, cannot be traced to good 
authority. The only accurate account of the 
English reaching the West was when Bienville 
met the British vessel at the " English Turn," 
about 17<H). A few of their traders may have 
been in the valley west of the Alleghany Mount- 
ains before 1700, though no reliable accounts are 
now found to confirm these suppo.sitions. Still, 
from the earliest occupation of the Atlantic Coast 
by the English, they claimed the country, and, 
though the policy of its occupation rested i'fff a 
time, it was never ftilly abandoned. Its revival 
dates from 1710 properly, though no immediate 
endeavor was made for many years after. That 



38 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



year, Alexander SpottswooJ was made Governor of 
Virginia. No sooner did he assume the liinctions 
of ruler, than, casting' his eye over his domiuiou, he 
saw the great West iaeyond the Alleghany Mount- 
ains unoccupied by the English, and rapidly filling 
with the French, who ho observed were gradually 
confining the English to the A-tlantic Coast. His 
prophetic eye saw at a glance the animus of the 
whole scheme, and he determined to act promptly 
on the defensive. Through his representation, the 
Virginia Assembly was induced to make an appro- 
priation to defray the expense of an exploration of 
the mountains, and see if a suitable pass could not 
then be found where they could be crossed. The 
Governor led the expedition in person. The pass 
was discovered, a route marked out for future em- 
igrants, and the party returned to Williamsburg. 
There the Governor established the order of the 
"Knights of the Golden Hors&shoe," pu-esented 
his report to the Colonial Assembly and one to his 
King. In each report, he exposed with great bold- 
ness the scheme of the French, and ad\'ised the 
building of a chain of forts across to the Ohio, and 
the formation of settlements to counteract them. 
The British Government, engrossed with other 
matters, neglected his advice. Forty years after, 
they remembered it, only to regret that it was so 
thoughtlessly disregarded. 

Individuals, however, profited by his advice. By 
1730, traders began in earnest to cross the mount- 
ains and gather from the Indians the stores beyond. 
They now began to adopt a system, and abandoned 
the heretofore renegade habits of those who had 
superseded them, many of whom never returned to 
the Atlantic Coast. In 1742, John Howard de- 
scended the Ohio in a skin canoe, and, on the 
jMississip])i was taken prisoner by the French. His 
captivity did not in the least deter others from 
coming. Indeed, the date of his voyage was the 
commencement of a vigorous trade with the In- 
dians by the English, who crossed the AUeghanies 
by the route discovered by Gov. Spottswood. In 
17-18, Conrad Weiser, a German of Herenberg, who 
had acquired in early life a knowledge of the JIo- 
hawk tongue by a residence among them, was sent 
on an embassy tothe Shawanees on the C)hio. He 
went as i'ar as Logstown.a Shawanee village on the 
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles be- 
low the site of Pittsburgh. Here he met the chiefs 
in jounsel. and secured their promise of aid against 
the French. 

The principal ground of the claims of the 
English in the Xorthwest was the treaty witli the 



Five Nation.s — the Iroquois. This powerful confed- 
eration claimed the jurisdiction over an immense 
extent of country. Their policy differed considera- 
bly from other Indian tribes. They were the only 
confederation which attempted any form of gov- 
ernment in America. They were often termed the 
" Six Nations," as the entrance of another tribe 
into the confederacy made that number. They 
were the conquerors of nearly all tribes from Lower 
Canada, to and beyond the MissLssijipi. They only 
exacted, however, a tribute from the con([uered 
tribes, leaving them to manage their own internal 
affairs, and stipulating that to them alone did the 
right of cession belong. Their country, under 
these claims, embraced all of America north of the 
Cherokee Nation, in \lrginia ; all Kentucky, and 
all the Northwest, save a district in Ohio and Indi- 
ana, and a small section in Southwe.storn Illinois, 
claimed by the Miami Confederacy. The Iroquois, 
or Six Nations, were the terror of all other tribes. 
It was they who devastated the Illinois country 
about Rock Fort in 1680, and caused wide-spread 
alarm among all the Western Indians. In lt)84, 
Lord Howard, Governor of Virginia, held a treaty 
with the Iroquois at Albany, when, at the request 
of Col. Duncan, of New York, they placed them- 
selves under the protection of the English. They 
made a deed of sale then, by treaty, to the British 
Government, of a vast tract of country south and 
east of the Illinois River, and extending into Can- 
ada. In 172t), another deed was drawn up and 
signed by the chiefs of the national confederacy by 
which their lands were convej-ed in trust to 
England, " to be pirotected and defended by His 
Majesty, to and for the use of the grantors and 
their heirs."* 

If the Six Nations had a good claim to the West^ 
em country, there is but little doubt but England 
was ju.stificd in defending their country against the 
French, as, by the treaty of Utrecht, they had 
agreed not to invade the lands of Britain's Indian 
allies. This claim was vigorously contested by 
France, as that country claimed the Iroquois had 
no lawful jurisdiction over the West. In all the 
disputes, the interests of the contending nations 
was, however, the paramount consideration. The 
rights of the Indians were little regarded. 

The British also purchased land by the treaty 
of Lancaster, in 1744, wherein they agreed to pay 
the Six Nations for land settled unlawfully in 
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. The In- 

* Annals of the West. 



^ f^ 



i>> 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



39 



dians were given goods and gold amounting to 
near a thousand pounds sterling. They were also 
promised the protection of the English. Had this 
latter provision been faithfully carried out, much 
blood would have been saved in after years. The 
treaties with the Six Nations were the real basis 
of the claims of Great Britain to the West; claims 
that were only settled by war. The Shawanee In- 
dians, on the Ohio, were also becoming hostile to 
the English, and began to assume a threatening 
exterior. Peter Chartier, a half-breed, residing in 
Philadelphia, escaped from the authorities, those 
by whom he was held for a violation of the laws, 
and joining the Shawanees, persuaded them to join 
the French. Soon after, in 1748 or 1744, he 
placed himself at the head of 400 of their war- 
riors, and lay in wait on the Alk'ghany River for 
the provincial traders. He captured two, exhib- 
ited to them a captain's commission from the 
French, and seized their goods, worth £1,600. 
The Indians, after this, emboldened by the aid 
given them by the French, became more and more 
hostile, and Weisor was again sent across the mount- 
ains in 1748, with presents to conciliate them and 
sound them on their feelings for the rival nations, 
and also to see what they thought of a settlement 
of the English to be made in the West. The visit 
of Conrad WeLser was successful, and Thomas Lee, 
with twelve other Virginians, among whom were 
Lawrence and Augustine Washington, brothers of 
George Washington, formed a company which 
they styled the Ohio Company, and, in 1748, peti- 
tioned the King for a grant beyond the mountains. 
The monarch approved the petition and the gov- 
ernment of Virginia was ordered to grant the Com- 
pany 500,000 acres within the bounds of that 
colony beyond the Alleghanies, 200,000 of which 
were to be located at once. This provision was to 
hold good for ten years, free of quit rent, provided 
the Company would settle 100 families within 
seven years, and build a fort sufficient for their 
protection. These terms the Company accepted, 
and sent at once to London for a cargo suitable for 
the Indian trade. This was the beginning of 
English Companies in the West ; this one forming 
a prominent part in the history of Ohio, as will 
be seen hereafter. Others were also formed in 
Virginia, whose object wa.s the colonization of the 
West. One of these, the Loyal Company, received, 
on the 12th of June, 1740, a grant of 800,000 
acres, from the line of Canada on the north and 
west, and on the 29th of October, 1751 , the Green- 
briar Company received a grant of 100,000 acres. 



To these encroachments, the French were by no 
means blind. They saw plainly enough that if 
the English gained a foothold in the West, they 
would inevitably endeavor to obtain the country, 
and one day the i.ssue could only be decided by 
war. Vaudreuil, the French Governor, had long 
anxiously watched the coming struggle. In 1774, 
he wrote home representing the conse([uences that 
would surely come, should the English succeed in 
their plans. The towns of the French in Illinois 
were producing large amounts of bread-stuffs and 
provisions which they sent to New Orleans. These 
provinces were becoming valuable, and must not be 
allowed to come under control of a rival power. 
In 1740, Louis Celeron was sent by the Governor 
with a party of soldiers to plant leaden plates, suit- 
ably inscribed, alimg the Ohio at the mouths of 
the principal .streams. Two of these plates were 
afterward exhumed. One was sent to the Mary- 
land Historical Society, and the inscription* deci- 
phered by De Witt Clinton. On these plates was 
clearly stated the claims of France, as will be seen 
from the tr.an.slation below. 

England's claim, briefly and clearly stated, read 
a-s follows: "That all lauds, or countries west- 
ward from the Atlantic Ocean to the South Sea, 
between 4S and 34 degrees of North Latitude, 
were expressly included in the grant of King 
James the First, to divers of his subjects, so long 
time since as the year 160G, and afterwards con- 
firmed in the year 1020; and under this grant, 
the colony of Virginia claims extent so far west 
as the South Sea, and the ancient colonics of Mass- 
achusetts Bay and Connecticut, were by their 
respective charters, made to extend to the said 
South Sea, so that not only the right to the sea 
coast, but to all the Inland countries from sea to 
sea, has at all times been a.sserted by the Crown of 
England."f 

To make good their titles, both nations were now 
doing their utmost. Professedly at peace, it only 
needed a torch applied, as it were, to any point, to 
instantly precipitate hostilities. The French were 

* The following is tho trflnnlation of the iDBcrlption of the plate 
found at Veiiangu: " In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV, King of 
Pranee, we, Celeron, cumniandant of a detachment by Monsieur 
the Marquis of Gallisoniere, Commander-iu-chief of New France, 
to eatahlieh tranquillity in certain Indian villagi-s in these Cantons, 
have hurled this pinte at the confluence of tlie Toraclakoin, this 
twenty-ninth of July, near the River Ohio, otherwise Beautiful 
River, as a monument of renewal of poBSession which we have taken 
of the said river, and all its tributaries; and of all the land on both 
sides, as far as the sources of said rivers; inasmuch as the preceding 
Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it hy tin ir arms 
and hy treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Ail 
La Chapelle." 

i Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. 



^1 



h Xrf 



40 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



busily engaged erecting forts from the soutliern 
shores of Lake Erie to the Ohio, and on down in 
the Illinois Valley ; up at Detroit, and at all its 
posts, preparations were constantly going on for the 
crisis, now sure to come. The issue between the 
two governments was now flilly made up. It ad- 
mitted of no compromise but the sword. To that, 
however, neither power desired an immediate ap- 
peal, and both saught rather to establish and fortify 
their interests, and to conciliate the Indian tribes. 
The Engli.sh, through the Ohio Company, sent out 
Christopher Gi.st in the fall of 1750, to explore the 
regions west of the mountains. He was instructed 
to examine the passes, trace the courses of the 
rivers, mark the falls, seek for valuable lands, ob- 
serve the .strength, and to conciliate the friend.ship 
of the Indian tribes. He was well fitted for such 
an enterprise. Hardy, sagacious, bold, an adept in 
Indian character, a hunter by occupation, no man 
was better qualified than he for such an undertak- 
ing. Ho visited Logstown, where he wa.s jealously 
received, ])a,ssed over to the JMuskingum River and 
Valley in Ohio, where he found a village of Wyan- 
dots, divided in sentiment. At this village he met 
Crogan, another equally fomous fi-ontiersman, who 
had been sent out by Pennsylvania. Together 
they held a council with the chiefs, and received 
assurance of the friendship of the tribe. This 
done, they passed to the Shawnee towns on the 
Scioto, received their a.ssurances of friendship, and 
went on to the Miami Valley, which they crossed, 
remarking in Crogan's journal of its great fertili- 
ty. They niado a raft of logs on which they 
crossed the Great IMiami, visited Piqua, the chief 
town of the I'iekawillanies, and here made treaties 
with the Weas and Piankcshaws. While hero, a 
de])utation of the Ottawas visited the Miami Con- 
federacy to induce them to unite with the French. 
They were repulsed through the influence of the 
English agents, the Miainis sending Gist word that 
they would " stand like the mountains. " Crogan 
now returned and published an account of their 
wanderings. Gist followed the Miami to its 
mouth, passed down the Ohio till within fifteen 
miles of the falls, then returned by way of the 
Kentucky River, (jvcr the highlands of Kentucky 
to Virginia, arriving in May, 1751. He had 
visited the Mingoes, Delawares, Wyandots, Shawa- 
nees and Jliamis, proposed a union among these 
tribes, and a]ipointcd a grand council to meet at 
Logstown to i'orm an alHance among themselves 
and with Virginia. His journey was marvelous 
for the day. It was extremely hazardous, as he 



wa.s part of the time among hostile tribes, who 
could have captured him and been well rewarded 
by the French Government. But Gist knew how 
to act, and was succes.sful. 

While Gist was doing this, some English traders 
established themselves at a place in what is now 
known as Shelby County, Ohio, and opened a 
store for the purpose of trading with the Indians. 
This was clearly in the limits of the West, claimed 
by the French, and at once aroused them to action. 
The fort orstockade stood on the banks of Loramie's 
Creek, about sixteen miles northwest of the present 
city of Sydney. It received the name Loramie 
from the creek by the French, which received 
its name in turn from the French trader of 
that name, who had a trading-post on this 
creek. Loramie had fled to the Spanish country 
west of the IMississippi, and for many years 
was a trader there ; his store being at the junc- 
tion of the Kansas and Missouri, near the present 
city of Kansas City, IMo. When the English 
traders came to Loramie's Creek, and erected 
their trading-place, they gave it the name of Pick- 
awillany, from the tribe of Indians there. The 
Jliami confederacy granted them thi.s privilege 
as the result of the presents brought by Crogan and 
Gist. It is also asserted that Andrew Montour, 
a half-breed, son of a Seneca chief and the famous 
Catharine Montour, who was an important fac- 
tor afterward in the English treaties with the 
Indians, was with them, and by his influence did 
much to aid in securing the privilege. Thus was 
established the first English trading-post in the 
Northwest Territory and in Ohio. It, however, 
enjoyed only a short duration. The French could 
not endure so clear an invasion of their country, 
an<l gathering a force of Ottawas and Chippewas, 
now their allies, they attacked the stockade in 
June, 1752. At first they demanded of the Miamis 
the surrender of the fort, as they were the real 
cause of its location, having granted the English 
the privilege. The ]\Iiamis not only refused, but 
aided the IJriti.sh in the defense. In the battle that 
ensued, foiirtecn of the Miamis were slain, and all 
the traders captured. One account says they were 
burned, another, and probably the correct one, 
states that they were taken to Canada as prisoners 
of war. It is probable the traders were from I'enn- 
sylvania, as that commonwealth made the Miamis 
presents as condolence for their warriors that were 
slain. 

Blood had now been shed. The opening gun of 
the French and Indian war had been fired, and both 



■^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



41 



nations became more deeply interested in affiiirs in 
tlie West. The Engli.sli were determined to secure 
additional title to the West, and, iu 1752, sent 
Messrs. Fry, Lomax and Pattou as commissioners 
to Logstown to treat with the Indians, and confirm 
the Lancaster treaty. They met the Indians on 
the 9th of June, staled their desires, and on the 
11th received their answer. At first, the sav- 
ages were not inclined to recognize the Lancaster 
treaty, but agreed to aid the English, as the French 
had already made war on the Twigtees (at Picka- 
willany), and consented to the establishment of a 
fort and trading-post at the forks of the Ohio. 
This was not all the Virginians wanted, however, 
and taking aside Andrew Slont(jur, now chief of the 
Six Nations, persuaded him to use his influence 
with the red men. By such means, they were in- 
duced to treat, and on the 13th they all united in 
signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in 
its full extent, consenting to asettlement.southwest 
of the Ohio, and covenanting that it .should not be 
disturbed by them. By such means was obtained 
the treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. 

All this time, the home governments were en- 
deavoring to out-maneuver each other with regard 
to the lands in the West, though there the outlook 
only betokened war. The French understood bet- 
ter than the English how to manage the Indians, 
and succeeded in attaching them firmly to their 
cause. The English were not honest in their 
actions with them, and hence, in after years, the 
massacres that followed. 

At the close of 1752, Gist was at work, in con- 
formity with the Lancaster and Logstown treaties, 
laying out a fort and town on Chartier's Creek, 
about ten miles below the fork. Eleven families 
had crossed the mountains to settle at tjist's resi- 
dence west of Laurel Hill, not far from the Yough- 
iogheny. Goods had come from England for the 
Ohio Company, which wore carried as far West as 
Will's Creek, where Cumberland now stands ; and 
where they were taken by the Indians and traders. 

On the other hand, the French were gathering 
cannon and stores on Lake Erie, and, without 
treaties or deeds of land, were gaining the good 
will of the inimical tribes, and preparing, when all 
was ready, to strike the blow. Their fortifications 
consisted of a chain of forts from Lake Erie to 
the Ohio, on the l)order. One was at Presque Lsle, 
on the site of Erie ; one on French Creek, on the 
site of Waterford, Penn.; one at the mouth of 
French Creek, in Venango County, Penn.; while 
opposite it was another, effectually commanding 



that section of country. These forts, it will be 
observed, were all in the limits of the Pennsyl- 
vania colony. The Governor informed the iVssem- 
bly of their existence, who voted £()()() to be used 
in purchasing presents for the Indians near the 
forts, and thereby hold their friendship. Virginia, 
also, took similar measures. Trent was sent, with 
guns and ammunition and presents, to the friendly 
tribes, and, while on his mission, learned of the 
plates of lead planted by the French. In October, 
1753, a treaty was consummated wifh representa- 
tives of the Iroquois, Dclawares, Shawanees, Twig- 
twees and Wyandots, by commissioners from 
Pennsylvania, one of whom was the philosopher 
Franklin. At the conferences held at this lime, 
the Indians complained of the actions of the 
French in forcibly taking possession of the dis- 
puted country, and also bitterly denounced them 
for u.sing rum to intoxicate the red men, when 
they desired to gain any advantage. Not long 
after, they had similar grounds of complaint against 
the English, whose lawless traders cared for nothing 
but to gain the furs of the savage at as little ex- 
pense as possible. 

The encroachments of the French on what was 
regarded as English territory, created intense feel- 
ing in the colonies, especially in Virginia. The 
purpose of the French to inclose the English on 
the Atlantic Coast, and thus prevent their extension 
over the mountains, became more and more ap- 
parent, and it was thought that this was the open- 
ing of a .scheme already planned by the French 
Court to reduce all North America under the do- 
minion of France. Gov. Dinwiddle determined 
to send an ambassador to the French posts, to as- 
certain their real intentions and to observe the 
amount and disposition of their forces. Hcselected 
a young Virginian, then in his twenty-fii'st year, 
a surveyor by trade and one well qualified for the 
duty. That young man afterward led the Ameri- 
can Colonies in their struggle for liberty. George 
Wa.shington and one companion, Mr. Gist, suc- 
cessfully made the trip, in the solitude of a severe 
winter, received assurance from the French com- 
mandant that they would by no means abandon 
their outposts, and would not yield unless com- 
pelled by force of arms. The commandant was 
exceedingly polite, but firm, and assured the young 
American that "we claim the country on the Ohio 
by virtue of the discovery of La Salle (in KJG!)) 
and will not give it up to the English. Our orders 
are to make prisoners of every Englishman found 
trading in the Ohio Valley." 



\> "V 



,^ 



43 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



During "Washington's absence steps were taken 
to fortify the point formed by the junction of the 
jMonongahela and Alleghany ; and when, on his 
return, he met seventeen horses loaded with mate- 
rials and stores for a fort at the forks of the Ohio, 
and, soon after, some families going out to fettle, 
he knew the defense had begun. As soon as 
Washington made his report. Gov. Dinwiddle 
wrote to the Board of Trade, stating that the 
French were building a fort at Venango, and that, 
in March, twelve or fifteen hundred men would 
be ready to descend the river with their Indian 
allies, for which purpose three hundred canoes had 
been collected ; and that Logstown was to be made 
headquarters, while forts were to be built in other 
places. He sent expresses to the Governors of 
Pennsylvania and New York, apprising them of the 
nature of affairs, and calling upon them for assist- 
ance. He also raLsed two companies, one of which 
was raised by Washington, the other by Trent. 
The one under Trent was to be raised on the. 
frontiers, and was, as soon as possible, to repair to 
the Fork and erect there a fort, begun by the Ohio 
Company. Owing to various conflicting opinions 
between the Governor of Pennsylvania and his 
Assembly, and the conference with the Sis Nations, 
hold by New York, neither of those provinces put 
forth any vigorous measures until stirred to action 
by the inva.sions on the frontiers, and until directed 
by the Earl of Holderness, Secretary of State. 

The fort at Venango was finished by the French 
in April, 1754. All along the creek resounded 
the clang of arms and the preparations for war. 
New York and Pennsylvania, though inactive, 
and debating whether the French really had in- 
vaded English territory or not, sent aid to the 
Old Dominion, now all alive to the conquest. The 
two companies had been increa.sed to six; Washing- 
ton was raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 
and made second under command of Joshua 
Fry. Ten cannon, lately from England, were for- 
warded from Alexandria ; wagons were got ready 
to carry westward provisions and stores through 
the heavy spring roads; and everywhere men were 
enlisting under the King's promise of two hundred 
thousand acres of land to those who would go. 
They were gathering along Will's Creek and iar 
beyond, while Trent, who had come for more men 
and supplies, left a little band of forty-one men, 
working away in hunger and want at the Fork, to 
which both nations were looking with anxious eyes. 
Though no enemy was near, and only a few Indian 
scouts were seen, keen eyes had observed the low 



fortifications at the Fork. Swift feet had borne 
the news of it up the valley, and though Ensign 
Ward, left in command, felt himself secure, on the 
17th of April he saw a sight that made his heart 
sick. Sixty batteaux and three hundred canoes 
were coming down the Alleghany. The com- 
mandant sent him a summons, which evaded no 
words in its meaning. It was useless to contend, 
that evening he supped with his conqueror ; the 
next day he was bowed out by the polite French- 
man, and with his men and tools marched up the 
JMonongahela. The first birds of spring were fill- 
ing the air with their song ; the rivers rolled by, 
swollen by April showers and melting snows; all 
nature was putting on her robes of green ; and the 
fortress, which the English had so earnestly strived 
to obtain and fortify, was now in the hands of the 
French. Fort Du Quesne arose on the incomplete 
fortifications. The seven years' war that followed 
not only affected America, but spread to all quar- 
ters of the world. The war made England a great 
imperial power ; drove the French from Asia and 
America; dispelled the brilliant and extended 
scheme of Louis and his voluptuous empire. 

The active field of operations was in the Canadas 
principally, and along the western borders of Penn- 
sylvania. Tiiere were so few people then in the 
present confines of Ohio, that only the poasession 
of the country, in common with all the West, 
could be the animus of the conflict. It so much 
concerned this part of the New World, that a brief 
resum6 of the war will be necessary to fully under- 
stand its history. 

The fall of the post at the fork of the Ohio, Fort 
Du Quesne, gave the French control of the West. 
Washington went on with his few militia to re- 
take the pos't. Though he was successful at first, 
he was in the end defeated, and surrendered, 
being allowed to return with all his munitions of 
war. The two governments, though trying to 
come to a peaceful solution of the question, were 
getting ready for the conflict. France went stead- 
ily on, though at one time England gave, in a 
measure, her consent to allow the French to retain 
all the country west of the Alloghanics and south 
of the lakes. Had this been done, what a different 
future would have been in America ! Other des- 
tinies were at work, however, and the plan fell 
stillborn. 

England sent Gen. Braddock and a fine force 
of men, who marched directly toward the post on 
the Ohio. His ill-fated expedition resulted only 
in the total defeat of his army, and his own death. 






l>£ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



43 



Washington saved a remnant of the army, and 
made his way back to the colonies. The En- 
gHsh needed a leader. They next planned four 
campaigns; one against Fort Du Quesne; one 
against Crown Point; one against Niagara, and 
one against the French settlements in Nova Scotia. 
Nearly every one proved a failure. The English 
were defeated on .sea and on land, all owing to the 
incapacity of Parliament, and the want of a suit- 
able, vigorous leader. The settlements on the front- 
iers, now exposed to a cruel foe, prepared to defend 
themselves, and already the signs of a government 
of their own, able to defend itself, began to 
appear. They received aid from the colonies. 
Though the French were not repulsed, they and 
their red allies found they could not murder with 
impunity. Self-preservation was a stronger incen- 
tive in conflict than aggrandizement, and the 
cruelty of the Indians found avengers. 

The great Pitt became Prime Minister June 29, 
1757. The leader of the Englisli now appeared. 
The British began to regain their losses on sea and 
land, and for them a brighter day was at hand. 
The key to the West must be retaken, and to Gen. 
Forbes was assigned the duty. Preceding him, 
a trusty man was sent to the Western Indians 
at the head-waters of the Ohio, and along the Mo- 
nongahela and Alleghany, to see if some compro- 
mise with them could not be made, and their aid 
secured. The French had been busy through their 
traders inciting the Indians against the English. 
The lawless traders were another source of trouble. 
Caring nothing for either nation, they carried on a 
distressing traffic in direct violation of the laws, 
continually engendering ill-feeling among the na- 
tives. "Your traders," said one of them, "bring 
scarce anything but rum and flour. They bring 
little powder and lead, or other valuable goods. 
The rum ruins us. We beg you would prevent 
its coming in such quantities by regulating the 
traders. * * * These wicked whisky sell- 
ers, AAen they have got the Indians in liquor, make 
them sell the very clothes oflf their backs. If this 
practice be continued, we must be inevitably ruined. 
We mostearnestly, therefore, beseech you to remedy 
it." They complained of the French traders the same 
way. They were also beginning to see the animus 
of the whole conflict. Neither power cared as 
much for them as for their land, and flattered and 
bullied by turns as served their purposes best. 

The man selected to go upon this undertaking 
was Christian Frederic Post, a Sloravian, who had 
lived among the Indians seventeen years, and mar- 



ried into one of their tribes. lie was a missionary, 
and though obliged to cross a country whose every 
stream had been dyed by blood, and every hillside 
rung with the death-yell, and grown red with the 
light of burning hut.s, he went willingly on his way. 
Of his journey, sufferings and doings, his own 
journal tells the story. He left Philadelphia on the 
15th of July, 1758, and on the 7th of August 
safely passed the French post at Venango, went on 
to Big Beaver Creek, where he held a conference 
with the chiefs of the Indians gathered there. It 
was decided that a great conference should be 
held opposite Fort Du Quesne, where there were 
Indians of eight nations. "We will bear you in 
our bosoms," said the natives, when Post expressed 
a fear that he might be delivered over to the 
French, and royally they fulfilled their promises. 
At the conference, it was made clear to Post that 
all the Western Indians were wavering in their 
allegiance to the French, owing largely to the fiiil- 
ure of that nation to fulfill their promises of aid to 
prevent them from being deprived of their land by 
theSix Nations, and through that confederacy, by the 
English. The Indians complained bitterly, more- 
over, of the disposition of the whites in over-run- 
ning and claiming their lands. "Wh}' did you not 
fight your battles at home or on the sea, instead of 
coming into our country to fight them ? " they 
asked again and again, and mournfully shook their 
heads when they thought of the future before them. 
" Your heart is good," said they to Post. " You 
speak sincerely; but we know there is always a great 
number who wish to get rich ; they have enough ; 
look ! we do not want to be rich and take away 
what others have. The white people think we 
have no brains in our heads ; that they are big, 
and we are a handful ; but remember when you 
hunt for a rattlesnake, you cannot always find it, 
and perhaps it will turn and bite you before you see 
it."* When the war of Pontiac came, and all 
the West was desolated, this saying might have 
been justly remembered. After concluding a peace, 
Post set out for Philadelphia, and after incredi- 
ble hardships, reached the settlement uninjured 
early in September. His mission had more to do 
than at first is apparent, in the success of the 
English. Had it not been for him, a second Brad- 
dock's defeat might have befiillen Forbes, now on 
his way to subjugate Fort Du Quesne. 

Through the heats of August, the army hewed its 
way toward the West. Early in September it 



* Post*B Journal, 



Vo 



5 fy 



^1 



44 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



reached Raj'Stown, wliitbcr Washington had been 
ordered with his troops. Sickness liad prevented 
liim from being here ah-eady. Two officers were 
sent out to reconnoiter tlie tort, wlio returned and 
gave a very good account of its condition. Gen. 
Forbes desired to know more of it, and sent out 
Maj. Grant, with 800 men, to gain more complete 
knowledge. Maj. Grant, supposing not more than 
UOO soldiers to be in the f«rt, marched near it and 
made a feint to draw them out, and engage them 
in battle. He was greatly misinfurmod as to the 
strength of the French, and in tlie engagement 
that followed he was badly beaten — 270 of his men 
killed, 42 wounded, and several, including himself, 
taken prisoners. The French, elated with their 
victory, attacked the main army, but were repulsed 
and obliged to retreat to the fort. The army con- 
tinued on its march. On the 24th of November 
they reached Turtle Creek, where a council of war 
was held, and where Gen. Forbes, who had been so 
ill as to be carried on a litter from the start, de- 
clared, with a mighty oath, he -would sleep that 
night in the fort, or in a worse place. The Indi- 
ans had, however, carried the news to the French 
that the English were as plenty as the trees of the 
woods, and in their fright they set fire to the fort in 
the night and left up and down the Ohio River. 
The ne.xt morning the English, who had heard the, 
explosion of the magazine, and seen the light of 
the burning walls, marched in and took peaceable 
])osscssion. A small fortification was thrown up 
on the bank, and, in honor of the great English 
statesman, it was called Fort Pitt. Col. Hugh Mer- 
cer was left in command, and the main body of the 
army marched back to the settlements. It reached 
Philadelphia January 17, 1759. On the 11th of 
Blarch, Gen. Forbes died, and was buried in the 
chancel of Christ's Church, in that city. 

Post was now sent on a mission to the Six Na- 
tions, with a report of the treaty of Easton. He 
was again instrumental in preventing a coalition of 
the Indians and the French. Indeed, to this ob- 
scure Moravian missionary belongs, in a large 
measure, the honor of the capture of Fort Du 
Quesne, for by his influence had the Indians been 
restrained from attacking the army on its march. 

Tlie garrison, on leaving the fort, went up and 
down the Ohio, part to Presque Isle by land, part to 
Fort Venango, while .some of them went on down 
the Ohio nearly to the Mississippi, and there, in 
what is now Massac County, 111., erected a fort, 
called by them Fort Massac. It was afterward 
named by many Fort Massacre, from the erroneous 



supposition that a garrison had been massacred 
there. 

The French, though deprived of the key to 
the West, went on preparing stores and ammunition, 
expecting to retake the fort in the spring. Before 
they could do this, however, other places demanded 
their attention. 

The success of the campaign of 1758 opened 
the way for the consummation of the great scheme 
of Pitt — the complete reduction of Canada. Three 
expeditions were planned, by which Canada, 
already well nigh annihilated and suffering for 
food, was to be subjugated. On the west, Prideaux 
was to attack Niagara ; in the center, Amherst was 
to advance on Ticondcroga and Crown Point ; on 
the east, Wolfe was to besiege Quebec. All these 
points gained, the three armies were to be united 
in the center of the province. 

Amherst appeared before Ticonderoga July 22. 
The French blew up their works, and retu-ed 
to Crown Point. Driven from there, they re- 
treated to Isle Aux Nois and entrenched them- 
selves. The lateness of the season prevented fur- 
ther action, and Amherst went into winter char- 
ters at Crown Point. Early in June, Wolfe 
appeared before Quebec with an army of 8,000 
men. On the night of September 12, he silently 
ascended the river, climbed the heights of Abra- 
ham, a spot considered impregnable by the 
French, and on the summit formed his army of 
5,000 men. IMontcalm, the French commander, 
was compelled to give battle. The British col- 
umns, flushed with success, charged his half-formed 
lines, and dispersed them. 

"They fly! they fly!" heard Wolfe, just as he 
expired fi'om the eifect of a mortal wound, though 
not till he had ordered their retreat cut oft", and 
exclaimed, "Now, God be praised, I die happy." 
jMontcalm, on hearing from the surgeon that death 
would come in a few hours, said, " I am glad of it. 
I shall not live to see the suiTcnder of Quebec." At 
five the next morning he died hapjiy. ft 

Prideaux moved up Lake Ontario, and on the 
6th of July invested Niagara. Its capture would 
cut off" the French from the west, and every en- 
deavor was made to hold it. Troops, destined to 
take the small garrison at Fort Pitt, were held to 
assist in raising the siege of Niagara. M. de 
Aubry, commandant in Illinois, came up with 400 
men and 200,000 pounds of flour. Cut oft" by the 
abandonment of Fort Du Quesne from the Ohio 
route, he ascended that river as far as the Wabash, 
thence to portage of Fort Miami, or Fort Wayne, 






:\ 




"BURT HOMESTEAD," HOME OF HON. JAMES M. BURT, WHERE HE RESIDED FORTY YEARS, NO 




H*%..of LEWIS P.BURT. Rc«..a/ J.BR#ONCR.BUR.T. 

:UPIED BY HIS PONS, J. BRADXER AND LETVTS P. RURT, AND SOX-TX-LAW, .TA>;ES L. ROGER.*. 



^1 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



47 



down the Maumee to Lake Erie, and on to Presqu- 
ville, or Presque Isle, over the portage to Le Bceuf, 
and thence down French Creek to Fort Venango. 
He wa.s chosen to lead the expedition fur the relief 
of Niagara. They were pursued by Sir William 
Johnson, successor to Prideaux, who had lost his 
life by the bursting of a cannon, and were obliged to 
flee. The next day Niagara, cut off from succor, 
surrendered. 

All America rang with exultation. Towns were 
bright with illuminations ; the hillsides shone with 
bonfires. From press, from pulpit, from platform, 
and from speakers' desks, went up one glad song of 
rejoicing. England was victorious everywhere. 
The colonies had done their tiill share, and now 
learned their strength. That strength was needed 
now, tur ere long a different conflict raged on the 
soil of America — a conflict ending in the birth of 
a new nation. 

The English sent Gen. Stanwix to fortify Fort 
Pitt, still looked upon as one of the principal for- 
tresses in the West. He erected a good fortifica- 
tion there, which remained under Biitish control 
fifteen years. Now nothing of the fort is left. No 
memorial of the British possession rem:iins in the 
West but a single redoubt, built in 17(i4 by Col. 
Bouquet, outside of the fort. Even this can hardly 
now be said to exist. 

The fall of Quebec did not immediately produce 
the submission of Canada. M. de Levi, on whom 
the command devolved, retired with the French 
Army to Montreal. In the spring of 17G0, he be- 
sieged Quebec, but the arrival of'an English fleet 
caused him to again retreat to Montreal. 

Amherst and Johnson, meanwhile, effected a 
union of their forces, the magnitude of whose 
armies convinced the French that resistance would 
be useless, and on the 8th of September, M. de 
Vaudreuil, the Governor of Canada, surrendered 
Montreal, Quebec, Detroit, Mackinaw and all other 
posts in Canada, to the English commander-in- 
chief, Amherst, on condition that the French in- 
habitants should, during the war, be "protected 
in the full and fi-ee exercise of their religion, and 
the full enjoyment of their ci\'il rights, leaving 
their future destinies to be decided by the treaty 
of peace." 

Though peace was concluded in the New World, 
on the continent the Powers experienced some 
difliculty in arriving at a satisfactory settlement. 
It was finally settled by what is known in history 
as the "family compact." France and Spain saw 
in the conquest the growing power of England, 



and saw, also, that its continuance only extended 
that power. Negotiations were re-opened, and on 
the 3d of November, 11&2, preliminaries were 
agreed to and signed, and afterward ratified in 
Paris, in February, 17(33. By the terms of the 
compact, Spain ceded to Great Britian East and 
West Florida. To compensate Spain, France 
ceded to her by a secret article, all Louisiana west 
of the Mississippi. 

The French and Indian war was now over. 
Canada and all its dependencies were now in pos- 
session of the English, who hold undisputed sway 
over the entire West as far as Jlississippi. It only 
remained for them to take possession of the out- 
posts. Major Robert Rogers was sent to take pos- 
session of Detroit and establish a garrison there. 
He was a partisan officer on the borders of New 
Hampshire, whore he earned a name for bravery, 
but afterward tarnished it by treasonable acts. On 
his way to Detroit, on the 7th of November, 1760, 
he was met by the renowned chief, Pontiac, who 
authoritatively commanded him to pause and ex- 
plain his acts. Rogers replied by explaining the 
conquest of Canada, and that he was acting under 
orders from his King. Through the influence of 
Pontiac, the army was saved from the Indians 
sent out by the French, and was allowed to pro- 
ceed on its way. Pontiac had assured his protec- 
tion as long as the English treated him with due 
deference. Beletre, the commandant at Detroit, 
refused to surrender to the English commander, 
until he had received positive assurance from his 
Governor, Vaudreuil, that the country was indeed 
conquered. On the 29th of September, the colors 
of France gave way to the ensign of Great Britain 
amid the shouts of the soldiery and the astonish- 
ment of the Indians, whose savage natures could 
not understand how such a simple act declared one 
nation victors of another, and who wondered at 
the forbearance displayed. The lateness of the 
season prevented further operations, but early the 
next spring, Mackinaw, Green Bay, Ste. Marie, St. 
Joseph and the Onitonon surrounded, and nothing 
was left but the Illinois towns. These were se- 
cured as soon as the necessary arrangements could 
be made. 

Though the English were now masters of the 
West, and had, while many of these events na;'. 
rated were transpiring, extended their settlements 
beyond the Alleghanies, they were by no means 
secure in their po.ssession. The woods and prairies 
were full of Indians, who, finding the Englisli like 
the French, caring more for gain than the welfare 



r^ 



1^ 




of the natives, began to exhibit impatience and re- 
sentment as they saw their lands gi-adually talicn 
from them. The English policy dift'ered very 
materially from the French. The French made 
the Indian, in a mexsure, independent and taught 
liim a desire for European goods. They also 
affiliated easily with them, and became thereby 
strongly endeared to the savage. The French 
were a merry, easy-going race, fund of gayety and 
delighting in adventure. The English were harsh, 
stern, and made no advances to gain the friend- 
ship of the savage. They wanted land to cultivate 
and drove away the Indian's game, and forced him 
farther west. "Where shall we go?" said the 
Indian, despondently ; "you drive us farther and 
farther west; by and by you will want all the 
land." And the Anglo-Saxon went sturdily on, 
paying no heed to the complaints. The French 



traders incited the Indian to resent the encroach- 
ment. "The English will annihilate you and take 
all your land," said they. " Their father, the King 
of France, had been asleep, now he had awakened 
and was coming with a great armjf to reclaim Can- 
ada, that had been stolen from him while he slept." 
Discontent under such circumstances was but 
natural. Soon all the tribes, from the mountains 
to the Mississippi, were united in a plot. It was 
discovered in 1761, and arrested. The next sum- 
mer, another was detected and arrested. The 
officers, and all the people, failed to realize the 
danger. The rattlesnake, though not found, was 
ready to strike. It is only an Indian discontent, 
thought the people, and they went on preparing to 
occupy the country. They were mistaken — the 
crisis only needed a leader to direct it. That 
leader appeared. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PONTLVC'S CONSPIRACY— ITS FAILURE— BOUQUET'S EXPEDITION— OCCUPATION BY THE 

ENGLISH. 



PONTIAC, the great chief of the Ottawas, was 
now about fifty years old. He had watched 
the conflict between the nations with a jealous eye, 
and as he saw the gradual growth of the English 
people, their encroachment on the lands of the In- 
dians, their greed, and their assumption of the soil, 
his soul was stirred within him to do something 
for his people. He had been a true friend of the 
French, and had led the Indians at the defeat of 
Braddock. Amid all the tumult, he alone saw the 
true state of affiiirs. The English would inevit- 
ably crush out the Indians. To save his race ho 
saw another alliance with the French was neces- 
sary, and a restoration of their power and habits 
needed. It was the plan of a statesman. It only 
failed because of the perfidy of the French. Matur- 
ing his plans late in the autumn of 1762, he sent 
messengers to all the Western and Southern tribes, 
with the black wampum and red tomahawk, em- 
blems of war, from the great Pontiac. " On a cer- 
tain day in the next year," said the messenger, " all 
the tribes arc to rise, seize all the English posts, 
and then attack the whole frontier." 

The gi-eat council of all the tribes was held at 
the river Ecorces, on the 27th of April, 176:]. 
There, before the assembled chiefs, Pontiac deliv- 



ered a speech, full of eloquence and art. Ho 
recounted the injuries and encroachments of the 
English, and disclosed their designs. The French 
king was now awake and would aid them. Should 
they resign their homes and the graves of their 
fathers without an eflbrt? Were their young men 
no longer brave? Were they squaws? The 
Great Master of Life had chidcd them for their 
inactivity, and had sent his commands to drive 
the "Red Dogs" from the earth. The chiefs 
eagerly accepted the wampum and the tomahawk, 
and separated to prepare for the coming strife. 

The post at Detroit was informed of the plot 
the evening before it was to occur, by an Ojibway 
girl of great beauty, the mistress of the com- 
mander. Major Gladwin. Pontiac was foiled here, 
his treachery discovered, and he was sternly ordered 
fi-om the conference. A regular seige followed, 
but he could not prevail. He exhibited a degree 
of sagacity unknown in the annals of savage war- 
fare, but all to no purpose; the English were too 
strong for him. 

At all the other posts, save one, however, the 
plans of Pontiac were carried out, and atrocities, 
unheard of before in American history, resulted. 
The Indians attacked Detroit on the first of May, 



^-, 



V 



-4V 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



4<J 



and, foiled in their plaus, a siege iimuodititely fol- 
lowed. On the IGth. a party of Indian.s appeared 
before the fort at Sandusky. Seven of them were 
admitted. Suddenly, while smoking, the massaerc 
begins. All but Ensign Faulli, tlic commander, 
fiill. He is carried a.s a trophy to Pontiac. 

At the mouth of the St. Joseph'.s, the mission- 
aries had maintained a mission station over sixty 
years. They gave way to an English g-arrison of 
fourteen soldiers and a few traders. On the 
morning of May 25, a deputation of Pottawato- 
mies are allowed to enter. In less than two min- 
utes, all the garrison but the commander are slain. 
He is sent to Pontiac. 

Near the present city of Fort Wayne, Ind., 
at the junction of the waters, stood Fort Miami, 
garrisoned by a few men. Holmes, the com- 
mander, is asked to visit a sick woman. He is 
slain on the way, the sergeant following is made 
prisoner, and the nine soldiers surrender. 

On the night of the last day of May, the wam- 
pum reaches the Indian village below La Fayette, 
Ind., and near Fort Ouitenon. The commander 
of the fort is lured into a cabin, bound, and his 
gan'ison surrender. Through the clemency of 
French settlers, they are received into their houses 
and protected. 

At Michilimackinae, a game of ball is projected. 
Suddenly the ball is thrown through the gate of the 
stockade. The Indians press in, and, at a signal, 
almost all are shun or made prisoners. 

The fort at Presque Isle, now Erie, was the 
point of communication between Pittsburgh and 
Niagara and Detroit. It was one of the most 
tenable, and had a gamson of four and twenty 
men. On the 22d of June, the commander, to 
save his forces from total annihilation, surrenders, 
and all are carried prisoners to Detroit. 

The capitulation at Eric left Le Bwuf with- 
out hope. He was attacked on the 18th, 
but kept off the Indians till midnight, when he 
made a successful retreat. As they passed Ve- 
nango, on their way to Fort Pitt, they saw only 
the niins of that garrison. Not one of its immates 
had been s]iared. 

Fort Pitt was the most important station west 
of the Allcghanics. " Escape ! " said Turtle's 
Heart, a Delaware warrior; "you will all be 
slain. A great army is coming." "There are 
three large English annies coming to my aid," 
said Ecuj-er, the commander. " I have enough 
provisions and ammunition to stand a siege of three 
years' time." A second and third attempt wiis 



made by the savages to capture the post, but all to 
no avail. Baffled on all sides here, they destroy 
Ligonier, a few miles below, and mas.sacre men, 
women and children. Fort Pitt was besieged till 
the last day of July, but withstood all attack.s. 
Of all the outposts, only it anil Detroit were left. 
All had been captured, and the majority of the 
garrison slain. Along the frontier, tlie war was 
waged with fury. The Indians were fighting for 
their homes and their hunting-grounds ; and for 
these they fought with the fury and zeal of 
fimatics. 

Detachments sent to aid Detroit are cut off. 
The prisoners are burnt, and Pontiac, infusing his 
zealous and demoniacal spirit into all his savage 
allies, pressed the siege with vigor. The French 
remained neutral, yet Pontiac made rc(|uisitinn.-- 
on them and on their neighbors in Illinois, issuing 
bills of credit on birch-bark, all of which were 
faithfully redeemed. Though these two posts 
could not be captured, the frontier could be 
annihilated, and vigorously the Indians pursued 
their policy. Along the borders of Pennsylvania 
and Virginia a relentless warfare was waged, 
sparing no one in its way. Old age, feeble infancy, 
strong man and gentle woman, fair girl and hope- 
ful boy — all fell before the scalping-knifo of the 
merciless savage. The fi-ontiers were devastated. 
Thousands were obliged to flee, leaving their 
possessions to the torch of the Indian. 

The Colonial government, under British direc- 
tion, was inimical to the borders, and the colonists 
saw they must depend ouly upon their own arms 
for protection. Already the struggle for freedom 
was upon them. They could defend only them- 
selves. They must do it, too ; for that defense is 
now needed in a different cause than settling dis- 
putes between rival powers. " We have millions 
for defense, but not a cent for tribute," said they, 
and time verified the remark. 

Gen. Amherst bestirred himself to aid the 
frontiers. He sent Col. Henry Bouquet, a native 
of Switzerland, and now an officer in the English 
Army, to relieve the garrisim at Fort Pitt. They 
followed the route made by Gen. Forbes, and on 
the way relieved Forts Bedford and Ligonier, both 
beleaguered by the Indians. About a day's jour- 
ney beyond Ligonier, lie was attacked by a body 
of Indians at a place called Bushy Run. For 
awhile, it seemed that he and all his anny would 
be destroyed ; but Bouquet was bold and brave 
and, under a feint of retreat, routed the s;ivages. 
He passed on, and relieved the garrison at Fort 



-"^ 



'.£. 



50 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Pitt, anil thus secured it against the assaults of 
the Indians. 

The campaign liad been di.sa.strous to the En- 
glish, but fatal to the plans of Pontiac. He could 
not capture Detroit, and he knew the great scheme 
must fail. The battle of Bushy Run and the 
relief of Fort Pitt closed the campaign, and all 
hope of co-operation was at an end. Circum- 
stances were combined against the confederacy, 
and it was fiist falling to pieces. A proclamation 
was issued to the Indians, explaining to them the 
existing state of affaii-s, and showing to them the 
futility of their plans. Pontiac, however, would 
not give up. Again he renewed the siege of De- 
troit, and Gen. Gage, now in command of the 
army in the colonies, resolved to carry the war 
into their own country. Col. Bradstreet was or- 
dered to lead one army by way of the lakes, 
against the Northern Indians, while Col. Bouquet 
was sent against the Indians of the Ohio. Col. 
Bradstreet went on his way at the head of 1,200 
men, but trusting too much to the natives and 
their promises, his expedition proved largely a fail- 
ure. He relieved Detroit in August, 17G4, which 
had been confined in the garrison over fifteen 
months, and dispersed the Indians that yet lay 
around the fort. But on his way back, he saw how 
the Indians had duped him, and that they were 
still plundering the settlements. His treaties were 
annulled by Gage, who ordered him to destroy 
their towns. The season was far advanced, his 
provisions were getting low, and h? was obliged to 
return to Niagara chagrined and disappointed. 

Col. Bouquet knew well the character of the 
Indians, and shaped his plans accordingly. He 
had an army of 1,500 men, 500 regulars and 1,000 
volunteers. They had had experience in fighting 
the savages, and could be depended on. At Fort 
Loudon, he heard of Bradstreet's ill luck, and saw 
through the deception practiced • by the Indians. 
He arrived at Fort Pitt the 17th of September, 
where he arrested a deputation of chiefs, who met 
him with the same promises that had deceived 
Bradstreet. He sent one of their number back, 
threatening to put to death the chiefs unless they 
allowed his messengers to safely pass through their 
country to Detroit. The decisive tone of his 
Words convinced them of the fate that awaited 
them unless they complied. On the 3d of Octo- 
ber the army left Fort Pitt, marched down the 
river to and across the Tuscarawas, arriving in the 
vicinity of Fredrick Post's late mission on the 17th. 
There a conference was held with the assembled 



tribes. Bouquet sternly rebuked them for their 
faithlessness, and when told by the chiefs they could 
not restrain their young men, he as sternly told 
them they were responsible for their acts. He 
told them he would trust them no longer. If they 
delivered up all their prisoners within twelve days 
they might hope for peace, otherwise there would 
be no mercy shown them. They were completely 
humbled, and, separating hastily, gathered their 
captives. On the 25th, the army proceeded down 
to the Tuscarawas, to the junction with White 
Woman River, near the town of Coshocton, in 
Coshocton County, Ohio, and there made prepa- 
rations for the reception of the captives. There 
they remained until the 18th of November; from 
day to day prisoners were brought in — men, women 
and children — and delivered to their fiiends. Blany 
were the touching scenes enacted during this time. 
The separated husband and wife met, the latter 
often carrying a child born in captivity. Brothers 
and sisters, separated in youth, met ; lovers rushed 
into each other's arms ; children found their 
parents, mothers their sons, fathers their daughters, 
and neighbors those from whom they had been 
separated many years. Yet, there were many dis- 
tressing scenes. Some looked in vain for long-lost 
relatives and friends, that never should return. 
Others, that had been captured in their infancy, 
would not leave their savage friends, and when 
force was used some fled away. One mother 
looked in vain for a child she had lost years be- 
fore. Day by day, she anxiously watched, but no 
daughter's voice reached her ears. One, clad in 
savage attire, was brought before her. It could 
not be her daughter, she was grown. So was the 
maiden before her. " Can not you remember some 
mark?" asked Bouquet, whose sympathies were 
aroused in this case. "There is none," said the 
anxious and sorrowful mother. " Sing a song you 
sang over her cradle, she may remember," suggested 
the commander. One is sung by her mother. As 
the song of childhood floats out among the trees 
the maiden stops and listens, then approaches. 
Yes, she remembers. Mother and daughter are 
held in a close embrace, and the stern Bouquet 
wipes away a tear at the scene. 

On the ISth, the army broke up its encamp- 
ment and started on its homeward march. Bouquet 
kept six principal Indians as hostages, and re- 
turned to the homes of the captives. The Indians 
kept their promises foithfiillj, and the next year 
representatives of all the Western tribes met Sir 
William Johnson, at the German Flats, and made 



^ 6 



.4V 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



51 



a treaty of peace. A tract of land in the Indian 
country was ceded to the whites for the benefit of 
those who had suffered in the late war. The In- 
dians desired to make a treaty with Johnson, 
whereby the Alleghany River should be the west- 
ern boundary of the English, but he excused him- 
self on the ground of proper power. 

Not long after this the Illinois settlements, too 
remote to know much of the struggle or of any of 
the great events that had convulsed an empire, and 
changed the destiny of a nation, were brought 
under the English rule. There were five villages 
at this date: K;i.skaskia, Cahokia, St. Philip, Vin- 
cennes and Prairie du Roeher, near Fort Chartres, 
the military headquarters of these French posses- 
sions. They were under the control or command 
of 51. de Abadie, at New Orleans. They had also 
extended explorations west of the Mississi]ipi, and 
made a few settlements in ^hat was Spanisli terri- 
tory. The country had been, however, ceded to 
France, and in Febmary, 17G4, the country was 
formally taken possession of and the present city 
of St. Louis laid out. 

As soon as the French knew of the change of 
government, many of them went to the west side of 
the river, and took up their residence there. They 
were protected in their religion and civil rights by 
the terms of the treaty, but preferred the rule of 
their own King. 

The British took possession of this country early 
in 1705. Gen. Gage sent Capt. Stirling, of the 
English Army, who arrived before summer, and to 
whom St. Ange, the nominal commandant, surren- 
dered the authority. The British, through a suc- 
cession of commanders, retained control of thecoun- 
try until defeated by George Rogers Clarke, and 
his "ragged Virginia militia." 

After a short time, the French again ceded the 
country west of the Mississijjpi to Spain, and re- 
linf|uished forever their control of all the West in 
the New World. 

The pojntlation of Western Louisiana, when the 
exchange of governments occurred, was estimated 
to be 13,538, of which 891 were in the Illinois 
country — as it was called — west of the IMississippi. 
Kast of the river, and before the French crossed 
into Spanish country, the population was estimated 
to be about 8,000. All these had grown into 
communities of a peculiar character. Indeed, that 
peculiarity, as has been observed, never changed 
until a gradual amalgamation with the American 
people effected it, and that took more than a cen- 
tury of time to accomplish. 



The English now owned the Northwest. True, 
they did not yet occupy but a small part of it, but 
traders were again crossing the mountains, ex- 
plorers for lands were on the Ohio, and families 
for settlement were beginning to look upon the 
West as their future home. Companies were again 
forming to purchase large tracts in the Ohio coun- 
try, and open them for emigration. One thing yet 
stood in the way — a definite boundary line. That 
line, however, was between the English and the 
Indians, and not, as had heretofore been the case, 
between rival European Powers. It was necessary 
to arrange some definite boundary before land com- 
panies, who were now actively pushing their claims, 
could safely survey and locate their lands. 

Sir ^Villiam Johnson, who had at previous times 
been in.strumental in securing treaties, wrote re- 
peatedly to the Board of Trade, who controlled the 
greater part of the commercial transactions in the 
colonies — and who were the first to exclaim against . 
extending English settlements beyond a limit 
whereby they would need manufactures, and there- 
by become independent of the Mother Country — 
urging upon th(»m, and through them the Crown, the 
necessity of a fixed boundary, else another Indian 
war was probable. Tlie Indians found themselves 
gradually hemmed in by the growing power of the 
whites, and began to exhibit hostile feelings. The 
irritation became so great that in the summer of 
1767, Gage wrote to the Governor of Pennsylvania 
concerning it. The Governor communicated his 
letter to the General Assembly, who sent repre- 
sentatives to England, to urge the immediate set- 
tlement of the cpiestion. In compliance with these 
requests, and the letters of prominent citizens, 
Franklin among the number, instructions were sent 
to Johnson, ordering him to complete the purchase 
from the Six Nations, and settle all differences. 
He sent word to all the Western tribes to meet 
him at Fort Stanwis, in October, 17(58. The con- 
ference was held on the 2-tth of that month, and 
was attended by colonial representatives, and by 
Indians from all parts of the Northwest. It was 
determiiKid that the line should begin on the Ohio, 
at the mouth of the Cherokee (Tennessee), thence 
up the river to the Alleghany and on to Kittan- 
ning, and thence across to the Susqilehanna. By 
this line, the whole countrj' south of the CHiio and 
Alleghany, to which the Six Nations had any 
claim, was transferred. Part of this land was 
made to compensate twenty-two traders, whose goods 
had been .stolen in 1703. The deeds made, were 
upon the express agreement that no claims should 



V 






52 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



ever be based on the treaties of Lancaster, Logs- 
town, etc., and were signed by the chiefs of the Six 
Nations for themselves, their allies and dependents, 
and the Shawanees, Delawares, Mingoes of Ohio, 
and others; though, the Shawanees and Delaware 
deputies did not sign them. On this treaty, in a 
great measure, rests the title by purchase to Ken- 
tucky, Western Virginia and Western Pennsylva- 
nia. The rights of the Cherokees were purchased 
by Col. Donaldson, either for the King, Virginia, 
or for himself, it is impossible to say which. 

The grant of the northern confederacy was now 
made. The white man could go in and possess 
these lands, and know that an army would protect 
him if necessary. Under such a guarantee. West- 
ern lands came rapidly into market. In addition 
to companies already in existence for the purchase 
of land, others, the most notable of these being the 
"Walpole" and the "Mis.sissippi" Land Companies, 
were formed. This latter had among its organizers 
such men as Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard 
Henry Loc, George Washington and Arthur Lee. 
Before any of these companies, some of whom ab- 
sorbed the Ohio Company, could do anything, the 
Revolution came on, and all land transactions were 
at an end. After its close. Congress would not 
sanction their claims, and they fell through. This 
did not deter settlers, however, from crassing tlie 
mountains, and settling in the Ohio country. In 



spite of troubles with the Indians — some of whom 
regarded the treaties with the Six Nations as un- 
lawftil, and were disposed to complain at the rapid 
influx of whites — and the failure of the land com- 
j)anies, settlers came steadily during the decade 
from 1768 to 1778, so that by the close of that 
time, there was a large population south of the 
Ohio River ; while scattered along the northern 
banks, extending many miles into the wilderness, 
were hardy adventurers, who were carving out 
homes in the magnificent forests everywhere cov- 
ering the country. 

Among the foremost speculators in Western 
lands, was George Washington. As early as 17G3, 
he employed Col. Crawford, afterward the leader in 
" Crawford's campaign," to purchase lands for him. 
In 1770, he crossed the mountains in company 
with several gentlemen, and examined the country 
along the Ohio, down which stream he passed to 
the mouth of the Great Kanawha, where he shot 
some buffalo, then plenty, camped out a few nights, 
and returned, fully convinced, it seems, that one 
dny the West would be the best part of the New- 
World. He owned, altogether, nearly fifty thou- 
sand acres in the West, which he valued at §3.33 
per acre. Had not the war of the Revolution just 
then broken out, he might have been a resident of 
the West, and would have been, of course, one of 
its most prominent citizens. 



CHAPTER V. 

AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS— DUNMORE'S WAR — CAMPAIGN OP 
LAND TROUBLES— SPAIN IN THE REVOLUTION- 
THE MORAVIAN INDIANS. 

MEANWHILE, Kentucky was filling with 
citizens, and though considerable trouble 
was experienced with thelndians, and the operatiims 
of Col. Richard Henderson and others, who made 
unlawful treaties with the Indian.s, yet Daniel 
Boone and his associates had established a 
commonwealth, and, in 1777, a county was 
formed, which, erelong, was divided into three. 
Louisville was laid out on land belonging to 
Tories, and an important start made in this part 
of the West. Emigrants came down the Ohio 
River, saw the northern shores were inviting, and 
sent back such accounts that the land north of the 
river rapidly grew in^favor with Eastern people. 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE— 
-MURDER OP 



One of the most important Western characters. 
Col. (afterward Gen.) George Rogers Clarke, had 
had much to do in forming its character. He 
Wius born November 19, 1752, in Albemarle 
County, Va., and early came West. He had an 
unusually sagacious spirit, was an excellent sur- 
veyor and general, and took an active interest in 
all State and national affairs. He understood the 
animus of the Revolution, and was jirepared to 
do his part. Col. Clarke was now meditating a 
move uncqualed in its boldness, and one that had 
more to do with the success of America in the 
struggle for independence than at first appears. 
He saw through the whole plan of the British, 



s- 



:x: 



Ai 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



-u — ^ 



53 



who held all the outposts, Kaskaskia, Detroit, 
Vinccnnes and Niagara, and detcrniined to circum- 
vent them and wrest the West Irum their power. 
The British hoped to encircle the Americans by 
these outposts, and also unite the Indians in a 
common war against them. That had been 
attempted by the French when the English con- 
quered them. Then the French had a powerful 
ally in the person of Pontiac, yet the brave fronts 
iersmen held their homes in many places, though 
the Indians " drank the blood of many a Briton, 
scooping it up in the hollow of joined hands." 
Now the Briton had no Pontiac to lead the scat- 
tered tribes — tribes who now feared the unerring 
aim of a settler, and would not attack him openly — 
Clarke knew that the Delawares were divided in 
feeling and that the Sliawanecs were but imperfectly 
united in favor of England since the murder of 
their noted chiefs. He was convinced that, if the 
British could be driven from the Western posts, 
the natives could easily be awed into submission, 
or bribed into neutrality or friendship. They 
admiied, from their savage views of vaior, the 
side that became victorious. They cared little for 
the cause for which either side was fighting. 
Clarke sent out spies among them to ascertain the 
feasibility of his plans. The spies were gone 
from April 20 to June 22, and fully corroborat.d 
his views concerning the English policy and the 
fejlings of the Indians and French. 

Before proceeding in the narrative of this expe- 
dition, however, it will be well to notice a few acts 
transpiring north of the Ohio River, espcciallj' re- 
lating to the land treaties, as they were not without 
effect on the British policy. Many of the Indians 
north and south of the Ohio would not recognize 
the validity of the Fort Stanwix treaty, claiming 
the Iroquois had no right to the lands, despite 
their conquest. These discontented natives har- 
assed the emigrants in such a manner that many 
Indians were .slain in retaliation. This, and the 
v/orking of the French traders, who at all limes 
were bitterly opposed to the pjuglish rule, filled the 
brea.sts of the natives with a malignant hate, which 
years of bloodshed could not wash out. The 
murder of several Indians by lawless whites fanned 
the coal into a blaze, and, by 1774, several retalia- 
tory murders occurred, committed by the natives 
in revenge for their fallen friends. The Indian 
slew any white man he found, as a revenge on some 
friend of his slain ; the frontiersman, acting on the 
same principle, made the borders extremely dan- 
gerous to invaders and invaded. Another cause 



of fear occurred about this time, which threatened 
seriously to retard emigration. 

I'ittsburgh had Ix'cii claimed by both Pennsyl- 
vania and Virginia, and, in endeavoring to settle 
the dispute, Lord Duumore's war followed. Dr. 
John Connelly, an anibitioits, intriguing person, 
induced Lord Dunniore to assert the claims of Vir- 
ginia, in the name of the King. In attempting to 
carry out his intentions, he was arrested by Arthur 
St. Clair, representing the proprietors of Pennsyl- 
vania, who was at Pittsburgh at the time. Con- 
nelly was released on bail, but went at once to 
Staunton, where he was. sworn in as a Justice of 
Peace. Returning, he gathered a force of one 
hundred and fifty men, suddenly took possession of 
Pittsburgh, refused to allow the magistrates to 
enter the Court House, or to exercise the fimctions 
of their offices, unless in confurmity to his will. 
Connelly refused any terms offered by the Penn- 
sylvania deputies, kept possession of the place, 
acted very har.shly toward the inhabitants, stirred 
up the neutral Indians, and, for a time, threatened 
to make the boundary line between the two colonies 
a very serious question. His actions led to hostile 
deeds by some Indians, when the whites, no doubt 
urged by him, murdered seven Indians at the 
mouth of the Captina River, and at the house of 
a settler named Baker, where the Indians were 
decoyed under promises of friendship and offers of 
rum. Among those murdered at the latter place, 
was the entire family of the famous JMingoc chief, 
Logan. This has been charged to Michael Crcsap ; 
but is untrue. Daniel Greathouse had command 
of the party, and though Cresap may have been 
among them, it is unjust to lay the blame at his 
feet. Both murders, at Captina and Yellow Creek, 
were cruel and unwarranted, and were, without 
doubt, the cause of the war that followed, though 
the root of the matter lay in Connelly's arbitrary 
actions, and in his needlessly alarming the Indians. 
Whatever may have been the facts in relation to 
the murder of Logan's family, they were of such 
a nature as to make all feel sure of an Indian war, 
and preparations were made for the conflict. 

An army was gathered at Wheeling, which, 
some time in July, under command of Col. Mc- 
Donald, descended the Ohio to the mouth of Cap- 
tina Creek. They proposed to march against an 
Indian town on the Muskingum. The Indians 
sued for peace, but their ])retcnsions being found 
spurious, their towns and crops were destroj-cd. 
The army then retreated to Williamsburg, having 
accomplished but little. 



■^ 



1^ 



54 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



The Delawares were anxious for peace ; even tlie 
Mingoes, whose relatives had been slain at Yellow 
Creek, and Captina, were restrained; but Logan, 
who had been turned to an inveterate foe to the 
Americans, came suddenly upon the Monongahela 
settlements, took thirteen scalps in revenge for the 
loss of his family, returned home and expressed 
himself ready to treat with the Long Knives, the 
Virginians. Had Connelly acted properly at this 
juncture, the war might have been ended; but 
his actions only incensed both borderers and In- 
dians. So obnoxious did he become that Lord 
Dunmore lost faith in him, and severely repri- 
manded him. 

To put a stop to the depredations of the Indians, 
two large bodies of troops were gathered in Vir- 
ginia, one under Gen. Andrew Lewis, and one 
under command of Dunmore himself. Before 
the armies could, meet at the mouth of the Great 
Kanawha, their objective point, Lewis' army, which 
arrived first, was attacked by a furious band of Dela- 
wares, Shawanees, Iroquois and Wyaudots. The 
conflict was bitterly prolonged by the Indians, who, 
under the leadership of Cornstalk, were deter- 
mined to make a decisive effort, and fought till 
late at night (October 10, 1774), and then only by 
a strategic move of Lewis' command — which re- 
sulted in the defeat of the Indians, compelling them 
to cross the Ohio — was the conflict ended. Mean- 
while, Dunmore's army came into the enemy's 
countiy, and, being joined by the remainder of 
Lewis' command, pressed forward intending to an- 
nihilate the Indian towns. Cornstalk and his 
chiefs, however, sued fjr peace, and the conflict 
closed. Dunmore established a camp on Sippo 
Creek, whore he held conferences with the natives 
and concluded the war. When he loft^ the country, 
he stationed 100 men at the mouth of the Great 
Kanawha, a few more at Pittsburgh, and another 
corps at Wheeling, then called Fort Finea-stle. 
Dunmore intended to return to Pittsbui-gh the 
next spring, meet the Indians and form a definite 
peace ; but the revolt of the colonies prevented. 
However, he opened several offices for the sale of 
lands in the West, some of which were in the limits 
of the Pennsylvania colony. Thi.s led to the old 
boundary dispute again ; but before it could be 
settled, the Revolution began, and Lord Dunmore's, 
as well as almost all other land speculations in the 
West, were at an end. 

In 1775 and 177(5, the chief events transpiring 
in the West relate to the treaties with the Indians, 
and the endeavor on the part of the Americans to 



have them remain neutral in the family quarrel now 
coming 6n, which they could not understand. The 
Briti.sh, like the French, however, could not let 
them alone, and finally, as a retaliatory measure. 
Congress, under advice of Washington, won some of 
them over to the side of the colonies, getting their 
aid and holding them neutral. The colonics only 
offered them rewards {or jjrisoners ; never, like the 
British, offering rewards for scalps. Under such 
rewards, the atrocities of the Indians in some quar- 
ters were simply horrible. The scalp was enough 
to get a reward, that was a mark of Indian valor, 
too, and hence, helpless innocence and decrepit old 
age were not spared. They stirred the minds of 
the pioneers, who saw the protection of their fire- 
. sides a vital point, and led the way to the scheme 
of Col. Clarke, who was now, as has been noted, the 
leading spirit in Kentucky. He saw through the 
scheme of the British, and determined, by a quick, 
decisive blow, to put an end to it, and to cripple 
their power in the West. 

Among the acts stimulating Clarke, was the attack 
on Fort Henry, a garrison about one-half mile 
above Wheeling Creek, on the Ohio, by a renegade 
white man, Simon Girty, an agent in the employ of 
the British, it is thought, and one of the worst 
wretches ever known on the frontier. When Girty 
attacked Fort Henry, he led his red allies in regu- 
lar military fashion, and attacked it without mercy. 
The defenders were brave, and knew with whom 
they were contending. Great bravery was displayed 
by the women in the fort, one of whom, a Miss 
Zane, carried a keg of gunpowder from a cabin 
to the fort. Though repeatedly fired at by the sav- 
ages, she reached the fort in safety. After awhile, 
however, the efi'ect of the frontiersmen's shots began 
to be felt, and the Indians sullenly withdrew. 
Be-enforcements coming, the fort was held, and 
Girty and his band were obliged to flee. 

Clarke saw that if the British once got con- 
trol over the Western Indians the scene at Fort 
Henry would be repeated, and would not likely, 
in all cases, end in favor of the Americans. With- 
out communicating any of his designs, he left Har- 
rodsburg about the Lst of October, 1777, and 
reached the capital of Virginia by November 5. 
Still keeping his mind, he awaited a favorable op- 
portunity to broach his plans to those in power, 
and, in the meanwhile, carefully watched the exist- 
ing state of feeling. When the opportunity came, 
Clarke broached his plans to Patrick Henry, Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, who at once entered warmly 
into them, recognizing their great importance. 



-s>\^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Tlirough his aid, Clarke jirocurod the ncicossary au- 
tliority to prosecute his plans, and returned at once 
to Pittsburgh. He intended raising men about 
this post, but found them fearful of leaving their 
homes unprotected. However, ho secured three 
companies, and, with these and a number of volun- 
teers, picked up on the way down the Ohio River, 
he fortified Corn Island, near the falls, and made 
ready for his expedition. He had some trouble in 
keeping his men, some of those fi-om Kentucky 
refusing to aid in subduing stations out of their 
own country. He did not announce his real inten- 
tions till he had reached this point. Here Col. 
Bowman joined him with his Kentucky militia, 
and, on the 24th of June, 1778, during a total 
eclipse of the sun, the party left the fort. Before 
his start, he learned of the capture of Burgoyne, 
and, when nearlj' down to Fort Ma.ssac, he met 
some of his spies, who informed him of the exag- 
gerated accounts of the ferocity of the Long 
Knives that the French had received from the 
British. By proper action on his part, Clarke saw 
both these items of information could be made 
very beneficial to him. Leaving the river near 
Fort Massac, he set out on the march to Kaskas- 
kia, through a hot summer's sun, over a country 
full of savage foes. They reached the town un- 
noticed, on the evening of July 4, and, before 
the astonished British and French knew it, they 
were all prisoners. M. Rocheblave, the English 
commander, was secured, but his wife adroitly con- 
cealed the papers belonging to the garrison. In 
the person of M. Gibault, the French priest, Clarke 
found a true friend. When the true character of 
the Virginians became apparent, the French were 
easily drawn to the American side, and the priest 
secured the surrender and allegiance of Cahokia 
•through his personal influence. M. Gibault told 
him he would also secure the post at St. Vincent's, 
which he did, returning fi-om the mission about 
the 1st of Aug^ist. During the interval, Clarke re- 
enlisted his men, formed his plans, sent his pris- 
oners to Kentucky, and was ready for future action 
when M. Gibault arrived. lie sent Capt. Helm 
and a single soldier to A^inconnes to hold that fort 
until ho could put a garrison there. It is but 
proper to state that the English commander, Col. 
Hamilton, and his band of soldiers, were absent at 
Detroit when the priest secured the village on the 
"Ouabache." When Hamilton returned, in the 
autumn, he was greatly surprised to see the Anu^r- 
ican flag floating from the ramparts of the I'ort, 
and when approaching the gate he was abruptly 



halted by Capt. Helm, who stood with a lighted fuse 
in his hand by a cannon, answering Hamilton's 
demand to suiTender with the imperative inquiry, 
"Upon what terms, sir?" "Upon the honors of 
war," answered Hamilton, and he marched in 
greatly chagrined to see he had been halted by 
two men. The British commander sat quietly 
down, intending to go on down the river and sub- 
due Kentucky in the spring, in the mean time 
ciffering rewards for American scaljjs, and thereby 
gaining the epithet "' Hair-buyer General." Clarke 
heard of his actions late in January, 1779, and, as 
he says, " I knew if I did not take him he would 
take me," set out early in February with his troops 
and marched across the marshy plains of Lower 
Illinois, reaching the Wabash post by the 22d of 
that month. The unerring aim of the W^esterner 
was effectual. "They will shoot your eyes out," 
said Helm to the British troops. " There, I told 
you so," he further exclaimed, as a soldier vent- 
ured near a port-h(jle and received a shot directly 
in his eye. On the 24th the fort surrendered. 
The American flag waved again over its ramparts. 
The "Hair-buyer General" was sent a prisoner to 
Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement 
for his cruel acts. Clarke returned to Kaskaskia, 
perfected his plans to hold the Illinois settlements, 
went on to Kentucky, from where he sent word to 
the colonial authorities of the success of his expe- 
dition. Had he received the aid promised him, 
Detroit, in ea.sy reach, would have fallen too, but 
Gen. Green, failing to send it as promised, the capt- 
ure of that important po.st was delaj'ed. 

Had Clarke failed, and Hamilton succeeded, the 
whole West would have been swept, from the Allc- 
ghanies to the Mississippi. But for this small 
army of fearless Virginians, the union of all the 
tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonics 
might have been effected, and the whole current 
of American history changed. America owes 
Clarke and his band more than it can ever pay. 
Clarke reported the capture of Ka.<kaskia and the 
Illinois country early after its surrender, and in 
October the county of Illinois was established, 
extending over an unlimited expanse of country, 
by the Virginia Legislature. John Todd was 
appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor. 
In November, Clarke and his men received the 
thanks of the same body, who, in after years, 
secured them a grant of land, which they selected 
on the right bank of the Ohio River, opposite 
Louisville. They expected here a city would rise 
one day, to be the peer of Louisville, then coming 






-4v 



56 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



into prominence as an important place. By some 
means, their expectations failed, and only tlie 
dilapidated village of Clai-kesburg perpetuates 
their hopes. 

The conquest of Clarke changed the face of 
affairs in relation to the whole country north of 
the Ohio River, which would, in all probability, 
have been made the bouadarj' between Canada and 
the United States. When this was proposed, the 
strenuous arguments based on this conquest, by 
the American Commissioners, secured the present 
boundary line in negotiating the treaty of 1793. 

Though Clarke had failed to capture Detroit, 
Congress saw the importance of the post, and 
resolved on securing it. Gen. BlcCosh, commander 
at Fort Pitt, was put in command, and 81,000,- 
000 and 3,000 men placed at his disposal. By 
some dilatory means, he got no further than tlic 
Tuscai-awas River, in Ohio, where a half-way 
house, called Fort Laurens, for the President of 
Congress, was built. It was too far out to bo of 
practicaVjle value, and was soon after abandoned. 

Indian troubles and incursions by the British 
were the most absorbing themes in the West. 
The British went so far as Kentucky at a later 
date, while they intended reducing Fort Pitt, only 
abandoning it wlieu learning of its strength. 
Expeditions against the Western Indians were led 
by Gen. Sullivan, Col. Daniel Broadhcad, Col. 
Bowman and others, which, for awhile, silenced 
the natives and taught them the power of the 
Americans. They could not organize so readily 
as before, and began to attach themselves more 
closely to the British, or commit their depredations 
in Ijands, fleeing into the wilderness as soon as 
they struck a blow. In this way, several localities 
sufl'ered, until the settlers became again exasper- 
ated ; other expeditions were formed, and a second 
chastisement given. In 1781, Col. Broadhead 
led an expedition against the Central Ohio Indians. 
It did not prove so successful, as the Indians were 
led by the noted chief Brant, who, though not 
cruel, was a foe to the Americans, and assisted the 
British greatly in their endeavors to secure the West. 

Another elaiss of events occun-cd now in the 
West, civil in their relations, yet destined to form 
an important jiart of its history — its land laws. 

It must be borne in mind, that Virginia claimed 
the greater portion of the country north of the 
Ohio River, as well as a large part south. The 
other colonies claimed land also in the West under 
the old Crown grants, which extended to the 
South or Western Sea. To more complicate mat- 



ters, several land companies held proprietary rights 
to portions of these lands gained by grants from 
the Crown, or from the Colonial Assemblies. 
Others were based on land warrants issued 
in 1703; others on selection and survey and 
still others on settlement. In this state of 
mixed affairs, it was difficult to say who held a 
secure claim. It was a question whether the old 
French grants were good or not, especially since 
the change in government, and the eminent pros- 
pect of still another change. To, in some way, 
aid in settling these claims, Virginia sent a com- 
mission to the West to sit as a court and determine 
the proprietorship of these claims. This court, 
though of as doubtful authority as the claims 
themselves, went to work in Kentucky and along 
the Ohio River in 1779, and, in the course of one 
year, granted over three thousand certificates. 
These were considered as good authority _ for a 
definite title, and were so regarded in after pur- 
chases. Under them, many pioneers, like Daniel 
Boone, lost their lands, as all were required to 
hold some kind of a patent, while others, who 
pos.sessed no more principle than "land-sharks" 
of to-day, accjuu-ed large tracts of land by holding 
a patent the court was bound to accept. Of all 
the colonies, Virginia seemed to have the best 
title to the Northwest, save a few parcels, such as 
the Connecticut or Western Reserve and some 
similar tracts held by New York, Massachusetts 
and New Jersey. When the territory of the 
Northwest was ceded to the General Government, 
this was recognized, and that country was counted 
as a Virginia county. 

The Spanish Government, holding the region 
west of the Mississippi, and a portion east toward 
its outlet, became an important but secret ally of 
the Americans. When the French revolt was 
suppressed by O'Reilly, and the Spanish assumed 
the government of Louisiana, both Upper and 
Lower, there was a large tract of country, known 
as Florida (East and West), claimed by England, 
and duly regarded as a part of her dominion. 
The boundaries had been settled when the French 
first occupied Lower Louisiana. The Spaniards 
adopted the patriarchal form of rule, as much as 
was consistent Avith their interests, and allowed the 
French full religious and civil liberty, save that all 
tribunals were after the Spanish fashion, and 
governed by Spanish rules. The Spaniards, long 
jealous of England's growing power, secretly sent 
the Governors of Louisiana word to aid the 
Americans in their struggle for freedom. Though 



<2 fc^ 



4^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



57 



tliey controlled the MissLssipjii Iliver, they allowed 
an xViucrican officer (Capt. Willing) to descend the 
river iu January, 1778, with a party of fifty men, 
and ravage the British shore from Manchez Bayou 
to Natchez. 

On the 8th of May, 1779, Spain declared war 
against Great Britain ; and, on the Sth of July, 
the people of Louisiana were allowed to take a 
part in the war. Accordingly, Galvez collected a 
force of 1,400 men, and, on the 7th of September, 
took Fort Manchao. By the 21st of September, 
he had taken Baton Rouge and Natchez. Eight 
vessels were captured by the Spaniards on the 
Mississippi and on the lakes. In 1780 Mobile 
fell; in March, 1781, Pensacol;i, the chief British 
post in West Florida, succumbed after a long 
siege, and, on the Oth of Ma) ^ all West Florida 
was surrendered to Spain. 

This war, or the war on the Atlantic Coast, did 
not immediately affect Upper Louisiana. Great 
Britain, however, attempted to capture St. Louis. 
Though the commander was strongly suspected of 
being bribed by the English, yet the place stood 
the siege from the combined force of Indians and 
Canadians, and the assailants were dispersed. This 
was done during the summer of 1G80, and in the 
autumn, a company of Spanish and French resi- 
dents, under La Balme, went on an expedition 
against Detroit. They marched as far north as 
the British trading-post Ke-ki-ong-a, at the head 
of the Maumee River, but being surprised in the 
night, and the commander slain, the expedition 
was defeated, having done but little. 

Spain may have had personal interests in aiding 
the Americans. She was now in control of the Mis- 
sissippi River, the natural outlet of the Northwest, 
and, in 1780, began the troubles relative to the 
navigation of that stream. The claims of Spain 
were considered very unjust by the Continental 
Congress, and, wliile deliberating over the <|uestion, 
Virginia, wlio was jealously alive to her Western 
interests, and who yet held jurisdiction over Ken- 
tucky, sent through Jefferson, the Governor, Gen. 
George Rogers Clarke, to erect a fort below the 
mouth of the Ohio. This proceeding w;is rather, 
unwarrantable, especially as the fort was built in 
the country of the Chickasaws, wlio had thus far 
been true friends to the Americans, and who looked 
upon the fort as an innovation on their temtory. 
It was completed and occupied but a short time, 
Clarke being recalled. 

Virginia, in 1 780, did a very important thing ; 
namely, cstabji-shing an institution lor higher edu- 



cation. The Old Dominion confiscated the lauds 
of " Robert McKenzie, Henry Collins and Alex- 
ander I\leKee, Britons, eight thousand acres," and 
invested the proceeds of the sale in a public semi- 
nary. Tran.sylvania University now lives, a monu- 
ment to that .s]]irit. 

While Clarke was building Fort Jefferson, a force 
of British and Indians, under command of Cajit. 
Bryd, came down liom Canada and attacked the 
Kentucky settlements, getting into the country be- 
fore any one was aware. The winter before had 
been one of unusual severity, and game was ex- 
ceedingly scarce, hence the army was not prepared 
to conduct a campaign. After tlic cajiture of Rud- 
dle's Station, at the south fork of the Licking, Bryd 
abandoned any further attempts to reduce the set- 
tlements, except capturing Mai'tin's Station, and 
returned to Detroit. 

This expedition gave an additional motive for 
the chastisement of the Indians, and Clarke, on his 
return fi-om Fort Jefferson, went on an expedition 
against the IMianii Indians. He destroyed their 
towns at Loramie's store, near the present city of 
Sydney, Ohio, and at Piqua, humbling the natives. 
While on the way, a part of the army remained 
on the north bank of the Ohio, and erected two 
block-houses on the present site of Cincinnati. 

The exploits of Clarke and his men .so effectually 
chastised the Indians, that, for a time, the West 
was safe. During this period of quiet, the meas- 
ures which led to the cession of Western lands to 
the General Government, began to assume a defi- 
nite form. All the colonies claiming Western 
lands were willing to cede them to the Government, 
save A'^irginia, which colony wanted a large scope 
of Southern country southea.st of the Ohio, as far 
as South Carolina. All recognized the justice of 
all Western lands becoming public property, and 
thereby aiding in extinguishing the debts caused by 
the war of the Revolution, now about to close. 
As A'irginia held a somewhat different view, the 
cession was not made until 1788. 

The subject, however, could not be allowed to 
rest. The war of the Revolution was now drawing 
to a close ; victory on the part of the colonies was 
apparent, and the Western lands must be a part of 
the public d(jmain. Subsequent events brought 
about the desired cession, though several events 
transpired before the plan of cession was consum- 
mated. 

Before the close of 1780, the Legislature of 
Virginia passed an act, establishing the " town of 
Loui.sville," and confiscated the lands of John 



liL^ 



58 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



Connelly, who was one of its original proprietors, 
and who distinguished himself in the commence- 
ment of Lord Dunmore's war, and who was now a 
Tory, and doing all he could against the patriot 
cause. The proceeds of the sale of his lands were 
divided between Virginia and the county of Jefferson . 
Kentucky, the next year, was divided into three 
counties, Jefferson, Lincoln and Fayette. Courts 
were appointed in each, and the entry and location 
of lands given into their hands. Settlers, in spite 
of Indian troubles and British intrigue, were 
pouring over the mountains, particularly so during 
the years 1780 and 1781. The expeditions of 
Clarke against the Jliami Indians ; Boone's cap- 
tivity, and escape from them ; their defeat when 
attacking Boonesboro, and other places — all 
combined to weaken their power, and teach them 
to respect a nation whose progress they could not 
stay. 

The pioneers of the West, obliged to depend on 
themselves, owing to the struggle of the colonies 
for freedom, grew up a hardy, self-reliant race, 
with all the vices and virtues of a border life, and 
with habits, manners and customs necessary to 
their peculiar situation, and suited to their peculiar 
taste. A resume of their experiences and daily 
lives would be quite interesting, did the limits of 
this history admit it here. In the part relating 
directly to this county, the reader will find such 
lives given ; here, only the important events can 
be noticed. 

The last event of consequence occurring in the 
West before the close of the Revolution, is one 
that might well have been omitted. Had such 
been the case, a great stain would have been spared 
the character of Western pioneers. Reference is 
made to the massacre of the Moravian Christian 
Indians. 

These Indians were of the Delaware nation 
chiefly, though other Western tribes wore visited 
and many converts made. The first converts were 
made in New York and Connecticut, whcye, after 
a good start had been made, and a prospect of 
many souls being saved, they incurred the enmity 
of the whites, who, Iiecoming alarmed at their suc- 
cess, persecuted them to suc'li an extent that they 
were driven out of New York into Pennsylvania, 
where, in 1744, four years after their arrival in 
the New World, they began new missions. In 
1748, the New York and Connecticut Indians fol- 
lowed their teachers, and were among the founders 
of Friedenshutten, "Tents of Peace," a hamlet 
near Bethlehem, where their teachers were sta- 



tioned. Other hamlets grew around them, until 
in the interior of the colony, existed an Indian 
community, free from all savage vices, and grow- 
ing up in Christian virtues. As their strength 
grew, lawless whites again began to oppress them. 
They could not understand the war of 1754, and 
were, indeed, in a truly embarrassing position. 
The savages could form no conception of any cause 
for neutrality, save a secret sympathy with the 
English ; and if they could not take up the hatchet, 
they were in the way, and must be removed. Fail- 
ing to do this, their red brothers became hostile. 
The whites were but little better. The old suspi- 
cions which drove them fi'om New York were 
aroused. They were secret Papists, in league with 
the French, and flirnished them with arms and in- 
telligence; they were interfering with the liquor 
traific; they were enemies to the Government, 
and the Indian and the white man combined against 
them. They were obliged to move from place to 
place; were at one time protected nearly a year, 
near Philadelphia, from lawless whites, and finally 
were compelled to go far enough West to be out 
of the way of French and English arms, or the 
Iroquois and Cherokee hatchets. They came 
finally to the Muskingum, where they made a set- 
tlement called Schonbrun, "beautiful clear spring," 
in what is now Tuscarawas County. Other settle- 
ments gathered, from time to time, as the years 
went on, till in 1772 large numbers of them were 
within the borders of the State. 

Until the war of independence broke out, they 
were allowed to peacefully pursue their way. When 
that came, they were between Fort Pitt and De- 
troit, one of which contained British, the other 
Americans. Again they could not understand the 
struggle, and could not take up the hatchet. This 
brought on them the enmity of both belligerent 
parties, and that of their own forest companions, 
who could not see wherein their natures could 
change. Among the most hostile persons, were 
the white renegades McKee, Girty and Elliott. 
On their instigation, several of them were slain, 
and by their advice they were obliged to leave their 
fields and homes, where they had many comforts, 
and where they had erected good chapels in which 
to worship. It was just before one of these forced 
removals that Mary, daughter of the missionary 
Heckewelder, was Jsorn. She is supposed to be 
the first white female child born north of the Ohio 
River. Her birth occurred April 16, 1781. It 
Ls but proper to say here, that it is an open ques- 
tion, and one that will probably never be decided. 



9 "y 



^2 ^. 



-Jj v^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



59 



/. e. Who was the first wliito child born in Ohio ? 
[n all probability, the child was born during the 
captivity of its mother, as history plainly shows 
that when white women were released fi-om the 
Indians, some of them carried children born while 
among the natives. 

When the Moravians were forced to leave their 
settlements on the Muskingum, and taken to San- 
dusky, they left growing fields of corn, to which 
they were obliged to return, to gather food. This 
Moused the whites, only wanting some pretext 
whereby they might attack them, and a party, 
headed by Col. David WOliamson, determined to 
exterminate them. The Moravians, hearing of their 
approach, fled, but too late to warn other settle- 
ments, and Gnadenhutten, Salem and one or two 
smaller settlements, were surprised and taken. 
Under deceitful promises, the Indians gave up all 
their arms, showed the whites their treasures, and 
went unknowingly to a terrible death. When ap- 
prised of their fate, determined on by a majority 
of the rangers, they begged only time to prepare. 
They were led two by two, the men into one, the 
women ' and chOdren into another " slaughter- 
house," as it was termed, and all but two lads were 
wantonly slain. An infamous and more bloody 
deed never darkened the pages of feudal times ; 
a deed that, in after years, called aloud for venge- 
ance, and in some measure received it. Some of 
Williamson's men wrung their hands at the cruel 
fate, and endeavored, by all the means in their 
power, to prevent it; but all to no purpose. The 
blood of the rangers was up, and they would not spare 
"man, woman or child, of all that peaceful band." 

Having completed their horrible work, (March 
8, 1782), Williamson and his men returned to 
Pittsburgh. Everywhere, the ' Indians lamented 
the untimely death of their kindred, their savage 
relatives determining on their revenge ; the Chris- 
tian ones could only be resigned and weep. 

Williamson's success, for such it was viewed by 
many, excited the borderers to another invasion, 
and a second army was raised, this time to 
go to the Sandusky town, and annihilate the 
Wyandota. Col. William Crawford was elected 
leader ; he accepted reluctantly ; on the way, 
the army was met by hordes of savages on the 5th of 



June, and totally routed. They were away north, 
in what is now Wyandot County, and were obliged 
to flee for their lives. The blood of the murdered 
Moravians called for revenge. The Indians de- 
sired it; were they not relatives of the fidlen 
Christians ? Crawford and many of his men fell 
into their hands ; all suflend unheard-of tortures, 
that of Crawford being as cruel as Indian cruelty 
could devise. He was pounded, pierced, cut with 
knives and burned, all of which occupied nearly 
three hours, and finally lay down insensible on abed 
of coals, and died. The savage captors, in demoni- 
acal glee, danced around him, and upbraided him 
for the cruel murder of their relatives, giving him 
this only consolation, that had they captured Will- 
iamson, he might go free, but he must answer for 
Williamson's brutality. 

The war did not cease here. The Indians, now 
aroused, carried their attack as far south as into 
Kentucky, killing Capt. Estill, a brave man, and 
some of his companions. The British, too, were 
active in aiding them, and the 14th of August a 
large force of them, under Girty, gathered silently 
about Bryant's Station. They were obliged to re- 
treat. The Kentuckians pursued them, but were 
repulsed with considerable loss. 

The attack on Bryant's Station aroused the peo- 
ple of Kentucky to strike a blow that would be 
felt. Gen. Clarke was put at the head of an army 
of one thousand and fifty men, and the Miami 
country was a second time destroyed. Clarke even 
went as far north as the British trading-post at the 
head of the Miami, where he captured a great 
amount of property, and destroyed the post. Other 
outposts also fell, the invading army suffering but 
little, and, by its decisive action, practically closing 
the Indian wars in the West. Pennsylvania suf- 
fered some, losing Hannahstown and one or two 
small settlements. Williamson's and Crawford's 
campaigns aroused the fury of the Indians that 
took time and much blood and war to subdue. The 
Revolution wa,s, however, drawing to a close. Amer- 
ican arms were victorious, and a new nation was 
now coming into existence, who would change the 
whole current of Western matters, and make of the 
Northwest a land of liberty, equality and union. 
"That nation was now on the stage. 



J>?L 



60 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



CHAPTER VI. 

AMERICAN OCCUPATION— INDIAN CLAIMS— SURVEYS — EARLY LAND COMPANIES— COMPACT 
OP 1787— ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY— EARLY AMERICAN SETTLE- 
MENTS IN THE OHIO VALLEY— FIRST TERRITORIAL 
OFFICERS— ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES. 



THE occupation of the West by the American, 
really dates from the campaign of Geu. Clarke in 
1778, when ho captured the British post.s in the 
Illinois country, and Vincennes on the Wabash. 
Had he been properly supported, he would liave 
reduced Detroit, then in ca.sy reach, and poorly de- 
fended. As it was, liowever, that post remained in 
charge of the British till after the close of the war 
of the Revolution. They also held other lake 
posts; but these were included in the terms of 
peace, and came into the possession of the Ameri- 
cans. They were abandoned by the British as 
soon as the different commanders received notice 
from their chiefs, and British rule and English 
occupation ceased in that pai-t of the New World. 

The war virtually closed by the surrender of 
Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., October 19, 
1781. The struggle was prolonged, however, by 
the British, in the vain hope tliat they could re- 
trieve tlie disaster, but it wiis only a useless waste 
of men and money. America would not be sub- 
dued. "If we are to be ta.Tted, we will be repre- 
sented," said they, "else we will be a free govern- 
ment, and regulate our own taxes." In the end, 
they were free. 

Provisional articles of peace between the United 
States and Great Britain were signed in Paris on 
the 80th of November, 1782. This was followed 
by an armistice negotiated at Versailles on the 2()th 
of January, 1783 ; and finally, a definite treaty of 
peace was concluded at Paris on the od of the next 
September, and ratified by Congress on the 4th of 
January, 1781. By the second article of the defi- 
nite treaty of 1788, the boundaries of the United 
States w«re fixed. A glance at the map of that 
day shows the boundary to have been as follows: 
Beginning at Passamaquoddy Bay, on the coast oT 
Maine, the line ran north a little above the forty- 
fifth parallel of latitude, when it diverged soutliwest- 
crly, iiTcgularly, until it reached that parallel, when 
it followed it until it reached the St. Lawrence River. 
It followed that river to Lake Ontario, down its 
center ; up the Niagara River ; through Lake Erie, 



up the Detroit River and through Lakes Huron and 
Superior, to the northwest extremity of the latter. 
Then it pursued another iiTcgular western course 
to the Lake of the Woods, when it turned south- 
ward to the Mississippi River. The cnmmis.sioners 
insisted that should be the western boundary, as 
the lakes were the northern. It followed the Mis- 
sissippi south until the mouth of Red River was 
reached, when, turning east, it followed almost a 
direct line to the Atlantic Coast, touching the 
coast a little north of the outlet of St. John's 
River. 

From this outline, it will be readily seen what 
boundary the United States possessed. Not one- 
half of its present domain. 

At this date, there existed the original thirteen 
colonies : Virginia occupying all Kentucky and 
all the Northwest, save about half of Michigan and 
Wisconsin, claimed by Massachusetts; and the upper 
part of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and the lower 
part (a narrow strip) of jMichigan, claimed by Con- 
necticut. Georgia included all of Alabama and 
Mississippi. The Spaniards claimed all Florida 
and a narrow part of lower Georgia. All the coun- 
try west of the Father of Waters belonged to Spain, 
to whom it had been secretly ceded when the fam- 
ily compact was made. That nation controlled the 
INIississippi, and gave no small uneasiness to the 
young government. It was, however, happily set- 
tled finally, by the sale of Louisana to the United 
States. 

Pending the settlement of these questions and 
the formation of the Federal Union, the cession of 
the Northwest by Virginia again came before 
Congress. That body found itself unable to fulfill 
its promises to its soldiers regarding land, and 
again urged the Old Dominion to cede the Terri- 
tory to the General Government, for the good of 
all. Congress forbade settlers from occupying the 
Western lands till a definite cession had been 
made, and the title to the lands in question made 
good. But speculation was stronger than law, 
and without waiting for the slow processes of courts. 



:^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



CI 



the adventurous settlers were pouring into the 
country at p, rapid rate, only retarded by the rifle 
and scalping-knit'c of the savage — a. temporary 
check. The policy of allowing any parties to obt<iin 
land from the Indians was strongly discouriigod 
by Washington. Ho ativocatcd the idea that only 
the General Grovcrnmont could do that, and, in a 
letter to James Duane, in Congress, he strongly 
urged such a course, and pointed out the danger 
of a border war, unless some such measure was 
stringently followed. 

Under the circumstances, Congress pressed the 
claims of cession upon Virginia, and finally in- 
duced the Dominion to modify the terms proposed 
two years before. On the 20th of December, 
1783, Virginia accepted the proposal of Congress, 
and authorized her delegates to make a deed to 
the United States of all her right in the territory 
northwest of the Ohio. 

The Old Dominion stipulated in her deed of 
cession, that the territory should be divided into 
States, to bo admitted into the Union as any other 
State, and to bear a proportionate share in the 
maintenance of that Union; that Virginia should 
be re-imburscd for the expense incurred in subduing 
the British posts in the territory; that the French 
and Canadian inhabitants should be protected in their 
rights ; that the grant to Gen. George Rogers Clarke 
and his men, as well as all other similar grants, 
should be confirmed, and that the lands should be 
considered as the common property of the United 
States, the proceeds to be applied to the use of the 
whole country. Congress accepted these condi- 
tions, and the deed was made March 1, 1784. 
Thus the eounti-y came from under the dominion 
of Vii'ginia, and became common property. 

A serious difficulty arose about this time, that 
threatened for awhile to involve England and 
America anew in war. Virginia and several 
other States refused to abide by that part of the 
treaty relating to the payment of debts, especially 
so, when the British carried away quite a number 
of negroes claimed by the Americans. This re- 
fusal on the part of the Old Dominion and her 
abettors, caused the English to retain her North- 
western outposts, Detroit, Mackinaw, etc. She 
held these till 1786, when the questions were 
finally settled, and then readily abandoned them. 

The return of peace greatly augmented emigra- 
tion to the West, especially to Kentucky. When 
the war closed, the population of that county (the 
throe counties having been made one judicial dis- 
trict, and Danville designated aa the seat of gov- 



ernment) was estimated to be about twelve thousand. 
In one year, alter the close of the war, it increased 
to 30,000, and steps for a State government were 
taken. Owing to the divided sentiment among its 
citizens, its perplexing questions of land titles 
and proprietary rights, nine conventions were held 
before a definite course of action could be reached. 
This prolonged the time till 1792, when, in De- 
cember of that year, the election for persons to 
form a State constitution was held, and the vexed 
and complicated questions settled. In 1783, the 
first wagons bearing merchandise came across the 
mountains. Their contents were received on flat- 
boats at Pittsburgh, and taken down the Ohio to 
Louisville, which that sjjring boasted of a store, 
opened by Daniel Broadhead. The next year, 
James Wilkinson opened one at Lexington. 

Pittsburgh was now the principal town in the 
West. It occupied the same position regarding 
the outposts that Omaha has done for several years 
to Nebraska. The town of Pittsburgh was laid 
out immediately after the war of 176-i, by Col. 
Campbell. It then consisted of four squares about 
the fort, and received its name from that citadel. 
The treaty with the Six Nations in 17G8, con- 
veyed to the proprietaries of Pennsylvania all the 
lands of the Alleghany below Kittanning, and all 
the country south of the Ohio, within the limits of 
Penn's charter. This deed of cession was recog- 
nized when the line between Penn.sylvania and 
Vu-ginia was fixed, and gave the post to the Key- 
stone State. In accordance with this deed, the 
manor of Pittsburgh was withdrawn from market 
in 17(39, and was held as the property of the Penn 
flimily. When Washington visited it in 1770, it 
seems to have declined in consequence of the 
afore-mentioned act. He mentions it as a " town of 
about twenty log houses, on the Monongahela, 
about three hundred yards from the fort." The 
Penn's remained true to the King, and hence all 
their land that had not been surveyed and returned 
to the land office, was confiscated by the common- 
wealth. Pittsburgh, having been surveyed, was 
still left to them. In the spring of 1784, Tench 
Francis, the agent of the Pcnns, was induced to 
lay out the manor into lots and offer them for sale. 
Thoujrh, for many years, the place was rather un- 
promising, it eventually became the chief town in 
that part of the West, a position it yet holds. In 
1786, John Scull and Joseph Hall started the 
Pitt.sburgh Ga::Hte, the first paper published west 
of the mountaiiTS. In the initial number, appeared a 
lengthy article from the pen of H. H. Brackenridgc, 



'f i 



:V 



Al. 



03 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



afterwwd one of the most prominent members 
of the Pennsylvania bar. He had located in 
Pittsburgh in 1781. His letter gives a most hope- 
ful prospect in store for the future city, and is a 
highly descriptive article of the Western country. 
It is yet preserved in the "Western Annals," and 
is well worth a perusal. 

Under the act of peace in 1783, no provision was 
made by the British for their allies, especially the 
Sis Nations. The question was ignored by the 
English, and was made a handle by the Americans 
in gaining them to their cause before the war had 
ftilly closed. The treaties made were regarded by 
the Indians as alliances only, and when the En- 
glish left the country the Indians began to as.sume 
rather a hostile bearing. This excited the whites, 
and for a while a war with that formidable con- 
federacy was imminent. Better councils prevailed, 
and Congress wisely adopted the policy of acquiring 
their lands by purchase. In accordance with this 
policy, a treaty was made at Port Stanwix with 
the Six Nations, in October, 1784. By this treaty, 
all lands west of a line drawn from the mouth of 
Oswego Creek, about four miles east of Niagara, 
to the mouth of Buffalo Creek, and on to the 
northern boundary of Pennsylvania, thence west 
along that boundary to its western extremity, 
thence south to the Ohio River, should be ceded 
to the United States. (They claimed west of this line 
by conquest.) The Six Nations were to be secured 
in the lands they inhabited, reserving only six miles 
square around Oswego fort for the support of the 
siune. By this treaty, the indefinite claim of the 
Six Nations to the West was extinguished, and the 
question of its ownership settled. 

It was now occupied by other Western tribes, 
who did not recognize the Iroquois claim, and who 
would not yield without a purchase. Especially 
was this the case with those Indians living in the 
northern part. To get possession of that country 
by the same process, the United States, through 
its commissioners, held a treaty at Fort Mcintosh 
on the 21st of January, 1785. The Wyandot, 
Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa tribes were pres- 
ent, and, through their chiefs, sold their lands to 
the Government. The Wyandot and Delaware 
nations were given a reservation in the north part 
of Ohio, where they were to be protected. The 
others were allotted reservations in Michigan. To 
all was given complete control of their lands, allow- 
ing them to punish any white man attempting to 
settle thereon, and guaranteeing them in their 
rights. 



By such ^eans Congress gained Indian titles to 
the vast realms north of the Ohio, and, a few 
months later, that legislation was ccmiuenced that 
should determine the mode of its disposal and the 
plan of its settlements. 

To facilitate the settlement of lands thus acquired. 
Congress, on May 20, 1785, passed an act for dispos- 
ing of lands in the Northwest Territory. Its main 
provisions were : A surveyor or surveyors should be 
appointed from the States ; and a geographer, and 
his assistants to act with them. The surveyors 
were to divide the territory into townships of six 
miles square, by lines running due north and 
south, and east and west. The starting-place 
was to be on the Ohio River, at a point where the 
western boundary of Pennsylvania crossed it. 
This would give the first range, and the first 
township. As soon as seven townships were 
surveyed, the maps and plats of the same were to 
be sent to the Board of the Treasury, who would 
record them and proceed to place the land in the 
market, and so on with all the townships as fast as 
they could be prepared ready for sale. Each town- 
ship was to be divided into thirty-six sections, or 
lots. Out of these sections, numbers 8, 11, 26 and 
29 were reserved for the use of the Government, 
and lot No. 16, for the establishment of a common- 
school fund. One-third of all mines and minerals was 
also reserved for the United States. Three townships 
on Lake Erie were reserved for the use of officers, 
men and others, refugees from Canada and from 
Nova Scotia, who were entitled to grants of land. 
The Moravian Indians were also exempt from 
molestation, and guaranteed in their homes. Sol- 
diers' claims, and all others of a like nature, were 
also recognized, and land reserved for them. 

Without waiting for the act of Congress, settlers 
had been pouring into the country, and, when or- 
dered by Congress to leave undisturbed Indian 
lands, refused to do so. They went into the In- 
dian country at their peril, however, and when 
driven out by the Indians could get no redress 
from the Government, even when life was lost. 

The Indians on the Wabash made a treaty at 
Fort Finney, on the Miami, January 31, 1786, 
promising allegiance to the United States, and were 
allowed a reservation. This treaty did not include 
the Piankeshaws, as was at first intended. These, 
refusing to live peaceably, stirred up the Shawa- 
nees, who began a seiies of predatory excursions 
against the settlements. This led to an expedition 
against them and other restless tribes. Gen. Clarke 
commanded part of the army on that expedition, 



'y 




^^^ 



l^iift»«J*JH-\Vyif^.'\W4\'" -.41. 




A. 



i^ 



HISTORY OP OHIO. 



but got no farther than Vincennes, when, owing to 
tlie discontent of his Kentucky troops, he was 
obliged to return. Col. Benjamin Logan, liow- 
ever, marched, at the head of four or five hundred 
mounted riflemen, into the Indian country, pene- 
trating as far as the head-waters of Mad River. 
He destroyed several towns, much corn, and took 
about eighty prisoners. Among these, was the 
chief of the nation, who was wantonly slain, 
greatly to Logan's regret, who could not restrain 
his men. His expedition taught the Indians sub- 
mission, and that they must adhere to their con- 
tracts. 

Meanwhile, the diflSculties of the navigation of 
the Mississippi arose. Spain would not relinquish 
the right to control the entire southern part of the 
river, allowing no free navigation. She was secretly 
hoping to cause a revolt of the Western provinces, 
especially Kentucky, and openly fiivored such a 
move. She also claimed, by conquest, much of the 
land on the east side of the river. The slow move- 
ments of Congress; the failure of Virginia to 
properly protect Kentucky, and the inherent rest- 
lessness in some of the Western men, well-nigh 
precipitated matters, and, for a while, serious results 
were unminent. The Kentuckians, and, indeed, 
all the people of the West, were determined the 
river should be free, and even went so far as to 
raise a regiment, and forcibly seize Spanish prop- 
erty m the West. Great Britain stood ready, too, 
to aid the West should it succeed, providing it 
would make an alliance with her. But while the 
excitement was at its height, Washington coun- 
seled better ways and patience. The decisive tone 
of the new republic, though almost overwhelmed 
with^a burden of debt, and" with no credit, debarred 
the Spanish from too forcible measures to assert 
their claims, and held back the disloyal ones firom 
attempting a revolt. 

New Fork, Massachusetts and Connecticut ceded 
their lands, and now the United States were ready 
to fulfill their promises of land gi-auts, to the sol- 
diers who had preserved the nation. This did 
much to heal the breach in the West, and restore 
confidence there; so that the Mississippi question 
was overlooked for a time, and Kentucky forgot her 
animo.sities. 

The cession of their claims was the signal for 
the formation of land companies in the East ; com- 
panies who.se object was to settle the Western coun- 
try, and, at the same time, enrich the founders of 
the companies. Some of these companies had been 
formed in the old colonial days, but the recent war 



had put a stop to all their proceedings. Congress 
would not recognize their claims, and new com- 
panies, under old names, were the result. By such 
means, the Ohio Company emerged from the past, 
and, in 1786, took an active existence. 
^ Benjamin Tapper, a Hevolutionary soldier, and 
since then a government surveyor, who had been 
west as far a,s Pittsburgh, revived the question. 
He was prevented from prosecuting his surveys by 
hostile Indians, and returned to Massachusetts. 
He broached a plan to Gen. Rufus Putnam, as to 
the renewal of their memorial of 1783, which re- 
sulted in the publication of a plan, and inviting all 
those interested, to meet in February in their re- 
spective counties, and choose delegates to a con- 
vention to be held at the " Bunch-of-grapes Tav- 
ern." in Boston, on the first of March, 1786. On 
the day appointed, eleven persons appeared, and 
by the 3d of March an outline was drawn up, and 
subscriptions under it began at once. The leading 
features of the plan were : "A fund of $ 1 ,000,000° 
mainly in Continental certificates, was to be raised 
for the purpose of purchasing lands in the Western 
country; there were to be 1,000 .shares of $1,000 
each, and upon each share $10 in .specie were to 
be paid for contingent expeases. One year's inter- 
est was to be appropriated to the charges of making 
a settlement, and assisting those unable to move 
without aid. The owners of every twenty shares 
were to choose an agent to represent them and 
attend to their interests, and the agents were to 
choose the directors. The plan was approved, and 
in a year's tune from that date, the Company was 
organized."* 

By the time this Company was organized, all 
claims of the colonies in the coveted territory were 
done away with by their deeds of cession, Connect- 
icut being the last. 

While troubles were still existing south of the 
Ohio River, regarding the navigation of the Mis- 
sissippi, and many urged the formation of a sepa- 
rate, independent State, and while Congress and 
Washington were doing what they could to allay 
the feeling north of the Ohio, the New England 
associates were busily engaged, now that a Com- 
pany was formed, to obtain the land they wished 
to purchase. On the 8th of March, 1787, a meet- 
ing of the agents cliose Gen. Parsons, Gen. Put- 
nam and the Rev. Mannasseh Cutler, Directors for 
the Company. The last selection was quite a 
fitting one for such an enterprise. Dr. Cutler waa 

• Historical CoIIectiona, 



) 1^ 



.>?• 



66 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



an accomplished scholar, an excellent gentleman, 
and a firm believer in freedom. In the choice of 
him as the agent of the Company, lies the fact, 
though unforeseen, of the beginning of anti-slavery 
in America. Through him the famous " compact 
of 1787," the true corner-stone of the Northwest, 
originated, and by him was safely passed. He 
was a good "wire-puller," too, and in this had an 
advantage. Mr. Hutchins was at this time the 
geographer for the United States, and was, prob- 
ably, the best-posted man in America regarding 
the West. Dr. Cutler learned from him that the 
most desirable portions were on the Muskingum 
River, north of the Ohio, and was advised by him 
to buy there if he could. 

Congress wanted money badly, and many of the 
members favored the plan. The Southern mem- 
bers, generally, were hostile to it, as the Doctor 
would listen to no grant which did not embody 
the New England ideas in the chai-ter. These 
members were finally won over, some bribery be- 
ing used, and some of their favorites made officers 
of the Territory, whose formation was now going 
on. This took time, however, and Dr. Cutler, be- 
coming impatient, declared they would purchase 
from some of the States, who held small tracts in 
various parts of the West. This intimation brought 
the tardy ones to time, and, on the 23d of July, 
Congress authorized the Treasury Board to make 
the contract. On the 26th, Messrs. Cutler and 
Sargent, on behalf of the Company, stated in 
writing their conditions; and on the 27th, Con- 
gress referred their letter to the Board, and an 
order of the same date was obtained. Of this Dr. 
Cutler's journal says: 

"By this grant we obtained near five millions 
of acres of land, amounting to $3,500,000; 1,.500,- 
000 acres for the Ohio Company, and the remainder 
for a private speculation, in which many of the 
principal characters of America are concerned. 
Without connecting this peculation, similar terms 
and advantages for the Ohio Company could not 
have been obtained." 

Messrs. Cutler and Sargent at once closed a ver- 
bal contract with the Treasury Board, which was 
executed in form on the 27th of the next Octo- 
ber.* 

By this contract, the vast region bounded on the 
south by the Ohio, west by the Scioto, east by the 
seventh range of townships then survepng, and 
north by a due west line, drawn from the north 

* Land LawB. 



boundary of the tenth township from the Ohio, 
direct to the Scioto, was sold to the Ohio associ- 
ates and their secret copartners, for $1 per acre, 
subject to a deduction of one-third for bad lands 
and other contingencies. 

The whole tract was not, however, paid for nor 
taken by the Company — even their own portion of 
a million and a half acres, and extending west to the 
eighteenth range of townships, was not taken ; and 
in 1792, the boundaries of the purchase proper 
were fixed as follows: the Ohio on the south, the 
seventh range of townships on the east, the six- 
teenth range on the west, and a line on the north 
so drawn as to make the grant 750,000 acres, be- 
sides reservations ; this grant being the portion 
which it was originally agreed the Company might 
enter into at once. In -addition to this, 214,285 
acres were granted as army bounties, under the 
resolutions of 1779 and 1780, and 100,000 acres 
as bounties to actual settlers; both of the latter 
tracts being within the original grant of 1787, and 
adjoining the purchase as before mentioned. 

While these things were progressing. Congress 
was bringing into form an ordinance for the gov- 
ernment and social organization of the North- 
west Territory. Virginia made her cession in 
March, 1784, and during the month following the 
plan for the temporary government of the newly 
acquired territory came under discussion. On the 
19th of April, Mr. Spaight, of North Carolina, 
moved to strike from the plan reported by Mr. 
Jefierson, the emancipationist of his day, a provis- 
ion for the prohibition of slavery north of the Ohio 
after the year 1800. The motion prevailed. From 
that day till the 23d, the plan was discussed and 
altered, and finally pas.sed unanimously with the ex- 
ception of South Carolina. The South would have 
slavery, or defeat every measure. Thus this hide- 
ous monster early began to assert himself. By the 
proposed plan, the Territory was to have been 
divided into States by parallels of latitude and merid- 
ian lines. This division, it was thought, would make 
ten States, whose names were as follows, beginning 
at the northwest corner, and going southwardly : 
Sylvania, Michigania, Cheresonisus, Assenispia, 
Metropotamia, Illinoia, Saratoga, Washington, 
Polypotamia and Pelisipia.* 

A more serious difficulty existed, however, to 
this plan, than its catalogue of names — the number 
of States and their boundaries. The root of the evil 
w;is in the resolution passed by Congress in October, 

* Spark's Washington. 



-^ 



HISTORY OF Omo. 



67 



1 780, wliieli fixed the size of the States to be fonned 
from the ceiled hinds, at one hundred to one hundred 
and fifty miles square. The terms of that resolu- 
tion being called up both by Virginia and Massa- 
chusetts, further legislation was deemed necessary 
to change them. July 7, 17SG, this subject came 
up in Congress, and a resolution passed in fiivor of 
a division into not less than three nor more than 
five States. Virginia, at the clo.so of 1 788, assented 
to this proposition, which became the basis upon 
which the division should be made. On the 29th 
of September, Congress having thus changed the 
plan for dividing the Northwestern Territory into 
ten States, proceeded again to consider the terms of 
an ordinance for the government of that region. At 
this juncture, the genius of Dr. Cutler displayed 
itself A graduate in medicine, law and divinity ; 
an ardent lover of liberty ; a celebrated scientist, 
and an accomplished, portly gentleman, of whom 
the Southern senators said they had never before 
seen so fine a specimen from the New England colo- 
nies, no man was better prepared to form a govern- 
ment for the new Territory, than he. The Ohio 
Company was his real object. He was backed by 
them, and enough Continental money to purchase 
more than a million acres of land. This was aug- 
mented by other parties until, as has been noticed, 
he represented over five million acres. This would 
largely reduce the public debt. Jeflferson and Vir- 
ginia were regiu-ded as authority concerning the 
land Virginia had just ceded to the General Gov- 
ernment. Jefiersou's policy was to provide for the 
national credit, and still check the growth of slavery. 
Here was a good opportunity. Massachusetts 
owned the TeiTitory of Maine, which she was crowd- 
ing into market. She opposed the opening of 
the Northwest. This stirred Virginia. The South 
caught the inspiration and rallied around the Old 
Dominion and Dr. Cutler. Thereby he gained the 
credit and good will of the South, an auxiliary he 
used to good purpose. Massachusetts could not 
vote against him, becau.se many of the constituents 
of her members were interested in the Ohio Com- 
pany. Thus the Doctor, using all the arts of the 
lobbyist, was enabled to hold the situation. True to 
deeper convictions, he dictated one of the most com- 
pact and finished documents of wise statesmanship 
that h.is ever adorned any statute-book. Jefierson 
gave it the term, "Articles of Compact," and 
rendered him valuable aid in its construction. This 
" Compact" preceded the Federal Constitution, in 
both of which are seen Jefferson's master-mind. 
Dr. Cutler followed closely the c'oastitution of Mas- 



sachusetts, adopted three years before. The proui- 
inoiit features were : The exclusion of slavery from 
the Territory forever. Provision for public schools, 
giving one township for a seminary, and everj' six- 
teenth section. ( That gave one thirty-sixth of all 
the land for public education. j A provision pro- 
hibiting the adoption of any constitution or the 
enactment of any law that would nullify pre-exist- 
ing contracts. 

The compact fiirthcr declared that " Keligion, 
morality and knowledge being necessary to good 
government and the happiness of mankind, schools 
and the means of education shall always be en- 
couraged." 

The Doctor planted himself firmly on this plat/- 
form, and would not yield. It was that or nothing. 
Unless they could make the land desirable , it was 
not wanted, and, taking his horse and buggy, he 
started for the Constitutional Convention in Phil- 
adelphia. His influence succeeded. On the 13th 
of July, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage 
and was unanimously "adopted. Every member 
from the South voted for it ; only one man, Mr. 
Yates, ol^New York, voted against the measure; 
but as the vote was made by States, his vote was 
lost, and the " Compact of 1787 " was beyond re- 
peal. Thus the great States of the Northwest 
Territory were consecrated to freedom, intelligence 
and morality. This act was the opening step for 
freedom in America. Soon the South saw their 
blunder, and endeavored, by all their power, to re- 
peal the compact. In 1803, Congress referred it 
to a committee, of which John Eandolph was 
chairman. He re])orted the ordinance was a com- 
pact and could not be repealed. Thus it stood, 
like a rock, in the way of slavery, which still, in 
spite of these provisions, endeavored to plant that 
infernal institution in the West. Witness the 
early days of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. But the 
compact could not be violated ; New England ideas 
could not be put down, and her sons stood ready 
to defend the soil of the West from that curse. 

The pa.ssage of the ordinance and the grant of 
land to Dr. Cutler and his associates, were soon fol- 
lowed by a request from John Cleve Symmes, of 
New Jcrsej', for the country between the Miamis. 
Symmes had visited that jiart of the West in 1 78(1, 
and, being pleased with the valleys of the Miiuiiis, 
had aj>]ilied to the Board of the Treasury for 
their purcha.se, as soon as they were open to set- 
tlement. The Board was empowered to act by 
Congress, and, in 1788, a contract was signed, giv- 
ing him the country he desired. The terms of his 



r 



'-^ 



68 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



purchase were similar to those of the Ohio Com- 
pany. His application was followed by others, 
whose successorfailure will appear in the narrative. 

The New England or Ohio Company was all 
this time busily engaged perfecting its arrange- 
ments to occupy its lands. The Directors agreed 
to reserve 5,760 acres near the confluence of the 
Ohio and Muskingum for a city and commons, for 
the old ideas of the English plan of settling a 
country yet prevailed. A meeting of the Direct- 
ors was held at Bracket's tavern, in Boston, No- 
vember 23, 1787, when four surveyors, and twen- 
ty-two attendants, boat-builders, carpenters, black- 
smiths and common workmen, numbering in all 
forty persons, were engaged. Their tools were 
purchased, and wagons were obtained to transport 
them across the mountains. Gen. Rufus Putnam 
was made superintendent of the company, and 
Ebenezer Sproat, of Rhode Island, Anselm Tup- 
per and John Matthews, from Massachusetts, and 
R. J. Meigs, from Connecticut, a.s surveyors. At 
the same meeting, a suitable person to instruct them 
in religion, and prepare the way to open a school 
when needed, was selected. This was Rey. Daniel 
Storey, who became the first New England minis- 
ter in the Northwest. 

The Indians were watching this outgrowth of 
affairs, and felt,- from what they could learn in Ken- 
tucky, that they would be gradually surrounded by 
the whites. This they did not relish, by any 
means, and gave the settlements south of the Ohio 
no little uneasiness. It was thought best to hold 
another treaty with them. In the mean time, to 
insure peace, the Governor of Virginia, and Con- 
gress, placed troops at Venango, Forts Pitt and 
Mcintosh, and at Miami, Vincennes, Louisville, 
and Muskingum, and the militia of Kentucky 
were held in readiness should a sudden outbreak 
occur. These measures produced no results, save 
insuring the safety of the whites, and not until 
January, 1789, was Clarke able to carry out his 
plans. During that month, he held a meeting at Fort 
Harmar,* at the mouth of the Muskingum, where 
the New England Colony expected to locate. 

The hostile character of the Indians did not 
deter the Ohio Company from carrying out its 
plans. In the winter of 1787, Gen. Rufiis Put- 



*FortHarmar was built in 1785,by adotacbment of United States 
Boldiers, under cuinniand of Maj. John Dongbty. It was named in 
honor of Cul. Josiah Harniar, to whose regiment Maj. Doughty waa 
attached. It was the first military poet erected by the Americans 
witbin the limits of Ohio, except Fort Laurens, a temporary struct- 
ure liuilt in 1778. When Marietta waa founded it wa.^ the military 
post of that part of the country, and was for many years an impor- 
tant station. 



nam and forty-seven pioneers advanced to the 
ujuuth of the Youghioghenj' River, and began 
building a boat for tran.sportation down the Ohio 
in the spring. The boat was the largest craft that 
had ever descended the river, and, in allusion to 
their Pilgrim Fathers, it was called the Mayflower. 
It was 45 feet long and 12 feet wide, and esti- 
mated at 50 tons burden. Truly a formidable afiair 
for the time. The bows were raking aud curved 
like a galley, and were strongly timbered. The 
sides were made bullet-proof, and it was covered 
with a deck roof Capt. Devol, the first shij)- 
builder in the West, was placed in command. On 
the 2d of April, the Mayflower was launched, 
and for five days the little band of pioneers sailed 
down the Monongahela and the Ohio, and, on the 
7th, landed at the mouth of the Muskingum. 
There, opposite Fort Harmar, they chose a loca- 
tion, moored their boat for a temporary shelter, 
and began to erect houses for their occupation. 

Thus was begun the first English settlement in 
the Ohio Valley. About the 1st of July, they 
were re-enforced by the arrival of a colony from 
Massachusetts. It had been nine weeks on the 
way. It had hauled its wagons and driven its 
stock to Wheeling, where, constructing flat-boats, 
it had floated down the river to the settlement. 

In October preceding this occurrence, Arthur 
St. Clair had been appointed Governor of the Ter- 
ritory by Congress, which body also appointed 
Winthrop Sargent, Secretary, and Samuel H. 
Parsons, James M. Varnum and John Armstrong 
Judges. Subsequently Mr. Armstrong declined 
the appointment, and Mr. Symmes was given the 
vacancy. None of these were on the ground 
when the first settlement was made, though the 
Judges came soon after. One of the first things the 
colony found necessary to do was to organize 
some form of government, whereby difiiculties 
might be settled, though to the credit of the colony 
it may be said, that during the first three months 
of its existence but one difierence arose, and that 
was settled by a compromise.* Indeed, hardly a 
better set of men for the purpose could have been 
selected. Washington wrote concerning this 
colony : 

" No colony in America was ever settled under 
such favorable auspices as that which has com- 
menced at the Muskingum. Information, prop- 
erty and strength will he its characteristics. I 
know many of the settlers personally, and there 

• " Western Monthly Magazine." 



liL^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



G9 



never were men better calculated to promote the 
welfare of such a community." 

On the 2d of July, a meeting of the Directors 
and agents was held on the banks of the Mus- 
kingum for the purpose of naming the newborn 
city and its squares. As yet, the settlement had 
been merely "The Muskingum;" but the name 
Marietta was now formally given it, in honor of 
Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the 
blockhouses stood was called Campus Martius; 
Square No. 19, Copitolhim ; Square No. 61, Ce- 
cilia, and the great road running through the 
covert-way. Sacra Via.* Surely, classical scholars 
were not scarce in the colony. 

On the Fourth, an oration was delivered by 
James M. Varnum, one of the Judges, and a 
pubhc demonstration held. Five days after, the 
Governor arrived, and the colony began to assume 
form. The ordinance of 1787 provided two dis- 
tinct grades of government, under the first of 
which the whole power was under the Governor 
and the three Judges. This form was at once 
recognized on the arrival of St. Clair. The first 
law established by this court was passed on the 
25th of July. It establislied and regulated the 
militia of the Territory. The next day after its 
publication, appeared the Governor's proclamation 
erecting all the country that had been ceded by 
the Indians east of the Scioto River, into the 
county of Washington. Marietta was, of course, 
the county seat, and, from that day, went on 
prosperously. On September 2, the first court 
was held with becoming ceremonies. It is thus 
related in the American Pioneer: 

"The procession w;»s formed at the Point 
(where the most of the settlers resided), in the 
following order: The High Sheriff, with his 
drawn sword; the citizens; the officers of the 
garrison at Fort ILirmar; the members of the 
bar; the Supreme Judges; the Governor and 
clergyman ; the newly appointed Judges of the 
Court of Common I'leas, Gens. Rufus Putna*n 
and Benjamin Tupper. 

" They marched up the path that had been 
cleared through the forest to Campus Martius 
Hall (stockadej, where the whole countermarched, 
and the Judges ( Putnam and Tupper ) took their 
seats. The clergyman, Kev. Dr. Cutler, then 
invoked the divine blessing. The Sheriff, Col. 
Kbenezer Sproat, proclaimed with his solemn ' Oh 
yes ! ' that a court is open for the administration of 

**' Carey's Muaeum," Vol. 4. 



even-handed justice, to the poor and to the rich, 
to the guilty and to the innocent, without respect 
of persons; none to be punished without a trial of 
their peers, and then in pursuance of the laws and 
evidence in the case. 

" Although this scene was exhibited thus early 
in the settlement of the West, few ever equaled it 
in the dignity and exalted character of its princi- 
pal participators. Many of them belonged to the 
history of our country in the darkest, as well as 
the most splendid, period of the Revolutionary 
war." 

Jlany Indians were gathered at the same time 
to witness the (to them) strange spectacle, and for 
the purpose of forming a treaty, though how 
far they carried this out, the Pioneer does not 
relate. 

The progress of the settlement was quite satis- 
factory during the year. Some one writing a 
letter from the town says: 

"The progress of the settlement is suflSciently 
rapid for the first year. We are continually erect- 
ing houses, but arrivals are constantly coming 
faster than we can possibly provide convenient 
covering. Our first ball was opened about the 
middle of December, at which were fifteen ladies, 
as well accomplished in the manner of polite 
circles as any I have ever seen in the older States. 
I mention this to show the progress of society in 
this new world, where, I believe, we shall vie with, 
if not excel, the old States in every accom- 
plishment necessary to render life agreeable and 
happy." 

The emigration westward at this time was, 
indeed, exceedingly large. The commander at 
Fort Harmar reported 4, .500 persons as having 
passed that post between February and June, 
1788, many of whom would have stopped there, 
had the associates been prepared to receive them. 
The settlement was free from Indian depredations 
until January, 1791, during which interval it 
daily increa.scd in numbers and strength. 

Symmes and his friends were not idle <luring this 
time. He had secured his contract in October, 
1787, and, soon after, issued a pamphlet stating 
the terms of his purchase and the mode he intended 
to follow in the disposal of the lands. His plan 
was, to issue warrants for not less than one-quarter 
section, which might be located anywhere, save on 
reservations, or on land previously entered. The 
locator could ent<'r an entire section should he de- 
sire to do so. The price was to be 60 g cents per 
acre till May, 1788 ; then, till November, §1 ; and 



^1 






^1 



-^ 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



after that time to ))e regulated by the demand for 
land. Each purchaser was bound to begin im- 
j)rovements within two years, or forfeit one-sixtli 
of the land to whoever would settle thereon and 
remain seven years. Military bounties might be 
taken in this, as in the purchase of the associates. 
For himself, Symmes reserved one township near 
the mouth of the Miami. On this he intended to 
build a great city, rivaling any Eastern port. He 
offered any one a lot on which to build a house, 
providing he would remain three years. Conti- 
nental certificates were rising, owing to the demand 
for land created by these two purchases, and Con- 
gress found the burden of debt correspondingly 
lessened. Symmes soon began to experience diffi- 
culty in procuring enough to meet his payments. 
He had also some trouble in arranging his boundary 
with the Board of the Treasury. These, and other 
causes, laid the foundation for another city, which is 
now what Symmes hoped his city would one day be. 

In January, 1788, Mathias Dennian, of New 
Jersey, took an interest in Symmes' purchase, 
and located, among other tracts, the sections upon 
which Cincinnati has since been built. Retaining 
one-third of this purchase, he sold the balance to 
Robert Patterson and John Filson, each getting 
the same share. These three, about August, agreed 
to lay out a town on their land. It was designated 
as opposite the mouth of the Licking River, to 
which place it was intended to open a road from 
Lexington, Ky. These men little thought of the 
great emporium that now covers the modest site of 
this town they laid out that summer. Mr. Filson, 
who had been a schoolmaster, and was of a some- 
what poetic nature, was appointed to name the 
town. In respect to its situation, and as if with 
a prophetic perception of the mixed races that 
were in after years to dwell there, he named it Los- 
antiville,* " which, being interpreted," says the 
" Wistern Annals," " means ot7/<', the town ; a)iti\ 
oppo.'^ite to ; os, the mouth ; L, of Licking. This 
may well put to the blush the Campus Marlins 
of the Marietta scholars, and the Fort Solon of 
the Spaniards." 

Meanwhile, Symmes was bu.sy in the East, and, 
by July, got thirty people and eight four-horse 
wagons under way for the West. These reached 
Limestone by September, where they met Mr. 
Stites, with several persons from Redstone. All 

♦Judge Burnett, in his notes, disputes the above account of the 
origin of the city of Cincinnati. He saya tlie Dame " LosantiTiilo " 
waa determined on, Itut not adopted, when the town was laid out. 
This version is probably the correct one, and will be found fully 
given In the detailed history of the settlements. 



came to Symmes' purchase, and began to look for 
homes. 

Symmes' mind was, however, ill at rest. He 
could not meet his first payment on so vast a realm, 
and there also arose a difierence of opinion be- 
tween him and the TreaiSuiy Board regarding the 
Ohio boundary. Symmes wanted all the land be- 
tween the two Miamis, bordering on the Ohio, 
while the Board wished him confined to no more 
than twenty miles of the river. To this proposal 
he would not agree, as he had made sales all along 
the river. Leaving the bargain in an unsettled 
state. Congress considered itself released from all 
its obligations, and, but for the representations of 
many of Symmes' friends, he would have lost all 
his money and labor. His appointment as Judge 
was not favorably received by many, as they 
thought that by it he would acquire unlimited 
power. Some of his associates also complained of 
him, and, for awhile, it surely seemed that ruin 
only awaited him. But he was brave and hope- 
ful, and determined to succeed. On his return 
from a visit to his purchase in September, 1788, 
lie wrote Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, one of 
his best friends and associates, that he thought 
some of the land near the Great Miami " positively 
worth a silver dollar the acre in its present state." 

A good many changes were made in his original 
contract, growing out of his inability to meet his 
payments. At first, he was to have not less than 
a million acres, under an act of Congress passed in 
October, 1787, authorizing the Treasury Board to 
contract with any one who could pay for such 
tracts, on the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, whose 
fronts should not exceed one-third of their depth. 

Dayton and Marsh, Symmes' agents, contracted 
with the Board for one tract on the Ohio, begin- 
ning twenty miles up the Ohio from the mouth of 
the Great Jliami, and to run back for quantity be- 
tween the Miami and a line drawn fruni the Ohio, 
parallel to the general course of that river. In 
I'j^Ql, three years after Dayton and Mar.sh made 
the contract, Symmes found this would throw the 
jiurchase too far back from the Ohio, and apj)lied 
to Congress to let him have alt between the Mi- 
amies, running back so as to include 1,000,000 
acres, which that body, on April 12, 1792, agreed 
to do. When the lands wore surveyed, however, it 
was found that a line drawn from the head of the 
Little Miami due west to the Great Miami, would 
include south of it less than six hundred thousand 
acres. Even this SjTnmes could not pay for, and 
when his patent was issued in September, 1794, it 



^1 



:x 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



71 



gave him and his associates 243,540 acres, exclu- 
sive of reservations which amounted to 63,142 
acres. This tract was bounded by the Ohio, the 
two Miaiuis and a due east and west line run so 
as to include the desired i|uantity. Symmes, how- 
ever, made no further payments, and the rest of 
hia purchase reverted to the United States, who 
gave those who had bought under him ample pre- 
emption rights. 

The Government was able, also, to give him and 
his colonists but little aid, and as danger from hos- 
tile Indians was in a measure imminent (though all 
the natives were friendly to Symmes), settlers were 
slow to come. However, the band led by Mr. 
Stites arrived before the -1st of January, 1789, 
and locating themselves near the mouth of the 
Little Miami, on a tract of 10,000 acres which 
Mr. Stites had purchased from Symmes, formed 
the second settlement in Ohio. They were soon 
afterward joined by a colony of twenty -six persons, 
who assisted them to erect a block-house, and 
gather their corn. The town was named Columbia. 
While here, the gTeat flood of January, 1789, oc- 
curred, which did much to ensure the future 
growth of Losantiville, or more properly, Cincin- 
nati. Symmes City, which was laid out near the 
mouth of the Great Miami, and which he vainly 
strove to make the city of the future. Marietta 
and Columbia, all suiFered severely by this flood, 
the greatest, the Indians said, ever known. The 
site of Cincinnati was not overflowed, and hence 
attracted the attention of the settlers. Dcnman's 
warrants had designated his pmx-hase as opposite 
the mouth of the Licking; and that point escap- 
ing the overflow, late in December the place was 
visited by Israel Ludlow, Symmes' surveyor, Mr. 
Patterson and Mr. Denman, and about fourteen oth- 
ers, who left Jlaysville to "form a station and lay 
off a town opposite the Licking." The river was 
filled with ice "from shore to shore;" but, says 
Sj'mmes in May, 1789, " Perseverance triumphing 
over diificulty, and they landed safe on a most de- 
lightful bank of the Ohio, where they founded 
the town of Losantiville, which populates consid- 
erably." The settlers of Losantiville built a few 
log huts and block-houses, and proceeded to im- 
prove the town., S}Tumes, noticing the location, 
says: "Though they placed their dwellings in the 
most marked position, yet they sufi'erod nothing 
from the fre.shet." This would seem to give cre- 
dence to Judge Burnett's notes regarding the origin 
of Cincinnati, who states the settlement was made 
at this time, and not at the time mentioned when 



Mr. Fii>(in named the town. It is further to be 
noticed, tliat, before the town was located by INIr. 
Ludlow and Jlr. ]'attcrsou, Jlr. FiLson had been 
killed by the Jliami Indians, and, as he had not paid 
for his one-third of the site, the claim was sold to 
Mr. Jjudlow, wlio thereby became one of the origi- 
nal owners of the place. Just what day the town 
was laid out is not recorded. All the evidence 
tends to .show it must have been late in 1788, or 
early in 1789. 

While the settlements on the north side of the 
Ohio were thus progressing, south of it fears of the 
Indians prevailed, and the separation sore was 
kept open. The country was, however, so torn by 
internal factions that no plan was likely to suc- 
ceed, and to this fact, in a large measure, may be 
credited the reason it did not secede, or join the 
Spanish or French faction, both of which were 
intriguing to get the commonwealth. During 
this year the treasonable acts of James Wilkinson 
came into view. For a while he thought success 
was in his grasp, but the two governments were at 
peace with America, and discountenanced any such 
efforts. Wilkinson, like all traitors, relap.sed into 
nonentity, and became mistrusted by the govern- 
ments he attempted to befriend. Treason is al- 
ways odious. 

It will be borne in mind, that in 1778 prepa- 
rations had been made for a treaty with the Indi- 
ans, to secure peaceful possession of the lands 
owned in the West. Though the whites held 
these by purchase and treaty, yet many Indians, 
especially the Wabash and some of the Miami In- 
dians, objected to their occupation, claiming the 
Ohio boundary as the original division line. Clarke 
endeavored to obtain, by treaty at Fort Harmar, 
in 1778, a confirmation of these grants, but was 
not able to do so till January, 9, 1789. Rep- 
resentatives of the Six Nations, and of the Wyan- 
dots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawato- 
mies and Sacs, met him at this date, and confirmed 
and extended the treaties of Fort Stanwix and 
Fort Mcintosh, the one in 1784, the other in 
1785. This secured peace with the most of them, 
save a few of the Wabash Indians, whom they 
were compelled to conquer by arms. When this 
was accomplished, the borders were thought safe, 
and Virginia proj)osed to withdraw her aid in sup- 
port of Kentucky. This opened old troubles, and 
the separation dogma came out afresh. Virginia 
offered to allow the erection of a separate State, 
providing Kentucky would a.ssumc part of the old 
debts. This the young commonwealth would not 



r^ 



2.: 



1^ 



72 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



do, and sent a remonstrance. Virginia withdrew 
the proposal, and ordered a ninth convention, 
which succeeded in evolving a plan whereby Ken- 
tucky took her place among the free States of the 
Union. 

North of the Ohio, the prosperity continued. 
In 1789, Rev. Daniel Story, who had been ap- 
pointed missionary to the West, came out as a 
teacher of the youth and a preacher of the Gospel. 
Dr. Cutler had preceded him, not in the capacity 
of a minister, though he had preached ; hence Mr. 
Story is truly the first missionary from the Prot- 
estant Church who came to the Ohio Valley in 
that capacity. When he came, in 1789, he found 
nine associations on the Ohio Company's purchase, 
comprising two hundred and fifty persons in all ; 
and, by the close of 1790, eight settlements liad 
been made: two at Belpre (belle prairie), one at 
Newbury, one at Wolf Creek, one at Duck Creek, 
one at the mouth of Meigs' Creek, one at Ander- 
son's Bottom, and one at Big Bottom. An ex- 
tended sketch of all these settlements will be found 
farther on in this volume. 

Symmes had, all this time, strenuously endeav- 
ored to get his city — called Cleves City — favorably 
noticed, and filled with people. lie saw a rival in 
Cincinnati. That place, if made military head- 
quarters to protect the Miami Valley, would out^ 
rival his town, situated near the bend of the 
Miami, near its mouth. On the 15th of June, 
Judge Symmes received news that the Wabash 
Indians threatened the Miami settlements, and as 
he had received only nineteen men for defense, he 
applied for more. Before July, Maj. Doughty 
arrived at the "Slaughter House"— as the Miami 
was sometimes called, owing to previous murders 
that had, at former times, occurred therein. 
Through the influence of Symmes, the detach- 
ment landed at the North Bend, and, for awhile, 
it was thought the fort would be erected there. 
This was what Symmes wanted, as it would 
secure him the headquarters of the military, and 
aid in getting the headquarters of the civil gov- 
ernment. The truth was, however, that neither 
the proposed city on the Miami — North Bend, as 
it afterward became known, from its location — or 
South Bend, could compete, in point of natural 
advantages, with the plain on which Cincinnati is 
built. Had Fort Washington been built elsewhere, 
after the close of the Indian war, nature would 
have asserted her advantages, and insured the 
growth of a city, where even tie ancient and mys- 
terious dwellers of the Ohio had reared the earthen 



walls of one of their vast temples. Another fact 
is given in relation to the erection of Fort Wash- 
ington at Losantiville, which partakes somewhat of 
romance. The Major, while waiting to decide at 
which place the fort should be built, happened to 
make the acquaintance of a black-eyed beauty, the 
wife of one of the residents. Her husband, notic- 
ing the alFair, removed her to Losantiville. The 
Major followed; he told Symmes he wished to see 
how a fort would do there, but promised to give his 
city the preference. He found the beauty there, and 
on his return Symmes could not prevail on him to 
remain. If the story be true, then the importance 
of Cincinnati owes its existence to a trivial circum- 
stance, and the old story of the ten years' war 
which terminated in the downfall of Troy, which 
is said to have originated owing to the beauty of 
a Spartan dame, was re-enacted here. Troy and 
North Bend fell because of the beauty of a wo- 
man ; Cincinnati was the result of the downfall of 
the latter place. 

About the first of January, 1790, Governor St. 
Clair, with his officers, descended the Ohio River 
from Marietta to Fort Wa.shington. There he es- 
tablished the county of Hamilton, comprising the 
immense region of country contiguous to the 
Ohio, from the Hocking River to the Great 
Miami ; appointed a corps of civil and military 
officers, and established a Court of Quarter Ses- 
sions. Some state that at this time, he changed 
the name of the village of Losantiville to Cin- 
cinnati, in allusion to a society of that name 
which had recently been formed among the officers 
of the Revolutionary army, and established it as 
the seat of justice for Hamilton. This latter fact 
is certain; but as regards changing the name of 
the village, there is no good authority for it. With 
this importance attached to it, Cincinnati began at 
once an active growth, and from that day Cleves' 
city declined. The next summer, frame houses 
began to appear in Cincinnati, while at the same 
time forty new log cabins appeared about the 
fort. 

On the 8th of January, the Governor arrived at 
the falls of the Ohio, on his way to establish a 
government at Vincennes and Kaskaskia. From 
Clarkesville, he dispatched a messenger to Major 
Hamtramck, commander at Vincennes, with 
speeches to the various Indian tribes in this part 
of the Northwest, who had not fully agreed to the 
treaties. St. Clair and Sargent followed in a few 
days, along an Indian trail to Vincennes, where he 
organized the county of Knox, comprising all the 



^1 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



73 



country along the Ohio, from the Miami to the 
Wabash, and made Vincennes tho county scat. 
Then they proceeded across the lower part of Illi- 
nois to Kaskaskia, where he established the county 
of St. Clair (so named by SargentJ, comprising all 
the country from the Wabash to the Mississippi. 
Thus the Northwest was divided into three coun- 
ties, and courts established therein. St. Clair 
called upon the French inhabitants at Vincennes 
and in the Illinois country, to show the titles to 
their lands, and also to defray the expense of a 
survey. To this latter demand they replied through 
their priest, Pierre Gibault, showing their poverty, 
and inability to comply. Tliey were confirmed in 
their grants, and, as they had been good friends to 
the patriot cause, were relieved from the expense 
of the survey. 

While the Governor was managing the.se affairs. 
Major Hamtramck was engaged in an effort to con- 
ciliate the Wabash Indians. For this purpose, he 
sent Antoine Gamelin, an intelligent French mer- 
chant, and a true friend of America, among them to 
carry messages sent by St. Clair and tho Govern- 
ment, and to learn their sentiments and dispositions. 
Gamelin performed this important mission in the 
spring of 1790 with muck sagacity, and, as the 



French were good friends of the natives, he did 
much to conciliate these half-hostile tribes. He 
visited the towns of these tribes along the Waba.sh 
and as far north and east as the Miami village, 
Ke-ki-ong-ga — St. Mary's — at the junction of the 
St. Mary's and St. .lo.seph's Rivers (Fort Wayne). 

Gamelin's report, and the intelligence brought by 
some traders from the Upper Wabash, were con- 
veyed to the Governor at Kaskaskia. The reports 
convinced him that the Indians of that part of the 
Northwest were preparing for a war on the settle- 
ments north of the Ohio, intending, if possible, to 
drive them south of it; that river being still consid- 
ered by them as the true boundary. St. Clair left 
the administration of affairs in the ^Vestern counties 
to Sargent, and returned at once to Fort Washing- 
ton to provide for the defense of the frontier. 

The Indians had begun their predatory incur- 
sions into the country settled by the whites, and 
had committed some depredations. The Kentuck- 
ians were enlisted in an attack against the Scioto 
Indians. April 18, Gen. Harmar, with 100 
regulars, and Gen. Scott, with 230 volunteers, 
marched from Limestone, by a circuitous route, to 
the Scioto, accomplishing but little. The savages 
had fled. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE INDIAN WAR OF 



1795 — HARMAR'S CAMPAIGN— ST. CLAIR'S CAMPAIGN— WAYNE'S 
CAMPAIGN— CLOSE OF THE WAR. 



A GREAT deal of the hostility at this period 
was directly traceable to the British. They 
yet held Detroit and several posts on the lakes, in 
violation of the treaty of 1783. They alleged as 
a reason for not abandoning them, that the Ameri- 
cans had not fulfilled the conditions of the treaty 
regarding the collection of debts. Moreover, they 
did all they could to remain at the frontier and en- 
joy the emoluments derived from the fur trade. 
That they aided the Indians in the conflict at this 
time, is undeniable. Just how, it is difficult to 
say. But it is well known the savages had all the 
ammunition and fire-arms the}' wanted, more than 
they could have obtained ii-om American and 
French renegade traders. They were also well 
supplied with clothing, and were able to prolong 
the war some time. A gi-eat confederation was on 
the eve of formation. The leading spirits were 



Cornplanter, Brant, Little Turtle and other noted 
chiefs, and had not the British, as Brant said, 
"encouraged us to the war, and promised us aid, 
and then, when we were driven away by the Amer- 
icans, shut the doors of their fortresses against us 
and refused us food, when they saw us nearly con- 
quered, we would have effected our object." 

McKec, Elliott and Girty were also actively en- 
gaged in aiding the natives. All of them were in 
the interest of the British, a fact clearly proven 
by the Indians themselves, and by other traders. 

St. Clair and Gen. Harmar determined to send 
an expedition against the Maumec towns, and se- 
cure that part of the country. Letters were sent 
to the militia officers of Western Pennsylvania, 
Virginia and Kentucky, calling on them for miHtia 
to co-operate with the regular troops in the cam- 
paign. According to the plan of the campaign, 



s V 



74 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



300 militia were to rendezvous at Fort Steuben 
( Jefferson ville), march thence to Fort Knox, at 
Vincennes, ami join Maj. Hamtramck in an expe- 
dition up the Wabash ; 700 were to rendezvous at 
Fort Wiushington to join the regular army against 
the Maumee towns. 

While St. Clair was forming his army and ar- 
ranging for the campaign, three expeditions were 
sent out against the Miami towns. One against 
the Miami villages, not far from the Wabash, was 
led by Gen. Harmar. He had in his army about 
fourteen hundred men, regulars and militia. These 
two parts of the army could not be made to affili- 
ate, and, as a consequence, the expedition did little 
beyond burning the villages and destroying corn. 
The militia would not submit to discipline, and would 
not serve under regular officers. It will be seen 
what this spirit led to when St. Clair went on his 
march soon after. 

The Indians, emboldened by the meager success 
of Harmar's command, continued their depreda- 
dations against the Ohio settlements, destroying 
the community at Big Bottom. To hold them in 
check, and also punish them, an army under Charles 
Scott went against the Waba.sh Indians. Little 
was done here but destroy towns and the standing 
corn. In July, another army, under Col. Wilkin- 
son, was sent against the Eel River Indians. Be- 
coming entangled in extensive morasses on the 
river, the army became endangered, but was finally 
extricated, and accomplLshed no more than either 
the other armies before it. As it was, however, the 
three expeditions directed against the Miamis and 
Shawanees, served only to exasperate them. The 
burning of their towns, the destruction of their 
corn, and the captivity of their women and chil- 
dren, only aroused them to more desperate efforts 
to defend their country and to harass their in- 
vaders. To accomplish this, the chiefs of the 
Miamis, Shawanees and the Delawares, Little 
Turtle, Blue Jacket and Buckongahelas, were en- 
gaged in forming a confederacy of all the tribes of 
the Northwest, strong enough to drive the whites 
beyond the Ohio. Pontiac had tried that before, 
even when he had open allies among the French. 
The Indians now had secret allies among the Brit- 
ish, yet, in the end, they did not succeed. While 
they were preparing for the contest, St. Clair was 
gathering his forces, intending to erect a chain of 
forts fiom the Ohio, by way of the Miami and 
Maumee valleys, to the lakes, and thereby effect- 
ually hold the savages in check. W^a,shing-ton 
warmly seconded this plan, and designated the 



junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Rivers as 
an important post. Tiiis had been a fortification 
almost from the time the English held the valley, 
and only needed little work to make it a formid- 
able fortress. Gen. Knox, the Secretary of War, 
also favored the plan, and gave instructions con- 
cerning it. Under these instructions, St. Clair 
organized his forces as rapidly as he could, although 
the numerous drawbacks almost, at times, threat- 
ened the defeat of the campaign. Through the 
summer the arms and accouterments of the army 
were put in readiness at Fort AVashington. Many 
were found to be of the poorest quality, and to be 
badly out of repair. The militia came poorly 
armed, under the imj)ression they were to be pro- 
vided with arms. While waiting in camp, habits 
of idleness engendered themselves, and drunken- 
ness followed. They continued their accustomed 
freedom, disdaining to drill, and refused to submit 
to the regidar officers. A bitter spirit broke out 
between the regular troops and the militia, which 
none could heal. The insubordination of the mi- 
litia and their officers, caused them a defeat after- 
ward, which they in vain attempted to fasten on 
the busy General, and the regular troops. 

The army was not ready to move till Se^ jmber 
17. It was then 2,300 strong. It then moved 
to a point upon the Great Miami, where they 
erected Fort Hamilton, the first in the proposed 
chain of fortresses. After its completion, they 
moved on forty-four miles farther, and, on the 12th 
of October, began the erection of Fort Jefferson, 
about sis miles south of the present town of Green- 
ville, Darke County. On the 24th, the army again 
took up its line of march, through a wilderness, 
marshy and boggy, and full of savage foes. The 
army rapidly declined under the hot sun ; even the 
commander was suffering from an indisposition. 
The militia deserted, in companies at a time, leav- 
ing the bulk of the work to the regular troops. 
By the 3d of November, the army reached a 
stream twelve yards wide, which St. Clair sup- 
posed to be a branch of the St. Mary of the Mau- 
mee, but which in reality was a tributary of the 
Wabash. Upon the banks of that stream, the 
army, now about fourteen hundred strong, en- 
camped in two lines. A slight protection was 
thrown up as a safeguard against the Indians, who 
were known to be in the neighborhood. The Gen- 
eral intended to attack them next day, but, about 
half an hour before sunrise, just after the militia 
had been dismissed from parade, a sudden attack 
was made upon them. The militia were thrown 



-C <S' 






HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



into confiision, and disregardetl the command of 
the officera. They had not been sufficiently drilled, 
and now was seen, too late and too plainly, the evil 
effects of their insubordination. Through the 
morning the battle waged furiously, the men falling 
by scores. About nine o'clock the retreat began, 
covered by Maj. Cook and his troops. The re- 
treat was a disgraceful, precipitate flight, though, 
after four miles had been passed, the enemy re- 
turned to the work of scalping the dead and 
wounded, and of pillaging the camp. Through 
the day and the night their dreadftil work con- 
tinued, one squaw atteiTvard declaring " her anu 
was weary scalping the white men." The army 
reached Fort Jefferson a little at\er sunset, having 
thrown away much of its arms and baggage, though 
the act was entirely unnecessary. After remain- 
ing here a short time, it was decided by the officers 
to move on toward Fort Hamilton, and thence to 
Fort Washington. 

The defeat of St. Clair was the most terrible re- 
verse the Americans ever suffered from the Indi- 
ans. It was greater than even Bradduek's defeat. 
His army consisted of 1,21)0 men and 80 officers, 
of whom 71-4 men and 03 officers were killed or 
wounded. St. Clair's army consisted of 1,400 
men and 8G officers, of whom 890 men and 16 
officers were killed or wounded. The comparative 
effects of the two engagements very inadequately 
represent the crushing effect of St. Clair's defeat. 
An unprotected frontier of more than a thousand 
miles in extent was now thrown open to a fi^e made 
merciless, and anxious to drive the whites from the 
north side of the Ohio. Now, settlers were scat- 
tered along all th^ streams,and in all the forests, ex- 
posed to the cruel enemy, who stealthily aj)proached 
the homes of the pioneer, to murder him and his 
family. Loud calls arose from the people to defend 
and protect them. St. Clair was covered with abuse 
for his defeat, when he really was not alone to blame 
for it. The militia would not be controlled. Had 
Clarke been at their head, or Wayne, who succeeded 
St. Clair, the result might have been different. As 
it was, St. Clair resigned ; though ever after he en- 
joyed the confidence of Wa.«liiugton and Congress. 

Four days after the defeat of St. Clair, the anny, 
in its straggling condition, reached Fort Washing- 
ton, and paused to rest. On the 9th, St. Clair 
wrote fully to the Secretary of War. On the 12th, 
Uen. Knox communicated the information to Con- 
gress, and on the 2(5th, he laid before the Presi- 
dent two reports, the second containing sugges- 
tions regarding future operations. His sugges- 



tions urged the establishment of a strong United 
States Army, as it w;is plain the States could not 
control the matter. He also ui-gcd a thorougli 
drill of the soldiers. No more insubordination 
could be tolerated. General Wayne was selected 
by Washington as the commander, and at once pro- 
ceeded to the task a-ssigued to him. In June, 1792, 
he went to Pittsburgh to organize the army now 
gathering, which was to be the ultimate argu- 
ment with the Indian confederation. Through the 
summer he was steadily at work. "Train and dis- 
cipline them for the work they are meant for," 
wrote Wiishington, "and do not spai-e powder and 
lead, so the men be made good marksmen." In 
December, the forces, now recruited and trained, 
gathered at a point twenty-two miles below Pitts- 
burgh, on the Ohio, called Legionville, the army 
itself being denominated the Legion of the United 
States, divided into four sub-legions, and provided 
with the proper officers. Meantime, Col. Wilkinson 
succeeded St. Clair as commander at Fort Wash- 
ington, and sent out a force to examine the field of 
defeat, and bury the dead. A shocking sight met 
their view, revealing the deeds of cruelty enacted 
upon their comrades by the savage enemy. 

While Wayne's army was tlrilling, peace meas- 
ures were pressed forward by the United States 
with equal perseverance. The Iroquois were in- 
duced to visit Philadelphia, and partially secured 
from the general confederacy-. They were wary, 
however, and, expecting aid from the British, lield 
aloof. Brant, did not come, as was hoped, and it 
was plain there was intrig-ue somewhere. Five 
independent embassies were sent among the West- 
ern tribes, to endeavor to prevent a war, and win 
over the inimical tribes. But the victories they 
had won, and the favorable whispers of the British 
agents, cloised the ears of the red men, and all 
propositions were rejected in some form or other. 
All the embassadors, save Putnam, suffered death. 
He alone was able to reach his goal — the Wabash 
Indians — and effect any treaty. On the 27th of 
December, in conqiany with Ileckewelder, the Mo- 
ravian missionary', he reached Vincennes, and met 
thirty-one chiefs, representing the Weas, Pianke- 
shaws, Kaskaskias, Peorias, Illinois, Pottawatomies, 
IMascoutins, Kickapoos and Eel River Indians, and 
concluded a treaty of peace with them. 

The fourth article of this treaty, however, con- 
tained a provision guaranteeing to the Indians 
their lands, and when the treaty was laid before 
Congress, February 13, 1793, that body, after 
much discussion, refiised on that account to ratify it. 



'A 



76 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



A great council of the Indians was to be held 
at Auglaize during the autumn of 1792, when 
the assembled nations were to discuss fully their 
means of defense, and determine their future line 
of action. The council met in October, and was 
the largest Indian gathering of the time. The 
chiefs of all the tribes of the Northwest were there. 
The representatives of the seven nations of Canada, 
were in attendance. Cornplanter and forty-eight 
chiefs of the New York (Six Nations ) Indians re- 
paired thither. " Besides these," said Cornplanter, 
" there were so many nations we cannot tell the 
names of them. There were three men from the 
Gora nation ; it took them a whole season to come ; 
and," continued he, ''twenty-seven nations from 
beyond Canada were there." The question of 
peace or war was long and earnestly debated. Their 
future was solemnly discussed, and around the 
council fire native eloquence and native zeal 
shone in all their simple strength. One nation 
after another, through their chiefs, presented their 
views. The deputies of the Six Nations, who had 
been at Philadelphia to consult the "Thirteen 
Fires," made their report. The Western bound- 
ary was the principal ({uestion. The natives, with 
one accord, declared it must be the Ohio River. 
An address was prepai'ed, and sent to the President, 
wherein their views were stated, and agreeing to 
abstain from all hostilities, until they could meet 
again in the spring at the rapids of the Maumee, 
and there consult with their white brothers. They 
desired the President to send agents, "who are 
men of honesty, not proud land-jobbers, but men 
who love and desire peace." The good work of 
IVmn was evidenced here, as they desired that the 
embassadors "be accompanied by some Friend or 
Quaker." 

The armistice they had promised was not, how- 
ever, faithftiUy kept. On the 6th of November, 
a detachment of Kentucky cavalry at Fort St. 
Clair, about twenty-five miles above Fort Hamil- 
ton, was attacked. The commander, Maj. Adair, 
was an excellent officer, well versed in Indian tac- 
tics, and defeated the savages. 

This infraction of their promises did not deter 
the United States from taking measures to meet 
the Indians at the rapids of the Maunwec " when 
the leaves were fully out." For that purpose, the 
President selected as commissioners, Charles Car- 
roll and Charles Thompson, but, as they declined 
the nomination, he appointed Benjamin Lincoln, 
Beverly Randolph and Timothy Pickering, the 1st 
of March, 1793, to attend the convention, which. 



it was thought best, should be held at the San- 
dusky outpost. About the last of April, these 
commissioners left Philadelphia, and, late in May, 
reached Niagara, where they remained guests of 
Lieut. Gov. Simcoe, of the British Government. 
This officer gave them all the aid he could, yet it 
was soon made plain to them that he would not 
object to the confederation, nay, even rather fav- 
ored it. They speak of his kindness to them, in 
grateful terms. Gov. Simcoe advised the Indians 
to make peace, but not to give up any of their 
lands. That was the pith of the whole matt-er. 
The British rather claimed land in New York, 
under the treaty of 1783, alleging the Americans 
had not ftiUy complied with the terms of that 
treaty, hence they were not as anxious for peace 
and a peaceful settlement of the difficult boundary 
question as they sometimes represented. 

By July, "the leaves were fully out," the con- 
ferences among the tribes were over, and, on the 
1 5th of that month, the commissioners met Brant 
and some fifty natives. In a strong speech. Brant 
set forth their wishes, and invited them to accom- 
pany him to the place of holding the council. The 
Indians were rather jeidous of Wayne's continued 
preparations for war, hence, just before setting out 
for the Maumee, the commissioners sent a letter to 
the Secretary of War, asking that all warlike 
demonstrations cease until the result of their mis- 
sion be known. 

On 21st of July, the embassy reached the head 
of the Detroit River, where their advance was 
checked by the British authorities at Detroit, com- 
pelling them to take up their abode at the house 
of Andrew Elliott, the famous fenegade, then a 
British agent under Alexander McKee. McKee 
w;is attending the council, and the commissioners 
addressed him a note, borne by Elliott, to inform 
him of their arrival, and asking when they could 
be received. Elliott returned on the 29th, bring- 
ing with him a deputation of twenty chiefs from 
the council. The next day, a conference was held, 
and the chief of the Wyandots, Sa-wagh-da-wunk, 
presented to the commissioners, in writing, their 
explicit demand in regard to the boundary, and 
their purposes and powers. " The Ohio must be 
the boundary," said he, " or blood will flow." 

The commissioners returned an answer to the 
proposition brought by the chiefs, recapitulating 
the treaties already made, and denying the Ohio 
as the boundai-y line. On the 16th of August, 
the council sent them, by two Wyandot runners, 
a final answer, in which they recapitulated their 



«? <S r- 



V 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



former assertions, aud exhibited great powers of 
reasoning and clear logic in defense of their po- 
sition. The commissioners reply that it is impos- 
ble to accept the Ohio as the boundary, and declare 
the negotiation at an end. 

This closed the efforts of the Government to ne- 
gotiate with the Indians, aud there remained of 
necessity no other mode of settling the dispute 
but war. Liberal terms had been offered them, 
but nothing but the boundary of the Ohio Eiver 
would suffice. It was the only condition upon 
which the confederation would lay down its arms. 
" Among the rude statesmen of the wilderness, 
there wiia exhibited as pure patriotism and as lofty 
devotion to the good of their race, as ever won ap- 
plause among civilized men. The white man had, 
ever since he came into the country, been encroach- 
ing on their lands. He had long occupied the 
regions beyond the mountains. He had crushed 
the conspiracy formed by Pontiac, thirty years be- 
fore. . He had taken possession of the common 
hunting-ground of all the tribes, on the faith of 
treaties they did not acknowledge. He was 
now laying out settlements and building forts in 
the heart of the country to which all the tribes 
had been driven, and which now was all they could 
call their own. Aud now they asked that it should 
be guaranteed to them, that the boundary which 
they had so long asked for should be drawn, and 
a final end be made to the continual aggressions of 
the whites ; or, if not, they solemnly determined to 
stake their all, against fearful odds, in defense of 
their homes, their country and the inheritance of 
their children. Nothing could be more patriotic 
than the position they occupied, and nothing could 
be more noble than the declarations of their 
council."* 

They did not know the strength of the whites, 
and based their success on the victories already 
gained. They hoped, nay, were prombed, aid from 
the British, and even tlie Spanish had held out to 
them assurances of help when the hour of conflict 
came. 

The Americans were not disposed to yield even 
to the confederacy of the tribes backed by the two 
rival nations, forming, as Wayue characterized it, a 
" hydra of British, Spanish and Indian hostility." 
On the IGth of August, the commissioners re- 
ceived the final aaswerof the council. The 17th, 
they left the mouth of the Detroit River, and the 
23d, arrived at Fort Erie, where they immediately 

• Annals of th« West. . 



dispatched messengers to Gen. Wayne to inform 
him of the issue of the negotiation. Wayue had 
spent the winter of 1792-93, at Legionvillc, in col- 
lecting and organizing his army. April 30, 1793, 
the army moved down the river and encamped at 
a point, called by the soldiers "Hobson's choice," 
because from the extreme height of the river they 
were prevented ft'om landing elsewhere. Here 
Wayne was engaged, during the negotiations lor 
peace, in drilling his soldiers, in cutting roads, and 
collecting supplies for the army. He was ready 
for an immediate campaign in case the council 
failed in its object. 

While here, he sent a letter to the Secretary of 
War, detailing the circumstances, and suggesting 
the probable course he should follow. He re- 
mained here during the summer, and, when apprised 
of the issue, saw it was too late to attempt the 
campaign then. He sent the Kentucky militia 
home, and, with his regular soldiers, went into 
winter quarters at a fort he built on a tributary 
of the Great Miami. He called the fort Green- 
ville. The present town of Greenville is near the 
site of the fort. During the winter, he sent a de- 
tachment to visit the scene of St. Clair's defeat. 
They found more than six hundred skulls, and 
were obliged to "scrape the bones together and 
carry them out to get a place to make their beds." 
They buried all they could find. Wayne was 
steadily preparing his forces, so as to have every- 
thing ready for a sure blow when the time came. 
All his information .showed the faith in the British 
which still animated the doomed red men, and 
gave them a hope that could end only in defeat. 

The conduct of the Indians fully corroborated 
the statements received by Gen. Wayne. On the 
30th of June, an escort of ninety riflemen and 
fifty dragoons, under command of Maj. McMahon, 
was attacked under the walls of Fort Recovery by 
a force of more than one thousand Indians under 
charge of Little Turtle. They were repulsed and 
badly defeated, and, the next day, driven away. 
Their mode of action, their arms and ammunition, 
all told plainly of British aid. They also ex- 
pected to find the cannon lost by St. Clair Novem- 
ber 4, 1791, but which the Americans had secured. 
The 26th of July, Gen. Scott, with 1,600 
mounted men from Kentucky, joined Gen. Wayne 
at Fort Greenville, and, two days after, the legion • 
moved forward. The 8th of August, the army 
reached the junction of the Auglaize and Mau- 
mee, and at once proceeded to erect Fort Defiance, 
where the waters meet. The Indians had abandoned 



-—•*' 
? \ 



78 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



their towns on the approach of the army, and 
were congregating further northward. 

While engaged on Fort Defiance, Wayne 
received continual and full reports of the Indians — 
of their aid from Detroit and elsewhere ; of the 
nature of the ground, and the circumstances, 
favorable or unfavorable. From all he could 
learn, and considering the spirits of his army, 
now thoroughly disciplined, he determined to 
march forward and settle matters at once. Yet, 
true to his own instincts, and to the measures of 
peace so forcibly taught by Washington, he scut 
Christopher Miller, who had been naturalized 
among the Shawanees, and taken prisoner by 
Wayne's spies, as a messenger of peace, offering 
terms of friendship. 

Unwilling to waste time, the troops began to 
move forward the 15th of August, and the next 
day met Jliller with the message that if the Amer- 
icans would wait ten days at Auglaize the Indians 
would decide for peace or war. AVayne knew too 
well the Indian character, and answered the mes- 
sage by simply marching on. The 18th, the legion 
had advanced forty-one miles from Auglaize, and, 
being near the long-looked-for foe, began to take 
some measures for protection, should they be at- 
tacked. A slight breastwork, called Fort Deposit, 
was erected, wherein most of their heavy baggage 
was placed. They remained here, building their 
works, until the 20th, when, storing their baggage, 
the army began again its march. After advancing 
about five miles, tliey met a large force of the ene- 
my, two thousand strong, who fiercely attacked 
them. Wayne was, however, prepared, and in the 
short battle that ensued they were routed, and 
large numbers slaiu. The American loss was very 
slight. The horde of savages were put to flight, 
leaving the Americans victorious almost under 
the walls of the British garrison, under Maj. 
Campbell. This officer sent a letter to Gen. 
Wayne, asking an explanation of bis conduct in 
fighting so near, and in such evident hostility to 
the British. Wayne replied, telling him he was 
in a country that did not belong to him, and one 
he was not authorized to hold, and also charging 
him with aiding the Indians. A spirited corre- 
spondence followed, which ended in the American 
commander marching on, and devastating the In- 
dian country, even burning McKee's house and 
stores under the muzzles of the English guns. 

The 14lh of September, the army m;u-ched from 
Fort Defiance for the Miami village at the junc- 
tion of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph Rivers. It 



reached there on the 17th, and the next day Gen. 
Wayne selected a site lor a fort. The 22d of Oc- 
tober, the fort was completed, and garrisoned by a 
detachment under Maj. IIamtrajnck,who gave to it 
the name of Fort Wayne. The 14th of October, 
the mounted Kentucky volunteers, who had be- 
come dissatisfied and mutinous, were started to 
Fort Washington, where they were immediately 
mustered out of service and discharged. The 2Sth 
of October, the legion marched from Fort Wayne 
to Fort Greenville, where Gen. Wayne at once 
established his headquarters. 

The campaign had been decisive and short, and 
had taught the Indians a severe lesson. The Brit- 
ish, too, had failed them in their hour of need, and 
now they began to see they had a foe to contend 
whose resources were exhaustless. Under these 
circumstances, losing faith in the English, and at 
last impressed with a respect for American power, 
after the defeat experienced at the hands of the 
'•Black Snake," the various tribes made up their 
minds, by degrees, to ask for peace. During the 
winter and spring, they exchanged prisoners, and 
made ready to meet Gen. Wayne at Greenville, in 
June, for the purpose of forming a definite treaty, 
as it had been agreed should be done by the pre- 
liminaries of January 24. 

During the month of June, 1795, representa- 
tives of the Northwestern tribes began to gather at 
Greenville, and, the 1 Gth of the month, Gen. Wayne 
met in council the Dclawares, Ottawas, Pottawato- 
mies and Eel River Indians, and the conferences, 
which lasted till August 10, began. The 21st 
of June, Buckongahelas arrived ; the 23d, Little 
Turtle and other Jliamis ; the 13th of July, 
Tarhe and other Wyandot chiefs ; and the 18th, 
Blue Jacket, and thirteen Shawanees and Massas 
with twenty Chippewas. 

Most of these, as it appeared by their statements, 
had been tampered with by the English, especially 
by BIcKee, Girty and Brant, even after the pre- 
liminaries of Jaiuiary 24, and while Mr. Jay was 
perfecting his treaty. They had, however, all de- 
termined to make peace with the "Thirteen Fires," 
and although some difficulty as to the ownership of 
the lands to be ceded, at one time seemed likely to 
arise, the good sense of W^ayne and the leading 
chiefs prevented it, and, the 30th of July, the treaty 
was agreed to which should bury the hatchet for- 
ever. Between that day and the 3d of August, 
it was engrossed, and, having been signed by the 
various nations upon the day last named, it was 
finally acted upon the 7thj and the presents from 



:x: 




HISTORY OF OHIO. 



79 



the United States distributed. The basis of this 
treaty was the previous one made at Fort Ilarmar. 
The boundaries made at that time were rc-affirmcd ; 
the whites were secured on tlie hinds now occu- 
pied by them or secured l)y former treaties ; and 
among all the assembled nations, presents, in value 
not less than one thousand pounds, were distributed 
to each through its representatives, many thousands 
in all. The Indians were allowed to remove and 



punish intruders on their lands, and were permitted 
to hunt on the ceded lands. 

"This great and abiding peace document wa.s 
signed by the various tribes, and dated August 3, 
1795. It was laid before the Senate December 9, 
and ratified the 22d. So closed the old Indian 
wars in the West." * 



•Annalsof the West." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

JAY'S TREATY— THE QUESTION OF STATE EIGHTS AND NATIONAL SUPREMACY — EXTENSION 
OF OHIO SETTLEMENTS— LAND CLAIMS— SPANISH BOUNDARY QUESTION. 



WHILE these six years of Indian wars were 
in progress, Kentucky was admitted as a 
State, and Pinekney's treaty with Spain was com- 
pleted. This last occurrence was of vital impor- 
tance to the West, as it secured the free navigation 
of the Jlississippi, charging only a fair price for 
the storage of goods at Spanish ports. This, 
though not all that the Americans wished, was a 
great gain in their favor, and did much, to stop 
those agitations regarding a separation on the part, 
of Kentucky. . It also quieted affairs further 
south than Kentucky, in the Georgia and South 
Carolina Territory, and put an end to French 
and Spanish intrigue for the Western Territory. 
The treaty was signed November 24, 1794. 
Another treaty was concluded by Mr. John Jay 
between the two governments. Lord Greenville 
representing the English, and Mr. Jay, the Ameri- 
cans. The negotiations lasted from April to 
November 19, 1795, when, on that day, the treaty 
was signed and duly recognized. It decided 
effectually all the questions at issue, and was the 
signal for the removal of the British troops from 
the Northwestern outposts. This was effected as 
soon as the proper transfers could be made. The 
second article of the treaty provided that, " His 
Majesty will withdraw all his troops and garrisons 
from all posts and places within the boundary 
lines assigned by the treaty of peace to the United 
States. This evacuation shall take place on or 
before the 1st day of June, 1796, and all the 
proper measures shall be taken, in the interval, by 
concert, between the Government of the United 
States and His Majesty's Governor General in 
America, for settling the previous arrangements 



which may be necessary respecting the delivery 
of the said posts ; the United States, in the mean 
time, at their discretion, extending their settle- 
ments to any part within the said boundary line, 
except within the precincts or jurisdiction of any 
of the said posts. 

" All settlers and all traders within the precincts 
or jurisdiction of the said posts shall continue to 
enjoy, unmolested, all their property of every 
kind, and shall be protected therein. They shall 
be at full liberty to remain there or to remove 
with all, or any part, of their effects, or retain the 
property thereof at their discretion ; such of them 
as shall continue to reside within the said boundary 
lines, shall not be compelled to become citizens of 
the United States, or take any oath of allegiance 
to the Government thereof; but they shall be at 
full liberty so to do, if they think proper; they 
shall make or declare their election one year after 
the evacuation aforesaid. And all persons who 
shall continue therein after the expiration of the 
said year, without having declared their intention 
of remaining subjects to His Britannic Majesty, 
shall be considered as having elected to become 
citizens of the United States." 

The Indian war had settled all fears from that 
source ; the treaty with Great Britain had estab- 
lished the boundaries between the two countries 
and secured peace, and the treaty with Spain had 
secured the privilege of navigating the Mississippi, 
by paying only a nominal sum. It had also bound 
the people of the West together, and ended the 
old separation question. There was no danger 
from that now. Another difficulty arose, however, 
relating to the home rule, and the organization of 



■^ 



80 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



the home government. There were two parties in 
the country, known as Federalist and Anti-Federal- 
ist. One favored a central government, whose au- 
thority should be supreme ; the other, only a 
compact, leaving the States supreme. The worth- 
lessness of the old colonial system became, daily, 
more apparent. While it existed no one felt safe. 
There was uo prospect of paying the debt, and, 
hence, no credit. When Mr. Hamilton, Secretary 
of the Treasury, oflFered his financial plan to the 
country, favoring centralization, it met, in many 
places, violent opposition. Washington was strong 
enough to carry it out, and gave evidence that he 
would do so. When, therefore, the excise law 
passed, and taxes on whisky were collected, an 
open revolt occurred in Pennsylvania, known as 
the "Whisky In.surrection." It was put down, 
finally, by military power, and the malcontents 
made to know that the United States was a gov- 
ernment, not a compact liable to rupture at any 
time, and by any of its members. It taught the 
entire nation a lesson. Centralization meant pres- 
ervation. Should a " compact " form of government 
prevail, then anarchy and ruin, and ultimate sub- 
jection to some foreign power, met their view. 
That they had just fought to dispel, and must it 
all go for uauirht? The people saw the rulers 
were right, and gradually, over the West, spread a 
spirit antagonistic to State supremacy. It did not 
revive till Jackson's time, when he, with an iron 
hand and iron will, crushed out the evil doctrine 
of State supremacy. It revived again in the late 
war, again to be crushed. It is to be hoped that 
ever thus will be its fate. " The Union is insepa- 
rable," said the Government, and the people echoed 
the words. 

During the war, and while all these events had 
been transpiring, settlements had been taking place 
upon the Ohio, which, in tlioir influence upou the 
Northwest, and especially upon the State, as soon 
as it was created, were deeply felt. Tlie Virginia 
and the Connecticut Reserves were at this time 
peopled, and, also, that part of the Jliami Valley 
about Dayton, which city dates its origin from that 
period. 

As early as 1787, the reserved lands of the Old 
Dominion north of the Ohio were examined, and, 
in August of that year, entries were made. As 
no good title could be obtained fi-om Congress at 
this time, the settlement practically ceased until 
1790, when the prohibition to enter them was 
withdrawn. As soon as that was done, surveying 
began again. Nathaniel Massie was among the 



foremost men in the survey of this tract, and lo- 
cating the lands, laid off a town about twelve miles 
above Maysville. Tiie place was called Manchester, 
and yet exists. From this point, Massie continued 
through all the Indian war, despite the danger, to 
survey the surrounding country, and prepare it for 
settlers. 

Connecticut had, as has been stated, ceded her 
lands, save a tract extending one hundred and 
twenty miles beyond the western boundary of 
Pennsylvania. Of this Connecticut Reserve, so 
far as the Indian title was extinguished, a survey 
was ordered in October, 1786, and an office opened 
for its disposal. Part was soon sold, and, in 1792, 
half a million of acres were given to those citizens 
of Connecticut who had lost property by the acta 
of the British troops during the Revolutionary 
war at New London, New Haven and elsewhere. 
These lands thereby became known as " Fire lands " 
and the "Sufferer's lands," and were located in the 
western part of the Reserve. In May, 1795, the 
Connecticut Legislature authorized a committee to 
dispose of the remainder of the Reserve. Before 
autumn the committee sold it to a company known 
as the Connecticut Land Company for $1,200,000, 
and about the 5th of September quit-claimed the 
land to tie Company. The same day the Company 
,received it, it sold 3,000,000 acres to John Mor- 
gan, John Caldwell and Jonathan Brace, in trust. 
Upon these quitclaim titles of the land all deeds 
in the Reserve are based. Surveys were com- 
menced in 1796, and, by the close of the next 
year, all the land east of the Cuyahoga was divided 
into townships five miles square. The agent of the 
Connecticut Land Company was Gen. IMoses Cleve- 
land, and in his honor the leading city of the Re- 
serve was named. That township and five others 
were reserved for private sale; the balance were 
disposed of by lottery, the first drawing occurring 
in February, 1798. 

Dayton resulted from the treaty made by Wayne. 
It came out of the boundary ascribed to Symmes, 
and for a while all such lands were not recognized 
as sold by Congress,' owing to the failure of 
Symmes and his associates in paying for them. 
Thereby there existed, for a time, considerable un- 
easiness regarding the title to these lands. In 
1799, Congress was induced to issue patents to the 
actual settlers, and thus secure them in their pre- 
emption. 

Seventeen days afler Wayne's treaty, St. Clairs 
Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton and Israel Ludlow 
contracted with Symmes for the seventh and eighth 



r^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



83 



ran^^os, between Mad River and the Little Miami. 
Three settlements were to be made: one at the 
mouth of Mad River, one on the Little Miami, in 
the seventh range, and another on Mad River. On 
the 21st of September, 1795, Daniel C. Cooper 
started to survey and mark out a road in the pur- 
chase, and John Dunlap to run its boundaries, 
which was completed before October 4. On No- 
vember 4, Mr. Ludlow laid off the town of Day- 
ton, which, like land in tlie Conuecticut Reserve, 
was sold by lottery. 

A gigantic scheme to purchase eighteen or 
twenty million acres in Michigan, and then pro- 
cure a good title from the Governments — who alone 
had such a right to procure land— by giving mem- 
bers of Congress an interest in the investment, 
appeared shortly after Wayne's treaty. When 
some of the members were approached, however, 
the real spirit of the scheme appeared, and, instead 
of gaining ground, led to the exposure, resulting 
in the reprimanding severely of Robert Randall, 
the principal mover in the whole plan, and in its 
speedy disappearance. 

Another enterprise, equally gigantic, also ap- 
peared. It was, however, legitimate, and hence 
successful. On the 20th of February, 1795, the 
North American Land Company was formed in 
Philadelphia, under the management of such pat- 
riots as Robert Morris, John Nicholson and James 
Greenleaf This Company purchased large tracts 
in the West, which it disposed of to actual settlers, 
and thereby aided greatly in populating that part 
of the country. 

Before the close of 1795, the Governor of the 
Territory, and his Judges, published si.xty-four 
statutes. Thirty-four of these were adopted at 
Cincinnati during June, July and August of that 
year. They were known as the Bla.xwell code, 
from the name of the publisher, but were passed 
by Governor St. Clair and Judges Symmes and 
Turner. Among them was that which provided 
that the common law of England, and all its stat- 
utes, made previous to the fourth year of James 
the First, .should be in full force within the Terri- 
tory. "Of the sy.stem as a whole," says Mr. Case, 
" with its many imperfections, it may be doubted 
that any colony, at so early a period after its first 
establishment, ever had one so good and applicable 
to all." 

The Union had now safely pa.ssed through its 
most critical period after the close of the war of 
independence. The danger from an irruption of 
its own members ; of a war or alliance of its West- 



ern portion with France and Spain, and many 
other perplexing questions, were now effectually 
settled, and the population of the Territory began 
rapidly to increase. Before the close of the year 
179G, the Northwest contained over five thousand 
inhabitants, the requisite number to entitle it to 
one representative in the national Congress. 

Western Pennsylvania also, despite the various 
conflicting claims regarding the land titles in that 
part of the State, began rapidly to fill with emigrants. 
The "Triangle" and the " Struck District " were 
surveyed and put upon the market under the act 
of 1792. Treaties and purchases from the various 
Indian tribes, obtained control of the remainder of 
tlie lands in that part of the State, and, by 179G, 
the State owned all the land within its boundaries. 
Towns were laid off, land put upon the market, so 
that by the year 1800, the western part of the 
Keystone State was divided into eight counties, viz., 
Beaver, Butler, Jlerecr, Crawford, Erie, Warren, 
Venango and Armstrong. 

The ordinance relative to the survey and dis- 
posal of lands in the Northwest Territory has 
already been given. It was adhered to, save in 
minor cases, where necessity required a slight 
change. The reservations were recognized by 
Congress, and the titles to them all confirmed to 
the grantees. Thus, Clarke and his men, the 
Connecticut Reserve, the Refugee lands, the 
French inhabitants, and all others holding patents 
to land fi'om colonial or foreign governments, were 
all confirmed in their rights and protected in their 
titles. 

Before the close of 1796, the upper North- 
western posts were all vacated by the British, 
under the terms of Mr. Jay's treaty. Wayne at 
once transferred his headquarters to Detroit, where 
a county was named for him, including the north- 
western part of Ohio, the northeast of Indiana, 
and the whole of Michigan. 

The occupation of the Territory by the Ameri- 
cans gave additional impulse to emigration, and a 
better feeling of security to emigrants, who fol- 
lowed closely upon the path of the army. Na- 
thaniel Massie, who has already been noticed as 
the founder of Manchester, laid out the town of 
Chillicothe, on the Scioto, in 1796. Before the 
close of the year, it contained several stores, 
shops, a tavern, and was well populated. With 
the increase of settlement and the security guar- 
anteed by the treaty of Greenville, the arts of 
civilized life began to appear, and their influence 
upon pioneers, especially those born on the frontier, 



^^ 



8-i 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



began to manifest itself. Better dwellings, schools, 
cliurches, dress and manners prevailed. Life 
began to assume a reality, and lost much of 
that recklessness engendered by the habits of a 
frontier life. 

Cleveland, Cincinnati, the Miami, the Mus- 
kingum and the Scioto Valleys were filling with 
people. Cincinnati had more than one hundred 
log cabins, twelve or fifteen frame houses and a 
population of more than six hundred persons. In 
1796, the first house of worship for the Presby- 
terians in that city was built. 

Before the close of the same year, Manchester 
contained over thirty families ; emigrants from 
Virginia were going up all the valleys from the 
Ohio; and Elbenezer Zane had opened a bridle- 
path from the Ohio River, at Wheeling, across the 
country, by Chillioothe, to Limestone, Ky. The 
next year, the United States mail, for the first 
time, traversed this route to the West. Zane was 
given a section of land for his path. The popu- 
lation of the Territory, estimated at from five to 
eight thousand, was chiefly distributed in lower 
valleys, bordering on the Ohio River. The French 
still occupied the Illinois country, and were the 
principal inhabitants about Detroit. 

South of the Ohio River, Kentucky was pro- 
gressing flivorably, while the " Southwestern Ter- 
ritory," ceded to the United States by North 
Carolina in 1790, had so rapidly populated that, 
in 1793, a Territorial form of government was 
allowed. The ordinance of 17S7, save the clause 
prohibiting slavery, was adopted, and the Territory 
named Tennessee. On June 6, 1796, the Terri- 
tory contained more than seventy-five thousand 
inhabitants, and was admitted into the Union as a 
State. Four years after, the census showed a 
population of 105,602 souls, including 13,58-1 
slaves and persons of color. The same year 
Tennessee became a State, Samuel Jackson and 
Jonathan Sharpless erected the Redstone Paper 
Mill, four miles east of Brownsville, it being the 
first manufactory of the kind west of the Alle- 
ghanies. 

In the month of December, 1796, Gen. Wayne, 
who had done so much for the development of the 
West, while on his way from Detroit to Philadel- 
phia, was attacked with sickness and died in a 
cabin near Erie, in the north part of Pennsylvania. 
He was nearly fifty-one years old, and was one of 



the bravest ofiiccrs in the Revolutionary war, and 
one of America's truest patriots. In 1809, his 
remains were removed from Erie, by his son. Col. 
Isaac Wayne, to the Radnor churchyard, near the 
jilace of his birth, and an elegant monument erected 
on his tomb by the Pennsylvania Cincinnati So- 
ciety. 

After the death of Wayne, Gen. Wilkinson was 
appointed to the command of the Western army. 
While he was in command, Carondelct, the Spanish 
governor of West Florida and Louisiana, made one 
more efiFort to separate the Union, and set up either 
an independent government in the West, or, what 
was more in accord with his wishes, effect a 
union with the Spanish nation. In June, 1797, 
he sent Power again into the Northwest and into 
Kentucky to . sound the existing feeling. Now, 
however, they were not easily won over. The 
home government was a certainty, the breaches had 
been healed, and Power was compelled to abandon 
the mission , not, however, untO he had received a 
severe reprimand from many who saw through his 
plan, and openly exposed it. His mission closed 
the efforts of the Spanish authorities to ittempt 
the dismemberment of the Union, and showed 
them the coming downfall of their power in Amer- 
ica. They were obliged to surrender the posts 
claimed by the United States under the treaty of 
1795, and not many years after, sold their Amer- 
ican possessions to the United States, rather than 
see a rival European power attain control over them. 

On the 7th of April, 1798, Congre.ss passed an 
act, appointing Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the 
Northwest Territory, Governor of the Territory of 
the Mississippi, formed the same day. In 1801, 
the boundary between America and the Spanish pos- 
sessions was definitely fixed. The Spanish retired 
from the disputed territory, and henceforward their 
attempts to dissolve the American Union ceased. 
The seat of the Mississippi Territory was fixed at 
Loftus Heights, sis miles north of the thirty-first 
degi-ee of latitude. 

The appointment of Sargent to the charge of the 
Southwest Territory, led to the choice of William 
Henry Harrison, who had been aid-de-camp to 
Gen. Wayne in 1794, and whose character stood 
very high among the people of the West, to the 
Secretaryship of the Northwest, which place he held 
until appointed to represent that Territory in Con- 



•■c s 



-» \ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



8a 



CHAPTER IX. 

FIRST TERRITORIAL REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS— DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY— FORMA- 
TION OF STATES— MARIETTA SETTLEMENT— OTHER SETTLEMENTS— SETTLEMENTS IN 
THE WESTERN RESERVE — SETTLEMENT OF THE CENTRAL VALLEYS- 
FURTHER t-ETTLEMENTS IN THE RESERVE AND ELSEWHERE. 



THE ordinance of 1787 provided that as soon 
as there were 5,000 persons in the Territory, 
it was entitled to a representative assembly. On 
October 29, 1798, Governor St. Clair gave notice 
by proclamation, that the required population ex- 
isted, and directed that an election be held on the 
third Monday in December, to choose representa- 
tives. These representatives were required, when 
assembled, to nominate ten persons, whose names 
were sent to the President of the United States, 
who selected five, and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, appointed them for the legislative 
council. In this mode the Northwest passed into 
the second grade of a Territorial government. 

The representatives, elected under the proclama- 
tion of St. Clair, met in Cincinnati, January 22, 
1799, and under the provisions of the ordinance 
of 1787, nominated ten persons, whose names were 
sent to the President. On the 2d of March, he 
selected from the list of candidates, the names of 
Jacob Burnet, James Findlay, Henry Vander- 
burgh, Robert Oliver and David Vance. The 
next day the Senate confirmed their nomination, 
and the first legislative council of the Northwest 
Territory was a reality. 

The Territorial Legislature met again at Cincin- 
nati, September Iti, but, for want of a quorum, 
was not organized until the 24th of that month. 
The House of Representatives consisted of nine- 
teen members, of whom seven were from Hamilton 
County, four from Ross — erected by St. Clair in 
1798; three from Wayne — erected in 179G; two 
from Adams — erected in 1797; one from Jeffer- 
son — erected in 1797 ; one from Washington — 
erected in 1788; and one from Knox — Indiana 
Territory. None seem to have been present from 
St. Clair County (Illinois Territory). 

After the organization of the Legislature, Gov- 
ernor St. Clair addressed the two houses in the Rep- 
resentatives' Chamber, recommending such meas- 
ures as, in his judgment, were suited to the con- 
dition of the country and would advance the safety 
and prosperity of the people. 



The Legislature continued in session till the 19th 
of December, when, having finished their business, 
they were prorogued by the Governor, by their 
own request, till the first Monday in November, 
1800. This being the first session, there was, of 
necessity, a great deal of business to do. The 
transition from a colonial to a semi-independent 
form of government, called for a general revision 
as well as a considerable enlargement of the stat- 
ute-book. Some of the adopted laws were re- 
pealed, many others altered and amended, and a 
long list of new ones added to the code. New 
offices were to be created and filled, the duties at- 
tached to them prescribed, and a plan of ways and 
means devised to meet the increased expenditures, 
occasioned by the change which had now occurred. 

As Mr. Burnet was the principal lawyer in the 
Council, much of the revision, and putting the laws 
into proper legal form, devolved upon him. He 
seems to have been well fitted for the place, and 
to have performed the laborious task in an excel- 
lent manner. 

The whole number of acts passed and approved 
by the Governor, was thirty-.seven. The most im- 
portant related to the militia, the administration of 
justice, andt<i taxation. During the session, a bill 
authorizing a lottery was pas.sed by the council, 
but rejected by the Legislature, thus interdicting 
this deniorallning feature of the disposal of lauds 
or for other purposes. The example has always been 
followed by subsequent legislatures, thus honorably 
characterizing the A.ssembly of Ohio, in this re- 
spect, an example Kentucky and several other 
States might well emulate. 

Before the Assembly adjourned, they issued a 
congratulatory address to the people, enjoining 
them to " Inculcate the principles of humanity, 
benevolence, honesty and punctuality in dealing, 
sincerity and charity, and all the social affections." 
At the same time, they issued an address to the 
President, expressing entire confidence in the wis- 
dom and purity of his government, and their 
warm attachment to the American Constitution. 



II I'y 



2i: 



>>, 



86 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



The vote on this address proved, however, that the 
difierences of opinion agitating the Eastern States 
liad penetrated the West. Eleven Representatives 
voted for it, and five against it. 

One of tlie important duties that devolved on 
this Legislature, was the election of a delegate to 
Congress. As soon as the Governor's proclama- 
tion made its appearance, the election of a person 
to fill that position excited general attention. Be- 
fore the meeting of the Legislature public opinion 
had settled down on William Henry Harrison, and 
Arthur St. Clair, Jr., who eventually were the only 
candidates. On the 3d of October, the two houses 
met and proceeded to a choice. Eleven votes were 
cast for Harrison, and ten for St. Clair. The Leg- 
islature prescribed the form of a certificate of the 
election, which was given to Harrison, who at once 
resigned his office as Secretary of the Territory, 
proceeded to Philadelphia, and took his seat, Con- 
gress being then in session. 

" Though he represented the Territory but one 
year, " says Judge Burnett, in his notes, " he ob- 
tained some important advantages for hjs constitu- 
ents. He introduced a resolution to sub-divide 
the surveys of the public lands, and to offer them 
for sale in smaller tracts ; he succeeded in getting 
that measure through both houses, in opposition to 
the interest of speculators, who were, and who 
wished to be, the retailers of the land to the poorer 
classes of the community. His proposition be- 
came a law, and wa.s hailed as the most beneficent 
act that Congress had ever done for the Territory. 
It put in the power of every industrious man, how- 
ever poor, to become a freeholder, and to lay a 
foundation for the future support and comfort of 
his family. At the same session, he obtained a 
liberal extension of time for the pre-emptioners in 
the northern part of the Jliami purchase, which 
enabled them to secure their flirms, and eventually 
to become independent, and even wealthy." 

The fir.st session, as has been noticed, closed 
December 19. Gov. St. Ckir took occasion to 
enumerate in his speech at the close of the session, 
eleven acts, to which he saw fit to apply his veto. 
These he had not, however, returned to the Assem- 
bly, and thereby saved a long struggle between the 
executive and legislative branches of the Tenitory. 
Of the eleven acts enumerated, six related to the 
formation of" new counties. These were mainly 
disproved by St Clair, as he always sturdily main- 
tained that the power to erect new counties was 
vested alone in the Executive. This fi'ee exercise 
of the veto power, especially in relation to new 



counties, and his controversy with the Legislature, 
tended only to strengthen the popular discontent 
regarding the Governor, who was never fldly able 
to regain the standing he held before his in- 
glorious defeat in his campaign against the Indians. 

While this was being agitated, another question 
came into prominence. Ultimately, it settled the 
powers of the two branches of the government, 
and caused the removal of St. Clair, then very 
distasteful to the people. The opening of the 
present century brought it fully before the 
people, who began to agitate it in all their 
assemblies. 

The great extent of the Territory made the 
operations of government extremely uncertain, 
and the power of the courts practically worthless. 
Its division was, therefore, deemed best, and a 
committee was appointed by Congress to inquire 
into the matter. This committee, the 3d of 
March, 1800, reported upon the subject that, "In 
the three western counties, there has been but 
one court having cognizance of crimes in five 
years. The immunity which offenders experience, 
attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and aban- 
doned criminals, and, at the same time, deters 
useful and virtuous citizens from making settle- 
ments in such society. The extreme necessity of 
judiciary attention and assistance is experienced 
in civil as well as criminal cases. The supplying 
to vacant places such necessary ofiicers as may be 
wanted, such as clerks, recorders and others of 
like kind, is, from the impossibility of correct 
notice and information, utterly neglected. This 
Territory is exposed as a frontier to foreign nations, 
whose agents can find sufficient interest in exciting 
or fomenting insurrection and discontent, as 
thereby they can more easily divert a valuable 
trade in furs from the United States, and also have 
a part thereof on which they border, which feels 
so little the cherishing hand of their proper gov- 
ernment, or so little dreads its energy, as to render 
their attachment perfectly uncertain and am- 
biguous. 

" The committee would fiirther suggest, that 
the law of the 3d of March, 1791, granting land 
to certain persons in the western part of said Ter- 
ritory, and directing the laying-out of the same, 
remains unexecuted; that great discontent, in 
consequence of such neglect, is excited in those 
who are interested in the provisions of said laws, 
which require the immediate attention of this 
Legislature. To minister a remedy to these evils, 
it occurs to this committee, that it is expedient 






i^*L 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



8T 



that a division of said Territory into two distinct 
and separate governments should be made ; and 
that such dirisiun bo made by a Une beginning at 
the mouth of the great Sliami River, running 
directly north until it intersects the boundary 
between the United States and Canada." * 

The recommendations of the committee were 
favorably received by Congress, and, the 7th 
of May, an act was passed dividing the Ter- 
ritory. The main provisions of the act are as 
follows: 

" That, from and after the 4th of July next, 
all that part of the territory of the United States 
northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the 
westward of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite 
to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running 
thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until 
it intersects the territorial line between the United 
States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of tem- 
porary government, constitute a separate Territory, 
and be called the Indiana Territory. 

" There shall be established within the said Ter- 
ritory a government, in all respects similar to that 
provided by the ordinance of Congress passed July 

13, 171)7." t 

The act further provided for representatives, and 
for the establishment of an as.sembly, on the same 
plan as that in force in the Northwest, stipulating 
that until the number of inhabitants reached five 
thousand, the whole number of representatives to 
the General Assembly should not be less than seven, 
nor more thaii, nine ; apportioned by the Governor 
among the several counties in the new Terri- 
tory. 

The act further provided that " nothing in the 
act should be so con.strucd, so as in any manner 
to affect the government now in force in the terri- 
tory of tlie I'nited States northwest of the Ohio 
River, further than to prohibit the exercise thereof 
within the Indiana Territory, from and after the 
aforesaid 4th of July nest. 

" "Whenever that part of the territory of the 
United States, which lies to the eastward of a line 
beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, 
and running thence due north to the territorial 
line between the United .States and Canada, .shall 
be erected into an independent State, and admitted 
into the I^nion on an e({ual footing with the orig- 
inal States ; thenceforth said line shall become and 
remain permanently, the boundary line between 
such State and the Indiana Territory." 

•Am(>ri'*an State Papera. 
t Land Lawa. 



It was further enacted, " that, until it shall be 
otherwise enacted by the legislatures of the said 
territories, respectively, Chillicothe, on the Scioto 
River, shall be the seat of government of the ter- 
ritory of the United States northwest of the Ohio 
River; and that St. Vincent's, on the Wabash 
River, shall be the seat of government for the 
Indiana Territory." * 

St. Clair was continued as Governor of the old 
Territory, and William Henry II;irrison appointed 
Governor of the new. 

Connecticut, in ceding her territory in the West 
to the General Government, reserved a portion, 
known as the Connecticut Reserve. When she 
afterward disposed of her claim in the manner 
narrated, the citizens found themselves without any 
government on which to lean for support. At that 
time, settlements had begun in thirty-five of the 
townships into which the Reserve had been divided ; 
one thousand persons had established homes there ; 
mills had been built, and over seven hundred miles 
of roads opened. In 1800, the settlers petitioned 
for acceptance into the Union, as a part of the 
Northwest ; and, the mother State releasing her judi- 
ciary claims. Congress accepted the trust, and 
granted the request. In December, of that year, 
the populati(jn had so increased that the county of 
Trumbull was erected, including the Reserve. 
Soon after, a large number of settlers came from 
Pennsylvania, from which State they had been 
driven by the dispute concerning land titles in its 
western part. Unwilling to cultivate land to 
which they could only get a doubtful deed, they 
abandoned it, and came where the titles were 
sure. 

Congress having made Chillicothe the capital of 
the Northwest Territory, as it now existed, on the 
3d of November the General Assembly met at that 
place. Gov. St. Clair had been made to feel the 
odium cast upon his previous acts, and, at the open- 
ing of this session, expressed, in stnmg terms, his 
disapprobation of tlie censure cast upon him. He 
had endeavored to do his duty in all cases, he .«aid, 
and yet held the confidence of the President and 
Congress. He still held the office, notwithstanding 
the strong dislike against him. 

At the second session of the Assembly, at Chil- 
licothe, held in the autumn of 1801, so much out- 
spoken enmity was cx]>ressed, and so nmch abusi' 
heaped ujion the Governor and the As.sembly, that 
a law was passed, removing the capital to Cincinnati 

♦Land Laws. 



■^ 



•A 



88 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



again. It was not destined, however, that the 
Territorial Assembly should meet again anywhere. 
The unpopularity of the Governor caused many to 
long for a State government, where they could 
choose their own rulers. The unpopularity of St. 
Clair arose partly from the feeling connected with 
his defeat ; in part from his being connected with 
the Federal party, fast falling into disrepute; and, 
in part, from his assuming powers which most 
thought he had no right to exercise, especially the 
power of subdividing the counties of the Terri- 
tory. 

The opposition, though powerful out of the 
Assembly, was in the minority there. During the 
month of December, 1801, it was forced to protest 
against a measure brought forward in the Council, 
for changing the ordinance of 1787 in such a man- 
ner as to make the Scioto, and a line drawn from 
the intersection of that river and the Indian 
boundary to the western extremity of the Reserve, 
the limits of the most eastern State, to be formed 
from the Territory. Had this change been made, 
the formation of a State government beyond the 
Ohio would have been long delayed. Against it. 
Representatives Worthington,Langham, Darlington, 
Massie, Dunlavy and Morrow, recorded their pro- 
test. Not content with this, they sent Thomas 
Worthington, who obtained a leave of absence, to 
the seat of government, on behalf of the objectors, 
there to protest, before Congress, against the pro- 
posed boundary. While Worthington was on his 
way, Massie presented, the 4th of January, IS02, 
a resolution for choosing a committee to address 
Congress in respect to the proposed State govern- 
ment. This, the next day, the House refused to 
do, by a vote of twelve to five. An attempt 
was next made to procure a census of the Ter- 
ritory, and an act for that purpose passed the 
House, but the Council postponed the considera- 
tion of it until the next session, which would com- 
mence at Cincinnati, the fourth JMonday of No- 
vember. 

Meanwhile, Worthington pursued the ends of 
his mission, using his influence to effect that organ- 
ization, "which, terminating the influence of tyr- 
anny," was to "meliorate the circumstances of thou- 
sands, by freeing them from the domination of a 
despotic chief" His efforts were successful, and, 
the 4th of March, a report Was made to the 
House in favor of authorizing a State convention. 
This report was based on the assumption that there 
were now over sixty thousand inhabitants in the 
proposed boundaries, estimating that emigration had 



increased the census of 1800, which gave the Ter- 
ritory forty-five thousand inhabitants, to that num- 
ber. The convention was to ascertain whether it 
were expedient to form such a government, and to 
prepare a constitution if such organization were 
deemed best. In the formation of the State, a 
change in the boundaries was proposed, by which 
all the territory north of a line drawn due east 
from the head of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie was 
to be excluded fi'om the new government about to 
be called into existence. 

The committee appointed by Congress to report 
upon the feasibility of forming the State, suggested 
that Congress reserve out of every township sectioas 
numbered 8, 11, 26 and 29, for their own use, and 
that Section 16 be reserved for the maintenance 
of schools. The committee also suggested, that, 
"religion, education and morality being neces.sary 
to the good government and happiness of mankind, 
schools and the means of education shall be forever 
encouraged." 

Various other recommendations were given by 
the committee, in accordance with which. Congress, 
April 30, passed the resolution authorizing the 
calling of a convention. As this accorded with 
the feelings of the majority of the inhabitants of the 
Northwest, no opposition was experienced ; even 
the Legislature giving way to this embryo gov- 
ernment, and failing to assemble according to ad- 
journment. 

The convention met the 1st of November. Its 
members were generally Jeffersonian in their na- 
tional politics, and had been opposed lo the change 
of boundaries proposed the year before. Before 
proceeding to business. Gov. St. Clair proposed to 
address them in his official character. Tliis j)ropo- 
sition was resisted by several of the members ; but, 
after a motion, it was agreed to allow him to speak 
to them as a citizen. St. Clair did so, advising 
the postponement of a State government until the 
people of the original eastern division were plainly 
entitled to demand it, and were not subject to be 
bound by conditions. This advice, given as it was, 
caused Jefferson instantly to remove St. Clair, at 
which time his office cea.sed.* "When the vote 
was taken," says Judge Burnet, "upon doing what 

* After this, St. Clair returned to hia old home in the Ligonier 
Valley. PenDsylvania, where he lived with his children in uhnost 
abject poverty. He h:id lost money in his public life, as he gave 
close attention to public affairs, to the detriment of his ow[i business. 
He presented a cl.iim to Congress, afterward, for supplies furnished 
to the army, but the claim was outlawed. After trying in vain to 
get the claim allowed, he returned to his home. Pennsylvania, 
learning of his distress, granted him an annuity of S350, afterward 
raised to Sfi^O. He lived to enjoy this but a short time, his death 
occurring August 31, 1S18. He was eighty-four years of age. 



■^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



89 



he advised them not to do, but one of thirty-three 
(Ephraim Cutler, of Washington County) voted 
with the Governor." 

On one point only were the proposed boundaries 
of the new State altered. 

" To every person who has attended to this sub- 
ject, and who has consulted the maps of the West- 
ern country extant at the time the ordinance of 
1787 was passed, Lake Michigan was believed to 
be, and was represented by all the maps of that 
day as being, very far north of the position which 
it has since been ascertained to occupy. I have 
seen the map in the Department of State which 
was before the committee of Congress who framed 
and reported the ordinance for the government of 
the Territory. On that map, the southern bound- 
ary of Michigan was represented as being above 
the forty-second degree of north latitude. And 
there was a pencil line, said to have been made by 
the committee, passing through the southern bend 
of the lake to the Canada line, which struck the 
strait not far below the town of Detroit. The 
line was manifestly intended by the committee 
and by Congress to be the northern boundary of 
our State ; and, on the principles by which courts 
of chancery construe contracts, accompanied by 
plats, it would seem that the map, and the line 
referred to, should be conclusive evidence of our 
boundary, without reference to the real position of 
the lakes. 

"When the convention sat, in 1802, the under- 
derstanding was, that the old maps were nearly 
correct, and that the line, as defined in the ordi- 
nance, would terminate at some point on the strait 
above the Maumee Bay. While the convention 
was in session, a man who had hunted many years 
on Lake Michigan, and was well acc(uainted with 
its position, happened to be in Chillicothe, and, in 
conversation with one of the members, told him 
that the lake extended much farther south than 
was generally supposed, and that a map of the 
country which he had seen, placed its southern 
bend many miles north of its true position. This 
information excited some uneasiness, and induced 
the convention to modify the clause describing the 
north boundary of the new State, so as to guard 
against its being depressed below the most north- 
ern cape of the Maumee Bay."* 

With this change and some extension of the 
school and road donations, the convention agreed 
to the proposal of Congress, and, November 29, 



' nistorical TraDsactions of Ohio. — Jddoe BraNETT. 



their agreement was ratified and signed, as was 
also the constitution of the State of Ohio — so 
named from its river, called by the Shawanccs Ohio, 
meaning beautiful — forming its southern bound- 
ary. Of this nothing need be said, save that it 
bore the marks of true democratic feeling — of full 
faith in the people. By them, however, it was 
never voted for. It stood firm until 1852, when 
it was superseded by the present one, made neces- 
sary by the advance of time. 

The General Assembly was required to meet at 
Chillicothe, the first Tuesday of March, 1803. 
This change left the territory northwest of the 
Ohio River, not included in the new State, in the 
Territories of Indiana and Michigan. Subse- 
quently, in 181 U, Indiana was made a State, and 
confined to her present limits. Illinois was made 
a Territory then, including Wisconsin. In 1818, 
it became a State, and Wisconsin a Territory at- 
tached to Michigan. This latter was made a State 
in 1837, and Wisconsin a separate Territory, which, 
in 18-17, was made a State. Minnesota was made 
a Territory the same j'ear, and a Stiite in 1857, 
and the five contemplated States of the territory 
were complete. 

Preceding pages have shown how the territory 
north of tlie Ohio River was peopled by the 
French and English, and how it came under the 
rule of the American people. The war of the 
Revolution closed in 1783, and left all America in 
the hands of a new nation. That nation brought 
a change. Before the war, various attempts had 
been made by residents in New England to people 
the country west of the Alleghanies. Land com- 
panies were formed, principal among which were 
the Ohio Company, and the company of which 
John Cleves Symmes was the agent and chief 
owner. Large tracts of land on the Scioto and 
on the Ohio were entered. The Ohio Company 
were the first to make a settlement. It was or- 
ganized in the autumn of 1787, November 27. 
They made arrangements for a party of fbrtj'-sevcn 
men to set out for the West under the supervision of 
Gen. Rufus Putnam, Superintendent of the Com- 
pany. Early in the winter thej' advanced to the 
Youghiogheny River, and there built a strong boat, 
which they named "Mayflower." It w;i.s built by 
Capt. Jonathan Devol, the first ship-builder in the 
West, and, wlien completed, was placed under his 
command. The boat was launched A])ril 2, 1788, 
and the band of pioneers, like the Pilgrim Fathers, 
began their voyage. The 7th of the month, 
they arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum, 



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90 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



their destination, opposite Fort Harmar,* erected 
in the autumn of 1785, by a detachment of 
United States troops, under command of Maj. 
John Doughty, and, at the date of the Mayflower's 
arrival in possession of a company of soldiers. 
Under the protection of these troops, the little band 
of men began their labor of laying out a town, 
and commenced to erect houses for their own and 
subsequent emigrants' occupation. The names of 
these pioneers of Ohio, as far as can now be 
learned, are as follows: 

Gen. Putnam, Return Jonathan Meigs, Win- 
throp Sargeant (Secretary of the Territory ), Judges 
Parsons and Varnum, Capt. Dana, Capt. Jonathan 
Devol, Joseph Barker, Col. Battelle, Maj. Tyler, 
Dr. True, Capt. Wm. Gray, Capt. Lunt, the 
Bridges, Ebenezer and Thomas Cory, Andrew Mc- 
Clure, Wm. Mason, Thomas Lord, Wm. Gridley, 
Gilbert Devol, Moody Eussels, Deavens, Oakes, 
Wright, Clough, Green, Shipman, Dorance, the 
Masons, and others, whose names are now be- 
yond recall. 

On the 19th of July, the first boat of families 
arrived, after a nine-weeks journey on the way. 
They had traveled in their wagons as fax as Wheel- 
ing, where they built large flat-boats, into which 
they loaded their eficcts, including their cattle, and 
thence passed down the Ohio to their destination. 
The flimilies were those of Gen. Tupper, Col. 
Ichabod Nye, Col. Cushing, Maj. Coburn, and 
Maj. Goodale. In these titles the reader will ob- 
serve the preponderance of military distinction. 
Many of the tbunders of the colony had served 
with much valor in the war for freedom, and were 
well prepared for a life in the wilderness. 

They began at once the construction of hou.ses 
from the forests about the confluence of the rivers, 
guarding their stock by day and penning it by 
night. Wolves, bears and Indians were all about 
them, and, here in the remote wilderness, they 
were obliged to always be on their guard. From 
the ground where they obtained the timber to erect 
their houses, they soon produced a few vegetables, 
and when the families arrived in August, they 
were able to set before them food raised for the 



*The OMtlinea of Fort Harmar formed a regular pentagon, 
embracing within the area about three-fourth.s of an acre. Its 
walls were formed of Uirge horizontal timbers, and the bastions 
of large upright timberaabout fourteen feet in height, fastened to each 
other by sti-ips nf timber, tree-nailed int^ each picket. In the reiir 
of the fort Maj. Doughty laid out fine gardens. It continued to be 
occupied by Unitt-d States troops until September 17ItO, when 
they were ordered to Cincinnati. A company, under Capt. Haskell, 
continued to make the fort their headquarters during the Indian 
war, occasionally assisting the colonists at Marietta, Belpre and 
Waterford against the Indians. When not needed by the troops, 
the fort was used by the people of Marietta. 



first time by the hand of American citizens in the 
Ohio Valley. One of those who came in August, 
was Mr. Thomas Guthrie, a settler in one of the 
western counties of Pennsylvania, who brought a 
bushel of wheat, wliich he sowed on a plat of 
ground cleared by himself, and from which that 
fall he procured a small crop of wheat, the first 
grown in the State of Ohio. 

The Blarietta settlement was the only one made 
that summer in the Territory. From their arrival 
until October, when Governor St. Clair came, they 
were busily employed making houses, and prepar- 
ing for the winter. The little colony, of which 
Washington wrote so favorably, met on the 2d day 
of July, to name their newborn city and its pub- 
lic sqares. Until now it had been known as "The 
Muskingum" simply, but on that day the name 
Marietta was formally given to it, in honor of Ma- 
rie Antoinette. The ■4th of July, an ovation was 
held, and an oration delivered by James M. Var- 
num, who, with S. H. Parsons and John Arm- 
strong, had been appointed Judges of the Terri- 
tory. Thus, in the heart of the wOderness, 
miles away from any kindred post, in the forests 
of the Great West, was the Tree of Liberty watered 
and given a hearty growth. 

On the morning of the 9th of July, Governor 
St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume 
form. The ordinance of 1787 had provided for 
a form of government under the Governor and 
the three Judges, and this form was at once put 
into force. The 25th, the first law relating to the 
militia was published, and the next day the Gov- 
ernor's proclamation appeared, creating all the 
country that had been ceded by the Indians, east 
of the Scioto River, into the county of Washing- 
ton, and the civil machinery was in motion. From 
that time forward, this, the pioneer settlement in 
Ohio, went on prosperously. The 2d of Septem- 
ber, the first court in the Territory was held, but 
as it related to the Territory, a narrative of its pro- 
ceedings will be found in the history of that part 
of the country, and need not be repeated here. 

The 15th of July, Gov. St. Clair had published 
the ordinance of 1787, and the commissions of 
himself and the three Judges. He also assembled 
the people of the settlement, and explained to 
them the ordinance in a speech of considerable 
length. Three days after, he sent a notice to the 
Judges, calling their attention to the subject of 
organizing the militia. Instead of attending to 
this important matter, and thus providing for their 
safety should trouble with the Indians arise, the 



V 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



91 



Judges did not even reply to the Governor's letter, 
but sent him what they called a " project " of a 
law for dividing real estate. The bill was so 
loosely drawn that St. Clair immediately rejected 
it, and set about organizing the militia himself. 
lie divided the militia into two classes, "Senior" 
and "Junior," and organized them by appointing 
their officers. 

In the Senior Class, Nathan Cushing was ap- 
pointed Captain; George Ingersol, Lieutenant, 
and James Backus, Ensign. 

In the Junior Class, Nathan Groodale and Charles 
Knowls were made Captains ; Watson Casey and 
Samuel Stebbins, Lieutenants, and Joseph Lincoln 
and Arnold Colt, En.signs. 

The Governor next erected the Courts of Pro- 
bate and Quarter Sessions, and proceeded to ap- 
point civil officers. Rufus Putnam, Benjamin 
Tupper and Winthrop Sargeaut were made Jus- 
tices of the Peace. The 30th of August, the day 
the Court of Quarter Sessions was appointed, 
Archibald Cary, Isaac Pierce and Thomas Lord 
were also appointed Justices, and given power to 
hold this court. They were, in flict, Judges of a 
Court of Common Pleas. Return Jonathan Meigs 
was appointed Clerk of this Court of Quarter 
Sessions. Ebenezer Sproat was appointed SheriiFof 
Washington County, and also Colonel of the militia; 
William Callis, Clerk of the Supreme C«urt; 
Rufi-is Putnam, Judge of the Probate Court, and 
R. J. Meigs, Jr., Clerk. Following these appoint- 
ments, setting the machinery of government in 
motion, St. Clair ordered that the 25th of Decem- 
ber be kept as a day of thanksgiving by the infant 
colony for its safe and propitious beginning. 

During the fall and winter, the settlement was 
daily increased by emigrants, so much so, that the 
greatest difficulty was experienced in finding them 
lodging. During the coldest part of the winter, 
when ice covered the river, and prevented navi- 
gation, a delay in arrivals was experienced, only to 
be broken as soon as the river opened to the beams 
of a spring sun. WhOe locked in the winter's 
embrace, the colonists amused themselves in vari- 
ous ways, dancing being one of the most promi- 
nent. At Christmas, a grand ball was held, at 
which there were fifteen ladies, "whose grace," 
says a narrator, "equaled any in the East." 
Tiiough isolated in the wilderness, they knew a 
brilliant jirospect lay before them, and lived on in 
a joyous hope for the future. 

Soon after their arrival, the settlers began the 
erection of a stockade fort ( Campus Martius ), 



which occupied their time until the winter of 
17111. During the interval, fortunately, no hos- 
tilities from the Indians were experienced, though 
they were abundant, and were frequent visitors to 
the settlement. 

From a communication in the American Pioneer, 
by Dr. S. P. Hildrelh, the following description of 
Campus Martius is derived. As it will apply, in 
a measure, to many early structures for defense in 
the West, it is given entire: 

" The fort was made in the form of a regular 
parallelogram, the sides of each being 180 feet. 
At each corner was erected a strong block-house, 
surmounted by a tower, and a sentry box. These 
houses were twenty feet square below and twenty- 
four feet square above, and projected six feet be- 
yond the walls of the fort. The intermediate walls 
were made up with dwelling-houses, made of wood, 
whose ends were whip-sawed into timbers four 
inches thick, and of the requisite width and length. 
These were laid up similar to the structure of log 
liouses, with the ends nicely dove-tailed together. 
The whole were two stories high, and covered with 
shingle roofs. Convenient chimneys were erected 
of bricks, for cooking, and warming the rooms. A 
number of the dwellings were built and owned by 
individuals who had families. In the west and 
south fronts were strong gateways ; and over the 
one in the center of the front looking to the BIus- 
kingum River, was a belfry. The chamber beneath 
was occupied by Winthrop Sargeant, as an office, 
he being Secretary to the Governor, and perform- 
ing the duties of the office during St. Clair's ab- 
sence. This room projected over the gateway, like 
a block-house, and was intended for the protection 
of the gate beneath, in time of an assault. At 
the outer corner of each block-house was erected a 
b;istion, standing on i'our stout timbers. The floor 
of the basti(jn was a little above the lower story of 
the block-house. They were square, and built up 
to the height of a man's head, so that, when he 
looked over, he stepped on a narrow platform or 
"banquet "running around the sides of the bulwark. 
Poi-t-holes were made, for musketry as well as for 
artillery, a single piece of which was mounted in 
the southwest and northeast ba.stions. In these, 
the sentries wore regularly posted every night, as 
more convenient than the towers ; a door K'ading 
into them from the up]ier story of the block-houses. 
The lower room of the southwest bIock-hou.se was 
occupied as a guard-house. 

" Running from corner to corner of the block- 
houses was a row of palisades, sloping outward. 



_i- 



^ 



93 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



and resting on stout rails. Twenty feet in advance 
of these, was a row of very strong and large pick- 
ets, set upright in the earth. Gateways through 
these, admitted the inmates of the garrison. A 
few feet beyond the row of outer palisades was 
placed a row of abattis, made fi'om the tops and 
branches of trees, sharpened and pointing outward, 
so that it would have been very difficult for an 
enemy to have penetrated within their outworks. 
The dwelling-houses occupied a space from fifteen 
to thirty feet each, and were sufficient for the ac- 
commodation of forty or fifty families, and did 
actually contain from two hundred to three hun- 
dred persons during the Indian war. 

" Before the Indians commenced hostilities, the 
block-houses were occupied as follows : The south- 
west one, by the flimily of Gov. St. Clair; the 
northeast one as an office for the Directors of the 
Company. The area within the walls was one 
hundred and forty-four feet square, and afforded a 
fine parade ground. In the center, was a well 
eighty feet in depth, for the supply of water to the 
inhabitants, in case of a siege. A large sun-dial 
stood for many years in the square, placed on a 
handsome post, and gave note of the march of 
time. 

" After the war commenced, a regular military 
corps was organized, and a guard constantly kept 
night and day. The whole establishment formed 
a very strong work, and reflected great credit on 
the head that planned it. It was in a manner im- 
pregnable to the attacks of Indians, and none 
but a regular army with cannon could have reduced 
it. The Indians possessed no such an armament. 

" The garrison stood on the verge of that beauti- 
ful plain overlooking the Muskingum, on which 
are seated those celebrated remains of anti(iuity, 
erected probably for a similar purpose — the defense 
of the inhabitants. The ground descends into shal- 
low ravines on the north and south sides ; on the 
west is an abrupt descent to the river bottoms or 
alluvium, and the east passed out to a level plain. 
On this, the ground was cleared of trees beyond 
the reach of rifle shots, so as to affiird no shelter 
to a hidden foe. Extensive fields of corn were 
grown in the midst of the standing girdled trees be- 
yond, in after years. The front wall of palisades 
was about one hundred and fifty yards from the 
Muskingum River. The aj)pearanco of the fort 
from without was imposing, at a little distance re- 
sembling the military castles of the feudal ages. 
Between the outer palisades and the river were 
laid out neat gardens for the use of Gov. St. Clair 



and his Secretary, with the officers of the Com- 
pany. 

'■Opposite the fort, on the shore of the river, 
was buUt a substantial timber wharf, at which was 
moored a fine cedar barge for twelve rowers, built 
by Capt. Jonathan Devol, for Gen. Putnam ; a 
number of pirogues, and the light canoes of the 
country ; and last, not least, the Mayflower, or 
' Adventure Galley,' in which the first detach- 
ments of colonists were transported from the shores 
of the ' Yohiogany'to the banks of the Muskingum. 
In these, especially the canoes, during the war, 
most of the communications were carried on between 
the settlements of the Company and the more re- 
mote towns above on the Ohio River. Traveling 
by land was very hazardous to any but the rangers 
or spies. There were no roads, nor bridges across 
the creeks, and, for manj' years after the war had 
ceased, the traveling was nearly all done by canoes 
on the river." 

Thus the first settlement of Ohio provided for 
its safety and comfort, and provided also for that 
of emigrants who came to share the toils of the 
wilderness. 

The next spring, the influx of emigration was 
so great that other settlements were determined, 
and hence arose the colonies of Belpre, Waterford 
and Duck Creek, where they began to clear land, sow 
and plant crops, and build houses and stockades. 
At Belpre (French for "beautiful meadow"), were 
built three stockades, the upper, lower and middle, 
the last of which was called " Farmers' Castle," 
and stood on the banks of the Ohio, nearly oppo- 
site an island, afterward famous in Western history 
as Blennerhasset's Island, the scene of Burr's con- 
spiracy. Among the persons settling at the upper 
stockade, were Capts. Dana and Stone, Col. Bent, 
William Browning, Judge Foster, John Rowse, 
Israel Stone and a Mr. Keppel. At the Farmers' 
Castle, were Cols. Cushing and Fisher, Maj. Has- 
kell, Aaron Waldo Putnam, Mr. Sparhawk, and, 
it is believed, George and Israel Putnam., Jr. At 
the lower, were M.ij. Goodale, Col. Rice, Esquire 
Pierce, Judge Israel Loring, Deacon Miles, Maj. 
Bradford and Nr. Goodenow. In the summer of 
1789, Col. Ichabod Nye and some others, built a 
block-house at Newberry, below Belpre. Col. Nye 
sold his lot there to Aaron W. Clough, who, with 
Stephen Guthrie, Joseph Leavins, Joel Oakes, 
Eleazer Curtis, Mr. Denham J. Littleton and Mr. 
Brown, was located at that place. 

"Every exertion possible," says Dr. Hildreth, 
who has preserved the above names and incidents. 



5 fy 



'liL^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



93 



" for men in these circumstances, was made to se- 
cure food for future difficulties. Col. Oliver, Maj. 
Hatfield White and John Dod_!j;e, of the Water- 
ford settlement, began mills on Wolf Creek, about 
three miles from the fort, and got them running; 
and these, the first mills in Ohio, were never de- 
stroyed during the subse(]uont Indian war, though 
the proprietors removed their faniiles to the fort 
at ]\Iarietta. Col. E. Sproat and Knoeh Shep- 
herd began mills on Duck Creek, three miles from 
JIarietta, from the completion of which they were 
driven by the Indian war. Thomas Stanley be- 
gan mills farther up, near the Duck Creek settle- 
ment. These were likewise unfinished. The Ohio 
Company built a large horse mill near Campus 
IMartius, and soon after a floating mill." 

The autumn before the settluuicnts at Belpre, 
Duck Creek and Waterford, were made, a colony 
was planted near the mouth of the Little Jliami 
River, on a tract of ten thousand acres, purchased 
fromSymmes by Maj. Benjamin Stites. Inthepro- 
ceding pages may be found a history of Symmes' 
purchase. This colony may be counted the second 
settlement in the State. Soon after the colony at 
Jlarietta was founded, steps were taken to occupy 
separate portions of Judge SjTumes' purchase, be- 
tween the Bliami Rivers. Three parties were 
formed for this purpose, but, owing to various 
delays, chiefly in getting the present colony stead- 
fast and safe from future encroachments by the 
savages, they did not get started till late in the fall. 
The first of these parties, consisting of fifteen or 
twenty men, led by Maj. Stit&s, landed at the 
mouth of the Little Miami in November, 1788, 
and, constructing a log fort, began to lay out a 
village, called by them Columbia. It soon grew 
into prominence, and, before winter had thoroughly 
set in, they were well prepared for a frontier life. 
In the party were Cols. Spencer and Brown, Majs. 
Gano and Kibbcy, Judges Goforth and Foster, 
llcv. John Smith, Francis Dunlavy, Capt. Flinn, 
Jacob White, John Riley, and Mr. Ilubbell. 

All these were men of energy and enterprise, 
and, with their comrades, were more numerous 
than either of the other parties, who commenced 
their settlements below them on the Ohio. This 
village was also, at first, more flourLshing; and, for 
two or three jears. contained more inhabitants 
than any other in the IMiami purchase. 

The second Miami party was ii)rmed at Lime- 
stone, under Matthias Denham and Robert I'at- 
terson, and consisted of twelve or fifteen persons. 
They landed on the north bank of the Ohio, oppo- 



site the mouth of the Licking River, the 24th of 
December, 1788. They intended to establish a 
station and lay out a town on a plan prepared at 
Limestone. Some statements affirm that the town 
was to be called '' L-os-anfi-vil/r,'' by a romantic 
school-teacher named Filson. However, be this as 
it may, Mr. Filson was, unfortunately for himself, 
not long after, slain by the Indians, and, with him 
probably, the name disappeared. He was to have 
one-third interest in the proposed cit3-, which, 
when his death occurred, was transferred to Israel 
Ludlow, and a new plan of a city adopted. Israel 
Ludlow surveyed the propo.scd town, whose lots were 
principally donated to settlers upon certain condi- 
tions as to settlement and improvement, and the 
embryo city named Cincinnati. Gov. St. Clair 
very likely had something to do with the namins; 
of the village, and, by some, it is asserted that he 
changed the name from Losantiville to Cincinnati, 
when he created the county of Hamilton the en- 
suing winter. The original purchase of the city's 
site was made by Mr. Denham. It included about 
eight hundred acres, for which he jiaid 5 shillings 
per acre in Continental certificates, then worth, in 
specie, about 5 shillings per pound, gross weight. 
Evidently, the original site was a good investment, 
could Mr. Di;nham have lived long enough to see 
its present condition. 

The third party of settlers for the Miami pur- 
chase, were under the care of Judge Symmes, 
himself. They left; Limestone, January 29, 1789, 
and were much delayed on. their downward jour- 
ney by the ice in the river. They reached the 
'■ Bend," as it was then known, early in February. 
The Judge had intended to found a city here, 
which, in time, would be the rival of the Atlantic 
cities. As each of the three settlements aspired 
to the same position, no little rivalry soon mani- 
fested itself. The Judge named his proposed city 
North Bend, from the fact that it was the most 
northern bend in the Ohio below the mouth of the 
Great Kanawha. These three settlements ante- 
dated, a few months, those made near INIarietta, 
already described. They arose so soon after, partly 
from the extreme desire of Judge Symmes to settle 
his purchase, and induce emigration here instead 
of on the Ohio Comiiany's purchase. The Judge 
labored earnestly for this purpose and to further 
secure him in iiis title to the land he had ac(|uired, 
all of which he had so far been unable to retain, 
owing to his inability to meet his payments. 

All these emigrants came down tiie river in the 
flat-boats of the day, rude afiiiirs, sometimes called 



i "y 



94 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



"Arks," and tlien tlie only safe mode of travel in 
the West. 

Judge Symmes found he must provide for the 
safety of the settlers on his purchase, and, after 
earnestly soliciting Gen. Harmar, commander of 
the Western posts, succeeded in obtaining a de- 
tachment of forty-eight men, under Capt. Kearsey, 
to protect the improvements just commencing on 
the Miami. This detachment reached Limestone 
in December, 1788. Part was at once sent for- 
ward to guard JMaj. Stites and his pioneers. Judge 
Symmes and his party started in January, and, 
about February 2, reached Columbia, where the 
Captain expected to find a fort erected for his use 
and shelter. The flood on the river, however, de- 
feated hi.s purpose, and, as he was unprepared to 
erect another, lie determined to go on down to the 
garrison at the falls at Louisville. Judge Symmes 
was strenuously opposed to his conduct, as it left 
the colonies unguarded, but, all to no purpose; the 
Captain and his command, went to Louisville early 
in March, and left the Judge and his settlement 
to protect themselves. Judge Symmes immedi- 
ately sent a strong letter to Maj. Willis, command- 
ing at the Falls, complaining of the conduct 
of Capt. Kearsey, representing the exposed situ- 
ation of the Jliami settlements, stating the indi- 
. cations of hostility manifested by the Indians, 
and requesting a guard to be sent to the Bend. 
This request was at once granted, and Ensign 
Luce, with seventeen or eighteen soldiers, sent. 
They were at the settlement but a short time, 
when they were attacked by Indians, and one of 
their number killed, and four or five wounded. 
They repulsed the savages and saved the set- 
tlers. 

The site of Symmes City, for such he designed it 
should ultimately be called, was above the reach of 
water, and sufficiently level to admit of a conven- 
ient settlement. The city laid out by Symmes 
was truly magnificent on paper, and promised in 
the future to fulfill his most ardent hopes. The 
plat included the village, and extended across the 
peninsula between the Ohio and Miami Elvers. 
Each settler on this plat was promised a lot if he 
would improve it, and in conformity to the stipu- 
lation, Judge Symmes soon found a large number 
of persons applying for residence. As tlie number 
of these adventurers increased, in consequence of 
this pro\-ision and the protection of the military, 
the Judge was induced to lay out another village 
six or seven miles up the river, which he called 
South Bend, where he disposed of some donation 



lots, but the project failing, the village site was de- 
serted, and converted into a farm. 

During all the time these various events were 
tran.><piring, but little trouble was experienced with 
tlie Indians. They were not yet disposed to evince 
hostile feelings. This would have been their time, 
but, not realizing the true intent of the whites until 
it was too late to conquer them, they allowed them 
to become prepared to withstand a warfare, and in 
the end were obliged to suffer their hunting-grounds 
to be taken from them, and made the homes of a 
race destined to entirely supersede them in the 
New World. 

By the means sketched in the foregoing pages, 
were the three settlements on the Miami made. By 
the time those adjacent to Marietta were well estab- 
lished, these were firmly fixed, each one striving to 
become the rival city all felt sure was to arise. For 
a time it was a matter of doubt which of the rivals, 
Columbia, North Beud or Cincinnati, would event- 
ually become the chief seat of business. 

In the beginning, Columbia, the eldest of the 
three, took the lead, both in number of its in- 
habitants and the convenience and appearance of 
its dwellings. For a time it was a floui'ishing place, 
and many believed it would become the great busi- 
ness town of the Miami country. That apparent 
fact, however, lasted but a short time. The garri- 
son was moved to Cincinnati, Fort W^ashington 
built there, and in spite of all that Maj. Stites, or 
Judge Symmes could do, that place became the 
metropolis. Fort Washington, the most extensive 
garrison in the West, was built by JMaj. Doughty, 
in the summer of 1789, and from that time the 
growth and future greatness of Cincinnati were 
a.ssured. 

The fir.st house in the city was built on Front 
street, east of and near JNIain street. It was 
sinqily a strong log cabin, and was erected of the 
forest trees cleared away from the ground on which 
it stood. The lower part of the town was covered 
with sycamore and maple trees, and the upper with 
beech and oak. Through this dense forest the 
streets were laid out, and their corners marked on 
the trees. 

The settlements on the Miami had become 
sufficiently numerous to warrant a separate county, 
and, in January, 1700, Gov. St. Clair and his 
Secretary arrived in Cincinnati, and organized the 
county of Hamilton, so named in honor of the 
illustrious statesman by that name. It included 
all the country north of the Ohio, between the 
Miamis, as far as a line running " due east from the 



V 



->_ 



HISTOKY OP OHIO. 



95 



Standing Stone forks " of Big Miami to its inter- 
section with the Little Miami. The erection of 
the new county, and the appointment of Cincin- 
nati to be the seat of justice, gave the town a fresh 
impulse, and aided greatly in its growth. 

Through the .summer, but little interruption in 
the growth of the settlements occurred. The 
Indians had permitted the erection of defensive 
works in tlieir midst, and could not now destroy 
them. They were also engaged in traffic with the 
whites, and, though they evinced signs of discon- 
tent at their settlement and occupation of the 
country, yet did not openly attack them. The 
truth was, they saw plainly the whites were always 
prepared, and no opportunity was given them to 
plunder and destroy. The Indian would not 
attack unless success was almost sure. An oppor- 
tunity, unfortunately, came, and with it the hor- 
rors of an Indian war. 

In the autumn of 1790, a company of thirty- 
six meu went fi-om Marietta to a place on the 
Muskingum known as the Big Bottom. Here 
they built a block-house, on the east bank of the 
river, four miles above the mouth of Meigs Creek. 
They were chiefly young, single men, but little 
acquainted with Indian warfare or military rules. 
The savages had given signs that an attack on the 
settlement was meditated, and several of the know- 
ing ones at the strongholds strenuously opposed 
any new settlements that fall, advising their post- 
ponement until the next spring, when the <|uestion 
of peace or war would probably be settled. Even 
Gen. Putnam and the Directors of the Ohio Com- 
pany advised the postponement of the settlement 
until the next spring. 

The young men were impatient and restless, and 
declared themselves able to protect their fort 
against any number of assailants. They might 
have easily done so, had they taken the necessary 
precautions ; but, after they had erected a rude 
block-house of unchinked logs, they began to pa.ss 
the time in various pursuits; setting no guard, and 
taking no precautionary measures, they left them- 
selves an easy prey to any hostile savages that 
might choose to come and attack them. 

About twenty rods from the block-lumso, and a 
little back from the bank of the river, two men, 
Francis and Isaac Choate, members of the com- 
pany, had erected a cabin, and commenced clearing 
lots. Thomas Shaw, a hired laborer, and James 
Patten, another of the associates, lived with them. 
About the same distance below the block-house 
was an old "Tomahawk Improvement" and a 



small cabin, which two men, Asa and Elcazur 
BuUard, had fitted up and occupied. The Indian 
war-path, from Sandusky to the mouth of the 
Muskingum, passed along the opposite shore of 
the river. 

" The Indians, who, during the summer," says 
Dr. Hildreth, " had been hunting and loitering 
about the Wolf Creek and Plainfield settlements, 
holding frequent and friendly intercourse with the 
settlers, selling them venison and bear's meat in ex- 
change for green corn and vegetables, had with- 
drawn and gone up the river, early in the au- 
tumn, to their towns, preparatory to going into 
winter quarters. They very seldom entered on 
any warlike expeditions during the cold weather. 
But they had watched the gradual encroach- 
ment of the whites and planned an expedition 
against them. They saw them in fancied security 
in their cabins, and thought their capture an easy 
task. It is said they were not aware of the Big 
Bottom settlement until they came in sight of it, 
on the opposite shore of the river, in the atlernoon. 
From a high hill opposite the garrison, they had a 
view of all that part of the bottom, and could see 
how the men were occupied and what was doing 
about the block-house. It was not protected with 
palisades or pickets, and none of the men were 
aware or prepared for an attack. Having laid 
their plans, about twilight they crossed the river 
above the garrison, on the ice, and divided their 
men into two parties — the larger one to attack the 
block-house, the smaller one to capture the cabins. 
As the Indians cautiously approached the cabin 
they found the inmates at supper. Part entered, 
addressed the whites in a friendly manner, but 
soon manifesting their designs, made them all pris- 
oners, tieing them with leather thongs they found 
in the cabin." 

At the block-house the attack was far different. 
A stout Mohawk suddenly burst open the door, 
the first intimation the inmates had of the pres- 
ence of the foe, and while he held it open his 
comrades shot down those that were within. Rush- 
ing in, the deadly tomahawk comjilcted the on- 
slaught, lu the assault, one of the savages was 
struck by the wife of Isaac Woods, with an ax, 
but only slightly injured. The heroic woman was 
immediately .slain. All the men but two were 
slain before they had lime to secure their arms, 
thereby paying for their failure to properly secure 
themselves, with their lives. The two excepted 
were John Stacy and his brother Philip, a lad six- 
teen years of age. John escaped to the roof. 



96 



HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



where he was shot by the Indians, while begging 
for his life. The firing at the block-house alarmed 
the Bullards in their cabin, and hastily barring the 
door, and securing their amisand ammunition, they 
fled to the woods, and escaped. After the slaughter 
was over, the Indians began to collect the plunder, 
and in doing so discovered the lad Philip Stacy. 
They were about to dispatch him, but his entrea- 
ties softened the heart of one of the chiefs, who 
took him as a captive with the intention of adopt.- 
ing him into his family. The savages then piled 
the dead bodies on the floor, covered them with 
other portions of it not needed for that purpose, 
and set fire to the whole. The building, being 
made of green logs, did not burn, the flames con- 
suming only the floors and roof, leaving the walls 
standing. 

There were twelve persons killed in this attack, 
all of whom were in the prime of life, and valuable 
aid to the settlements. They were well pro\-ided 
with arms, and had they taken the necessary pre- 
cautions, always pressed upon them when visited 
by the older ones from Marietta, they need not 
have suffered so terrible a fate. 

The Indians, exultant over their horrible victory, 
went on to Wolf's mills, but here they found the 
people prepared, and, after reconnoitering the place, 
made their retreat, at early dawn, to the great re- 
lief of the inhabitants. Their number was never 
definitely known. 

The news reached Marietta and its adjacent 
settlements soon after the massacre occurred, and 
struck terror and dismay into the hearts of all. 
Many had brothers and sons in the ill-fated party, 
and mourned their loss. Neither did they know 
what place would fall next. The Indian hostilities 
had begun, and they could only hope for peace 
when the savages were effectually conquered. 

The next day, Capt. Rogers led a party of men 
over to the Big Bottom. It was, indeed, a melan- 
choly sight to the poor borderers, as they knew not 
now how soon the same fate might befall them- 
selves. The fire had so disfigured their comrades 
that but two, Ezra Putnam and William Jones, 
were recognized. As the ground was frozen out- 
side, a hole was dug in the earth underneath the 
block-house floor, and the bodies consigned to one 
grave. No further attempt was made to settle 
here till after the peace of 1795. 

The outbreak of Indian hostilities put a check 
on fiirther settlements. Those that were estab- 
lished were put in a more active state of defense, 
and every preparation made that could be made 



for the impending crisis all felt sure must come. 
Either the Indians must go, or the whites must 
retreat. A few hardy and adventurous persons 
ventured out into the woods and made settle- 
ments, but even these were at the imminent risk 
of their lives, many of them perishing in the 
attempt. 

The Indian war that followed is given fully in 
preceding pages. It may be briefly sketched by 
stating that the first campaign, under Gen Har- 
mar, ended in the defeat of his army at the Indian 
villages on the Miami of the lake, and the rapid 
retreat to Fort Washington. St. Clair was next 
commissioned to lead an army of nearly three thou- 
sand men, but these were furiously attacked at 
break of day, on the morning of November 4, 
1791, and utterly defeated. Indian outrages 
sprung out anew after each defeat, and the borders 
were in a continual state of alarm. The most ter- 
rible sufferings were endured by prisoners in the 
hands of the savage foe, who thought to annihilate 
the whites. 

The army was at once re-organized, Gen. An- 
thony Wayne put in command by Washington, 
and a vigorous campaign inaugurated. Though 
the savages had been given great aid by the Brit- 
ish, in direct violation of the treaty of 1783, Gen. 
Wayne pursued them so vigorously that they could 
not withstand his army, and, the 20th of August, 
179-1, defeated them, and utterly annihilated their 
forces, breaking up their camps, and laying waste 
their country, in some places under the guns of 
the British forts. The victory showed them the 
hopelessness of contending against the whites, and 
led their chiefs to sue for peace. The British, as 
at former times, deserted them, and they were again 
alone, contending against an invincible foe. A 
grand council was held at Greenville the 3d day 
of August, 1795, where eleven of the most power- 
ful chiefs made peace with Gen. Wayne on terms 
of his own dictation. The boundary established 
by the old treaty of Fort Mcintosh was confirmed, 
and extended westward from Loramie's to Fort 
Recovery, and thence southwest to the mouth of 
the Kentucky River. lie also purchased all the 
territory not before ceded, within certain limits, 
comprehending, in all, about four-fifths of the State 
of Ohio. The line was long kuown as " The Green- 
ville Treaty line." Upon these, and a few other 
minor conditions, the United States received the 
Indians under their protection, gave them a large 
number of presents, and practically closed the war 
with the savages. 






3: 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



97 



The only settlement of any consequence made dur- 
inji;the Indian war, was that on the platof Hamilton, 
laid out by Israel Ludlow in December, 1794. Soon 
after, Darius C. Orcutt, John Green, William 5Ic- 
Clennan, -John Sutherland, John Torrence, Benjamin 
F. Randolph, Benjamin Davis, Isaac Wiles, Andrew 
Christy and William Hubert, located here. The 
town was laid out under the name of Fairfield, but 
wa.s known only a short time by that name. Until 
1801, all the lands on the west side of the Great 
Miami were owned by the General Government; 
hence, until after that date, no improvements were 
made there. A single log cabin stood there until 
the sale of lands in April, 1 801, when a company 
purchased the site of Rossville, and, in Jlarch, 
1804, laid out that town, and, before a year had 
pa.ssed, the town and country about it was well 
settled. 

The close of the war, in 1795, insured peace, 
and, from that date, Hamilton and that part of the 
Miami Valley grew remarkably fast. In 1803, 
Butler County was formed, and Hamilton made 
the county seat. 

On the site of Hamilton, St. Clair built Fort 
Hamilton in 1791. For some time it was under 
the command of Maj. Rudolph, a cruel, arbitrary 
man, who was displaced by Gen. Wayne, and who, 
it is said, perished ignobly on the high seas, at the 
hands of some Algerine pirates, a fitting end to a 
man who caused, more than once, the death of 
men under his control for minor offenses. 

On the return of peace, no part of Ohio grew 
more rapidly than the Miami Valley, especially 
that part comprised in Butler County. 

While the war with the Indians continued, but 
little extension of settlements was made in the 
State. It was too perilous, and the settlers pre- 
ferred the security of the block-house or to engage 
with the army. Still, however, a few bold spirits 
ventured away from the settled parts of the Terri- 
tory, and began life in the wilderness. In tracing 
the histories of these settlements, attention will be 
paid to the order in which they were made. They 
will be given somewhat in detail until the war of 
1812, after which time they become too numerous 
to follow. 

The settlements made in Washington — INIarietta 
and adjacent colonies — and Hamilton Counties 
have already been given. The settlement at Gal- 
lia is also noted, hence, the narration can be re- 
sumed where it ends prior to the Indian war of 
179.5. Before this war occurred, there were three 
small settlements made, however, in addition to 



thase in Washington and Hamilton Counties. 
They were in what are now Adams, Belmont and 
Slorgan Counties. They were block-house settle- 
ments, and were in a continual state of defense. 
The first of these, Adams, was settled in the winter 
of 1790-91 by Gen. Nathaniel Mas.«ie. near where 
Manchester now is. Gen. Mii.ssie determined to 
settle here in the Virginia Military Tract — in the 
winter of 1790, and sent notice throughout Ken- 
tucky and other Western settlements that he would 
give to each of the first twenty-five families who 
would settle in the town he proposed laying out, 
one in-lot, one out-lot and one hundred acres of 
land. Such liberal terms were soon accepted, and 
in a short time thirty flimilies were ready to go 
with him. After various consultations with his 
friends, the bottom on the Ohio River, opposite 
the lower of the Three Islands, was selected as 
the most eligible spot. Here Massie fixed his sta- 
tion, and laid oft' into lots a town, now called 
Manchester. The little confederacy, with Massie 
at the helm, went to work with spirit. Cabins 
were raised, and by the middle of March, 
1791, the whole town was inclosed with strong 
pickets, with block-houses at each angle for de- 
fense. 

This was the first settlement in the bounds of 
the Virginia District, and the fourth one in the 
State. Although in the midst of a savage foe, 
now inflamed with war, and in the midst of a 
cruel conflict, the settlement at ^Manchester suf- 
fered less than any of its cotemporaries. This 
was, no doubt, due to the watchful care of its in- 
habitants, who were inured to the rigors of a front- 
ier life, and who well knew the danger about them. 
" These were the Beasleys, Stouts, Washburns, 
Ledoms, Edgingtons, Denings, Ellisons, Utts, 
McKenzies, Wades, and others, who were fully 
equal to the Indians in all the savage arts and 
stratagems of border war." 

As soon as they had completed preparations for 
defense, the whole population went to work and 
cleared the lowest of the Three Islands, and planted 
it in corn. The soil of the island was very rich, 
and produced abundantly. The woods supplied an 
abundance of game, while the river furnished a 
variety of excellent fi.sh. The inhabitants thus 
found their simple wants fully supplied. Their 
nearest neighbors in the new Territory were at 
Columbia, and at the French settlement at Gallip- 
olis ; but with these, owing to the state of the 
country and the Indian war, they could hold little, 
if any, intercourse. 



;r^ 



^, 



93 



HISTOKY OF OHIO. 



The station being established, Massie continued 
to make locations and surveys. Great precautious 
were necessary to avoid the Indians, and even the 
closest vigilance did not always avail, as the ever- 
watchful foe was always ready to spring upuu the 
settlement, could an unguarded moment be ob- 
served. During one of the spring months, Gen. 
Massie, Israel Donalson, William Lytle and James 
Little, while out on a survey, were surprised, and 
Mr. Donalson captured, the others escaping at 
great peril. Mr. Donalson escaped during the 
march to the Indian town, and made his way to 
the town of Cincinnati, after suffering great hard- 
ships, and almost perishing from hunger. In the 
spring of 1793, the settlers at Manchester com- 
menced clearing the out-lots of the town. While 
doing so, an incident occurred, which shows the 
danger to which they were daily exposed. It is 
thus related in Howe's Collections : 

" Mr. Andrew Ellison, one of the settlers, 
cleared an out-lot immediately adjoining the fort. 
He had completed the cutting of the timber, rolled 
the logs together, and set them on fire. The next 
morning, before daybreak, Mr. Ellison opened one 
of the gates of the fort, and went out to throw his 
logs together. By the time he had finished the 
job, a number of the heaps blazed up brightly, and, 
as he was passing from one to the other, he ob- 
served, by the light of the fires, three men walking 
briskly toward him. This did not alarm him in 
the least, although, he said, they were dark-skinned 
fellows ; yet he concluded they were the Wades, 
whose complexions were very dark, going early to 
hunt. He continued to right his log-heaps, until 
one of the fellows seized him by the arms, calling 
out, in broken English, ' How do ? how do '? ' He 
instantly looked in their faces, and, to his surprise 
and horror, found himself in the clutches of three 
Indians. To resist was useless. 

" The Indians fjuickly moved off with him in 
the direction of Paint Creek. When breakfast 
was ready, Mrs. Ellison sent one of her children 
to ask its father home ; but he could not be found 
at the log-heaps. His absence created no immedi- 
ate alarm, as it was thought he might have started 
to hunt, after completing his work. Dinner-time 
arrived, and, Ellison not returning, the family 
became uneasy, and began to suspect some acci- 
dent had happened to him. His gun-rack was 
examined, and there hung his rifles and his pouch. 
Gen. Massie raised a party, made a circuit around 
the place, finding, after some search, the trails of 
four men, one of whom had on shoes; and the 



fact that Mr. Ellison was a prisoner now became 
apparent. As it was almost night at the time the 
trail was discovered, the party returned to the 
station. Early the next morning, preparations 
were made by Gen. Massie and his friends to con- 
tinue the search. In doing this, they found great 
difiiculty, as it was so early in the spring that the 
vegetation was not gi'o^rn sufl[iciently to show 
plainly the trail made by the savages, who took 
the precaution to keep on high and dry ground, 
where their feet would make little or no impres- 
sion. The party were, however, as unerring as a 
pack of hounds, and followed the trail to Paint 
Creek, when they found the Indians gained so 
fast on them that pursuit was useless. 

"The Indians took their prisoner to Upper 
Sandusky, where he was compelled to run the 
gantlet. As he was a large, and not very active, 
man, he received a severe flogging. He was then 
taken to Lower Sandusky, and again compelled to 
run the gantlet. He was then taken to Detroit, 
where he was ransomed by a British ofiicer for 
SIOO. The officer proved a good friend to him. 
He sent him to Montreal, whence he returned 
home before the close of the summer, much to the 
joy of his family and friends, whose feelings can 
only be imagined." 

"Another incident occurred about this time," 
says the same volume, "which so aptly illustrates 
the danger of frontier life, that it well deserves a 
place in the history of the settlements in Ohio. 
John and Asahel Edgington, with a comrade, 
started out on a hunting expedition toward Brush 
Creek. They camped out six miles in a northeast 
direction from where West Union now stands, and 
near the site of Treber's tavern, on the road from 
Chillicothe to Maysville. T^ey had good success 
in hunting, killing a number of deer and bears. 
Of the deer killed, they saved the skins and hams 
alone. They fleeced the bears; that is, they cut 
off all the meat which adhered to the hide, with- 
out skinning, and left the bones as a skeleton. 
They hung up the proceeds of their hunt, on a scaf- 
fold out of the reach of wolves and other wild ani- 
mals, and returned to Manchester for pack-horses. 
No one returned to the camp with the Edgingtons. 
As it was late in December, few apprehended dan- 
ger, as the winter season was usually a time of re- 
pose from Indian incursions. When the Edgingtons 
arrived at their camp, they alighted from their 
horses and were preparing to start a fire, when a 
platoon of Indians fired upon them at a distance 
of not more than twenty paces. They had 



-J 



~0) 




^JvCcJ^ 



ELI NICHOLS. 

ELI NICHOLS, late of New Castle township, was born in Louden county, Virginia, in 1799, 

and died on his farm at Walhonding in 1871. He married Miss Rachel ^ , born in 

1801, at Cattivwissa, Pennsylvania, and she died in 1869. They became the parents of tifteen chil- 
dren : Rebecca N., Jessa, Charles, Jane, Mary, Loyd, Paxton, Eliza, Eugene, Susan, Hortense, 
Lucy, Ellen, Lundy, and Collins. Loyd now owns all of the large landed property formerly 
owned by his father. Eli Nichols resided fourteen years on his floral and nursery farm at Loyd, 
near St. Clairsville, Ohio. He practiced at the St. Clairsville bar, and represented Belmont county 
m the Legislature while there. He came to this county in 1844, and moved on his large landed 
estate, the largest in the county, at Walhonding. 

Eli Nichols was a lawyer by profession, and a man not only of eminent learning and ability 
in his profession, but one who devoted much of his time to the study of the government and its 
institutions, and who possessed broad and comprehensive views of the State and National ques- 
tions which entered into the politics of his time. He was always a strong and fearless advocate 
of universal liberty, and of the doctrine of equality before the law. He hated oppression of every 
kmd; he early entertained an instinctive and uncompromising hostility to American slavery, 
and for many years, when it cost a man political odium and ostracism to acknowledge himself an 
abolitionist, he gloried in the name, and was one of the few who had the courage and the patriot- 
ism, m those benighted days of the Republic, to stand up and denounce the institution of slavery 
as a national evil, and a crime. When he lived at Loyd, his home was a depot on the under- 
ground railroad. Once when a negro family, ticketed for freedom, was concealed at his house, a 
slave owner on the track of some runaway slaves, supposed that this family was the one he was 
after, and he, with about fifty sympathizers, prepared to attack the depot. One hundred abolition- 
ists rallied to Mr. Nichols' support. In the meantime the attacking party learned that they were 
on the wrong scent, and abandoned the field, and the frightened colored travelers passed on un- 
molested. Mr. Nichols was egged several times while making abolition speeches. He made his 
voice heard and his influence felt through the press and from the rostrum against this national 
curse, and perhaps did as much as any other man in Ohio to educate public sentiment in the 
right direction on this subject. In the latter part of his life he retired from his profession and 
moved with his family on a large landed estate at Walhonding, where he resided until his death. 
Eh Nichols had great decision of character, and independence of thought and action • his con- 
victions were strong, and he was always ready to maint;iin them, regardless of popular opinion; 
dissimulation and sycophancy found no place in his composition, but he was always bold to assert 
what he believed to be right, and was frank, open, undisguised in his intercourse with others. 
He was possessed of a high order of mental faculties; a clear, comprehensive mind, with quick 
perception. He was energetic, self-reliant, generally a leader, influential, and a fluent and forci- 
ble public speaker. 

Mr. Nichols was brought up a Quaker, afterward became liberal in his religious views, and in 
the latter part of his life espoused Spiritualism. 

Mrs. Nichols was a highly estimable and intelligent lady, took a deep interest in the eflfort for 
human liberty, and wrote many meritorious productions for the press. The following poem 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



written by her in 1835, upon the mobbing and killing of Lovejoy, at Alton, Illinois, because of his 
abolitionism, is inserted by request: 



' Fair Alton once, but fair no more, 

Thy brow with blood-stained wreaths Is bound ; 
Thy days of honor are passed o'er — 
Thy virtues now a grave have found. 

' Late, as a prosp'rous growing tree, 

With goodly branches spreading wide, 
Exultingly we looked on thee, — 
Thy country's projuise and her pride. 

' Or as a brightly dafizling star 

The darksome path of evening cheers, 
We hailed thee in thy land afar ; 
Its light and hope of after years. 

' But on thy morning's opening bloom 
Vice has eclipsed thy opening day ; 
Thy sun has set in sable gloom ; 
Oh ! thou hast cast thyself away. 

' Not thy wide prairies' fertile soil, 

Where Nature's hand profusely showers 
Luxuriantly, without thy toil, 
Her richest growth of grass and flowers. 

' Not all thy splendor— it is vain— 

Of wealth, of power, thou need not tell; 
Not all thy charms, if demons reign ; 
With thee. Oh 1 may we never dwell. 



' Thy name is numbered with the vile ; 
The clays of earth to thee will cling ; 
No one with them in deeds of guile — 
Thou art a base, polluted thing. 

" The Mississippi rolling by 

In surging majesty with might. 
Can not, mth all the floods, supply 
Half that will wash and make thee white. 

" North, by unholy feet are trod 

The dearest rights allotted man- 
Rights guaranteed him by his God — 
Rights dear to all since time began. 

" For pleading on behalf of these. 

Thy imjuous hands have dared to shed 
Blood, which, by heaven's just decrees, 
Will be avenged upon thy head. 

" Our Lovejoy 's slain, but yet above. 
More perfect still each accent flows 
Around the mercy-seat of Love, 
Where'thou canst never interpose. 

" Yes, angel-like, behold him there. 
Imploring heaven the work to bless ; 
And hear him from yon sky declare 
That God will crown it mth success." 





L -^^^ .y(^^ 



m 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



101 



evidently found the results of the white men's labor, 
and expected they would return fur it, and pre- 
pared to waylay them. Asahcl Edgington fell 
dead. John was more fortunate. The sharp 
crack of the rifles, and the horrible yells of the 
savages as they leaped from their place of ambush, 
fi'ightened the horses, who took the track for 
home at full speed. John was very active on foot, 
and now an opportunity offered which required his 
utmost speed. The moment the Indians leaped 
from their hiding-place, they threw down their 
guns and took after him, yelling with all their 
power. Edgington did not run a booty race. For 
about a mile, the savages stepped in his tracks al- 
most before the bending grass could rise. The 
uplifted tomahawk was frequently so near his head 
that he thought he felt it.s edge. He exerted 
him.self to his utmost, while the Indians strove 
with all their might to catch him. Finally, he be- 
gan to gain on his pursuers, and, after a long race, 
distanced them and made his escape, safely reach- 
ing home. This, truly, was a most fearful and 
well-contested race. The big Shawanoc chief, Capt. 
John, who headed the Indians on this occasion, 
after peace was made, in narrating the particulars, 
said, " The white man who ran away was a smart 
fellow. The white man run; and I run. He run 
and run ; at last, the white man run clear off from 
me." 

The settlement, despite its dangers, prospered, 
and after the close of the war continued to grow 
rapidly. In two years after peace was declared, 
Adams County was erected by proclamation of 
Gov. St. Clair, the next year court was held, and 
in 1804, West Union was made the county seat. 

During the war, a settlement was commenced 
near the present town of Bridgeport, in Belmont 
County, by Capt. Joseph Belmont, a noted Dela- 
ware Revolutionary oiEcer, who, because bis State 
could furnish only one company, could ri.se no 
higher than Captain of that company, and hence 
always maintained that grade. He settled on a 
beautiful knoll near the present county seat, but 
erelong suffered from a night attack by the In- 
dians, who, though unable to drive him and his 
companions from the cabin or conquer them, 
wounded some of them badly, one or two mortally, 
and caused the Captain to leave the frontier and 
return to Newark, Del. The attack was made 
in the spring of 1791, and a short time after, 
(ho Captain, having provided for the safety of his 
family, accepted a commission in St. Clair's army, 
and lost his life at the defeat of the General in 



November. Shortly after the Captain settled, a 
fort, called Dillie's Fort, was built on the Ohio, 
opposite the mouth of Grave Creek. About two 
hundred and fifty yards below this ibrt, an old 
man, named Tato, was shot down at his cabin door 
by the Indians, just as ho was in the act of entering 
the house. His body was pulled in by his daugh- 
ter-in-law and grandson, who made an heroic de- 
fense. They were overpowered, the woman slain, 
and the boy badly wounded. He, however, man- 
aged to secrete himself and afterward escaped to 
the fort. The Indians, twelve or thirteen in num- 
ber, went off unmolested, though the men in the 
fort saw the whole transaction and could liave 
punished them. Why they did not was never 
known. 

On Captina Creek in this same county, occurred, 
in May, 1794, the "battle of Captina," a fa- 
mous local skirmish between some Virginians from 
Fort Baker, and a party of Indians. Though the 
Indians largely outnumbered the wljites, they were 
severely punished, and compelled to abandon the 
contest, losing several of their bravest warriors. 

These were the only settlements made until 
1795, the close of the war. Even these, as it will 
be observed from the foregoing pages, were tem- 
porary in all cases save one, and were maintained 
at a gi-oat ri.sk, and the loss of many valuable lives. 
They were made in the beginning of the war.aud such 
were their experiences that further attempts were 
abandoned until the treaty of Greenville was made, 
or until the prospects for peace and safety were 
assured. 

No sooner, however, had the prospect of quiet 
been established, than a revival of emigration be- 
gan. Before the war it had been large, now it 
was largely increased. 

Wayne's treaty of peace with the Indians was 
made at Greenville, in what is now Darke County, 
the 3d of August, 1795. The number of Indians 
present was estimated at 1,300, divided among the 
principal nations as follows: 180 Wyandots, 381 
Delawares, 143 Shawances, 45 Ottawas, 46 Chip- 
pewas, 240 Pottawatomies, 73 Mianiis and Eel 
River, 12 Weas and Piankeshaws, and 10 Kicka- 
poos and Kaska.skias. The principal chiefs were 
Tarhe, Buckongahelas, Black Hoof, Blue Jacket 
and Little Turtle. IMost of them had been tam- 
pered with by the British agents and traders, but 
all had been so thoroughly chastised by Wayne, and 
found that the British only u.sed them a^ tools, 
that they wore quite anxious to make peace with 
the " Thirteen Fires." By the treaty, former ones 



103 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Tvero established, the boundary lines confirmed and 
enlarged, an exchange and delivery of prisoners 
effected, and permanent peace assured. 

In the latter part of September, after the treaty 
of Greenville, Mr. Bedell, from New Jersey, 
Selected a site for a home in what is now Warren 
County, at a place since known as " Bedell's Sta- 
riou," about a mile south of Union ^'illage. Here 
he erected a block-house, as a defense against the 
Indians, among whom were many renegades as 
among the whites, who would not respect the 
terms of the treaty. Whether Mr. Bedell was 
alone that fall, or whether he was joined by others, 
is not now accurately known. However that may 
be, he was not long left to himself; for, ere a year 
had elapsed, quite a number of settlements were 
made in this part of the Territory. Soon after 
liis settlement was made, Gen. David Sutton, Capt. 
Nathan Kelley and others began pioneer life at 
Decrfield, in the same locality, and, before three 
years had gone by, a large number of New Jersey 
people were established in their homes; and, in 
18(18, the county was formed from Hamilton. 
Among the early settlers at Deerfield, was Capt. 
Bobert Benham, who, with a companion, in 1779, 
sustained themselves many daj's when the Captain 
had lost the use of his legs, and his companion 
his arms, from musket-balls fired by the hands of 
the Indians. They were with a large party com- 
manded by Maj. Bodgers, and were furiously 
attacked by an immense number of savages, and 
all but a few slain. The event happened during 
the war of the Bevolution, before anj' attempt 
was made to settle tliQ Northwest Territory. The 
party were going down the Ohio, probably to the 
falls, and were attacked when near the site of 
Cincinnati. As mentioned, these two men sus- 
tained each other many days, the one having per- 
fect legs doing the necessary walking, carrying his 
comrade to water, driving up game for him to 
shoot, and any other duties necessary; while the 
one who had the use of his arms could dress his 
companion's and his own wounds, kill and cook 
the game, and perform his share. They were 
rescued, finally, by a flat-boat, whose occupants, 
for awhile, passed them, fearing a decoy, but, 
becoming convinced that such w-as not the case, 
took them on down to Louisville, where they were 
nursed into perfect health. 

A settlement was made near the present town of 
Lebanon, the county seat of Warren County, in 
the spring of 1796, by Henry Taylor, who built a 
mill one mile west of the town site, on Turtle 



Creek. Soon after, he was joined by Ichabod 
Corwin, John Osbourn, Jacob Vorhees, Samuel 
Shaw, Daniel Bonte and a Mr. Manning. ^Vhen 
Lebanon was laid out, in 1803, the two-story log 
house built in 1797 by Ichabod Corwin was tb.e 
only building on the plat. It was occupied by 
Ephraim Hathaway as a tavern. He had a black 
horse painted on an immense board for a sign, and 
continued in business here till 1810. The same 
year the town was laid out, a store was opened by 
John Huston, and, f\-om that date, the growth of 
the county was very prosperous. Three years 
after, the Western Star was established by 
Judge John McLain, and the current news of 
the day given in weekly editions. It was one of 
the first newspapers established in the Territory, 
outside of Cincinnati. 

As has been mentioned, the opening of naviga- 
tion in the spring of 179(5 brought a great flood 
of emigration to the Territory. The little settle- 
ment made by Mr. Bedell, in the autumn of 1795, 
was about the only one made that M\ ; others made 
preparations, and many selected sites, but did not 
settle till the following spring. That spring, colo- 
nies were planted in what are now Montgomery, 
Ho.ss, Madison, Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula 
and Cuyahoga Counties, while preparations were 
in turn made to occupy additional territory that 
will hereafter be noticed. 

The settlement made in Slontgomery County 
was begun early in the spring of 1796. As early 
as 1788, the land on which Dayton now stands was 
selected by some gentlemen, who designed laying 
out a town to be named Venice, They agTeed 
with Judge Symmes, whose contract covered the 
place, for the purchaise of the lands. The Indian 
war which broke out at this time prevented an 
extension of settlements from the immediate 
neighborhood of the parent colonies, and the proj- 
ect was abandoned by the purchasers. Soon after 
the treaty of 1795, a new company, composed of 
Gens. Jonathan Dayton, Arthur St. Clair, James 
Wilkinson, and Col, Israel Ludlow, purchased the 
land between the Miamis, around the mouth of 
Mad Eiver, of Judge Symmes, and, the 4th of 
November, laid out the town. Arrangements were 
made for its settlement the ensuing spring, and 
donations of lots, with other privileges, were offered 
to actual settlers. Forty-sis persons entered into 
engagements to remove from Cincinnati to Day- 
ton, but during the winter most of them scat- 
tered in different directions, and only nineteen ful- 
filled their contracts. The first families who 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



103 



made a permanent residence here, arrived on the 
first day of April, 1796, and at once set "about 
cstabHshing homes. Judge Symmes, however, 
becoming unable soon after to pay for his purchase, 
the land reverted to the United States, and the set- 
tlers in and about Dayton found themselves with- 
out titles to their lands. Congress, however, came 
to the aid of all such persons, wherever they had 
purchased land of Symmes, and passed a pre-emp- 
tion law, under which they could enter their lands 
at the regular government price. Some of the set- 
tlers entered their lands, and obtained titles directly 
from the United States ; others made arrangements 
with Daniel C. Cooper to receive their deeds from 
him, and he entered the residue of the town lands. 
He had been the surveyor and agent of the first 
company of proprietors, and they assigned to him 
certain of their rights of pre-emption, by which he 
became the titular owner of the land. 

When the State government was organized in 
18(i3, Dayton was made the seat of justice for 
Montgomery County, erected the same year. At 
that time, owing to the title question, only five 
flimilics resided in the place, the other settlers hav- 
ing gone to farms in the vicinity, or to other 
parts of the country. The increase of the town 
was gradual until the war of 1S12, when its 
growth was more rapid until 1820, when it was 
again checked by the general depression of busi- 
ness. It revived in 1827, at the commencement 
of the Miami Canal, and since then its gTowth has 
always been prosperous. It is now one of the 
best cities in Ohio. The first canal boats from 
Cincinnati arrived at Dayton January 25, 1829, 
and the first one from Ijake Erie the 24th of 
June, 1845. In 1825, a weekly line of stages 
was established between Columbus and Cincinnati, 
via Dayton. One day was occupied in coming 
from Cincinnati to Dayton. 

On the 18th of September, 1808, the Dayton 
Repertory was established by William BIcClureand 
George Smith. It was printed on a foolscap sheet. 
Soon after, it was enlarged and changed from a 
weekly to a daily, and, ere long, found a number 
of competitors in the field. 

In the lower part of Mianiisburg, in this county, 
arc the remains of ancient works, scattered about 
over the bottom. About a mile and a quarter 
southeast of the village, on an elevation more thiin 
one hundred feet above the level of the Miami, 
i.'i the largest mound in the Northern States, ex- 
cepting the mammoth mound at Grave Creek, on 
the Ohio, below Wheeling, which it nearly equals 



in dimensions. It is about eight hundred ieet 
around the base, and rises to a height of nearly 
seventy feet. When first known it was covered 
with forest trees, whose size evidenced great age. 
The Indians could give no account of the mound. 
Excavations revealed bones and charred earth, 
but what was its use, will always remain a con- 
jecture. 

One of the most important early settlements 
was made cotemporary with that of Dayton, in 
what is now Ilo.ss County. The same spring, 
1796, quite a colony came to the banks of the 
Scioto Eiver, and, near the mouth of Paint Creek, 
began to plant a crop of corn on the bottom. The 
site had been selected as early as 1792, by Col. 
Nathaniel Massie* and others, who were so de- 
lighted with the country, and gave such glowing 
descriptions of it on their return — which accounts 
soon circulated througli Kentucky — that portions 
of the Pre-sbyterian congregations of Caneridge and 
Concord, in Bourbon County, under Rev. Robert 
W. Finley, determined to emigrate thither in a 
body. Thej' were, in a measure, induced to take 
this step by their dislike to slavery, and a desire 
for freedom from its baleful influences and the un- 
certainty tliat existed regarding the validity of the 
land titles in that State. The Rev. Finley, as a 
preliminary step, liberated his .slaves, and addreii.sed 
to Col. Massie a letter of inquiry, in December, 
17.94, regarding the land on the Scioto, of whidi 
he and his people had heard such glowing ac- 
counts. 

"The letter induced Col. Massie to visit Mr. 
Finley in the ensuing March. A large concourse 
of people, who wished to engage in the enterprise, 
assembled on the occasion, and fixed on a day to 
meet at the Three Islands, in JIanchester, and 
proceed on an exploring expedition. Mr. Finley 
also wrote to his friends in Western Pennsylvania 

♦Nathaniel MasKie was born in Goochland County, Va., Decem- 
ber 28, 1763. In 1780, be engaged, for a abort time, in the Revolu- 
tionary war. In 17S3, be left for Kentucky, where he acted as a 
surveyor. He was afterward made a Gover?imenl surveyor, and 
labored much in that capacity for early Ohio proprietors, being paid 
in lands, the amounts graded by the danger attached to the survey. 
In 1701, he establishedtbe settlement at Manchester, and a year or 
two after, continued bis surveys up the Scioto, Ilere he was con- 
tinually in great danger from the In<liane, but knew w(*ll bow to 
guard against them, and thus preserved himself. In 1796, he estab- 
lished the C'billicothe settlement, and made his borne in the Sciot i 
Valley, being now an extensive land owner by reason of his long 
surveying service. In 1807, be and Return J. Sleiga were compet- 
itors for the office of Governor of Ohio. Meigs was elected, but 
Massie contested his eligibility to the offlce, on the grounds of his 
absence from the St.ite and insuHiciency of time as a resident, as 
requireil by the (Constitution, fili-igs seas declared ineligible by the 
General Assembly, and Maasie declared Governor. He, however, 
resitined the ollic'e at once, not desiring it. He was often Repre- 
sentative afterward. He died November 13, 1813. 



,^ 



104 



HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



informing them of the time and place of rendez- 
vous. 

"About sixty men met, according to ajipoint- 
ment, who were divided into three com|i;inies, 
under Jlassie, Finley and Falenash. They jiro- 
ceeded on their route, without interruption, until 
they struck the foils of Paint Creek. Proceeding 
a short distance down that stream, they suddenly 
found themselves in the vicinity of some Indians 
who had encamped at a place, since called lleeve's 
Crossing, near the present town of Bainbridge. 
The Indians were of those who had refused to 
attend Wayne's treaty, and it was determined to 
give them battle, it being too late to retreat with 
safety. The Indians, on being attacked, soon fled 
with the loss of two killed and several wounded. 
One of the whites only, Joshua Roltinson, was 
mortally wounded, and, during the action, a Mr. 
Armstrong, a prisoner among the savages, escaped 
to his owu people. The whites gathered all their 
plunder and retreated as far as Scioto Brush 
Creek, where they were, according to expectation, 
attacked early the next morning. Again the In- 
dians were defeated. Only one man among the 
whites, Allen Gilfillan, was wounded. The party 
of whites continued their retreat, the nest day 
reached Manchester, and separated for their homes. 

" After Wayne's treaty. Col. Ma.ssie and several 
of the old explorers again met at the bouse of 
Rev. Finley, formed a company, and agreed to 
make a settlement in the ensuing spring ( 1796), 
and raise a crop of corn at the mouth of Paint 
Creek. According to agreement, they met at INIan- 
ehester about the first of April, to the number of 
forty and upward, from Mason and Bourbon 
Counties. Among them were Joseph McCoy, 
Benjamin and William Rodgers, David Shelby, 
James Ilarrod, Henry, Bazil and Reuben Abrams, 
William Jamison, James Crawford, Samuel, An- 
thony and Robert "Smith, Thomas Dick, William 
and James Kerr, George and James Kilgrove, 
John Brown, Samuel and Robert Templeton, Fer- 
guson Moore, William Nicholson and James B. 
Finley, later a prominent local Methodist minister. 
On starting, they divided into two companies, one 
of which struck across the country, while the 
other came on in pirogues. The first arrived 
earliest on the spot of their intended settlement, 
and had commenced erecting log huts above the 
mouth of Paint Creek, at the 'Prairie Station,' 
before the others had come on by water. About 
three hundred acres of the prairie were cultivated 
in corn that season. 



" In August, of this year — 1796 — Chillicothe* 
was laid out by Col. Massie in a dense forest. He 
gave a lot to each of the first settlers, and, by the 
beginning of winter, about twenty cabins were 
erected. Not long afler, a fen-y wa.s established 
across the Sciot(j, at the north end of Walnut 
street. The opening of Zane's trace produced a 
great change in travel westward, it having pre- 
viously been along the Ohio in keel-boats or canoes, 
or by land, over the Cumberland Mountains, 
through Crab Orchard, in Kentucky. 

'^The emigrants brought corn-meal in their pi- 
rogues, and after that was gone, their principal 
meal, until the next summer, was that pounded in 
hominy mortars, which meal, when made into 
bread, and anointed with bear's-oil, was quite pal- 
atable. 

" When the settlers first came, whisky was $4.50 
per gallon; hut, in the spring of 1797, when the 
keel-boats began to run, the Monongahela whisky- 
makers, having found a good market for their fire- 
water, rushed it in, in such quantities, that the 
cabins were crowded with it, and it soon fell to 50 
cents. Men, women and children, with some excep- 
tions, drank it fi-eely, and many who had been 
respectable and temperate became inebriates. 
Many of Wayne's soldiers and camp-women settled 
in the town, so that, for a time, it became a town 
of drunkards and a sink of corruption. There 
was, however, a little leaven, which, in a few 
months, began to develop itself 

"In the spring of 1797, one Brannon stole a 
great coat, handkerchief and shirt. He and his 
wife absconded, were pursued, caught and brought 
back. Samuel Smith was appointed Judge, a 
jury impanncled, one attorney appointed by the 
Judge to manage the prosecution, and another the 
defense ; witnesses were examined, the case argued, 
and the evidence summed up by the Judge. The 
jury, having retired a few moments, returned with 
a verdict of guilty, and that the culprit be sen- 
tenced according to the discretion of the Judge. 
The Judge soon announced that the criminal 
should have ten lashes on his naked back, or that 
he should sit on a bare pack-saddle on his pony, 
and that his wife, who was supposed to have had 
some agency in the theft;, should lead the pony to 
every house in the village, and proclaim, ' This is 

*ChilIicnthe appears to have been a favorite name among the 
Indians, aa many Ifvcalities were known by that name. Col. John 
Johnston says : "Chillicothe is the name of one of the principal 
tribes of the Shawanees. They wonld say, C/n7-»-co(''c-o(rtnj/, t. c, 
Cliillicothe town. The Wyandots wovild say. for Chillicothe town, 
Tat-a-ra-ra, Do-tia, or town at the leaning of the bank." 



1^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



105 



Brannon, who stole the great coat, handkerchief 
and shirt ; ' and that James B. Finley, afterward 
Cliaplain in the State Penitentiary, should see the 
sentence faithfully carried out. Brannon chose 
the latter sentence, and the ceremony was foith- 
fully performed by hi.s wife in the presence of 
every cabin, under Mr. Finley 's care, after which 
the couple made off. This was rather rude, but 
effective jurisprudence. 

" Dr. Edward Tiffin and jNIr. Thoma.s Worth- 
ington, of Berkley County, \'a., were brothers-in-law, 
and being moved by abolition principles, liberated 
their slaves, intending to remove into the Ter- 
ritory. For thi.s purpose, 3Ir. AV'orthington visited 
Chillicothc in the autumn of 1797, and purchased 
several in and out lots of the town. On one of the 
former, he erected a two-story frame house, the 
first of the kind in the village. On his return, 
having purchased a part of a farm, on which his 
famil}' long afterward resided, and another at the 
north fork of Paint Creek, he contracted with Mr. 
Jo.seph Yates, a millwright, and 3Ir. George Haine.'J, 
a blacksmith, to come out with him the following 
winter or spring, and erect for him a grist and saw 
mill on his north-fork tract. The summer, fall 
and following winter of that year were marked by 
a rush of emigration, which spead over the high 
bank prairie. Pea-pea, Wcstfall and a few miles 
up Paint and Deer Creeks. 

" Nearly all the first settlers were either regular 
members, or had been raised in the Pre.sbyterian 
Church. Toward the fall of 1797, the leaven of 
piety retained by a portion of the first settlers be- 
gan to diffuse itself through the mass, and a large 
log meeting-house was erected near the old gi-avc- 
yard, and llev. William Speer, fi-om Pennsylvania, 
took charge. The sleepers at first .served as seats for 
hearers, and a split-log table was used as a pulpit. 
Mr. Speer was a gentlemanly, moral man, tall and 
cadaverous in person, and wore the cocked hat of 
the Revolutionary era. 

"Thomas Jones arrived in February, 1798, 
bringing with him the first load of bar-iron in the 
Scioto Valley, and about the same time Maj. Elias 
Langham, an officer of the Revolution, arrived. Dr. 
Tiffin, and his brother, Joseph, arrived the same 
month from Virginia and opened a store not far 
from tlie log meeting-hnuse. A store had been 
opened previously by Jolm Mel)<iugal. The 17th 
of April, the families of Col. Worthington and 
Dr. Tiffin arrived, at which time the first marriage 
in the Scioto Valley was celebrated. Tiic parties 
were George Kilgorc and Elizabeth Cochran. The 



ponies of the attendants were hitched to the trees 
along the streets, which were not then cleared out, 
nearly the whole town being a wilderiu'ss. Joseph 
Yates, George Haines, and two or three others, 
arrived with the families of Tiffin and Worthing- 
ton. On their arrival there were but four shingled 
roofs in town, on one of which the shingles 
were fastened with pegs. C(jl. Worthington's 
house was the only one having glass windows. The 
sash of the hotel windows was filled with greased 
paper. 

'■ Col. Worthington was appointed by Gen. Ru- 
fus Putnam, Surveyor General of the Northwest 
Territory, surveyor of a large district of Congress 
lands, on the east side of the Scioto, and Maj. 
Langham and a Mr. M,atthews, were appointed to 
survey the residue of the lands which afterward 
composed the Chillicothc land district. 

"The same season, settlements were made about 
the Walnut Plains by Samuel jMcCulloh and 
others; Springer, Osbourn, Dyer, and Thomas and 
Elijah Chenowith, on Darly Creek ; Lamberts and 
others on Sippo; on Foster's Bottom, the Fosters, 
Samuel Davis and others, while the following fam- 
ilies settled in and about Chillicotho: John Crouse, 
William Keys, William Lamb, John Carlisle, John 
McLauberg, William Chandless, the Stoctons, 
Greggs, Bates and some others. 

"Dr. Tiffin and his wife were the first Metlio- 
dists in the Scioto Valley. He was a local preacher. 
In the fall, Worthington's gri.st and saw mills on 
the north fork of Paint Creek were finished, the 
first mills worthy the name in the valley. 

" Chillicothc was the point from which the set- 
tlements diverged. In May, 1799, a post office 
was established here, and Joseph Tiffin made Post- 
master. Mr. Tiffin and Thomas Gregg opened 
taverns; the first, under the sign of Gen. Anthony 
Wayne, was at the conuT of Water and Walnut 
streets; and the la.st, under the >iign of the '(ireen 
Tree, '.was on the corner of ]\iiut and Water 
streets. In 1801, Nathaniel Willis moved in and 
established the Scioto Gazette, probably, the sec- 
ond paper in the Territory."* 

In 18(1(1, the seat of government of the Nortli- 
west Territory was removed, by law of Congress, 
from Cincinnati to Chillicothe. The sessions of 
the Territorial Assemljly for that and the next 
year were held in a small two-story, hewcd-log 
hoti.se, erected in 1798, by Razil Abrams. A wing 
was added to the main part, of two stories in 



» Keconpctions of Hon. Thomas Scott, of Chillicotlni 
Annals of Ohio. 



-Howo*8 



^^ 



106 



HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



height. In the lower room of this wing, Col. 
Thomas Gibson, Auditor of the Territory, kept 
his office, and in the upper room a small family 
lived. In the upper room of the main building 
a billiard table was kept. It was also made a re- 
sort of gamblers and disreputable characters. The 
lower room was used by the Legislature, and as a 
court room, a church or a school. In the 
war of 1812, the building was a rendezvous and 
barracks for soldiers, and, in 18-40, was pulled 
down. 

The old State House was commenced in 1800, 
and finished the next year for the accommodation 
of the Legislature and the court.s. It is said to 
be the first public stone edifice erected in the Ter- 
ritory. Maj. William Kutledge, a Revolutionary 
soldier, did the mason work, and William Guthrie, 
thecarpentcr. In 1801, the Territorial Legislature 
held their first session in it. In it was also held 
the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, which be- 
gan its sessions the first jMonday in November, 
1802. In March, 1803, the first State Legislature 
met in the house, and continued their sessions here 
until 1810. The sessions of 1810-11, and 1811- 
12, were held in Zanesville, and from there re- 
moved back to Chillicothe and held in the old 
State House till 181(3, when Columbus became the 
permanent capital of the State. 

Making Chillicothe the State capital did much 
to enhance its growth. It was incorporated in 
1802, and a town council elected. In 1807, the 
town had fourteen stores, six hotels, two newspa- 
pers, two churches — both brick buildings — and 
over two hundred dwellings. The removal of the 
capital to Columbus checked its growth a little, still, 
being in an excellent country, rapidly filling with 
settlers, the town has always remained a prominent 
trading center. 

During the war of 1812, Chillicothe was made 
a rendezvous for United States soldiers, and a 
prison established, in which many British prison- 
ers were confined. At one time, a conspiracy for 
escape was discovered just in time to prevent it. 
The plan was for the prisoners to disarm the 
guard, proceed to jail, release the ofiicers, burn the 
town, and escape to Canada. The plot was Ibrtu- 
nately disclosed by two senior British officers, upon 
which, as a measure of security, the officers and 
chief conspirators were sent to the penitentiary 
at Frankfurt, Kentucky. 

Two or three miles northwest of Chillicothe, on 
a beautiful elevation, commanding an extensive 
view of the valley of the Scioto, Thomas Worth- 



ington,* one of the most prominent and influential 
men of his day, afterward Governor of the State, 
in 1806, erected a large stone mansion, the wonder 
of the valley in its time. It was the most elegant 
mansion in the West, crowds coming to see it 
when it was completed. Gov. Worthington named 
the place Adena, " Paradise " — a name not then 
considered hyperbolical. The large panes of glass, 
and the novelty of papered walls especially attracted 
attention. Its architect was the elder Latrobe, of 
Washington City, fi-om which place most of the 
workmen came. The glass was made in Pitts- 
burgh, and the fireplace fronts in Philadelphia, the 
latter costing seven dollars per hundred pounds for 
transportati(jn. The mansion, built as it was, cost 
nearly double the expense of such structures now. 
Adena was the home of the Governor till his death , 
in 1827. 

Near Adena, in a beautiful situation, is Fruit 
Hill, the seat of Gen. Duncan McArthur,f and 
later of ex-Gov. William Allen. Like Adena, Fruit 
Hill is one of the noted places in the Scioto Val- 
ley. Many of Ohio's best men dwelt in the valley ; 
men who have been an honor and ornament to the 
State and nation. 

Another settlement, begun soon after the treaty 
of peace in 1795, was that made on the Licking 
River, about four miles below the present city of 
Newark, in Licking County. In the fall of 1798, 
John Ratliif and Elias Hughes, while prospecting 
on this stream, found some old Indian cornfields, 
and determined to locate. They were from West- 
ern Mrginia, and were true pioneers, living mainly 
by hunting, leaving the cultivation of their small 
cornfields to their wives, much after the style of 

* Gov. Worthington was bom in Joffereon County, Va. , about the 
year 1769. He Sftik'd in Ohio in 1798. lie was a firm believer in 
liberty and came to tlie Territory after liberating liis slaves. He was 
one of the musi efficient men of bis day ; was a member of the 
Constitutional Convention, and was sent on an important mission 
to Conjrress relative to the adniinsion of Ohio to the Union. He 
was afterward a Senator to Congress, and then Governor. On 
the expii-ation of his gubernatorial term, he was appointed a mem- 
ber of the Board of Public Works, in which capacity he did much 
to advance the canals and railroads, and other public improve- 
ments. He remained in this office till his death. 

tGen. McArthur was born in Dutchess County, N. T., in 1772. 
W'hen tight years of age, his father removed to >Ve8tero Pennsyl- 
vania. When eighteen years of age, he served in Harmar's 
campaign. In 1792, he was a very efficient soldier among the front- 
iersmen, and gained their approbation by bis bravery. In 1793, he 
was connected with Gen. Massie, ami afterward was engaged in 
land speculations and became very wealthy. He was made a m> ni- 
ber of the Legislature, in 18U5; in ISUG, a Colonel, and in ISdS, a 
Major Ganeral of the militia. In this capacity he was in Hull's 
surrender at Detroit. On bis return he was elected to Congress, 
and in 1813 commissioned Brigadier General. He was one of the 
most efficient othcers in the war of 1812, and held many important 
posts. AfKT the war, he was again sent to the Legislature ; in 1822 
to Congress, and in 1830 electetl Governor of the State. By an un- 
fortunate accident in 183G, he was raainied for life, and gradually 
declined till death came a few years after. 



•^ « 



:^ 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



107 



their dusky neighbors. They were both inveterate 
Indian-haters, and never allowed an opportunity to 
pass without carrying out their hatred. For this, 
they were apprehended after the treaty; but, 
though it was elearly proven they had murdered 
some inoifensivc Indians, the state of feeling was 
such that they were allowed to go unpunished. 

A short time after their settlement, others joined 
them, and, in a few years, quite a colony had 
gathered on the banks of the Licking. In 1802, 
Newark was laid out, and, in three or four years, 
there were twenty or thirty families, several stores 
and one or two hotels. 

The settlement of Granville Township, in this 
county, is rather an important epoch in the history 
of this part of the State. From a sketch pub- 
lished by Rev. Jacob Little in 184S, in Howe's 
Collections, the subjoined statements are taken: 

"In 1804, a company was formed at Granville, 
Mass., with the intention of making a settlement 
in Ohio. This, called the Scioto Company, was 
the third of that name which effected settlements 
in Ohio. The project met with great favor, and 
much enthusiasm was elicited, in illustration of 
which a song was composed and sung to the 
tune of ' Pleasant Ohio ' by the young people in 
the house and at labor in the field. We annex 
two stanzas, which are more curious than poetical ; 

"'When rambling o'er these mountains 

And rocks where ivies grow 
Thick as the hairs upon your head, 

"Mongst which you cannot go — 
Great storms of snow, cold winds that blow, 

We scarce can undergo — 
Says I, my boys, we'll leave this place 

For the pleasant Ohio. 

" 'Our precious friends that stay behind, 

We're sorry now to leave; 
But if they'll stay and break their shins, 

For them we'll never grieve. 
Adieu, my friends ! — Come on, my dears, 

This journey we'll forego, 
And settle Licking Creek, 

In yonder Ohio.' " 

" The Scioto Company consisted of one hundred 
and fourteen proprietors, who made a purciiase of 
twenty-eight thousand acres. In the autumn of 
1805, two hundred and thii-ty-four persons, mostly 
from East Granville, JMass., came on to the pur- 
chiise. Although they had been fortj'-twodays on 
the road, their first business, on their arrival, hav- 
ing organized a church before they left the East, 
was to hear a .sermon. The first tree cut was that 



by which public worship was held, which stood 
just in front of the Presbyterian church. 

On the first Sabbath, November 16, although 
only about a dozen trees had been felled, they held 
divine service, both forenoon and afternoon, <in 
that spot. Tlie novelty of worshiping in the 
woods, the forest (extending hundreds of miles each 
way ; the hardshijis of the journey, the winter set- 
ting in, the thoughts of home, with all the ft-iends 
and privileges left; behind, and the inipres.sion that 
such must be the acconnuodationsof anew country, 
all rushed cm their minds, and made this a day of 
varied interest, ^^'hen they began to sing, the 
echo of their voices among the trees was so differ- 
ent from what it was in the beautiftil meeting- 
house they had left, that they could no longer 
restrain their tears. Tlicy v:ipl ichin they remem- 
bered Zion. The voices of part of the choir were, 
for a season, suppressed with emotion. 

"An incident occurred, which many said Mrs. 
Sigourney should have put into verse. Deacon 
Theophilus Keese, a Welsh Baptist, had, two or 
three years before, built a cabin, a mile and a half 
north, and lived all this time without public wor- 
ship. He had lo.st his cattle, and, hearing a low- 
ing of the oxen belonging to the Couiiiany, set out 
toward them. As he ascended the hills overlook- 
ing the town plot, he heard the siugiug of the 
choir. The reverberation of the sound from hill- 
tops and trees, threw the good man into a serious 
dilemma. The music at first .seemed to be behind, 
then in the tree-tops, or in the clouds. He stopped, 
till, by accurate listening, he caught the direction 
of the sound ; went on and passing the brow of 
the hill, he saw the audience sittiug on the 
level below. He went home and told his wife that 
' the promise of God is a bond ' ; a Welsh proverb, 
signifying that we have security, equal to a bond, 
that religion will prevail everywhere. He said : 
' These must be good people. I am not afraid to 
go among them.' Though he could not under- 
stand English, he constantly attended the reading 
meeting. Hearing the music on that occasion 
made such an impression on his mind that, when 
he became old and met the first .settlers, he would 
always tell over this story. The first cabin built 
was that in which they wor.sliiped succeeding 
Sabbaths, and, before the close of the winter, they 
had a schoolhouse and a sciiool. That church, in 
forty years, received more than one thousand per- 
sons into its niemliership. 

"Elder Jones, in 1806, preached the first ser- 
mon in the log church. The Welsh Baptist 



i^ 



108 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Church was organized 
Thomas, September 4, 
the Granville members 
Granville Church, and 



in the cabin of David 
1808. April 21, 1827, 
were organized into the 
the corner-stone of their 



house of worship laid September 21, 1829. In 
the fall of 181(1, the first Methodist sermon was 
preached here, and, soon after, a class organized. 
In 1824, a church was built. An ^JpLscopa! 
church was organized in JNay, 1827, and a 
church consecrated in 1838. In 1849, there 
were in thLs township 405 femilies, of whom 214 
sustain family worship ; 1431 persons over four- 
teen years of age, of whom over 800 belong to 
church. The town had 150 families, of whom 80 
have family worship. In 1846, the township 
furnished 70 school teachers, of whom 62 prayed 
in .school. In 1846, the township took 621 peri- 
odical papers, besides three small monthlies. The 
first temperance society west of the mountains was 
organized July 15, 1828, in this township; and, 
in 1831, the Congregational Church passed a by- 
law to accept no member who trafficked in or used 
ardent spirits." 

It is said, not a settlement in the entire West 
could present so moral and upright a view as that 
of Granville Township; and nowhere could so 
perfect and orderly a set of people be found. 
Surely, the fact is argument enough in favor of 
the religion of Jesus. 

The narrative of I\Ir. Little also states that, 
when Granville was first settled, it was supposed 
that Worthington would be the capital of Ohio, 
between which and Zanesville, Granville would 
make a great half-way town. At this time, wild 
animals, snakes and Indians abounded, and many 
are the marvelous stories preserved regarding the 
destruction of the animals and reptiles — the 
Indians being bound by their treaty to remain 
peaceful. Space forbids their repetition here. 
Suffice it to say that, as the whites increased, the 
Indians, animals and snakes disappeared, until 
now one is as much a curiosity as the other. 

The remaining settlement in the southwest- 
ern parts of Ohio, made immediately after the 
treaty — fall of 1795 or year of 1796 — was in 
what is now MadLson County, abnut a mile north 
of where the village of Amity now stands, on the 
banks of the Big Darby. This stream received its 
name from the Indians, from a Wyandot chief, 
named Darby, who for a long time resided upon it, 
near the Union County line. In the fall of 1795, 
Benjamin Springer came from Kentucky and selected 
some land on the banks of the Big Darby, cleared 



cabin, and returned for his 
spring, he brought them out. 



the ground, built a 

family. The next 

and began his life here. The same summer he was 

joined by William Lapin, Joshua and James £w- 

ing and one or two others. 

When Springer came, he found a white man 
named Jonathan Alder, who for fifteen years had 
been a captive among the Indians, and who could 
not speak a word of English, living with an Indian 
woman on the banks of Big Darby. He had been 
exchanged at Wayne's treaty, and, neglecting to 
profit by the treaty, was still living in the Indian 
style. When the whites became numerous about 
him his desire to find his relatives, and adopt the 
ways of the whites, led him to discard his squaw — 
giving her an imusual allowance — learn the English 
language, engage in agricultural pursuits, and be- 
come again civilized. Fortunately, he could remem- 
ber enough of the names of some of his parents' 
neighbors, so that the identity of his relatives and 
ft-iends was easily established, and Alder became a 
most useful citizen. He was very influential with 
the Indians, and induced many of them to remain 
neutral during the war of 1812. It is stated that 
in 1 800, 5Ir. Ewing brought four sheep into the com- 
munity. They were strange animals to the Indians. 
One day when an Indian hunter and his dog were 
passing, the latter caught a sheep, and was shot by 
Mr. Ewing. The Indian would have shot Ewing in 
retaliation, had not Alder, who was fortunately 
present, with much difficulty prevailed upon him 
to refrain. 

While the southern and southwestern parts of 
the State were filling with settlers, assured of safety 
by Wayne's victories, the northern and eastern 
parts became likewise the theater of activities. 
Ever since the French had explored the southern 
shores of the lake, and English traders had car- 
ried goods thither, it was expected one day to be 
a valuable part of the West. It will be remem- 
bered that Connecticut had ceded a large tract of 
land to the General Government, and as soon as 
the cession was confirmed, and land titles became 
assured, settlers flocked thither. Even before that 
time, hardy adventurers had explored some of the 
country, and pronounced it a "goodly land," 
ready for the hand of enterprise. 

The first settlement in the Western Reserve, 
and, indeed, in the northern part of the State, was 
made at the mouth of Conneaut* Creek, in Ash- 
tabula County, on the 4th of July, 1790. That 



* Conneaut, in the Seneca language, signifies " many fish." 



S V 



!£: 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



109 



day, the first surveying party landed at the nioutli 
of tliis creek, and, on its eastern bank, near the 
lake shore, in tin cups, pledged — as they drauk the 
limpid waters of the lake — their country's welfare, 
wi(h the ordnance accompaniniLnt of two or three 
fowling-pieces, discharging the required national 
salute. 

The whole party, on this occasion, numbered 
fifty-two persons, of wdiom two were females (Mrs. 
Stiles'and ^Irs. Gunn) and a child, and all deserve 
a lasting place in the history of the State. 

The next day, they began the erection of a large 
log building on the sandy beach on the east side 
of the stream. When done, it was named " Stow 
Castle," after one of the party. It was the dwell- 
ing, storehouse and general habitation of all the 
pioneers. The party made this their headquar- 
ters part of the summer, and continued busily 
engaged in the sun'ey of the Reserve. James 
Kingsbury, afterward Judge, arrived soon after 
the party began work, and, with his family, was 
the first to remain here during the winter follow- 
ing, the rest returning to the East, or going south- 
ward. Through the winter, Mr. Kingsbury's 
family suffered greatly for provisions, so much .so, 
that, during the absence of the head of the family 
iu New York for provisions, one child, born in his 
absence, died, and the mother, reduced by her suf- 
ferings and solitude, was only saved by the timely 
arrival of the husband and father with a sack of 
flour he had caiTied, many weary miles, on his 
back. He remained here but a short time, re- 
moving to Cleveland, which was laid out that same 
f;ill. In the spring of 1798, Alexander Harper, 
William McFarland and Ezra Gregory, with their 
families, started from Harpersfield, Delaware Co., 
N. Y., and arrived the last of June, at their new 
homes in the Far West. The whole population on 
the Reserve then amounted to less than one hun- 
dred and fifty persons. These were at Cleveland, 
Youngstown and at Jlentor. During the summer, 
three families came to Burton, and Judge Hudson 
settled at Hudson. All these pioneers suffered 
severely for food, and from the fever induced by 
chills. It took several years to become accli- 
mated. Sometimes the entire neighborhood 
would be down, and only one or two, who could 
wait on the rest "between chills," were able to do 
anything. Time and courage overcame, finally. 

It was not until 1798, that a permanent .settle- 
ment was made at the mouth of Conneaut Creek. 
Those who came there in 179G went on with their 
surveys, part remaining in Cleveland, laid out that 



summer. Judge Kingsbury could not remain at 
Conneaut, and went nearer the settlements made 
about the Cuyahoga. In thespring of 1798, Thomas 
Montgomery and Aaron Wright settled here and 
remained. Up thi; stream they found some thirty 
Indian cabins, or huts, in a good state of preserva- 
tion, which they occupied until they could erect 
their own. Soon after, they were joined by others, 
and, in a year or two, the settlement was permanent 
and prosperous. 

The site of the present town of Austinburg in 
Ashtabula County was settled in the year 1799, 
by two families from Connecticut, who were in- 
duced to come thither, by Judge Austin. The 
Judge preceded them a short time, driving, in 
company with a hired man, some cattle about one 
hundred and fifty miles through the woods, follow- 
ing an old Indian trail, while the rest of the party 
came in a boat across the lake. When tlu^y ar- 
rived, there were a few families at Ilarpersburg ; 
one or two families at Windsor, twenty miles 
southwest; also a few families at Elk Creek, forty 
miles northeast, and at Vernon, the same distance 
southeast. All these were in a destitute condition 
for provisions. In ISOO, another family moved 
from Norfolk, Conn. In the spring of 1801, sev- 
eral families came from the same place. Part came 
by land, and part by water. During that season, 
wheat was carried to an old mill on Elk Creek, 
forty miles away, and in some instances, half was 
given for carrying it to mill and returning it in 
flour. 

Wednesday, October 21, 1801, a church of .six- 
teen members was constituted in Austinburg. 
This was the first church on the Reserve, and was 
founded by Rev. Joseph Badger, the first mission- 
ary there. It is a fact worthy of note, that in 
1802, Mr. Badger moved his fiimily from Buffalo 
to this town, in the first wagon that ever came 
from that place to the Reserve. In 1803, noted 
revivals occurred in this part of the West, attended 
by the peculiar bodily phenomenon known as the 
" shakes " or "jerks." 

The surveying party which landed at the mouth 
of Conneaut Creek, July 4, 1790, soon completed 
their labors in this part of the Reserve, and ex- 
tended them westward. By the first of September, 
they had explored the lake coast as far west as the 
outlet of the Cuyahoga* River, then considered 



•Cuyahoga, in tbo Indian language, signifies "crooked"— 
Uotce^n Cclleclions. , , „ , t>- i 

"The InJiiinsCiilled the river 'Cuyahoghan-uk,' 'Lalto Kiver. 
It is, emph:ilii:iny, a Lake river. It rises in lakes and empties into 
a lake."— .-i^iTrt/er's Uilortj of Ohio. 



U 



^1 



A 



110 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



by all an important AVestern place, and one des- 
tined to be a great commercial mart. Time has 
verified the prophecies, as now the city of Cleve- 
land covers the site. 

As early as 1755, the mouth of the Cuyahoga 
River was laid down on the maps, and the French 
had a station here. It was also considered an im- 
portant post during the war of the Revolution, 
and later, of 1812. The British, who, after the 
Revolution, refused to abandon the lake country 
west of the Cuyahoga, occupied its shores until 
1790. Their traders had a hoiLse in Ohio City, 
north of the Detroit road, on the point of the hill 
near the river, when the surveyors arrived in 
1796. Washington, Jeft'erson, and all statesmen 
of that day, regarded the outlet of the Cuyahoga 
as an important place, and hence the early at- 
tempt of the sun'eyors to reach and lay out a town 
here. 

The corps of surveyors arrived early in Septem- 
ber, 1796, and at once proceeded to lay out a town. 
It was named Cleveland, in honor of Gen. Moses 
Cleveland, the Land Company's agent, and for 
years a very prominent man in Connecticut, where 
he lived and died. By the 18th of October, the 
surveyors had completed the survey and left the 
place, leaving only Job V. Stiles and family, and 
Edward Paine, who were the only persons that 
passed the succeeding winter in this place. Their 
residence was a log cabin that stood on a spot of 
gi'ound long afterward occupied by the Commercial 
Bank. Their nearest neighbors were at Conne- 
aut, where Judge Kingsbury lived; at Fort 
jMcIntosh, on the south or east, at the mouth of 
Big Beaver, and at the mouth of the river Raiiiin, 
on the west. 

The next season, the surveying party came again 
to Cleveland, which they made their headquarters. 
Early in the sjiring. Judge Kingsbury came over 
ft-om Couneaut, bringing with him Elijah Gunn, 
who had a short time before joined him. Soon 
after, JNIaj. Lorenzo Carter and Ezekiel Hawley 
came with their families. These were about all 
who are known to have settled in this place that 
summer. The next year, 1798, Rodolphus Ed- 
wards and Nathaniel Doane and their flimilies set- 
tled in Cleveland. 'Mr. Doane had been ninety- 
two days on his journey from Chatham, Conn. In 
the latter part of the summer and fall, nearly every 
person in the settlement was down with the bil- 
ious fever or with the ague. Mr. Doane's family 
consisted of nine persons, of whom Seth, a lad six- 
teen 3-ears of age, was the only one able to care for 



them. Such was the severity of the fever, that 
any one having only the ague was deemed quite 
fortunate. Much suflering for proper food and 
medicines fijUowed. The only way the Doane 
family was supplied for two months or more, was 
through the exertions of this boy, who went daily, 
after having had one attack of the chills, to Judge 
Kingsbury's in Newburg — five miles away, where 
the Judge now lived — got a peck of corn, mashed it 
in a hand-mill, waited until a second attack of the 
chills passed over, and then returned. At one time, 
for several days, he was too ill to make the trip, 
during which turnips comprised the chief article 
of diet. Fortunately, Maj. Carter, having only 
the ague, was enabled with his trust}' rifle and dogs 
to procure an abundance of venison and other wild 
game, His family, being somewhat acclimated, 
suffered less than many others. Their situation can 
hardly now be realized. " Destitute of a physician, 
and with few medicines, necessity taught them to 
use such means as nature had placed within their 
reach. They substituted pills fi'om the extract of 
the bitternut bark for calomel, and dogwood and 
cherry bark for quinine." 

In November, four men, who had so far recov- 
ered as to have ague attacks no oftener than once 
in two or three days, started in the only boat for 
Walnut Creek, Penn., to obtain a winter's supply 
of flour. When below Euclid Creek, a storm 
drove them ashore, broke their boat, and compelled 
their return. During the fliuter and summer fol- 
lowing, the settlers had no flour, except that 
ground in hand and coffee mills, which was, how- 
ever, considered very good. Not all had even that. 
During the summer, the Connecticut Land Com- 
pany opened the first road on the Reserve, which 
commenced about ten miles south of the lake 
shore, on the Pennsylvania State line, and extended 
to Cleveland. In January, 1799, 3Ir. Doane 
moved to Doane's Corners, leaving only Blaj. Car- 
ter's family in Cleveland, all the rest leaving as 
soon as they were well enough. For fifteen months, 
the Major and his flimily were the only white per- 
sons left on the town site. During the spring, 
Wheeler W. Williams and Maj. Wyatt built tlie 
first grist-mill on the Reserve, on the site of New- 
burg. It was looked upon as a very valuable acces- 
sion to the neighborhood. Prior to this, each fam- 
ily had its own hand-mill in one of the corners of 
the cabin. The old mill is thus described bj- a 
pioneer : 

" The stones were of the common grindstone 
grit, about four inches thick, and twenty in diame- 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



Ill 



ter. The runner, or upper, was turned by hand, 
by a pole set in the top of it, near the outer edge. 
Tlie upper end of the pole was inserted into a hole 
jk in a board fastened above to the joists, immedi- 
ately over the hole in the verge of the runner. 
One person fed the corn into the eye — a hole in 
the center of the runner — while another turned. 
It was very hard work to grind, and the operators 
alternately exchanged places." 

In 1800, several settlers came to the town and 
a more active life was the result. From this time, 
Cleveland began to progress. The 4th of July, 
1801, the first ball in town was held at Major 
Carter's log cabin, on the hill-side. John and 
Benjamin Wood, and R. H. Blinn were managers ; 
and Maj. Samuel Jones, musician and master of 
ceremonies. The company numliered aboutthirty, 
very evenly divided, for the times, between the 
sexes. " Notwithstanding the dancers had a rough 
puncheon floor, and no better beverage to enliven 
their spirits than sweetened whisky, yet it is doubt- 
ful if the anniversary of American independence 
was ever celebrated in Cleveland by a more joyful 
and harmonious company than those who danced 
the scamper-down, double-shuffle, western-swing 
and half-moon, that day, in Maj. Carter's cabin." 
The growth of the town, from this period on, re- 
mained prosperous. The usual visits of the Indi- 
ans were made, ending in their drunken carousals 
and fights. Deer and other wild animals furnished 
abundant meat. The settlement was constantly 
augmented by new arrivals, so that, by 1814, Cleve- 
land was incorporated as a town, and, in 1836, as 
a city. Its harbor is one of the best on the lakes, 
and hence the merchandise of the lakes has always 
been attracted thither. Like Cincinnati and Chil- 
licothe, it became the nucleus of settlements in this 
part of the State, and now is the largest city in 
Northern Ohio. 

One of the earliest settlements made in the 
Western Reserve, and by some claimed as the first 
therein, was made on the site of Youngstown, 3Ia- 
honing County, 1 ly a Mr. Young, afterward a Judge, 
in the summer of 179C. During this summer, 
before the settlements at Cuyahoga and Conneaut 
were made, Mr. Young and Mr. Wileott, proprie- 
tors of a township of laud in Northea.sterii Ohio, 
came to their possessions and began the survey of 
their land. Just when they came is not known. 
They were found here by Col. James Iliilnian, 
then a trader in the employ of Duncan & Wilson, 
of Pittsburgh, " who had been forwarding goods 
across the country by pack-saddle horses since 



178G, to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, thence to be 
shipped on the schooner Mackinaw to Detroit. 
Col. Hillman generally had charge of all these 
caravans, consisting sometimes of ninety horses 
and ten men. They commonly crossed the Big 
Beaver four miles below the mouth of the She- 
nango, thence up the left bank of the Mahoning — 
called by the Indians ■' Malwid" or " Muhonick\" 
signifying the "lick" or "at the lick" — crossing 
it about three miles below the site of Youngstown, 
thence by way of the Salt Springs, over the sites 
of Milton and Ravenna, crossing the Cuyahoga at 
the mouth of Breakneck and again at the mouth 
of Tinker's Creek, thence down the river to its 
mouth, where they had a log hut in which to 
store their goods. This hut was there when the 
surveyors came, but at the time unoccupied. At 
the mouth of Tinker's Creek were a few log huts 
built by Jloravian IMissionaries. These were used 
only one year, as the Indians had gone to the Tus- 
carawas River. These and three or four cabins at 
the Salt Springs were the only buildings erected 
by the whites prior to 1796, in Northeastern Ohio. 
Those at the Salt Springs were built at an early 
day for the accommodation of whites who came 
from Western Pennsylvania to make salt. The 
tenants were dispossessed in 1785 by Gen. Harmar. 
A short time after, one or two white men were 
killed by the Indians here. In 1788, Col. Hill- 
man settled at Beavertown, where Duncan & 
Wilson had a store for the purpose of trading 
with the Indians. He went back to Pittsburgh 
soon after, however, owing to the Indian war, and 
remained there till its close, continuing in his busi- 
ness whenever opportunity oftered. In 1796, 
when returning from one of his trading expeditions 
alone in his canoe down the Mahoning River, he 
discovered a smoke on the bank near the present 
town of Youngstown, and on going to the spot 
found Mr. Young and Mr. Wolcott, as before men- 
tioned. A part of Col. Ililhnan's cargo consisted 
of whi.sky, a gallon or so of which he still had. 
The price of " fire-water " then wius §1 per quart 
in the currency of the country, a deerskin being 
legal tender for $1, and a doeskin for 50 cents. 
JNIr. Young proposed purchasing a quart, and 
having a frolic on its eont(-nts during the even- 
ing, and insisted on paying Ilillinan his cus- 
tomary jirice. Hillman urged that inasnuich as 
they were strangers in the country, civility re- 
quired him to furnish the means for the entertain- 
ment. Young, however, insisted, and taking the 
deerskin used for his bed— the only one he had — 



■^ 



113 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



paid for his quart of whisky, and an evening's 
frolic was the result. 

" Hillman remained a few days, when they ac- 
companied him to Beaver Town to celebrate the 
4th, and thou all returned, and llillman erected a 
cabin on the site of Youngstown. It is not cer- 
tain that they remained here at this time, apd 
hence the priority of actual settlement is generally 
conceded to Couneaut and Cleveland. The next 
year, in the fall, a Mr. Brown and one other per- 
son came to the banks of the JIahoning and made 
a permanent settlement. The same season Uriah 
Holmes and Titus Hayes came to the same locality, 
and before winter (juite a settlement was to be seen 
here. It proceeded quite prosperou.sly until tlie 
wanton murder of two Indians occurred, which, 
for a time, greatly excited the whites, lest the In- 
dians should retaliate. Through the efforts of 
Col. Hillman, who had great influence with the 
natives, they agreed to let the murderers stand a 
trial. They were acquitted upon some technicality. 
The trial, however, pacified the Indians, and no 
trouble came from the unwarranted and unfortu- 
nate circumstance, and no check in the emigration 
or prosperity of the colony occurred."* 

As soon as an effective settlement had been es- 
tablished at Youngstown, others were made in the 
surroimding country. One of these was begun by 
William Feuton in 1798, on the site of the pres- 
ent town of Warren, in Trumbull County. He 
remained here alone one year, when he was joined 
by Capt. Ephraim Quimby. By the last of Sep- 
tember, the next year, the colony had increased to 
sixteen, and from that date on continued prosper- 
ously. Once or twice they stood in fear of the 
Indians, as the result of quarrels induced by 
whisky. Sagacious persons generally saved any 
serious outbreak and pacified the nati\'es. Mr. 
Badger, the first mi-ssionary on the Reserve, came 
to the settlement here and on the Mahoning, as 
soon as each was made, and, by his earnest labors, 
succeeded in forming churches and schools at an 
early day. tie was one of the most efficient men 
on the Reserve, and throughout his long and busy 
life, was well known and greatly respected. He 
died in 1846, aged eighty-nine years. 

The settlements given arc about all that were 
made before the close of 1797. In following the 
narrative of these settlements, attention is paid to 
the chronological order, as fiir as this can be done. 
Like those settlements already made, many which 

* BecoUectioDB of Col. Hillman, — Howe^a Annat$. 



are given as occurring in the next year, 1798, 
were actually begun earlier, but were only tem- 
porary preparations, and were not considered as 
made until the next year. . 

Turning again to the southern portion of Ohio, 
the Scioto, Muskingum and Miami Valleys come 
prominently into notice. Throughout the entire 
Eastern States they were still attracting attention, 
and an increased emigration, bu.sily occupying their 
verdant fields, was the result. All about Chilli- 
cothe was now well settled, and, up the banks of 
that stream, prospectors were selecting sites for 
their future homes. 

In 1797, Robert Armstrong, George Skidmore, 
Lucas Sullivant, William Domigan, James Mar- 
shall, John Dill, Jacob Grubb, Jacob Overdier, 
Arthur O'Hara, John Brickell, Col. Culbertson, 
the Deardorfs, McElvains, Sellcs and others, came 
to what is now Franklin County, and, in August, 
Mr. Sullivant and some others laid out the town of 
Franklinton, on the west bank of the Scioto, oppo- 
site the site of Columbus. The country about this 
locality had long been the residence of the Wyan- 
dots, who had a large town on the city's site, and 
cultivated extensive fields of corn on the river bot- 
toms. The locality had been visited by the whites 
as early as 1780, in some of their expeditions, and 
the fertility of the land noticed. As soon as peace 
was assured, the whites came and began a settle- 
ment, as has been noted. Soon after Franklinton 
was established, a Mr. Springer and his son-in-law, 
Osborn, settled on the Big Darby, and, in the sum- 
mer of 1798, a scattering settlement was made on 
Alum Creek. About the same time settlers came 
to the mouth of the Gahannah, and along other 
water-courses. Franklinton was the point to which 
emigrants came, and from which they always made 
their permanent location. For several years there 
was no mill, nor any such commodity, nearer than 
Chillicothe. A hand-mill was constructed in 
Franklinton, which v?as commonly used, unless the 
settlers made a trip to ChiUieothe in a canoe. 
Next, a horse-mill was tried ; but not till 1805, 
when Col. Kilboui-ne built a mill at Worthington, 
.settled in 1803, could any efficient grinding be 
In 1789, a small store was opened in Frank- 
by James Scott, but,' for seven or eight 
Chillicothe was the nearest post office, 
when the neighbors wanted mail, one of 
their number was furnished money to pay the 
postage on any letters that might be waiting, and 
sent for the mail. At first, as in all new localities, 
a great deal of sickness, fever and ague, prevailed. 



done, 
linton, 
years. 
Often, 



-^ 



5 L^ 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



113 



As the people became acclimated, this, however, 
disappeared. 

The township of Sharon in this county has a 
history similar to that of Granville Township in 
Jiioking County. It was settled l»y a, " Scioto 
Company," formed in Granby, Conn., in the winter 
of 1801—02, consisting at first of eight associates. 
They drew up articles of a-ssociation, among which 
was one limiting their number to forty, each of 
whom must be unanimously cho.sen by ballot, a 
single negative bciugsufficienttopreventan election. 
Col. James Ki'bourne was sent out the succeeding 
spring to explore the country and select and pur- 
chase a township for settlement. He returned in 
the fall without making any purchase, through 
fear that the State Constitution, then about to be 
formed, would tolerate slavery, in which case the 
project would have been abandoned. AVhile on 
this visit. Col. Kilbourne compiled from a variety 
of sources the first map made of Ohio. Although 
much of it was conjectured, and hence inaccurate, 
it was very valuable, being correct as flir as the 
State was then known. 

"As soon as information was received that the 
constitution of Ohio prohibited slavery, Col. Kil- 
bourne purchased the township he had previously 
selected, within the United States military land 
district, and, in the spring of 1803, returned to 
Ohio, and began improvements. By the succeed- 
ing December, one hundred settlers, mainly from 
Hartford County, Conn., and Hampshire County, 
Mass., arrived at their new home. Obeying to the 
letter the agreement made in the East, the first 
cabin erected was used for a schoolhouse and a 
church of the Protestant Episcopal denomination ; 
the first Sabbath after the arrival of the colony, 
divine service was held therein, and on the arrival 
of the eleventh family a school was opened. This 
early attention to education and religion has left 
its favorable impress upon the people until this day. 
The first 4th of July was uniquely and appropri- 
ately celebrated. Seventeen gigantic trees, em- 
blematical of the seventeen States forming the 
Union, were cut, so that a few blows of the ax, at 
sunrise on the 4th, prostrated each successively 
with a tremendous crash, forming a national salute 
novel in the world's hiistory."* 

The growth of this part of Ohio continued 
without inten'uption until the establishment of the 
State capital at Columbus, in 181G. The town was 
laid out in 1812, but, as that date is considered re- 



♦Oowe's Collections. 



mote in the early American settlements, its history 
will be left to succeeding pages, and there traced 
when the history of the State capital and State 
government is given. 

The site of Zanesville, in Muskingum County, 
was early looked upon as an excellent place to form 
a settlement, and, had not hostilities opened in 
1791, with the Indians, the place would have been 
one of the earliest settled in Ohio. As it was, the 
war so disarranged matters, that it was not till 
1797 that a permanent settlement was effected. 

The Muskingum country was principally occu- 
pied, in aboriginal times, by the Wyandots, Dela- 
wares, and a few Senecas and Shawanees. An In- 
dian town once stood, years before the settlement 
of the country, in the vicinity of Duncan's Falls, 
in Muskingum County, from which circumstance 
the place is often called " Old Town." Near Dres- 
den, was a large Shawauee town, called Wakato- 
maca. The graveyard was cjuite large, and, when 
the whites first settled here, remains of the town 
were abundant. It was in this vicinity that the 
venerable Maj. Cass, father of Lewis Cass, lived 
and died. He owned 4,000 acres, given him for 
his military services. 

The first settlers on the site of ZanesvUle were 
William McCulloh and Henry Crooks. The lo- 
cality was given to Ebcnezer Zane, who had been 
allowed three sections of land on the Scioto, BIus- 
kingum and Hockhocking, wherever the road 
crossed these rivers, provided other prior claims 
did not interfere, for opening "Zane's trace." 
When he located the road across the Sluskingum, 
he selected the place where Zanesville now stands, 
being attracted there by the excellent water privi- 
leges. He gave the section of land here to his 
brother Jonathan Zane, and J. Mclntire, who 
leased the ferry, established on the road over the 
Muskingum, to William McCulloh and Henry 
Crooks, who became thereby the first settlers. The 
ferry was kept about where the old upper bridge 
was afterward placed. Tlie ferry-boat was made 
by fastening two canoes together with a stick. 
Soon after a flat-boat was used. It was brought 
from Wheeling, by Mr. Mclntire, in 1797, the 
year after the ferry was established. Tlie road cut 
out through Ohio, ran from Wheeling, Va., to 
Maysville, Ky. Over this road the mail was car- 
ried, and, in 1798, the first mail ever carried 
wholly in Ohio was brought up from Marietta to 
McCulloh's cabin by Daniel Convers, where, by 
arrangement of the Postmaster General, it met 
a mail from Wheeling and one from Maysville. 



fc-T* ft 






^ 



114 



HISTORY or OHIO. 



MeCulloh, who could hardly read, was authorized 
to assort the mails and send each package in its 
proper direction. For this service he received 
S30 per annum ; but owing to his inability to read 
well, Jlr. Convers generally performed the dut}-. 
At that time,' the mails met here ouce a week. 
Four years after, the settlement had so increased 
that a regular post office w;is opened, and Thomas 
Dowden appointed Postmaster. lie kept his office 
in a wooden building near the river bank. 

Messrs. Zane and Mclntire laid out a town in 
1799, which they called Westbourn. When the 
post office was established, it was named Zanesville, 
and in a short time the village took the same name. 
A few families settled on the west side of the river, 
soon after IMcCulloli arrived, and as this locality 
grew well, not long after a store and tavern was 
opened here. Mr. Mclntire built a double log 
cabin, which was used as a hotel, and in which 
Louis Philippe, King of France, was once enter- 
tained. Although the fare and accommodations 
were of the pioneerperiod, the honorable gucstseems 
to have enjoyed his visit, if the statements of Lewis 
Cass in his '' Camp and Court of Louis Philippe" 
may be believed. 

In 1S04, Muskingum County was formed by the 
Legislature, and, for a while, strenuous efforts made 
to secure the State capital by the citizens of Zanes- 
ville. They even erected buildings for the use of 
the Legislature and Governor, and during the ses- 
sion of 1810-11, the temporary seat of govern- 
ment was fixed here. When the permanent State 
capital was chosen in 1816, Zanesville was passed 
by, and gave up the hope. It is now one of the 
most enterprising towns in the Muskingum Valley. 

During the summer of 1797, John Knoop, then 
living four miles above Cincinnati, made several 
expeditions up the Miami Valley and selected the 
land on which he afterward located. The next 
spring Mr. Knoop, his brother Benjamin, Henry 
Uarard, Benjamin Hamlet and John Tildus estab- 
lished a station in what is now Miami County, near 
the present town of Staunton Village. That sum- 
mer, Mrs. Knoop planted the first apple-tree in 
the Miami* country. They all lived together for 
greater safety for two years, during which time 
they were occupied clearing their farms and erect- 
ing dwellings. During the summer, the site of 
Piqua was settled, and three young men located at a 
place known as " Freeman's Pr;urie." Those who 

* The word Miami in the Indian tongue signified mother. The 

Mianiis were the criKinal owners of the valley bj that name, and 
affirmed they were created there. 



settled at Piqua were Samuel Hilliard, Job Garard, 
Shadrac Hudson, Jonah Rollins, Daniel Cox, 
Thomas Rich, and a Mr. Hunter. The last named 
came to the site of Piqua first in 1797, and 
selected his home. Until 1799, these named were 
the only ones in this locality ; but that year emi- 
gration set in, and very shortly occupied almost all 
the bottom land in Miami County. With the 
increase of emigration, came the comforts of life, 
and mills, stores and other necessarj' aids to civil- 
ization, were ere long to be seen. 

The site of Piqua is quite historic, being the 
theater of many important Indian occurrences, 
and the old home of the Shawanees, of which 
tribe Tecumseh was a chief During the Indian 
war, a fort called Fort Piqua was built, near the 
residence of Col. John Johnston, so long the faith- 
ful Indian Agent. The fort was abandoned at the 
close of hostilities. 

AVhen the IMiami Canal was opened through this 
part of the State, the country began rapidly to 
improve, and is now probably one of the best por- 
tions of Ohio. 

About the same time the Miami was settled, a 
company of people fi-om Pennsylvania and Y'w- 
ginia, who were principally of German and Irish 
descent, located in Lawrence County, near the iron 
region. As soon as that ore was made available, 
that part of the State rapidly filled with settlers, 
most of whom engaged in the mining and working 
of iron ore. Now it is very prosperous. 

Another settlement was made the same season, 
1797, on the Ohio side of the river, in Columbiana 
County. The settlement progressed slowly for a 
while, owing to a few difficulties with the Indians. 
The celebrated Adam Poe had been here as early 
as 1782, and several localities are made locally 
famous by his and his brother's adventures. 

In this county, on Little Beaver Creek, near its 
mouth, the second paper-mill west of the Alle- 
ghanies was erected in 1805-6. It was the pioneer 
enterprise of the kind in Ohio, and was named the 
Ohio Paper-Mill. Its proprietors were John 
Bever and John Coulter. 

One of the most noted localities in the State is 
comprised in Greene County. The Shawanee 
town, " Old Chillicothe," was on the Little Miami, 
in this county, about three miles north of the site 
of Xenia. This old Indian town was, in the an- 
nals of the West, a noted place, and is frequently 
noticed. It is first mentioned in 1773, by Capt. 
Thomas Bullitt, of Virginia, who boldly advanced 
alone into the town and obtained the consent of 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



115 



the Indians to go on to Kentucky and make his 
settlement at the falls of the Ohio. His audacious 
bravery gained liis re(iuest. Daniel Boone was 
taken prisoner early in 1778, witli twenty-seven 
others, and kept for a time at Old Chillicothe. 
Tliiougli the influence of the British Governor, 
Hamilton, who had taken a great fancy to Boone, 
he and ten others were sent to Detroit. The In- 
dians, liowever, had an equal fancy for the brave 
frontiersman, and took him back to Chillicotlie, 
and adopted him into their tribe. About the 1st 
of June he escaped fi'om them, and made his way 
back to Kentucky, in time to prevent a universal 
massacre of the wlutcs. In July, 1779, the town 
was destroyed by Col. John Bowman and one 
hundred and sjxty Kentuckians, and the Indians 
dispersed. 

The Americans made a permanent settlement in 
this county in 1797 or 17'JS. This latter year, a 
mill was erected in the confines of the county, 
which implies the settlement was made a short 
time previously. A short distance east of the 
mill two block-houses were erected, and it was in- 
tended, should it become necessary, to surround 
them and the mill with pickets. The mill Wiis 
used by the settlers at " Dutch Station," in Jliami 
County, fully thu-ty miles distant. The richness 
of the country in this part of the State attracted a 
great number of settlers, so that by 1803 the 
county was established, and Xenialaid out, and des- 
ignated as the county seat. Its first court house, 
a primitive log structure, was long preserved as a 
curiosity. It would indeed be a curiosity now. 

Zane's trace, pa.ssing from Wheeling to Mays- 
villc, crossed the Hockhocking* River, in Fairfield 
County, where Lancaster is now built. Mr. Zane 
located one of his three sections on this river, 
covering the site of Lancaster. Following this 
trace in 1797, many individuals noted the desira- 
bleness of the locality, some of whom determined 
to return and settle. " The site of the city had 
in former times been the home of the Wyandots, 
who had a town here, that, in 1790, contained 
over .^00 wigwams and more than 1 ,000 souls. 
Their town was called Tnrhee, or, in English, the 
Cranc-town,3.m\ derived its name from the princi- 

*Tbo wurd Hock-hock-ing in the Delaware language signifies 
a battle : the Shawanees Lavo it Wea-tha-Jcagh-qua sepo, ie ; bottle 
river, Jolin Wliite in the AniTican Pioneer says: "About seven 
miles nort'nvo^t of Lancaster, tlitM-e is a fall in the nockhocliing of 
aljouttwinty fi^ct. Above the fall for a short distance, the creek 
is v.'ry narnjw and straight forming a neck, while at the falls it 
sud'ienly widens on each side and swells iiito the appearance of the 
body of a bottle. The whole, when seen from above, appear:* exactly 
in the shape of a bottle, and from thi-* fact the Indians called the 
river Hock-hock-ing.*' — Hotee't ColUcliotis, 



pal chief of that tribe. Another portion of the 
tribe then lived at Toby-town, nine miles west of 
Tarhe-town (now lloyaltown ), and was governed 
by an inferior chief called Toby. The chief's wig- . 
warn in Tarlie stood on the bank of the jirairie, 
near a beautiful and abundant spring of water, 
whose outlet was the river. The wigwams of the 
Indians were built of the bark of trees, set on 
poles, in the form of a sugar-camp, with one square 
open, fronting a fire, and about the height of a 
man. The Wyandot tribe that day numbered 
about 500 warriors. By the treaty of Greenville, 
they ceded all their territory, and the majority, un- 
der their chief, removed to I^pper Sandusky. The 
remainder lingered awhile, loath to leave the home 
of their ancestors, but as game became scarce, they, 
too, left for better hunting-grounds."* 

In April, 1798, Capt. Joseph Hunter, a bold, 
enterprising man, settled on Z;uie's trace, on the 
bank of the pniirie, west of the crossings, at a 
place since known as "Hunter's settlement." For 
a time, he had no neighbors nearer than the set- 
tlers on the Bluskingum and Scioto Rivers. He 
lived to see the country lie had found a wilderness, 
full of the homes of industry. His wife was the 
first white woman that settled in the valley, and 
shared with him all the privations of a pioneer 
life. 

Mr. Hunter had not been long in the valley till 
he was joined by Nathaniel Wilson, John and Al- 
len Green, John and Joseph McMullen, Robert 
Cooper, Isaac Shaefer, and a few others, who 
erected cabins and planted corn. The next year, 
the tide of emigration came in with great force. 
In the spring, two settlements were made in Green- 
field Township, each settlement containing twenty 
or more fomilies. One was called the Forks of 
the Hockhocking, the other, Yankeetowu. Set- 
tlements were also made along the river below 
Hunter's, on Rush Creek, Raccoon and Indian 
Creeks, Pleasant Run, Fclter'sRun, at Tobeytown, 
Muddy Prairie, and on Clear Creek. In the fall, 
— 1799 — Jo.seph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith 
built a log gi-ist-mill at the Upper Falls of the 
Hockhocking, afterward known as Rock Jlill. 
This was tljp first mill on this river. In the latter 
part of the }'ear, a mail route was establiished over 
the trace. The mail was carried through on horse- 
back, and, in the settlements in this hicality, was 
left at the cabin of Samuel Coates, who lived on 
the prairie at the crossings of the river. 

* Lecture of George Sanderson.— floire'i Volltclimu. 



116 



HISTORY OF OHIO; 



In the fall of the next year, Ebenezer Zane laid 
out Lancaster, which, until 1805, was known as 
Now Lancaster. The lots sold very rapidly, at 
$50 each, and, in less than one year, quite a vil- 
lage appeared. December 9, the Governor and 
Judges of the Northwest Territory organized 
Fairfield County, and made Lancaster the county 
seat. The year following, the Rev. John Wright, 
a minister of the Presbyterian Church, came, and 
from that time on schools and churches were estab- 
lished and thereafter regularly maintained at this 
place. 

' Not far from Lanca.ster are immense mural es- 
carpments of sandstone formation. They were 
noted among the aborigines, and were, probably, 
used liy them as places of outlook and defense. 

The same summer Fairfield County was settled, 
the towns of Bethel and Williamsburg, in Cler- 
mont County, wwe settled and laid out, and in 
1800, the county was erected. 

A settlement was also made immediately south 
of Fairfield County, in Hocking County, by Chris- 
tian Westenhaver, a German, from near Hagers- 
town, 3Id. He came in the spring of 1798, and 
was soon joined by several fimilies, who formed 
quite a settlement. The territory included in the 
county remaiued a part of Eoss, Athens and 
Fairfield, until 1818, when Hocking County was 
erected, and Logan, which had been laid out in 
181 G, was made the county seat. 

The country comprised in the county is rather 
broken, especially along the Hoekhocking River. 
Tills broken country was a favorite resort of the 
Wyandot Indians, who could easily hide in the 
numerous gi'ottoes and ravines made by the river 
and its affluents as the water cut its way through 
the sandstone rocks. 

In 1798, soon after Zane's trace was cut through 
the country, a Mr. Graham located on the site of 
Cambridge, in Guernsey County. His was then 
the only dwelling between Wheeling and Zanes- 
ville, on the trace. He remained here alone about 
two years, when he was succeeded by George Bey- 
mer, from Somerset, Penn. Both these persons 
kept a tavern and ferry over Will's Creek. In 
April, 1803, Mr. Beymer was succeed(^d by John 
Beatty, who came from Loudon, Va. His family 
consisted of eleven persons. The Indians hunted 
in this vicinity, and were frequent visitors at the 
tavern. In June, 180G, Cambridge was laid out, 
and on the day the lots were offered for sale, sev- 
eral families from the British Isle of Guernsey, 
near the coast of France, stopped here on their 



way to the West. They were satisfied with the 
location and purchased many of the lots, and some 
land in the vicinity. They were soon followed by 
other families from the same place, all of whom 
settling in this locality gave the name to the county 
when it was erected in 1810. 

A settlement was made in the central part of the 
State, on Darby Creek, in Union County, in the 
summer of 1798, by James and Joshua Ewing. 
The next year, they were joined by Samuel and 
David Mitchell, Samuel Mitchell, Jr., Samuel 
Kirkpatrick and Samuel McCul!ough,and, in 1800, 
by George and Samuel Reed, Robert Snodgrass 
and Paul Hodgson. 

" James Ewing's farm was the site of an an- 
cient and noted Mingo town, which was deserted 
at the time the Mingo towns, in what is now Logan 
County, were destroyed by Gen. Logan, of Ken- 
tucky, in 1786. When Mr. Ewing took posses- 
sion of his farm, the cabins were still standing, 
and, among others, the remains of a blacksmith's 
shop, with coal, cinders, iron-dross, etc. Jonathan 
Alder, formerly a prisoner among the Indians, 
says the shop was carried on by a renegade white 
man, named Butler, who lived among the Mingoes. 
Extensive fields had formerly been cultivated in 
the vicinity of the town."* 

Soon after the settlement was estabhshed. Col. 
James Curry located here. He was quite an influ- 
ential man, and, in 1820, succeeded in getting the 
county formed from portions of Delaware, Frank- 
lin, Jladison and Logan, and a part of the old In- 
dian Territory. BlarysvOle was made the county 
seat. 

During the year 1789, a fort, called Fort Steu- 
ben, was built on the site of Steubenville, but 
was dismantled at the conclusion of hostilities in 
1795. Three years after, Bezaleel Wells and Hon. 
James Ross, for whom Ross County was named, 
located the town of Steubenville about the old 
fort, and, by liberal offers of lots, soon attracted 
quite a number of settlers. In 1805, the town 
was incorporated, and then had a population of 
several hundred persons. Jefferson County was 
created by Gov. St. Clair, July 29, 1797, the year 
before Steubenville was laid out. It then included 
the large scope of country west of Pennsylvania ; 
east and north of a line from the mouth of the 
Cuyahoga ; southwardly to the Muskingum, and 
east to the Ohio ; including, in its territories, the 
cities of Cleveland, Canton, Steubenville and War- 



* Howe's Collections. 



w 
w 

w 

3 

"A 

O 
M 

O 

w 









o 

r; 




HISTORY OF OHIO. 



119 



ron. Only a short time, however, was it allowed 
to retain this size, as the increase in emigration 
rendered it necessary to erect new counties, which 
was rajjidly done, especially on the adoption c"the 
State government. 

The county is rich in early history, prior to its 
settlement by the Americans. It was the home of 
the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, who resid id 
awhile at an old Mingo town, a few miles below t le 
site of Steubenville, the place where the troo )s 
under Col. Williamson rendezvoused on their i i- 
famous raid against the Moravian Indians ; at d 
also where Col. Crawford and his men met, whf n 
starting on their unfortunate expedition. 

In the Reserve, settlements were often made 
remote from populous localities, in accordance with 
the wish of a proprietor, who might own a tract of 
country twenty or thirty miles in the interior. In 
the present county of Geauga, three families located 
at Burton in 1798. They lived at a considerable 
distance fi'om any other settlement for some time, 
and were greatly inconvenienced for the want of 
mills or shops. As time progressed, however, 
these were brought nearer, or built in their midst, 
and, ere long, almost all parts of the Reserve could 
show some settlement, even if isolated. 

The next year, 1799, settlements were made at 
Ravenna, Deerfield and Palmyra, in Portage 
County. Hon. Benjamin Tappan came to the site 
of Ravenna in June, at which time he found one 
white man, a Jlr. Honey, living there. At this date, 
a solitary log cabin occupied the sites of Buffalo and 
Cleveland. On his journey from New England, 
Mr. Tappan fell in with David Hudson, the founder 
of the Hudson settlement in Summit County. 
After many days of travel, they landed at a prairie in 
Summit County. JMr. Tappan left his goods in a 
cabin, built for the purpose, under the care of a hired 
man, and went on his way, cutting a road to the 
site of Ravenna, where his land lay. On liis return 
for a second load of goods, they found the cabin 
deserted, and evidences of its plunder by the In- 
dians. Not long after, it was learned that the man 
left in charge had gone to Mr. Hudson's settle- 
ment, he having set out immediately on his arrival, 
for his own land. Mr. Tappan gathered the re- 
mainder of his goods, and started back for Ravenna. 
On his W'ay one of his oxen died, and he found 
himself in a vast forest, away from any habitation, 
and with one dollar in money. He did not faker 
a moment, but sent his hired man, a faithful fellow, 
to Erie, Pcnn., a distance of one hundred miles 
through the wilderness, with the compass for his 



guide, requesting fi-om Capt. Lyman, the com- 
mander at the fort there, a loan of money. At 
the same time, he followed the township lines to 
Youngstown, where he became acquainted with 
Col. James Hillman, who did not hesitate to sell 
him an ox on credit, at a fair price. He returned 
to his load in a few days, found his ox all right, 
hitched the two together and went on. He was 
soon joined by his hired man, with the money, and 
together they spent the winter in a log cabin. He 
gave his man one hundred acres of land as a reward, 
and paid Col. Hillman for the ox. In a year or 
two he had a prosperous settlement, and when the 
county was erected in 1807, Ravenna was made 
the seat of justice. 

About the same time Mr. Tappan began his 
settlement, others were commenced in other locali- 
ties in this county. Early in May, 1799, Lewis 
Day and his son Horatio, of Granby, Conn., and 
Moses Tibbals and Green Frost, of Granville, 
Ma.ss., left their homes in a one-hor.se wagon, and, 
the 29th of May, arrived in what is now Deerfield 
Township. Theirs was the first wagon that had 
ever penetrated firther westward in this region 
than Canficld. The country west of that place 
had been an unbroken wilderness until within a 
few days. Capt. Caleb Atwater, of Wallingford, 
Conn., had hired some men to open a road to 
Township No. 1, in the Seventh Range, of which 
he was the owner. This road passed through 
Deerfield, and was completed to that place when 
the party arrived at the point of their destination. 
These emigrants selected sites, and commenced 
clearing the land. In July, Lewis El^' arrived 
from Granville, and wintered here, while tho.sc 
who came first, and had made their improvements, 
returned East. The 4th of March, 1800, Alva 
Day (son of Lewis Day\ John Campbell and 
Joel Thrall arrived. In April, George and Rob- 
ert Taylor and James Laughlin, from Pennsylvania, 
with their families, came. ]Mr. Laughlin built a 
grist-mill, which was of great convenience to the 
settlers. July 29, Lewis Day returned with 
his family and his brother-in-law, Maj. Rogers, 
who, the next year, also brought his family. 

" Much sufi'cring was experienced at first on 
account of the scarcity of provisions. They were 
chiefly supplied from the settlements east of the 
Ohio River, the nearest of which w;ls Georgetown, 
forty miles away. The provisions were brought 
on pack-horses through the wilderness. August 
22, Mrs. Alva Day gave birth to a child — a fe- 
male — the first child born in the township. 



lA 



120 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



November 7, the first wedding took place. John 
Campbell and Sarah Ely were joined in wedlock 
by Calvin Austin, Esq., of Warren. He was 
accompanied from Warren, a distance of twenty- 
seven miles, by Mr. Pease, then a lawyer, after- 
ward a well-known Judge. They came on foot, 
there being no road ; and, as they threaded their 
way through the woods, young Pease tauglit the 
Justice the marriage ceremony by oft repetition. 

" In 1802, Franklin Township was organized, em- 
bracing all of Portage and parts of Trumbull and 
Summit Counties. About this time the settlement 
received accessions from all parts of the East. In 
February, 1801, Kev. Badger came and began his 
labors, and two years later Dr. Shadrac Bostwiek 
organized a Methodist Episcopal church.* The 
remaining settlement in this county. Palmyra, was 
begun about the same time as the others, by David 
Daniels, from Salisbury, Conn. The next year he 
brought out his family. Soon after he was joined 
by E. N. and W. Bacon, E. Cutler, A. Thurber, 
A. Preston, N. Bois, J. T. Baldwin, T. and C. 
Gilbert, D. A. and S. Waller, N. Smith, Joseph 
Fisher, J. Tuttle and others. 

" When this region was first settled, there was 
an Indian trail commencing at Fort Mcintosh 
(Beaver, Penn.), and extending westward to San- 
dusky and Detroit. The trail followed the highest 
ground. Along the trail, parties of Indians were 
frequently seen passing, for several years after the 
whites came. It seemed to be the great aboriginal 
thoroughfare from Sandusky to the Ohio River. 
There were several large piles of stones on the 
trail in this locality, under which human skeletons 
have been discovered. Those are supposed to be 
the remains of Indians slain in war, or murdered 
by their enemies, as tradition says it is an Indian 
custom for each one to cast a stone on the grave 
of an enemy, whenever he pa.sscs by. These stones 
appear to have been picked up along the trail, and 
cast upon the heaps at difierent times. 

"At the point where this trail crosses Silver 
Creek, Fredrick Daniels and others, in 1814, dis- 
covered, painted on several trees, various devices, 
evidently the work of Indians. The bark was 
carefull}' shaved off two-thirds of the way around, 
and figures cut upon the wood. On one of these 
was delineated seven Indians, equipped in a par- 
ticular manner, one of whom was without a head. 
This was supposed to have been made by a party 
on their return westward, to give intelligence to 

* Howe's Collectiona. 



their friends behind, of the loss of one of their 
party at this place ; and, on making search, a hu- 
man skeleton was discovered near by." * 

The celebrated Indian hunter, Brady, made his 
remarkable leap across the Cuyahoga-, in this 
county. The county also contains Brady's Pond, 
a large sheet of water, in which he once made his 
escape from the Indians, from which circumstance 
it received its name. 

The locality comprised in Clark County was 
settled the same summer as those in Summit County. 
John Hxunphries came to this part of the State 
with Gen. Simon Kenton, in 17!:t9. With them 
came six families from Kentucky, who settled 
north of the site of Springfield. A fort was 
erected on Mad River, for security against the In- 
dians. Fourteen cabins were soon built ^near it, 
all being surrounded by a strong picket fence. 
David Lowery, one of the pioneers here, built the 
first flat-boat, to operate on the Great Miami, and, 
in 1800, made the first trip on that river, coming 
down from Dayton. He took his boat and cargo 
on down to New Orleans, where he disposed of his 
load of " five hundred venison hams and bacon." 

Springfield was laid out in March, 1801. Grifiith 
Foos, who came that spring, built a tavern, which 
he completed and opened in June, remaining in 
this place till 1814. He often stated that when 
emigrating West, his party were four days and a 
half getting from Franklinton, on the Scioto, to 
Springfield, a distance of forty-two miles. When 
crossing the Big Darby, they were obliged to carry 
all their goods over on horseback, and then drag 
their wagons across with ropes, while some of the 
party swam by the side of the wagon, to prevent 
its upsetting. The site of the town was of such 
practical beauty and utility, that it soon attracted 
a large number of settlei-s, and, in a few years, 
Springfield was incorporated. In 1811, a church 
was built by the residents for the use of all denom- 
inations. 

Clark County is made famous in aboriginal 
history, as the birthplace and childhood home of 
the noted Indian, Tecumseh."}" He was born in 

* Howe'd Collections. 

fTecumseh, or Tecumshe, was a son of Pnckeshinwa, a member 
of tile Kiscopoke tribe, and Methoataske, of the Turtle tribe of tbe 
Shawanee nation. They removed from Florida to Ohio soon after 
their marriage. The father, Pnckeshinwa, rose to the rank of a chief, 
and fell at the battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. After his death, 
tbe mother, Methoataske, returned to tbe south, where she died at 
an advancedage. Tecumteh was born about the year 1768. He 
early showed a pa'^sion for war, and, when only 27 years of age, was 
made a chief. The next year he removed to Deer Creek, in the 
vicinity of Urbana, and from there to the site of Piqua, on the 
Great Miami. In 1798 h-^ accepted the invitation of the Delawares 
in tbe vicinity of White River, Indiana, and from that time made 



:x: 



-^. 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



121 



the old Indian town of Piqua, tlie ancient Piqua 
of the Shawanees, on the north side of IMad River, 
ahout five miles west of Springfield. The town 
w;is destroyed by the Kentucky Rangers under 
Gen. George Rogers Clarke in 1780, at the same 
time he destroyed " Old Chillicothe." Immense 
fields of standing corn about both towns were cut 
down, compelling the Indians to resort to the hunt 
with more than ordinary vigor, to sustain them- 
selves and their wives and children. This search 
insured safety for some time on the borders. The 
site of Cadiz, in Hai-rison County, was settled in 
April, 1799, by Alexander Henderson and his 
family, from Washington County, Penn. When 
they arrived, they found neighbors in the persons 
of Daniel Peterson and his family, who lived near 
the forks of Short Creek, and who liad preceded 
them but a very short time. The nest year, emi- 
grants began to cross the Ohio in great numbers, 
and iu five or sis years large settlements could be 
seen in this part of the State. The county was 
erected in 1814, and Cadiz, laid out in 1803, made 
the county seat. 

While the settlors were locating in and about 
Cadiz, a few families came to what is now Monroe 
County, and settled near the present town of 
Beallsville. Shortly after, a few persons settled on 
the Clear Fork of the Little Muskingum, and a 
few others on the east fork of Duck Creek. The 



next season all these settlements received addi- 
tions and a few other localities were also occupied. 
-Before long the town of Beallsville was laid 
out, and in time became quite populous. The 
county was not erected until 1813, and in 1815 
Woodsfield was laid out and made the seat of 
justice. 

The opening of the season of 1800 — the dawn 
of a new century — saw a vast emigration west 
ward. Old settlements in Ohio received immense 
increase of emigrants, while, branching out in all 
directions like the radii of a circle; other settle- 
ments were constantly formed until, in a few years, 
all parts of the State knew the presence of the 
white man. 

Towns sprang into existence here and there ; 
mills and factories were erected; post offices and 
post^routes were established, and the comforts and 
conveniences of life began to appear. 

With this came the desire, so potent to the mind 
of all American citizens, to rule themselves through 
representatives chosen by their own votes. Hith- 
erto, they had been ruled by a Governor and Judges 
ajipointed by the President, who, in turn, appointed 
county and judicial officers. The arbitrary rulings 
of the Governor, St. Clair, had arrayed the mass 
of the people against him, and made the desire for 
the second grade of government stronger, and 
finally led to its creation. 



CHAPTER X. 

FORMATION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT— OHIO A STATE— THE STATE CAPITALS— LEGIS- 
LATION— THE "SWEEPING RESOLUTIONS "—TERRITORIAL AND ST.\TE GOVERNORS. 

to be held on the third Monday in December, and 
directed the representatives to meet in Cincinnati 
January 22, 1799. 

On the day designated, the representatives * 
assembled at Cincinnati, nominated ten persons, 
whose names were sent to the President, who 
selected five to constitute the Legislative Council, 



SETTLEMENTS increased so rapidly in that 
part of the Northwest Territory included in 
Ohio, during the decade from 1788 to 1798, 
despite the Indian war, that the demand for an 
election of a Territorial Assembly could not be 
ignored by Gov. St. Clair, who, having ascertained 
that 5,000 free males resided within the limits of 
the Territory, issued his proclamation October 29, 
1798, directing the electors to elect representatives 
to a General Assembly. He ordered the election 

hifl home with them. He was most active in tlie war of 1S12 
aKfllnst the Americans, and from tlie time lie began bis work to 
unirotlie tribes, bis history is so closely id.'ntitied therewith that 
the reader is referred to the history of that war in sureeeding pages. 
It may notbe ami^s to say that all stories regarding the manner 
of hifl d"atb are considered erroneous, lie Wiis undnuhtedly killed 
in tho outset of the battle i>f the Thames in Canada in 1814, and his 
body secretly btlried by tho Indians. 



♦Those elected were: from Washington County, Return Jona- 
than Meigs and Paul Fearing; from Haniilton County, William 
Goforth, William McMillan, John Smith, John Ludlow, Robert 
Benham, Aaron Caldwell and Isaac Martin; from St. Clair County 
(Illinois), Shadrach Bond; from Knox County (Indiana"), John 
Small; from Randolph County (Illinois), John E.lgar; from Wayne 
County, Solomon Sibley, Jacob Visgar and Charles F. Chabert de 
Joncaire; from Adams County, Jo..eph narlingt"n and Nathaniel 
JIassie; from Jefferson Oeiuty, James I'ritoliaril ; from Kom County, 
Thomiis Wortbington, Elias Langbam, Samntd Findley and Kdward 
Tiffin. The fivo gentlemen, except Vanderburgh, chosen as the 
Upper House were all from counties afterward included in Ohio. 



D V 



123 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



or Upper House. These five were Jacob Burnet, 
James Findley, Henry A^anderburgh, Robert 
Oliver and David Vance. On the 3d of March, 
the Senate confirmed their nomination, and the 
Territorial Government of Ohio* — or, more prop- 
erly, the Northwest — was complete. As this 
comprised the es.sential bu.siness of this body, it 
was prorogued by the Governor, and the Assembly 
directed to meet at the same place September 1 6, 
1709, and proceed to the enactment of laws for 
the Territory. 

That day, the Territorial Legislature met again 
at Cincinnati, but, for want of a quorum, did not 
organize until the 24th. The House consisted of 
nineteen members, seven of whom were from Ham- 
ilton County, four from Ross, three from Wayne, 
two from Adams, one from Jefferson, one from 
Washington and one from Knox. Assembling 
both branches of the Legislature, Gov. St. Clair 
addressed them, recommending such measures to 
their consideration as, in his judgment, were suited 
to the condition of the country. The Council 
then organized, electing Henry Vanderburgh, Presi- 
dent ; William C. Schenck, Secretary; George 
Howard, Doorkeeper, and Abraham Carey, Ser- 
geant-at-arms. 

The House also organized, electing Edward Tif- 
fin, Speaker ; John Reilly, Clerk ; Joshua Row- 
land, Dogrkceper, and Abraham Carey, Sergeant- 
at-arms. 

This was the first legislature elected in the old 
Northwestern Territory. During its first session, 
it passed thirty bills, of which the Governor vetoed 
eleven. They also elected William Henry Harri- 
son, then Secretary of the Territory, delegate to 
Congress. The Legislature continued in session 
till December 19, having much to do in formins; 
new laws, when they were prorogued by the Gov- 
ernor, until the first Monday in November, 1800. 
The second session was held in Chillicothe, which 
had been designated as the seat of government by 
Congress, until a permanent capital should be 
selected. 

May 7, 1800, Congress passed an act establish- 
ing Indiana Territory, including all the country 
west of the Great jMiami River to the Mississippi, 
and appointed William Henry Harrison its Gov- 
ernor. At the autumn session of the Legislature 



* Ohio never existed aa a Territory proper. It was known, both 
before aoil after the dividion of the Northwest Territory, as the 
"Territory northwest of tlio Oiiio River." Still, as the country 
comprised in its limits w.i8 theprincipwl tlieaterof action, the short 
resume given iiero is made necessary in tlie logical course of eventa. 
Ohio, OS Ohio, never existed until the creation of the State in 
March, 1803. 



of the eastern, or old part of the Territory, Will- 
iam JIcMillan was elected to the vacancy caused 
by this act. By the organization of this Territory, 
the counties of Knox, St. Clair and Randolph, 
were taken out of the jurisdiction of the old Ter- 
ritory, and with them the representatives, Henry 
Vandenburgh, Shadrach Bond, John Small and 
John Edgar. 

Before the time for the next A.ssembly came, a 
new election had occuiTed, and a few changes were 
the result. Robert Oliver, of Marietta, was cho- 
sen Speaker in the place of Henry Vanderburgh. 
There was considerable business at this session ; 
several new counties were to be erected ; the coun- 
try was rapidly filling with people, and where the 
scruples of the Governor could be overcome, some 
organization was made. He was very tenacious of 
his power, and arbitrary in his rulings, affirming 
that he, alone, had the power to create new coun- 
ties. This dogmatic exercise of his veto power, 
bis rights as ruler, and his defeat by the Indians, 
all tended against him, resulting in his displace- 
ment by the President. This was done, however, 
just at the time the Territory came fi-om the second 
grade of government, and the State was created. 

The third session of the Territorial Legislature 
continued from November 24, 1801, to January 
23, 1802, when it adjourned to meet in Cincin- 
nati, the fourth Monday in November, but 
owing to" reasons made ob\ious by subsequent 
events, was never held, and the third session 
marks the decline of the Territorial government. 

April 30, 1802, Congress passed an act " to 
enable the people of the eastern division of the 
territory northwest of the Ohio River, to form a 
constitution and State government, and for the 
admission of such States into the Union on 
an equal footing ^th the original Stat«s, and for 
other purposes." In pursuance of this act, an 
election had been held in this part of the Territory, 
and members of a constitutional convention cho- 
sen, who were to meet at Chillicothe, November 
1, to perform the duty assigned them. 

The people throughout the country contemplate 
ed in the new State were anxious for the adoption 
of a State government. The arbitrary acts of the 
Territorial Governor had heightened this feeling ; 
the census of the Territory gave it tlie lawfiil 
number of inhabitants, and nothing stood in its 
way. 

The convention met the day designated and 
proceeded at once to its duties. When the time 
arrived for the opening of the Fourth Territorial 



iv 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



123 



Legislature, the convention was in session and had 
evidently about completed its labors. The mem- 
bers of the Legislature (eight of whom were mem- 
bers of the convention) seeing that a speedy 
termination of the Territorial government was inev- 
itable, wi.sely concluded it was inexpedient and 
unnecessary to Iwld the proposed session. 

The convention concluded its laliors the 29th of 
November. The Constitution adopted at that time, 
though rather crude in some of its details, was an 
excellent organic itistrumeut, and remained almost 
entire until 1851, when the present one was 
adopted. Either is too long for insertion here, 
but either will well pay a perusal. The one adopted 
by the convention in 1S02 was never submitted 
to the people, owing to the circumstances of the 
times; but it was submitted to Congress February 
19, 1803, and by that body accepted, and an act 
passed admitting Ohio to the Union. 

The Territorial government ended March 3, 
1803, by the organizatitm, that day, of the State 
government, which organization delined the pres- 
ent limits of the State. 

" We, the people of the Eastern Division of the Ter- 
ritory of the Unilcil States, Northwest of tlie River 
Ohio, having the riglit of aJmi.ssion into tlie General 
Government as a member of the Union, consistent with 
the Constitution of the United States, the Ordinance 
of Congress of one thousancl seven hundred and cighty- 
eeven, and of the law of Congress, entitled 'An act to 
enable the people of the Eastern Division of tlie Teri'i- 
tory of the United States Northwest of the Kiver Ohio, 
to form a Constitution and a State Government, and for 
the admission of such State into the Union on an equal 
footing with the original States, and for other purpo- 
ses ;' in order to establish justice, proiaote the well- 
fare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves 
and our posterity, do ordain .and establish the follow- 
ing Constitution or form of government; and do mu- 
tually agree Avith eacii other to form ourselves into .a 
free and independent State, by the name of the State 
of Ohio."* — Preamble, Constitution of 1S02. 

When the convention forming the Constitution, 
completed its labors and presented the results to 
Congress, and that body passed the act forming 



* The name of the State ia derived from the river forming its 
eoutliern l>oiindiuy. Its origin is eomewhnt obscure, but is com- 
monly fiscribed to tlie Itidiiins. On this point, Col. .TulinBton Rays: 
" Tlie Sliiiwanoese called the Ohio Rivi'r ^KU-ke-pi-Ui, Sepe, t. e., ^E'tgle 
Itiver.* The Wyandotd were in the country geuerattona lieiore the 
Shawanoese, and, consequently, tlieir namoof tho river is the prim- 
itive one and should btand in preference to all otherfl. Ohio may 
be called an improvement on tho expression, '0-/ic-=wft,' and was, no 
doubt, aclopted by the early Frencli voyagers in their boat-aongs, 
and ia substantially the same wor t aa used by the Wyandota: tho 
meanmg applied by tho French, fiir and beautiful *'la bdle river,^ 
being the same precisely as that meant by the Indiana — 'great, 
grand and fair to look upon.* " — Howe't CoUectin'n. 

Webster's Dictionary gives the word aa of Indian origin, and ita 
meaning to be, " Beautiful." 



the State, the territory included therein was di- 
vided into nine counties, whose names and dates of 
erection were as follows: 

Washington, July 27, 1788; Hamilton, Janu- 
ary 2, 1790; (owing to the Indian war no other 
counties were erecteil till peace was restored ); Ad- 
ams, July 10, 1797; Jefferson, July 29, 1797; 
Ross, August 20, 1798; Clermont, Fairfield and 
Trumbull, December 9, 1800; Belmont, Septem- 
ber 7, 1801. These counties were the thickest- 
settled part of the State, yet many other localities 
needed organization and were clamoring for it, but 
owing to St. Clairs views, he refused to grant 
their requests. One of the first acts on the as- 
sembling of the State Legislature, March 1, 1803, 
was the creation of seven new counties, viz., Gal- 
lia, Scioto, Geauga, Butler, Warren, Greene and 
Montgomery. 

Secdon Sixth of the "Schedule" of the Consti- 
tution retjuired an election for the various ofiicers 
and Representatives necessary under the new gov- 
ernment, to be hold the second Tuesday of Janu- 
ary, 1803, these officers to take their seats and as- 
sume their duties March 3. The Second Article 
provided for the reguhir elections, to be held on 
the second Tuesday of October, in each year. The 
Governor elected at first was to hold his office 
until the first regular election could be held, and 
thereafter to continue in office two years. 

The January elections placed Edward Tiffin in 
the Governor's office, sent Jeremiah Morrow to 
Congress, and chose an Assembly, who met on the 
day designated, at Chillicothe. Michael Baldwin 
was chosen Speaker of the House, and Nathaniel 
Sla.ssie, of the Senate. The Assembly appointed 
William Creighton, Jr., Secretary of State ; Col. 
Thomas Gib.son, Auditor ; William McFarland, 
Tretisurer; Return J. Meigs, Jr., Samuel Hun- 
tington and William Sprigg, Judges of the Su- 
preme Court; Francis Dunlevy, Wyllys Silliman 
and Calvin Pease, President Judges of the First, 
Second and Third Districts, and Thomas Worth- 
ington and John Smith, United States Senators. 
Charles Willing Byrd was made the United States 
District Judge. 

The act of Congress forming the State, con- 
tained certain requisitions regarding public schools, 
the " salt springs," public lands, taxation of (iov- 
ernment lands, Symmes' purchase, etc., which the 
constitutional convention agreed to with a few 
minor considerations. These Congress accejited, 
and pas.sed the act in accordance thereto. The 
First General Assembly found abundance of work 



r^ 



V\ 



134 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



to do regarding these various items, and, at once, 
set themselves to the task. Laws were passed re- 
garding all these ; new counties created ; officers 
appointed fur the same, until they could be elected, 
and courts and machinery of government put in 
motion. President Judges and lawyers traveled 
their circuits holding courts, often in the open air 
or in a log shanty ; a constable doing duty as 
guard over a jury, probably seated on a log under 
a tree, or in the bushes. The President Judge in- 
structed the officers of new counties in their duties, 
and though the whole keeping of matters accorded 
with the times, an honest feeling generally pre- 
vailed, inducing each one to perforut his part as 
effectually as his knowledge penuitted. 

The State continually tilled with people. New 
towns arose all over the country. Excepting the 
occasional sicknesses caused by the new climate and 
fresh soil, the general health of the people im- 
proved as time went on. They were fully in ac- 
cord with the President, Jefferson, and careftilly 
nurtured tho.se principles of personal liberty en- 
grafted in the fundamental law of 1787, and later, 
in the Constitution of the State. 

Little if any change occurred in the natural 
course of events, following the change of govern- 
ment until Burr's expedition and plan of seces.sion 
in 1805 and 180G appeared. What his plans 
were, have never been definitely ascertained. His 
action related more to the General Government, 
yet Ohio was called upon to aid in putting down 
his insurrection — for such it was thought to be — 
and defeated his purposes, whatever they were. 
His plans ended only in ignominious defeat ; the 
breaking-up of one of the finest homes in the 
Western country, and the expulsion of himself and 
all those who were actively engaged in his scheme, 
whatever its imports were. 

Again, for a period of four or five years, no 
exciting events occurred. Settlements continued ; 
mills and factories increased ; towns and cities 
gTew ; counties were created ; trade enlarged, and 
naught save the common course of events trans- 
pired to mark the course of time. Other States 
were made from the old Northwest Territory, all 
parts of which were rajiidly being occupied by 
settlers. The danger from Indian hostilities was 
little, and the adventurous whites were rapidly 
occupying their country. One thing, however, 
was yet a continual source of annoyance to the 
Americans, viz., the British interference with the 
Indians. Their tradei-s did not scrapie, nor fail 
on every opportunity, to aid these sons of the 



forest with arms and ammunition as occasion 
offered, endeavoring to stir them up against the 
Americans, until events here and on the high seas 
culminated in a declaration of ho.stilities, and the 
war of 1812 was the result. The deluded red 
men found then, as they found in 1795, that they 
were made tools by a stronger power, and dropped 
when the time came that they were no longer 
needed. 

Before the opening of hostilities occuiTed, how- 
ever, a series of acts passed the General Assembly, 
causing considerable excitement. These were the 
famous "Sweeping Resolutions," p;is.sed in 1810. 
For a few 3'ears prior to their passage, considera- 
ble discontent prevailed among many of the legis- 
lators regarding the rulings of the courts, and by 
many of these embryo law-makers, the legislative 
power was considered omnipotent. They could 
change existing laws and contracts did they desire 
to, thought many of them, even if such acts con- 
flicted with the State and National Constitutions. 
The " Sweeping Resolutions " were brought about 
mainly by the action of the judges in declaring 
that justices of the peace could, in the collection 
of debts, hold jurisdiction in amounts not exceed- 
ing fifty dollars without the aid of a jury. The 
Constitution of the United States gave the jury 
control in all such cases where the amount did not 
exceed twenty dollars. There was a direct con- 
tradiction against the organic law of the lijnd — to 
which every other law and act is subversive, and 
when the judges declared the legislative act uncon- 
stitutional and hence null and void, the Legisla- 
ture became suddenly inflamed at then- independ- 
ence, and proceeded at once to punish the admin- 
istrators of justice. The legislature was one of 
the worst that ever controlled the State, and was 
composed of many men who were not only igno- 
rant of common law, the necessities of a State, and 
the dignity and true import of their office, but 
were demagogues in every respect. Having the 
power to impeach officers, tlAt body at once did 
so, ha^nug enough to carr}' a two-thirds majority, 
and removed several judges. Further maturing 
their plans, the " Sweepers," as they were known, 
construed the law appointing certain judges and 
civil officers for seven years, to mean seven years 
from the organization of the State, whether they 
had been officers that length of time or not. All 
officers, whether of new or old counties, were con- 
strued as included in the act, and, utterly ignoring 
the Constittition, an act was passed in January, 
1810, removing every civil officer in the State. 



sr 



IIKSTOliY OF OHIO. 



125 



February 10, tlicy proceeded U> fill all these va- 
cant offices, from State officers down to the lowest 
county office, cither by appointment or by ordering 
an election in the manner prescribe^l by law. 

The Constitution provided that the office of 
judges should continue for seven years, evidently 
seven years from tlic time they were elected, and 
not from the date of the admission of the State, 
which latter construction this headlong Legisla- 
ture had construed as the meaning. Many of the 
counties had been organized but a year or two, 
others three or four years ; hence an indescribable 
confusion arose as soon as the new set of officers 
were appointed or elected. The new order of 
things could not be made to work, and finally, so 
utterly impossible did the injustice of the proceed- 
ings become, that it Wiw dropped. The decisions 
of the courts were upheld, and the invidious doc- 
trine of supremacy in State legislation received 
such a check that it is not likely ever to be repeated. 

Another act of the Assembly, during this pe- 
riod, shows its con.struction. Congress had granted 
a township of land for the use of a university, and 
located the township in Symmes' purchase. This 
Assembly located the university on land outside 
of this purchase, ignoring the act of Congress, as 
they had done before, showing not only ignorance 
of the tnie scope of law, but a lack of respect un- 
becoming such bodies. 

The seat of government was also moved from 
Chillicothe to Zauosville, which vainly hoped to be 
made the permanent State capital, but the next 
session it was again taken to Chillicothe, and com- 
missioners appointed to locate a permanent capital 
site. 

These commissioners were James Fiudley, Jo- 
seph Darlington, Wyllys Silliman, Reason Beall, 
and William McFarland. It is stated that they 
reported at first in favor of Dublin, a small town 
on the Scioto about fourteen miles above Colum- 
bus. At the session of 1812-13, the Assembly 
accepted the proposals of Col. James Johnston, 
Alexander McLaughlin, 'John Kerr, and Lyne 
Starling, who owned the site of Columbus. The 
Assembly also decreed that the temporary seat of 
government should remain at Chillicothe until the 
buildings necessary for the State officers should be 



erected, when it would be taken Jhere, forever t« 
remain. This was done in 1816, in December of 
that year the first meeting of the Assembly being 
held there. 

The site selected for the capital was on the east 
bank of the Scioto, about a mile below its junction 
with the Olentangy. Wide streets were laid out, 
and preparations for a city made. The expecta- 
tions of the founders have been, in this respect, re- 
alized. The town was laid out in the .«pringof 1812, 
under the direction of Moses Wright. A short 
time after, the contract for making it the capital Wiis 
signed. June 18, the same day war was declared 
against Great Britain, the sale of lots took place. 
Among the early settlers were George McCor- 
mick, George B. Harvey, John Shields, Jlichael 
Patton, Alexander Patton, William Altman, John 
Collett, William McElvain, Daniel Koo.ser, Peter 
Putnam, Jacob Hare, Christian Heyl,Jarvis, George 
and Benjamin Pike, William Long, and Dr. John 
M. Edminson. In 1814, a house of worship was 
biiilt, a school opened, a newspaper — The Wes/ern 
Intelligencer and Columbus Gazette, now the 
Ohio State Journal — was started, and the old 
State House erected. In 1816, the "Borough of 
Columbas " was incorporated, and a mail route once 
a week between Chillicothe and Columbus started. 
In 1819, the old United States Court House was 
erected, and the seat of justice removed from 
Franklinton to Columbus. Until 1826, times were 
exceedingly " .slow " in the new capital, and but lit- 
tle gi-owth experienced. The improvement period 
revived the capital, and enlivened its trade and 
growth so that in 1834, a city charter was granted. 
The city is now about third in size in the State, 
and contains many of the most prominent public 
institutions. The present capitol building, one of 
the best in the West, is patterned somewhat after 
the national Capitol at Wiishington City. 

From the close of the agitation of the " Sweeping 
Resolutions," until the opening of the war of 1812, 
but a short time elapsed. In fact, scarcely had 
one subsided, ere the other was upon the country. 
Though the war was national, its theater of opera- 
tions was partly in Ohio, that State taking an act- 
ive part in its operations. Indeed, its liberty 
depended on the war. 



3?: 



i^ 



126 



HISTORY OP OHIO. 



LIST OF TERRITORIAL AND STATE GOVERNORS, 

From the organization of the first ch'il government in the Northwest Territortf (1~SS to 1802), of which the State of 

Ohio was apart, until the year 1880. 



(a) Arthur St. Clair 

*Cliarles Willing Byrd 

{b\ Edward Tiffin 

(c) fThomas Kirker 

Samuel Huntington 

(rf) Return Jonathan Meigs.. 

•fothniel Looker 

Thomas Worthington 

(e) Ethan Allen Browu 

t Allen Trimble 

Jeremiah Morrow 

Allen Trimble 

Duncan McArthur 

Robert Lucas 

Joseph Vance 

Wilson Shannon 

Thomas Corwin 

(/) Wilson Shannon 

JThomas W. B.arlley 

Mordecai Bartley 

William Bebb 

(g) Seabury Ford 

(A) Reuben Wood 

(.;)1f William Medill 

Salmon P. Chase 

William Dennison 

David Tod 

(k) John Brough 

ICharles Anderson 

Jacob D. Cox 

Rutherford B. Hayes 

Edw!iid F. Noyes 

William Allen 

It) Rutherford B. Hayes 

(m) I'homas L. Young 

Richard M. Bishop 

Charles Foster 



COUNTY. 



Hamilton 

Ross 

Adams 

Trumbull 

Washington... 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Hamilton 

Highland 

Warren 

Highland 

Ross 

Pike 

Champaign ... 

Belmont 

Warren 

Belmont 

Richland 

Richland 

Butler 

Geauga 

Cuyahoga 

Fairfield 

Hamilton 

Franklin 

Mahoning 

Cuyahoga 

Montgomery.. 

Trumbull 

Hamilton 

Hamilton 

Ross 

Sandusky 

Hamilton 

Hamilton 

Sandusky 



Term 
Commenced. 



July 

Nov. 

March 

March 

Dec. 

Dec. 

April 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec, 

April 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

luly 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Jan, 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

March 

Jan. 

Jan. 



1788 
1802 
, 1803 
, 180' 
, 1808 
, 1810 
, 1814 
, 1814 
, 1818 
, 18122 
, 1822 
, 1826 
, 1830 
, 1832 
, 1836 
, 1838 
, 1840 
, 1842 
, 1844 
, 1844 
, 1846 
, 1849 
, 1850 
, 1853 
, 1856 
, 1860 
, 1862 
, 1864 
, 1866 
, 1866 
, 1868 
, 1872 
, 1874 
, 1876 
, 1877 
, 187 
, 1880 



Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 



Term Ended. 



Nov. 
March 3, 
March 4 
Dec. 12 
Dec. 8 
March 25 
Dec. 8 



April 13 
Dec. 3 



Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 



July 15 
Jan. 14 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 



13 
12, 
Aug. 29 
Jan. 9 



Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 

March 2 
Jan. 14 
Jan. 14 



13 
8 

12, 
14 



1802 
1803 
1807 
1808 
1810 
1814 
1814 
1818 
1822 
1822 
1826 
1830 
18.32 
1836 
1838 
1840 
1842 
1844 
1844 
1846 
1849 
1850 
1853 
1856 
1860 
1862 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1868 
1872 
1874 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1880 



(a) Arthur St. CIair,of Pennsylvania, was Governor of the North- 
west Territory, of which Ohio was a part, from July 13, 1788, when the 
first civil government was established in the Territory, until about 
the cl ise of the year 1R02, when he was removed by the President. 

* Secretary of the Territory, and waa acting Governor of the 
Territory after tlie removal of Gov. St. Clair. 

(b) Itosigned March 3, 1807, to accept the ofBce of U. S. Senator. 

(c) Ueturn Jonathan Meigs was elected Governor on the second 
Tuesday of October, 1SII7, over Nathaniel Massie. who contested the 
election of Bleigs, on tlie ground that "he had not been a resident of 
this State for four years next preceding the election, as required by 
the Constitution,"' and the General Assembly, in joint convention, 
declared that he was not eligible. The office was not given to 
Massie, nor does it appear, from the records that he claimed it, but 
Thomas Kirker, acting Governor, continued to discharge the duties 
of the office until December 12, 1808, when Samuel Huntington was 
inaugurated, he having been elected on the second Tuesday of 
October in that year. 

(d) Resigned March 2.5, 1814, to accept the Office of Postmaster- 
General of the United States. 



(e) Resigned January 4, 1822. to accept the office of United 
States Senator. 

(/) Besigned April 13, 1844,' to accept the office of Minister to 
Mexico. 

(g) The result of the election in 1848 was not finally determined in 
joint convention of the two houses of the General Assembly until 
January 19, 1849, and the inauguration did not take place until the 
22d of that month. 

(Jt) Besigned July 15, 1853 to accept the office of GoDSul to Val- 
paraiso. 

(j) Elected in October, 1863, for the regular term, to commence 
on the second Mondjiy of January, 1854. 

(k) Hied August 29, 1865. 

t Acting Governor. 

t Acting Governor, vice "Wilson Shannon, resigned. 

^ Acting Governor, vice Reuben Wood, resigned. 

^ Acting Governor, vice John Brough, deceased. 

(l) Re,signed March 2, 1877, to accept the office of President of 
the United States. 

(m) Vice Eutherford B. Hayes, resigned. 



'V 






HISTORY OF OHIO. 



127 



CHAPTER XL 

THE WAR OF 1812— GROWTH OF THE STATE— CANAL, RAILROADS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS 

—DEVELOPMENT OF STATE RESOURCES. 



IN June, 1812, war was declared against Great 
Britain. Before this, an act was passed by Con- 
gress, authorizing tlie increase of the regular army 
to thirty-five thousand troops, and a large force of 
volunteers, to serve twelve months. Under this 
act. Return J. Meigs, then Governor of Ohio, in 
April and May, 1812, raised three regiments of 
troops to serve twelve months. They rendez- 
voused at Dayton, elected, their officers, and pre- 
pared for the campaign. These regiments were 
numbered First, Second and Third. Duncan Mc- 
Arthur was Colonel of the First ; James Findlay, 
of the Second, and Lewis Cass, of the Third. 
Early in June these troops marched to Urbana, 
where they were joined by Boyd's Fourth Regiment 
of regular troops, under command of Col. Miller, 
who had been in tlic battle of Tippecanoe. Near 
the middle of June, this little army of about 
twenty-five hundred men, under command of Gov. 
William Hull, of Michigan, who had been author- 
ized by Congress to raise the troops, started on 
it.s northern march. By the end of June, the 
army had reached the Maumee, after a very severe 
march, erecting, on the way, Forts Mc Arthur, Ne- 
cessity and Findlay. By some carelessness on the 
part of the American Government, no official word 
had been sent to the frontiers regarding the war, 
while the British had taken an early precaution to 
prepare for the crisis. Gov. Hull was very care- 
ful in militaiy etiquette, and refused to march, or 
do any offensive acts, unless commanded by his 
superior officers at Washington. While at the 
Maumee, by a careless move, all his personal 
effects, including all his plans, number and strength 
of his array, etc., fell into the hands of the enemy. 
His campaign ended only in ignominious defeat, 
and well-nigh paralyzed future eflFdrts. All Mich- 
igan fell into the hands of the British. The com- 
mander, though a good man, lacked bravery and 
promptness. Had Gen. Harrison been in com- 
mand no such results would have been the ca.«e, 
and the war would have probably ended at the 
outset. 

Before Hull had surrendered, Charles Scott, 
Governor of Kentucky, invited Gen. Harrison, 



Governor of Indiana Territory, to visit Frankfort, 
to consult on the subject of defending the North- 
west. Gov. Harrison had visited Gov. Scott, and 
in August, 1812, accepted the appointment of 
Major General in the Kentucky militia, and, by 
hasty traveling, on the receipt of the news of the 
surrender of Detroit, reached Cincinnati on the 
morning of the 27th of that month. On the 30th 
he left Cincinnati, and the next day overtook the 
army he was to command, on its way to Dayton. 
Afler leaving Dayton, he was overtaken by an ex- 
press, informing him of his appointment by the 
Government as Commander-in-Chief of the armies 
of the Indiana and Illinois Territories. The army 
reached Piqua, September 3. From this place 
Harrison sent a body of troops to aid in the de- 
fense of Fort Wayne, threatened by the enemy. 
On the Oth he ordered all the troops forward, and 
while on the march, on September 17, he was 
infoiTued of his appointment as commander of the 
entire Northwestern troops. He found the army 
poorly clothed for a winter campaign, now ap- 
proaching, and at once issued a stirring address to 
the people, asking for food and comfortable cloth- 
ing. The address was not in vain. After his 
appointment, Gen. Harrison pushed on to Au- 
glaize, where, leaving the army under command of 
Gen. Winchester, he returned to the intcriorof the 
State, and establishing his headquarters at Frank- 
linton, began active nieusures for the campaign. 

Early in March, 1812, Col. John Miller raised, 
under orders, a regiment of infantry in Ohio, and 
in July assembled his cnli.sted men at Chillicothe, 
where, placing them— only one hundred and forty 
in number — under command of Captain Angus 
Lewis, he sent them on to the frontier. They erect- 
ed a block-hou.se at l'i((ua and then went on to 
Defiance, to the main body of the armv. 

In July, 1812, Gen. Edward W.'Tupper, of 
Gallia County, rai.sed one thousand men fSir six 
months' duty. UndiT orders from Gen. Winches- 
ter, they marched through Chillicothe and Urbana, 
on to the ]\Iaumee, where, near the lower end of 
the rapids, they made an ineffectual attempt to 
drive off the enemy. Failing in this, the enemy 



■1 ^y 



128 



HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



attacked Tupper and his troops, who, though worn 
down with the march and not a Httle disorganized 
through the jealousies of the officers, withstood 
the attack, and rejjulsed the British and their red 
allies, who returned to Detroit, and the Americans 
to Fort McArthur. 

In the fall of 1812, Gen. Harrison ordered a 
detachment of sis hundred men, mostly mounted, 
to destroy the Indian towns on the Missisineway 
River, one of the head-waters of the Wabash. 
The winter set in early and with unusual severity. 
At the same time this expedition was can-ied^on, 
Bonaparte was retreating from Moscow. The expe- 
dition accomplished its design, though the troops 
suffered greatly from the cold, no less than two 
hundred men being more or less frost bitten. 

Gen. Harrison determined at once to retake 
Michigan and establish a line of defense along the 
southern shores of the lakes. Winchester was 
sent to occupy Forts Wayne and Defiance; Perkins' 
brigade to Lower Sandusky, to fortify an old 
stockade, and some Pennsylvania troops and artil- 
lery sent there at the same time. As soon as 
Gen. Harrison heard the results of the Missis- 
ineway expedition, he went to Chillicothe to con- 
sult with Gov. Meigs about further movements, 
and the best methods to keep the way between the 
Upper Miami and the Maumee continually open. 
He also sent Gen. Winchester word to move for- 
ward to the rapids of the Maumee and prepare for 
winter quarters. This Winchester did by the 
middle of January, 1813, establishing himself on 
the northern bank of the river, just above Wayne's 
old battle-ground. He was well fixed here, and 
was enabled to give his troops good bread, made from 
corn gathered in Indian corn-fields in this vicinity. 

While hero, the inhabitants of Freuchtown, on 
the Raisin River, about twenty miles from Detroit, 
sent Winchester word claiming protection from the 
threatened British and Indian invasion, avowing 
themselves in sympathy with the Americans. A 
council of war decided in favor of their request, 
and Col. Lewis, with 550 men, sent to their relief. 
Soon after. Col. Allen was sent with more troops, 
and the enemy easily driven away from about 
Frenchtciwu. Word was sent to Gen. Winchester, 
who determined to march with all the men he 
could spare to aid in holding the post gained. He 
left, the 19th of January, with 250 men, and ar- 
rived on the evening of the 20th. Failing to 
take the necessary precaution, fi'om some unex- 
plained reason, the enemy came up in the night, 
established his batteries, and, the next day, sur- 



prised and defeated the American Army with a 
terrible loss. Gen. Winchester was made a pris- 
oner, and, finally, those who were intrenched in 
the town surrendered, under promise of Proctor, 
the British commander, of protection from the 
Indians. This promise was grossly violated the 
next day. The savages were allowed to enter the 
town and enact a massacre as cruel and bloody as 
any in the annals of the war, to the everlasting 
ignominy of the British General and his troops. 

Those of the American Army that escaped, ar- 
rived at the rapids on the evening of the 22d of 
January, and soon the sorrowftil news spread 
throughout the army and nation. Gen. Harrison 
set about retrieving the disaster at once. Delay 
could do no good. A fort was built at the rapids, 
named Fort Meigs, and troops from the south and 
west hurriedly advanced to the scene of action. 
The investment and capture of Detroit was aban- 
doned, that winter, owing to the defeat at French- 
town, and expiration of the terms of service of 
many of the troops. Others took their places, 
all parts of Ohio and bordering States sending 
men. 

The erection of Fort Meigs was an obstacle in 
the path of the British they determined to remove, 
and, on the 28th of February, 1813, a large band 
of British and Indians, under command of Proc- 
tor, Tecumseh, Walk-in-the-water, and other In- 
dian chiefs, appeared in the Maumee in boats, and 
prepared for the attack. Without entering into 
details regarding the investment of the fort, it is 
only necessary to add, that after a prolonged siege, 
lasting to the early part of May, the British were 
obliged to abandon the fort, having been severely 
defeated, and sailed for the Canadian shores. 

Next followed the attacks on Fort Stephenson, 
at Lower Sandusky, and other predatory excur- 
sions, by the British. All of these failed of their 
design; the defense of Maj. Croghan and his men 
constituting one of the most brilliant actions of the 
war. For the gallant defense of Fort Stephenson by 
Maj. Croghan, then ayoung man, the army merited 
the highest honors. The ladies of Chillicothe voteii 
the heroic Blajor a fine sword, while the whole 
land rejoiced at the exploits of him and his band. 

The decisive efforts of the army, the great num- 
bers of men offered — many of whom Gen. Harrison 
was obliged to .send home, much to their di.sgust — 
Perry's victory on Lake Erie, September 10, 
1813 — all presaged the triumph of the American 
arms, soon to ensue. As soon as the battle on 
the lake was over, the British at Maiden burned 



-4> 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



129 



tlieir stores, and fled, while the Americans, under 
their g;illant commander, followed them in Perry's 
vessel to the Canada shore, overtaking them on 
th3 lliver Thames, October 5. In the battle that 
ensued, Tecumsch was slain, and the British i\j:my 
routed. 

The war was now practically closed in the West. 
Ohio troops had done nobly in defending their 
northern frontier, and in regaining the Northwest- 
ern country. Gen. Harrison was soon after elected 
to Congress by the Cincinnati district, and Gen. 
Duncan McArthur was appointed a Brigadier 
General in the regular ai'my, and assigned to the 
command in his place. Gen. McArthur made an 
expedition into Upper Canada in the spring of 
1814, destroying considorablo iiroperty, and driv- 
ing the British farther into their own dominions. 
Peace was declared early in 1S15, and that spring, 
the troops were mu.stered out of service at Chilli- 
cothe, and peace with England reigned supreme. 

The results of the war in Ohio were, for awhile, 
similar to the Indian war of 1705. It brought 
many people into the State, and opened new por- 
tions, before unknown. Many of the soldiers im- 
mediately invested their money in lands, and became 
citizens. The war drove many people from the 
Atlantic Coast west, and as a result much unmey, 
for awhile, circulated. Labor and provisions rose, 
which entibled both workmen and tradesmen to 
enter tracts of land, and aided emigration. At the 
conclusion of Wayne's war in 1795, probably 
not more than five thousand people dwelt in the 
limits of the State ; at the close of the war of 1812, 
that number wa.s largely increased, even with the 
odds of war against them. After the last war, the 
emigration was constant and gradual, building up 
the State in a manner that betokened a healthful 
life. 

As soon as the effects of the war had worn off, 
a period of depression set in, as a result of too 
free .speculation indulged in at its close. Gradu- 
ally a stagnation of business ensued, and many 
who found th'insolvcs unable to meet contracts 
made in "flush" times, found no alternative but 
to fail. To relieve the pressure in all parts of 
the West, Congress, about 1815, reduced the 
price of public lands from §2 to $1.25 
])er acre. This measure worked no little 
hardship on those who owned large tracts of 
lands, for portions of which they had not fully 
]jaid, and iis a consequence, these lands, as well 
as all others of this class, reverted to the 
Government. The general market was in New 



Orleans, whither goods were transported in flat- 
boats built especially for this pupose. This com- 
merce, though small and poorly repaid, was the 
main avenue of trade, and did much for the slow 
prosperity prevalent. The few banks in the State 
found their bills at a discount abroad, and gTadu- 
ally becoming drained of their specie, either closed 
business or failed, the major part of them adopt- 
ing the latter course. 

The steamboat began to be an important factor 
in the river navigation of the West about this 
period. The first boat to descend the Ohio was 
the Orleans, built at Pittsburg in 1812, and in 
December of that year, while the fortunes of war 
hung over the land, she made her first trip from the 
Iron City to New Orleans, being just twelve days 
on the way. The second, built by Samuel Smith, 
was called the Comet, and made a trip as far 
south as Louisville, in the summer of 1813. The 
third, the Vesuvius, was built by Fulton, and went 
to New Orleans in 1814. The fourth, built by 
Daniel French at Brownsville, Penn., made two 
trips to Louisville in the summer of 1814. The 
next vessel, the ^Etna, was built by Fulton & 
Company in 1815. So fast did the business 
increase, that, four years after, more than 
forty steamers floated on the Western waters. 
Improvements in machinery kept pace with the 
building, until, in 1838, a competent writer stated 
there were no less than four hundred steamers in 
the West. Since then, the erection of railways 
has greatly retarded ship-building, and it is alto- 
gether probable the number has increased but 
little. 

The question of canals began to agitate the 
Western country during the decade succeeding the 
war. They had been and were being constructed 
in older countries, and presaged good and prosper- 
ous times. If only the waters of the lakes and 
the Ohio River could be united by a canal run- 
ning through the midst of the State, thought the 
people, prosperous cities and towns would arise on 
its banks, and commerce flow through the land. 
One of the firmest friends of such improvements 
was De Witt Clinton, who had been the chief man 
in forwarding the " Clinton Canal," in New York. 
He was among the first to advocate the feasiljili(y 
of a canal connecting Lake Erie and the Ohio 
lliver, and, by the success of the New York canals, 
did much to bring it about. Popular writers of the 
day all urged the scheme, so that when the Assem- 
bly met, early in December, 1821, the resolution, 
offered by Micajah T. Williams, of Cincinnati, 



■^ 



'>" 



130 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



for the appointment of a committee of five mem- 
bers to take into consideration so much of the 
Governor's message as related to canals, and see if 
some feasible plan could not be adopted whereby a 
beginning could be made, was quickly adopted. 

The report of the committee, advising a survey 
and examination of routes, met with the approval 
of the Assembly, and commissioners were ap- 
pointed who were to employ an engineer, examine 
the country and report on the practicability of a 
canal between the lakes and the river. The com- 
missioners employed James Geddes, of Onondaga 
County, N. Y., as an engineer. He arrived in 
Columbus in June, 1822, and, before eight months, 
the corps of engineers, under his direction, had 
examined one route. During the next two sum- 
mers, the examinations continued. A number of 
routes were examined and surveyed, and one, from 
Cleveland on the lake, to Portsmouth on the Ohio, 
was reconmiended. Another canal, from Cincin- 
nati to Dayton, on the Miami, was determined on, 
and preparations to commence work made. A 
Board of Canal Fund Commissioners was created, 
money was borrowed, and the morning of July 
4,. 1825, the first shovelful of earth was dug near 
Newark, with imposing ceremonies, in the presence 
of De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York, and 
a mighty concourse of people assembled to witness 
the auspicious event. 

Gov. Clinton was escorted all over the State to 
aid in developing the energy everywhere apparent. 
The events were important ones in the history of 
the State, and, though they led to the creation of 
a vast debt, yet, in the end, the canals were a 
benefit. 

The main canal — the Ohio and Erie Canal — 
was not completed till 1832. The Maumee Canal, 
from Dayton to Cincinnati, was finished in 1834. 
They cost the State about $(i,000,0()0. Each of 
the main canals had branches leading to important 
towns, whore their construction could be made 
without too much expense. The Miami and Mau- 
mee Canal, fi-om Cincinnati northward along the 
Miami River to Piqua, thence to the Maumee 
and on to the lake, was the largest canal made, 
and, for many years, wa.s one of the most important 
in the State. It joined the Wabash Canal on the 
eastern boundary of Indiana, and thereby saved 
the construction of many miles by joining this 
gi'cat canal from Toledo to Evansville. 

The largest artificial lake in the world, it is said, 
was built to supply water to the Miami Canal. It 
exists yet, though the canal is not much used. It 



is in the eastern part of Mercer County, and is 
about nine miles long by from two to four wide. 
It was formed by raising two walls of earth from 
ten to thirty feet high, called respectively the east 
and west embankments ; the first of which is about 
two miles in length ; the second, about four. These 
walls, with the elevation of the ground to the 
north and south, formed a huge basin, to retain 
the water. The reservoir was commenced in 1837, 
and finished in 184.5, at an expense of several 
hundred thousand dollars. When first built, dur- 
ing the accumulation of water, much malarial 
disease prevailed in the surrounding country, owing 
to the stagnant condition of the water. The citi- 
zens, enraged at what they considered an innova- 
tion of thoir rights, met, and, during a dark night, 
tore out a portion of the lower wall, letting the 
water flow out. The damage cost thousands of 
dollars to repair. All who participated in the 
proceedings were liable to a severe imprisonment, 
but the state of feeling was such, in Mercer County, 
where the oifense was committed, that no jury 
could be found that would try them, and the affair 
gradually died out. 

The canals, so efiicacious in their day, were, 
however, superseded by the railroads rapidly find- 
ing their way into the West. From England, 
where they were early used in the collieries, the 
transition to America was easy. 

The first railroad in the United States was built 
in the summer of 1826, from the granite quarry 
belonging to the Bunker Hill Monument Associa- 
tion to the wharf landing, three miles distant. The 
road was a slight decline from the quarry to 
the wharf, hence the loaded cars were pro- 
pelled by their own gravity. On their return, 
when empty, they were drawn up by a single 
horse. Other roads, or tramways, ((uickly followed 
this. They were built at the Pennsylvania coal 
mines, in South Carolina, at New Orleans, and at 
Baltimore. Steam motive power was used in 1831 
or 1832, first in America on the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad, and in Charlestown, on a railroad there. 

To transfer these highways to the ^V'est was the 
question of but a few years' time. The prairies of 
Illinois and Indiana offered superior inducements 
to such enterprises, and, early in 1835, they began 
to be agitated there. In 1838, the first rail was 
laid in Illinois, at Meredosia, a little town on the 
Illinois River, on what is now the Wabash Railway. 

" The first railroad made in Ohio," writes Caleb 
Atwater, in his "History of Ohio," in 1838, "was 
finished in 1836 by the people of Toledo, a town 






IIISTOKY OF OHIO. 



131 



some two years old then, situated near the mouth 
of Maumee River. Tlie road extends westward in- 
to Micliigan and is some thirty miles in length. 
Tiiere is a road about to be made from Cincinnati 
to Springfield. This road follows the Ohio River 
up to the Little Miami River, and there turns 
northwardly up its valley to Xcuia, and, passing 
the Yellow Springs, reaches Springfield. Its length 
must be about ninety miles. The State will own 
one-half of the road, individuals and the city of 
Cincinnati the other half. This road will, no 
doubt, be extended to Lake Erie, at Sandusky 
City, within a few short years." 

" There is a railroad," continues Mr. Atwater, 
" about to be made from Paincsville to the Ohio 
River. There are many charters for other roads, 
which will never be made." 

Mr. Atwater notes also, the various turnpikes as 
well as the famous National road fi'om Baltimore 
westward, then completed only to the mountains. 
This latter did as much as any enterprise ever en- 
acted in building up and poptilating the West. 
It gave a national thoroughfare, which, for many 
years, was the principal wagon-way from the At- 
lantic to the Mississippi Valley. 

The railroad to which Mr. Atwater refers as 
about to be built from Cincinnati to Springfield, 
was what was known as the Mad River Railroad. 
It is commonly conceded to bo the first one built 
in Ohio.* Its history shows that it was chartered 
March 11, 1836, that work began in 1837; that 
it was completed and opened for business from 
Cincinnati to Milford, in December, 1842; to Xe- 
nia, in August, 1846, and to Springfield, in Au- 
gust, 1846. It was laid with strap rails until 
about 1848, when the present form of rail was 
adopted. 

One of the earliest roads in Ohio was what was 
known as the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Rail- 
road. It was chartered at first as the Monroeville 
& Sandusky City Railroad, March 9, 1835. March 
12, 1836, the Mansfield & New Haven road was 
chartered; the Columbus & Lake Erie, March 12, 
1845, and the Huron & Oxford, February 27, 
184G. Afc first it ran only from Sandusky to 
Monroeville, then from Mansfield to Huron. These 



* Hon. E D. Mansfleld statps, in 1 873, thatthe" first ai-tnal piecs 
of tiiilroad Isii-I in Ohio, was Di.ido on the Cincin?iati & Sandusky 
Railrund; but, about the same time we have tbe Littio Miami Rail- 
road, whicli was surveyed in ISiO and I8.'!7. If this, the generally 
accepted opinion, is correct, then Mr. Atwater's statement i\3 given, 
is wrong. His history is, however, generally con^-eded to bo correct. 
Written in 1838, he surely ought to linow whereof he was writing, 
as the railroads were then only in construction ; but few, if any, 
in operation. 



two were connected and consolidated, and then ex- 
tended to Newark, and finally, by connections, to 
Columbus. 

It is unnecessary to follow closely the history of 
these improvements through the years succeeding 
their introduction. At first the State owned a 
share in nearly all railroads tind canals, but finally 
finding itself in debt about §15,000,000 for such 
improvements, and learning by its own and neigh- 
bors' experiences, that such policy was detrimental 
to the best interests of the people, abandoned the 
plan, and allowed private parties entire control of 
all such works. Afler the close of the Mexican 
war, and the return to solid values in 1 854 or there- 
abouts, the increase of railroads in all parts of Ohio, 
as well as all parts of the West, was simply marvel- 
ous. At this date there are more than ten thou- 
sand miles of railroads in Ohio, alongside of which 
stretch innumerable lines of telegraph, a system of 
swift messages invented by Prof. Morse, and adopted 
in the United States about 1851. 

About the time railroad building began to as- 
sume a tangible shape, in 1840, occurred the cele- 
brated political campaign known in history as the 
" Hard Cider Campaign." The gradual encroach- 
ments of the slave power in the West, its arrogant 
attitude in the CongTess of the United States and 
in several State legislatures : its forcible seizure of 
slaves in the free States, and the enactment and 
attempted enforcement of the " fugitive slave" law 
all tended to awaken in the minds of the Northern 
people an antagonism, terminating only in the late 
war and the abolishment of that hideous system in 
the United States. 

The " Whig Party" strenuously urged the 
abridgment or confinement of slavery in the 
Southern States, and in the contest the party took 
a most active part, and elected William Henry 
Harrison President of the United States. As he 
had been one of the foremost leaders in the war of 
1812, a resident of Ohio, and one of its mo.st pop- 
ular citizens, a log cabin and a barrel of cider were 
adopted as his exponents of jiopular opinion, as 
expressive of the rule of the common people repre- 
sented in the cabin and cider, in turn representing 
their primitive and simple habits of life. He 
lived but thirty days after his inauguration, dying 
on the 9th of April, 1841, when John Tyler, the 
Vice President, succeeded him as Chief Executive 
of the nation. 

The building of railroads ; the extension of com- 
merce ; the settlement of all parts of the State ; 
its growth in commerce, education, religion and 



. ^ 



133 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



population, are the chief events from 1841 to the 
Mexican war. Hard times occurred about as often 
as they do now, preceded by " flush" times, when 
.speculation ran rife, the people all infatuated with 



an insane idea that something could be had for 
nothing. The bubble burst as often as inflated, 
ruining many people, but seemingly teaching few 
lessons. 



CHAPTER XII. 

MEXICAN WAR — CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE STATE— WAR OF THE REBELLION- OHIO'S 

PART IN THE CONFLICT. 



THE Mexican War grew out of the question of 
the annexation of Texas, then a province of 
Mexico, whose territory extended to the Indian 
Territory on the north, and on up to the Oregon 
Territory on the Pacific Coast. Texas had been 
settled largely by Americans, who saw the condi- 
tion of aft'airs that would inevitably ensue did the 
country remain under Mexican rule. They first 
took steps to secede from Mexico, and then asked 
the aid of America to sustain them, and annex the 
country to itself. 

The Whig party and many others opposed this, 
chiefly on the grounds of the extension of slave 
territory. But to no avail. The war came on, 
Mexico was conquered, the war lasting from April 
20, 18-46, to May 30, 1848. Fifty thousand vol- 
unteers were called for the war by the Congress, 
and $10,000,000 placed at the disposal of the 
President, James K. Polk, to sustain the army and 
prosecute the war. 

The part that Ohio took in the war may be 
briefly summed up as follows : She had five vol- 
unteer regiments, five companies in the Fifteenth 
Infantry, and several independent companies, with 
her full proportion among the regulars. When 
war was declared, it was something of a crusade to 
many; full of romance to others; hence, many 
more were oflFered than could be received. It was 
a campaign of romance to some, yet one of reality, 
ending in death, to many. 

When the first call for troops came, the First, 
Second and Third llegiments of infantry responded 
at once. Alexander Mitchell was made Colonel of 
the First; John B. Wellerits Lieutenant Colonel ; 
and Major L. Giddings, of Dayton, its Major, 
Thos. L. Hamer, one of the ablest lawyers in Ohio. 
started with the First as its Major, but, before the 
regiment left the State, he was made a Brigadier 
General of Volunteers, and, at the- battle of Mon- 
terey, distinguished himself; and there contracted 



disease and laid down his life. The regiment's 
Colonel, who had been wounded at Monterey, came 
home, removed to Minnesota, and there died. 
Lieut. Col. Weller went to California after the 
close of the war. He was United States Senator 
from that State in the halls of Congress, and, at 
last, died at New Orleans. 

The Second Regiment was commanded by Col. 
George W. Morgaii, now of Mount Vernon ; Lieut. 
Col. William Irwin, of Lancaster, and Maj. Will- 
iam Wall. After the war closed, Irwin settled in 
Texas, and remained there till he died. Wall lived 
out his days in Ohio. The regiment was never in 
active field service, hut was a credit to the State. 

The officers of the Third Regiment were. Col. 
Samuel R. Curtis; Lieut. Col. G. W.McCookand 
Jlaj. John liove. The first two are now dead ; 
the Major lives in McConnellsville. 
• At the close of the first year of the war, these 
regiments (First, Second and Third) were mustei'ed 
out of service, as their term of enlistment had 
expired. 

When the second year of the war began, the 
call for more troops on the part of the Government 
induced the Second Ohio Infantry to re-organize, 
and again enter the service. William Irwin, of the 
former organization, was chosen Colonel; William 
Latham, of Columbus, Lieutenant Colonel, and 
William H. Link, of Circleville, Major. Nearly 
all of them are now dead. 

The regular army was increased by eight Ohio 
companies of infantry, the Third Dragoons, and 
the Voltigeurs — light-armed soldiers. In the Fif- 
teenth Regiment of the United States Army, there 
were five ()luo companies. The others were three 
from Michigan, and two from Wisconsin. Col. 
Morgan, of the old Second, was made Colonel of 
the Fifteenth, and John Howard, of Detroit, an 
old artillery ofiicer in the regular army, Lieutenant 
Colonel. Samuel Wood, a captain in the Sixth 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



133 



United States Infantry, was made Major ; but was 

atlorvvard succeeded by Blill, of Vermont. 

Tlie Fifteenth wasin a number of skirmishes at first, 
and later in the battles of Contrcras, Cherubusco 
and Chapultcpec. At the battle of Cherubusco, 
tlie Colonel was severely wounded, and Maj. Mill, 
with several officers, and a large number of men, 
killed. For gallant .service at Contreras, Col. Mor- 
gan, though only twenty-seven years old, was made 
a Brevet Brigadier General in the United States 
Army. Since the war he has delivered a number 
of addresses in Ohio, on the campaigns in Mex- 
ico. 

The survivors of the war are now few. Though 
seventy-five thousand men from the United States 
went into that conflict, less than ten thousand now 
survive. They are now veterans, and as such de- 
light to recount their reminiscences on the fields of 
Mexico. They arc all in the decline of life, and 
ere a generation passes away, few, if any, will be 
left. 

After the war, the continual growth of Ohio, 
the change in all its relations, necessitated a new 
organic law. The Constitution of 1852 was the 
result. It re-affirmed the political princijjles of 
the "ordinance of 1787" and the Constitution of 
1802, and made a few changes necessitated by the 
advance made in the interim. It created the 
office of Lieutenant Governor, fixing the term of 
service at two years. This Constitution yet stands 
notwithstanding the prolonged attempt in 1873-74 
to create a new one. It is now the organic law of 
Ohio. 

From this time on to the opening of the late war, 
the prosperity of the State received no check. 
Towns and cities grew ; railroads multiplied ; com- 
merce was extended; the vacant lands were rapidly 
filled by settlers, and everything tending to the 
advancement of the people was well prosecuted. 
Banks, aft«r much tribulation, had become in a 
measure somewhat secure, their only and serious 
drawback being their isolation or the confinement 
of their circulation to their immediate localities. 
But signs of a mighty contest were apparent. A 
contest almost without a parallel in the annals of 
history ; a contest between freedom and slavery ; 
between wrong and right ; a contest that could 
only end in defeat to the wrong. The Republican 
party came into existence at the clo.se of I'residcnt 
Pierce's term, in 1855. Its object then was, prin- 
cipally, the restriction of the slave power ; ultimately 
its extinction. One of the chief exponents and sup- 
porters of this growing party in Ohio, was Salmon P. 



Cha.se; one who never fiiltered nor lost faith ; and 
who w;is at the helm of State; in the halls of Con- 
gress; chief of one the most important bureaus of 
the Government, and, finally. Chief Justice of the 
United States. When war came, after the election 
of Abraham Lincoln by the Republican party, Ohio 
was one of the first to answer to the call lor troops. 
Mr. Chase, while Governor, had re-organized the 
militia on a sensible basis, and rescued it from the 
ignominy into which it had fallen. When Mr. 
Lincoln asked for seventy-five thousand men, 
Ohio's quota was thirteen regiments. The various 
chaotic regiments and militia troops in the State 
did not exceed 1,500 men. The call was issued 
April 15, 1861 ; by the 18th, two regiments were 
organized in Columbus, whither these companies 
had gathered; before sunrise of the 19th the first 
and second regiments were on their way to Wash- 
ington City. The President had only asked for 
thirteen regiments; thirti/ were gathering; the 
Government, not yet fully comprehending the 
nature of the rebellion, refused the surplus troops, 
but Gov. Dennison was authorized to put ten 
additional regiments in the field, as a defensive 
measure, and was also authorized to act on the 
defensive as well as on the offensive. The immense 
extent of southern border made this necessary, 
as all the loyal people in West Virginia and Ken- 
tucky asked for help. 

In the limits of this history, it is impossible to 
trace all the steps Ohio took in the war. One of 
her most talented sons, now at the head of one of 
the greatest newspapers of the world, says, regard- 
ing the action of the people and their Legislature: 

" In one part of the nation there existed a grad- 
ual growth of sentiment against the Union, ending 
in open hostility against its integrity and its Con- 
stitutional law; on the other side stood a resolute, 
and det<!rmined people, though divided in minor 
matters, firmly united on the question of national 
supremacy. The people of Ohio stood squarely 
on this side. Before this her people had been di- 
vided up to the hour when — 

" ' That fierce and sudden flash across the rugged black- 
ness broke, 

And, with a voice that shook the land, the guns of Sum- 
ter spoke; 
********* 

And whcreso'er the summons came, there rose the 

angry din, 
As when, upon a rocky coast, a stormy fide sets in.' 

" All waverings then ceased among the people 
and in the Ohio Legislature. The Union must be 



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134 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



preserved. The white heat of patriotism and fe- 
alty to the flag that had been Yictorioii.>j in three 
wars, and had never met but temporary defeat 
then melted all parties, and dissolved all hesitation, 
and, April 18, 18U1, by a unanimous vote of 
ninety-nine Representatives in its favor, there was 
passed a bill appropriating $500,000 to earry into 
effect the requisition of the President, to protect 
the National Government, of which sum .$450,000 
were to purchase arms and equipments for the 
troops re((uiri'd by that requisition as the quota of 
Ohio, and $50,0()0 as an extraordinary contingent 
fund for the Governor. The commissioners of the 
State Sinking Fund were authorized, by the same 
bill, to borrow this money, on the G per cent bonds 
of the State, and to issue for the same certificates, 
freeing such bonds from taxation. Then followed 
other such legislation that declared the property of 
volunteers free from execution for debt during 
their term of service; that declared any resident 
of the State, who gave aid and comfort to the 
enemies of the Union, guilty of treason against 
the State, to be punished by imprisonment at hard 
labor for life; and, as it had become already evi- 
dent that thousands of militia, beyond Ohio's 
quota of the President's call, would volunteer, the 
Legislature, adopting the sagacious suggestion of 
Gov. Dennison, resolved that all excess of volunteers 
should be retained and paid for service, under 
direction of the Governor. Thereupon a bill 
was passed, authorizing the acceptance of volunteers 
to form ten regiments, and providing $500,000 
for their arms and equipments, and $1,500,000 
more to be disbursed for troops in case of an in- 
vasion of the State. Then other legislation was 
enacted, looking to and providing against the ship- 
ment from or through the State of arms or mu- 
nitions of war, to States either assuming to be 
neutral or in open rebellion ; organizing the whole 
body of the State militia; providing suitable ofii- 
cers for duty on the staff of the Governor ; re- 
quiring contracts for subsistence of volunteers to 
be let to the lowest bidder, and authorizing the 
appointment of additional general officers. 

" Before the adjournment of that Legislature, 
the Speaker of the House had resigned to take 
command of one of the regiments then about to 
start for Washington City ; two leading Senators 
had been appointed Brigadier Generals, and many, 
in fact nearly all, of the other members of both 
houses had, in one capacity or another, entered the 
military service. It was the first war legislature 
ever elected in Ohio, and, under sudden pressure, 



nobly met the first shock, and enacted the first 
measures of law for war. Laboring under difilcul- 
ties inseparable from a condition so unexpected, 
and in the performance of duties so novel, it may 
be historically stated that for patriotism, zeal and 
ability, the Ohio Legislature of 1861 was the 
equal of any of its successors ; while in that exu- 
berance of patriotism which obliterated party lines 
and united all in a common effort to meet the 
threatened integrity of the United States as a 
nation, it surpassed them both. 

" The war was firaght, the slave power forever 
destroyed, and under additional amendments to her 
organic law, the United States wiped the stain of 
human slavery fi'om her escutcheon, liberating over 
four million human beings, nineteen-twentieths of 
whom were native-born residents. 

" When Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court 
House, Ohio had two hundred regiments of all 
arms in the National service. In the course of 
the war, she had furnished two hundred and thirty 
regiments, besides twenty -six independent batteries 
of artillery, five independent companies of cavalry, 
several companies of sharpshooters, large parts of 
five regiments credited to the West Virginia con- 
tingent, two regiments credited to the Kentucky 
contingent, two transferred to the United States 
colored troops, and a large proportion of the rank 
and file of the Fifty-fourth and Sixty-fiflh Massa- 
chusetts Regiments, also colored men. Of these or- 
ganizations, twenty-three were infantry regiments 
furnished on the first call of the President, an ex- 
cess of nearly one-half over the State's quota ; one 
hundred and ninety-one were infiintry regiments, 
furnished on subsequent calls of the President — 
one hundred and seventeen for three years, twenty- 
seven for one year, two for six months, two for 
three months, and forty-two for one hundred days. 
Thirteen were cavalry, and three artillery for three 
years. Of these three-years troops, over twenty 
thousand re-enlisted, as veterans, at the end of 
their long term of service, to fight till the war 
would end." 

As original members of these organizations, Ohio 
furnished to the National service the magnificent 
army of 310,654 actual soldiers, omitting from 
the above number all those who paid commuta- 
tion money, veteran enlistments, and citizens who 
enlisted as soldiers or sailors in other States. The 
count is made from the reports of the Provost 
Marshal General to the War Deiiartment. Penn- 
sylvania gave not quite 28,000 more, while Illinois 
fell 48,000 behind; Indiana, 116,000 less; 




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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



137 



Kentucky, 235,000, and Massachusetts, 164,000. 
Thus Ohio more than maintained, in the National 
armjf, the rank among lier sisters which her pojiu- 
httion supported. Oliio furnislied mcjre trofjj)s than 
the President ever required of her ; and at the 
end of the war, with more than a thou.saud men in 
the camp of the State wlio were never mustered 
into the service, she still had a credit on the rolls 
of the War Department for 4,332 soldiers, beyond 
the aggregate of all quotius ever assigned to her; 
and, besides all these, 0,479 citizens had, in lieu of 
personal service, paid the commutation ; while In- 
diana, Kentucky, Penasylvania and New York 
were all from five to one hundred thousand behind 
their quotas. So ably, through all those years of 
trial and death, did she keep the j)romise of the 
memorable dispatch from her first war Governor : 
'■ If Kentucky refuses to fill her quota, Ohio will 
fill it for her." 

'■Of these troops 11,237 were killed or mor- 
tally wounded in action, and of these 6,5G3 were 
left dead on the field of battle. They fought on 
well-nigh every battle-field of the war. Within 
forty-eight hours after the first call was made for 
troops, two regiments were on the way to Wash- 
ington. An Ohio brigade covered the retreat from 
the first battle of Bull Run. Ohio troops formed 
the bulk of army that saved to the Union the 
territoi-y afterward erected into West '\''irginia ; 
the bulk of the army that kept Kentucky from 
seceding ; a large part of the army that captured 
Fort Dimelson and Island No. 10 ; a great part of 
the army thatfi-om Stone River and Chickamauga, 
and JMission Ridge and Atlanta, swept to the sea 
and captured Fort McAllister, and north through 
the Carolinas to Virginia." 

When Sherman started on his famous march to 
the sea,.someone said to President Lincoln, ''T hey 
will never get through ; they will all be captured, 
and the Union will be lost." " It is impossible," 
replied the President ; "it cannot be done. There 
is a mighty sight of fight in, one hundred thou- 
sand Western men." 

Ohio troops fought at Pea Ridge. They charged 
at Wagner. They helped redeem North Carolina. 
They were in the sieges of Vicksburg, Charleston, 
JMobile and Richmond. At Pitt.sburg Landing, 
at Antietam, Gettysburg and Corinth, in the 
Wilderness, at Five Forks, before Nashville and 
Appomattox Court House ; " their bones, reposing 
I >n the fields they won and in the gi'aves thc^- till, are 
a jierpetual pledge that no flag sliall ever wave over 
I'lieir graves but that flag they died to maintain." 



Ohio's soil gave birth to, or furnished, a Grant, 
a Sherman, a Sheridan, a McPher.son, a Rosccrans, 
a McClellan, a McDowell, a Mitchell, a Gilmore, a 
IIazen,a Sill, a Stanlc}',a Stcadman.and others — all 
but one, children of the country, reared at West Point 
for such emergencies. Ohio's war record shows 
one General, one Lieutenant General, twenty Major 
Generals, twenty-seven Brevet Major Generals, and 
thirty Brigadier Generals, and one hundred and 
fifty Brevet Brigadier Generals. Her three war 
Governors were William Denni.son, David Todd, and 
John Brough. She furnished, at the same time, 
one Secretary of War, Edwin 51. Stanton, and 
one Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. 
Her Senators were Benjamin F. Wade and John 
Sherman. At least three out of five of Ohio's 
able-bodied men stood in the line of battle. On 
the head stone of one of these soldiers, who gave 
his life for the country, and who now lies in a 
National Cemetery, is inscribed these words : 

" We charge tlie living to preserve that Constitution we 
have died to defend." 

The dose of the war and return of peace brought 
a period of fictitious values on the country, occa- 
sioned by the immense amount of currency afloat. 
Property rose to unheard-of values, and everything 
with it. Ere long, however, the decline came, and 
with it " hard times." The climax broke over the 
country in 1873, and'for awhile it .seemed as if 
the country was on the verge of ruin. People 
found again, as preceding generations had found, 
that real value was the only basis of true prosper- 
ity, and gradually began to work to the fact. The 
Government established the specie basis by 
gradual means, and on the 1st day of January, 
1879, began to redeem its outstanding obligations 
in coin. The effect was felt everywhere. Busi- 
ness of all kinds sprang anew into life. A feeling 
of confidence grew as the times went on, and now, 
on the threshold of the year 1880, the State is en- 
tering on an era of steadfast prosperity ; one which 
has a sure and certain foundaticm. 

Nearly four years have elaped since the great 
Centennial Exhibition was held in Philadelphia; 
an exhibition that brought from every State in the 
Union the best jn-oducts of her soil, lactones, and 
all industries. In that exhibit Ohio made an ex- 
cellent display. Her stone, iron, coal, cereals, 
woods and everything pertaining to lior welfare were 
all represented. Ohio, occujiying the middle ground 
of the Union, was expected to .show to foi#gn na- 
tions what the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio 



"V 



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138 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



could produce. The State nobly stood the test 
and ranked foremost among all others. Her cen- 
tennial building was among the first completed 
and among the neatest and best on the grounds. 
During the summer, the Centennial Commission 
extended invitations to the Governors of the several 
States to appoint an orator and name a day for his 



delivery of an address on the history, progress and 
resources of his State. Gov. Hayes named the 
Hon. Edward D. Mansfield for this purpose, and 
August Uth, that gentleman delivered an address 
so valuable for the matter which it contains, that 
we here give a synopsis of it. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

OHIO IN THE CENTENNIAL— ADDRESS OF EDWARD D. MANSFIELD, LL. D., PHILADELPHIA, 

AUGUST 9, 1876. 



ONE hundred years ago, the whole territory, 
from the Alleghany to the Rocky Mountains 
was a wilderness, inhabited only by wild bea.sts and 
Indians. The Jesuit and Moravian missionai-ies 
were the only white men who had penetrated the 
wilderness or beheld its mighty lakes and rivers. 
While the thirteen old colonies were declaring 
their independence, the thirteen new States, which 
now lie in the western interior, had no existence, 
and gave no sign of the future. The solitude of 
nature was unbroken by the steps of civilization. 
The wisest statesman had not contemplated the 
probability of the coming States, and the boldest 
patriot did not dream that this interior wilderness 
should soon contain a greater population than the 
thirteen old States, with all the added growth of 
one hundred years. 

Ten years after that, the old States had ceded 
their Western lands to the General Government, 
and the Congress of the United States had passed 
the ordinance of 1785, for the survey of the pub- 
lic territory, and, in 1787,the celebrated ordinance 
which organized the Northwestern Territory, and 
dedicated it to freedom and intelligence. 

Fifteen years after that, and more than a quarter 
of a century afler the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, the State of Ohio was admitted into the 
Union, being the seventeenth which accepted the 
Constitution of the United States. It has since 
grown up to be great, populous and prosperous 
under the influence of those ordinances. At her 
admittance, in 1803, the tide of emigration had 
begun to flow over the Alleghanies into the Valley 
of the Mississippi, and, although no steamboat, no 
railroad tben existed, nor even a stage coach helped 
the irarmgrant, yet the wooden " ark " on the 
Ohio, ana the heavy wagon, slowly winding over 



the mountains, bore these tens of thousands to the 
wilds of Kentucky and the plains of Oliio. In 
the spring of 1788 — the first year of settlement — 
four thousand five hundred persons passed the 
mouth of the Muskingum in three months, and 
the tide continued to pour on for half a century in 
a widening stream, mingled with all the races of 
Europe and America, until now, in the hundredth 
year of America's independence, the five States of the 
Northwestern Territory, in the wilderness of 1776, 
contain ten millions of people, enjoying all the 
blessings which peace and prosperity, freedom and 
Christiknity , can confer upon any people. Of these 
five States, born under the ordinance of 1787, Ohio 
is the first, oldest, and, in many things, the greatest. 
In some things it is the greatest State in the Union. 
Let us, then, attempt, in the briefest terms, to 
draw an outline portrait of this great and remark- 
able commonwealth. 

Let us observe its physical aspects. Ohio is 
just one-sixth part of the Northwestern Territory 
— 10,000 square miles. It lies between Lake Erie 
and the Ohio River, having 200 miles of navigable 
waters, on one side flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, 
and on the other into the Gulf of Mexico. Through 
the lakes, its vessels touch on 6,000 miles of 
interior coast, and, through the Mississippi, on 
36,000 miles of river coast; so that a citizen of 
Ohio may pursue his navigation through 42,000 
miles, all in his own country, and all within naviga- 
ble reacli of his own State. He who has circumnavi- 
gated the globe, has gone but little more than 
half the distance which the citizen of Ohio finds 
within his natural reach in this vast interior. 

Looking upon the surface of this State, we find 
no mountains, no barren sands, no marshy wastes, 
no lava-covered plains, but one broad, compact 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



139 



bod^' of arable land, intersected with rivers and 
streams and running waters, while the beautiful 
Ohio flows tranquilly by its side. More than three 
times the surface of Belgium, and one-third of the 
whole of Italy, it has more natural resources in 
proportion than either, and is cap;ible of ultimately 
supporting a larger population than any equal sur- 
face in Europe. Looking from this great arable 
surface, where upon the very hills the grass and 
the forest trees now grow exuberant and abundant, 
we find that underneath this sm-face, and easily 
accessible, lie 10,000 square miles of coal, and 
4,000 square miles of iron — coal and iron enough 
to supply the basis of manufacture for a world ! 
All this vast deposit of metal and fuel does not in- 
terrupt or take from that arable surface at all. 
There you may find in one place the same machine 
bringing up coal and salt water from below, while 
the wheat and the corn grow upon the surface 
above. The immense masses of coal, iron, salt and 
freestone deposited below have not in any way 
diminished the fertility and production of the soil. 
It has been said by some writer that the char- 
acter of a people is shaped or modified by the 
character of the country in which they live. If 
the people of Switzerland have ac(iuired a certain 
air of liberty and independence from the rugged 
mountains around which they live; if the people 
of Southern Italy, or beautiful France, have ac- 
quu-ed a tone of ease and politeness from their 
mild and genial chme, so the people of Ohio, 
placed amidst such a wealth of nature, in the tem- 
perate zone, should show the best fruits of peace- 
ful industry and the best culture of Christian 
civilization. Have they done so? Have their 
own labor and arts and culture come up to the ad- 
vantages of their natural situation? Let us exam- 
ine this growth and their product. 

■ The first settlement of Ohio was made by a 
colony from New England, at the mouth of the 
Muskingum. It wa.s literally a rcninaut of the 
officers of the Revolution. Of this colony no 
praLse of the historian can be as competent, or as 
strong, as the language of Wa!5hington. He says, 
in answer to inquiries addressed to him: "No col- 
ony in America was ever settled under such favor- 
able auspices as that which has just commenced at 
the ^Muskingum. Information, prosperity and 
strength will be its characteristics. I know many 
of the settlers personally, and there never were 
men better calculated to promote the welfare of 
such a community ;" and he adds that if he were 
a young man, he knows no country in which he 



would sooner settle than in this Western region." 
This colony, left alone for a time, made its own 
government and nailed its laws to a tree in the vil- 
lage, an early indication of that law-abiding and 
peaceful spirit which has since made Ohio a just 
and well-ordered community. The subsequent 
settlements on the Miami and Scioto were made by 
citizens of New Jersey and Virginia, and it is cer- 
tainly remarkable that among all the early immi- 
gration, there were no ignorant people. In the 
language of Washington, they came with " infor- 
mation," qualified to promote the welfare of the 
community. 

Soon after the settlement on the Muskingum 
and the Miami, the great wave of migration 
flowed on to the plains and valleys of Ohio and Ken- 
tucky. Kentucky had been settled earlier, but tlie 
main body of emigi-ants in subsequent years 
went into Ohio, influenced partly by the great 
ordinance of 1787, securing freedom and schools 
forever, and partly by the greater security of 
titles under the survey and guarantee of the 
United States Government. Soon the new State 
grew up, with a rapidity which, until then, was 
unknown in the history of civilization. On the 
MiLskingum, where the buff"alo had roamed; on 
the Scioto, where the Shawanecs had built their 
towns ; on the Miami, where the great chiefs of 
the Miamis had reigned ; on the plains of San- 
dusky, yet red with the blood of the white man ; 
on the Maumee, where Wayne, by the victory of 
the " Fallen Timbers," had broken the power of 
the Indian confederacy — the emigrants from the 
old States and from Europe came in to cultivate 
the fields, to build up towns, and to rear the insti- 
tutions of Christian civilization, until the single 
State of Ohio is greater in numbers, wealth, and 
education, than was the whole American Union 
when the Declaration of Independence was made. 

Let us now look at the statistics of this growth 
and magnitude, as' they arc exhibited in the cen- 
sus of the United States. Taking intervals of 
twenty years, Ohio had: In 1810, 230,700; in 
1830, 937,903; in 1850, 1,980,329; in 1870, 
2,6(55,260. Add to this the increase of population 
in the last six years, and Ohio now has, in round 
numbers, 3,000,000 of people — half a mOlion 
more than the thirteen States in 1770; and 
her cities and towns have to-day six times the 
population of all the cities of America one hund- 
red years ago. This State is now the third in 
numbers and wealth, and the first in some of 
those institutions which mark the progress of 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



mankind. That a small part of the wilderness of 
177G should be more populous than the whole 
Union Wiis then, and that it should have made a 
social and moral advance greater than that of any 
nation in the same time, must be regarded as one 
of the mo.st startling and instructive facts which 
attend this year of commemoration. If such lias 
been the social growth of Ohio, let us look at its 
jihysical develoj)mcnt ; this is best expressed by the 
aggregate productions of the labor and arts of a 
people applied to the earth. In the census statistics 
of the ITnited States these are expressed in the 
aggregate results of agriculture, mining, manufact^ 
ures, and commerce. Let us simplify these statis- 
tics, by comparing the aggregate and ratios as 
between several States, and between Ohio and some 
countries of Europe. 

The aggregate amount of grain and potatoes — 
farinaceous food, produced in Ohio in 1870 was 
134,938,413 bushels, and in 1874, there were 157,- 
323,597 bushels, being the largest aggregate 
amount raised in any State but one, Illinois, and 
larger per square mile than Illinois or any other 
State in the country. The promises of nature 
were thus vindicated by the labor of man ; and 
the industry of Ohio has fulfilled its whole duty 
to the sustenance of the country and the world. 
She has raised more grain than ten of the old 
States together, and more than half raised by 
Great Britain or .by France. I have not the 
recent statistics of Europe, but McGregor, in his 
statistics of nations for 1832 — a period of pro- 
found peace — gives the following ratios for the 
leading countries of Europe: Great Britain, area 
120,324 miles; amount of grain, 262,500,000 
bushels ; rate per square mile, 2,190 to 1 ; 
Austria — area 258,003 miles ; amount of grain, 
366,800,000 bushels; rate per square mile, 1,422 to 
1; France — area 215,858 miles; amount of grain, 
233,847,300 bushels ; rate per square mile, 1,080 
to 1 . The State of Ohio — area per square miles, 
40,000; amount of grain, 150,000,000 bushels; 
rate per square mile, 3,750. Combining the great 
countries of Great Britain, Austria, and France, 
we find that they had 594,785 square miles and 
produced 803,147,300 bushels of grain, which was, at 
the time these statistics were taken, 1 ,450 bushels per 
square mile, and ten bushels to each one of the 
liojiulation. Ohio, on the other hand, had 3,750 
buishels per square mile, and fifty bushels to each 
one of the population ; that is, there was five 
times as much grain raised in Ohio, in proportion 
to the people, as in these great countries of Europe. 



As letters make words, and words express idea.s, so 
these dry figures of statistics expre.ss facts, and 
these facts make the whole history of civilization. 

Let us now look at the statistics of domestic 
animals. These are always indicative of the state 
of society in regard to the physical comforts. The 
horse must furnish domestic conveyances ; the 
cattle must furnish the products of the dairy, as 
well as meat, and the sheep must furnish wool. 

Let us see how Ohio compares with other States 
and with Europe : In 1870, Ohio had 8,818,000 
domestic animals ; Illinois, 6,925,000 ; New York, 
5,283,000; Pennsylvania, 4,493,000; and other 
States less. The proportion to population in these 
States was, in Ohio, to each person, 3.3 ; Illinois, 
2.7; New York, 1.2; Pennsylvania, 1.2. 

Let us now see the proportion of domestic ani- 
mals in Europe. The results given by McGregor's 
statistics are : In Great Britain, to each person, 
2.44; Russia, 2.00; France, 1.50 ; Prus.sia,1.02; 
Austria, 1.00. It will be seen that the proportion 
in Great Britain is onlj- two-thirds that of Ohio ; 
in France, only one-half; and in Au.stria and 
Prussia only one-third. It may be said that, in 
the course of civilization, the number of animals 
diminishes as the density of population increases ; 
and, therefore, this re.sult might have been ex- 
pected in the old countries of Europe, But this 
does not apply to Russia or Germany, still less to 
other States in this country. Russia in Europe 
has not more than half the density of population 
now in Ohio. Austria and Prussia have less than 
150 to the square mile. The whole of the north 
of Europe has not so dense a population as the 
State of Ohio, still less have the States of Illinois 
and Missouri, west of Ohio. Then, therefore, 
Ohio showing a larger proportion of domestic ani- 
mals than the north of Europe, or States west of 
her, with a population not so dense, we see at once 
there must be other causes to produce such a 
phenomenon. 

Looking to some of the incidental results of this 
vast agricultural production, we see that the LTnited 
States exports to Europe immense amounts of 
grain and provisions ; and that there is manufact- 
ured in this country an immense amount of woolen 
goods. Then, taking these statistics of the raw 
material, we find that Ohio produces one-fifth of 
all the wool ; one-seventh of all the cheese ; one- 
eighth of all the corn, and one-tenth of all the 
wheat ; and )''et Ohio has but a fourteenth part of 
the population, and one-eightieth part of the sur- 
face of this country. 



JA. 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



141 



Let us take another — a commercial view of this 
matter. We have seen that Ohio raises five times 
as much giain per square mile as is raised per 
square mile in the empires of Great Britain, France 
and Austria, taken together. After making allow- 
ance for the differences of living, in the working 
classes of this country, at least two-thirds of the 
food and grain of Ohio are a surplus beyond the 
necessities of life, and, therefore, so much in the 
commercial balance of exports. This c(UTc.sponds 
with the fact, that, in the shape of grain, meat, 
li((U()rs and dairy products, this vast surplus is con- 
stantly moved to the Atlantic States and to Europe. 
The money value of this exported product is equal 
to $100,000,000 per annum, and to a solid capital 
of ?1, 500,000,000, after all the sustenance of the 
people has been taken out of the annual crop. 

We are sj)eaking of agriculture alone. We are 
speaking of a State which began its career more 
than a' quarter of a century after the Declaration 
of Independence was made. And now, it may be 
asked, what is the real cause of this extraordinary 
result, which, without saying anything invidious of 
other States, we may safely say has never been 
surpassed in any country? We have already 
stated two of the advantages possessed by Ohio. 
The first is that it is a compact, unbroken body of 
arable land, surrounded and intersected by water- 
courses, equal to all the demands of commerce and 
navigation. Next, that it was secured forever to 
freedom and intelligence by the ordinance of 1787. 
The intelligence of its future people was secured 
by immense grants of public lands for the purpose 
of education ; but neither the blessings of nature, 
nor the wisdom of laws, could obtain such results 
without the continuous labor of an intelligent 
people. Such it had, and wo have only to take 
the testimony of Washington, already quoted, and 
the statistical results I have given, to prove that 
no people has exhibited more steady industry, nor 
has any people directed their labor with more in- 
telligence. 

After the agricultural capacity and production 
of a country, its most important physical feature 
is its mineral products; its capacity for coal and 
iron, the two great elements of material civiliza- 
tion. If we were to take away from Great Britain 
her capacity to produce coal in such v;ist quanti- 
ties, we should reduce her to a third-rate position, 
no longer numbered among the great nations of the 
earth. Coal has smelted her iron, run her steam 
engines, and is the basis of her manufactures. 
But when we compare the coal fields of Great 



Britain with those of this country, they are insig- 
nificant. The coal fields of all Europe arc small 
compared with those of the central United States. 
The coal district of Durham and Northumberland, 
in England, is only 880 square miles. There are 
other districts of smaller extent, making in the 
whole probably one-half the extent of that in 
Ohio. The English coal-beds arc represented as 
more important, in reference to extent, on account 
of their thickness. There is a small coal district 
in Lancashire, where the workable coal-beds are in 
all 150 feet in thickness. But this involves, as is 
well known, the necessity of going to immense 
depths and incurring immense expense. On the 
other hand, the workable coal-beds of Ohio are 
near the surface, and some of them require no ex- 
cavating, except that of the horizontal lead from 
the mine to the river or the railroad. In one 
county of Ohio there are three beds of twelve, six 
and four feet each, within fifty feet of the surface. 
At some of the mines having the best coal, the 
lead fi:om the mines is nearly horizontal, and just 
high enough to dump the coal into the railroad 
cars. These coals are of all (jualities, from that 
adapted to the domestic fire to the very best qual- 
ity for smelting or marmfacturing iron. Recollect- 
ing these facts, let us try to get an idea of the coal 
district of Ohio. The bituminous coal region de- 
escending the western .slopes of the Alleghanies, 
occupies large portions of Western Pennsylvania, 
West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennes.see. I 
suppose that this coal field is not less than fifty 
thousand square miles, exclusive of Western IMary- 
land and the southern terminations of that field in 
Georgia and Alabama. Of this vast field of coal, 
exceeding anything found in Europe, about one- 
fifth part lies in Ohio. I'rof blather, in his 
report on the geology of the State (first Geologi- 
cal Report of the State) says: 

" The coal-measures within Ohio occupy a space 
of about one hundred and eighty miles in length by 
eighty in breadth at the widest part, with au area 
of about ten thcutsand .'^ijuare miles, extending 
along the Ohio from Truniliull County in the north 
to near the mouth of the Scioto in the south. 
The regularity in the dip, and the moderate inch- 
nation of the strata, afford facilities to the mines 
not known to those of most other countries, espe- 
cially Great Britain, where the strata in wliich the 
coal is imbedded have been broken and thrown out 
of place since its deposit, occasioning many slips 
and faults, and causing much labor and expense in 
again recovering the bed. In Ohio there is very 



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142 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



little difficulty of this kind, the faults being small 
and seldom found." 

Now, taking into consideration these geological 
facts, let us look at the extent of the Ohio coal 
field. It occupies, wholly or in part, thirty-six 
counties, including, geographically, 14,000 square 
miles ; but leaving out fractions, and reducing the 
Ohio coal field within its narrowest limits, it is 
10,000 s(|uare miles in extent, lies near the surface, 
and has I in an average twenty feet thickness of work- 
able coal-beds. Let us compare this with the coal 
mines of Durham and Nortliumberland (England), 
the largest and best coal mines there. That coal 
district is estimated at 850 square miles, twelve 
feet thick, and is calculated to contain 9,000,000,- 
000 tons of coal. The coal field of Ohio is twelve 
times larger and one-third thicker. Estimated by 
that standard, the coal field of Ohio contains 180,- 
000,000,000 tons of coal. Marketed at only $2 
per ton, this coal is worth §300,000,000,000, or, 
in other wnrds, ten times as much as the whole 
valuation of the United States at the present time. 
But we need not undertake to estimate either its 
quantity or value. It is enough to say that it is a 
quantity which we can scarcely imagine, which is 
tenfold that of England, and which is enough to 
supply the entire continent for ages to come. 

After coal, iron is beyond doubt the most val- 
uable mineral product of a State. As the mate- 
rial of manufacture, it is the most important. 
What are called the " precious metals " are not to 
be compared with it as an clement of industry or 
profit. But since no manufactures can be success- 
fully carried on without fuel, coal becomes the first 
material element of the arts. Iron is unquestion- 
ably the next. Ohio has an iron district extending 
from the mouth of the Scioto River to some point 
north of the Mahoning River, in Trumbull County. 
The whole length is nearly two hundred miles, and 
the breadth twenty miles, making, as near as we can 
ascertain, 4,000 square miles. The iron in this dis- 
trict is of various qualities, and is manufactured 
largely into bars and castings. In this iron dis- 
trict are one hundred furnaces, forty-four rolling- 
mills, and fifteen rail-mills, being the largest num- 
ber of either in any State in the Union, except 
only Pennsylvania. 

Although only the seventeenth State inits admis- 
sion, I findtliat, by the census statistics of 1870, 
it is the third State in the production of iron and iron 
manufactures. Already, and within the life of 
one man, this State begins to show what must in 
future time be the vast results of coal and iron, 



applied to the arts and manufactures. In the 
year 1874, there were 420,000 tons of pig iron 
produced in Ohio, which is larger than the prod- 
uct of any State, except Pennsylvania. The 
product and the manufacture of iron in Ohio 
have increased so rapidly, and the basis for 
increase is so great, that we may not doubt that 
Ohio will continue to be the greatest producer of 
iron and iron fabrics, except only Pennsylvania. 
At Cincinnati, the iron manufacture of the Ohio 
Valley is concentrating, and at Cleveland the ores 
of Lake Superior are being smelted. 

After coal and iron, we may place salt among 
the necessaries of life. In connection with the 
coal region west of the Alleghanies, there lies in 
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, a large 
space of country underlaid by the salt rock, which 
already produces immense amounts of salt. Of 
this, Ohio has its full proportion. In a large 
section of the southeastern portion of thft State, 
salt is produced without any known limitation. 
At Pomeroy and other points, the salt rock lies 
about one thousand feet below the surface, but 
salt water is brought easily to the surface by the 
steam engine. There, the salt rock, the coal 
seam, and the noble sandstone lie in successive 
strata, whOe the green corn and the yellow wheat 
bloom on the surface above. The State of Ohio 
produced, in 1874, 3,500,000 bushels of salt, 
being one-fifth of all produced in the United 
States. The salt section of Ohio is exceeded only 
by that of Syracuse, New York, and of Saginaw, 
Michigan. There is no definite limit to the 
underlying salt rock of Ohio, and, therefore, the 
production will b^ proportioned only to the extent 
of the demand. 

Having now considered the resources and the 
products of the soil and the mines of Ohio, we 
may properly ask how tin- the people have employed 
their resources in the increase of art and manu- , 
factiu-e. We have two modes of comparison, the 
rate of increase within the State, and the ratio 
they bear to other States. The aggregate value 
of the products of manufacture, exclusive of 
mining, in the last throe censuses wore : in 1850, 
$62.g'92.000 ; in 1860, $121,091,000; in 1870, 
8209,713,000. 

The ratio of increase was over 100 per cent in 
each ten years, a rate far beyond that of the in- 
crease of population, and much beyond the ratio of 
increase in the whole country. In 1850, the man- 
ufactures of Ohio were one-sixteenth part of the 
aggregate in the country ; in 1860, one-fifteenth 






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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



143 



part; in 1870, one-twelfth part. In addition to 
tliis, we find, from the return.s of Cincinnati and 
Cleveland, that the value of the manufactured prod- 
ucts of Ohio in 1875, must have reached $400,- 
000,000, and, by reference to the census tables, it 
will be seen that the ratio of increase exceeded tliat 
of the great manufacturing States of New York, 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Of all the States ■ 
admitted into the Union prior to Ohio, Pennsylvania 
alone has kept pace in the progress of manufacture. 
Some little reference to the manufacture of leading 
articles may throw some light on the cause of this. 
In the production of agricultural machinery and 
implements, Ohio is the first State ; in animal and 
vegetable oils and in pig iron, the second; in cast 
iron and in tobacco, the third ; in salt, in machinery 
and in leather, the fourth. These facts show how. 
largely the resources of coal, iron and agriculture 
have entered into the manufactures of the State. 
This great advance in the manufactures of Ohio, 
when we consider that this State is, relatively to 
its surface, the first agricultural State in the 
country, leads to the inevitable inference that its 
people are remarkably industrious. When, on 
forty thousand square miles of surface, three mill- 
ions of people raise one hundred and fif^y million 
bushels of grain, and produce manufactures to the 
amount of §269,000,000 (which is fitly bushels 
of breadstuff to each man, woman and child, and 
8133 of manufacture), it will be diflicult to find 
any community surpassing such results. It is a 
testimony, not only to the State of Ohio, but to 
the industry, sagacity and energy of the American 
people. 

Looking now to the commerce of the State, we 
have said there are six hundred miles of coast line, 
which embraces some of the principal internal ports 
of the Ohio and the lakes, such as Cincinnati, Cleve- 
land, Toledo and Portsmouth, but whose commerce 
ia most wholly inland. Of course, no comparison 
can be made with the foreign commerce of the 
ocean ports. On the other hand, it is well known 
that the inland trade of the country far exceeds 
that of all its foreign commerce, and that the larg- 
est part of this interior trade is carried on its 
rivers and lakes. The materials for the vast con- 
sumption of the interior must be convej'cd in its 
vessels, whether of sail or steam, adapted to these 
waters. Let us take, then, the ship-building, the 
navigation, and the exchange trades of Ohio, as 
elements in determining the position of this State 
in reference to the commerce of the country. At 
the ports of Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky and Cin- 



cinnati, there have been built one thousand sail and 
steam vessels in the last twenty years, making an 
average of fifty each year. The number of sail, 
steam and all kinds of vessels in Ohio is eleven 
hundred and ninety, which is equal to the number 
in all the other States in the Ohio Valley and the 
Upper Mississippi. 

When we look to the navigable points to which 
these vessels are destined, we find them on all this 
vast coast line, which extends from the Gulf of 
Mexico to the Yellowstone, and from Duluth to 
the St. Lawrence. 

Looking again to see the extent of this vast in- 
terior trade which is handled by Ohio alone, we 
find that the imports and exports of the principal 
articles of Cincinnati, atnount in value to S500,- 
000,000; and when we look at the great trade of 
Cleveland and Toledo, we shall find that the an- 
nual trade of Ohio exceeds $700,0(10,000. The 
lines of railroad which connect with its ports, are 
more than four thousand miles in length, or rather 
more than one mile in length to each ten square 
miles of surface. This great amount of railroads is 
engaged not merely in transporting to the Atlantic 
and thence to Europe, the immense surplus grain 
and meat in Ohio, but in carrying the largest part 
of that greater surplus, which exists in the States 
west of Ohio, the granary of the West. Ohio 
holds the gateway of every railroad north of the 
Ohio, from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and 
hence it is that the great transit lines of the coun- 
try pass through Ohio. 

Let us now turn from the progress of the arts 
to the progress of ideas ; from material to intellect- 
ual development. It is said that a State consists 
of men, and history shows that no art or science, 
wealth or power, will compensate for the want of 
moral or intellectual stability in the minds of a 
nation. Hence, it is admitted that the strength 
and perpetuity of our republic must consist in the 
intelligence and morality of the people. A re- 
public can last only when the people are enlight- 
ened. This was an axiom with the early legislators 
of this country. Hence it was that when Y'n- 
ginia, Connecticut and the original colonies ceded 
to the General Government that vast and then un- 
known wilderness which lay west of the Allcgha- 
nies, in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, they 
took care that its future inhabitants should be an 
educated people. The Constitution was not formed 
when the celebrated ordinance of 1787 was passed. 

That ordinance provided that, " Religion, mor- 
ality, and knowledge being necessary to good 



^1 



D \ 



:di 



144 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



government and the happiness of mankind, schools 
and the means of education shall be forever en- 
couraged;" and by the ordinance of 1785 for the 
survey of public lands in the Northwestern Terri- 
tory, Section IG in each township, that is, one 
thirty-sixth part, was reserved for the maintenance 
of public schools in said townships. As the State 
of Ohio contained a little more than twenty-five 
millions of acres, this, together with two special 
grants of three townships to universities, amounted 
to the dedication of 740,000 acres of land to the 
maintenance of schools and colleges. It was a 
splendid endowment, but it was many years before 
it became available. It was sixteen years after the 
passage of this ordinance (in 1803), when Ohio 
entered the Union, and legislation upon this grant 
became possible. The Constitution of the State 
pursued the language of the ordinance, and de- 
clared that "schools and the means of education 
shall forever beeneouraged by legislative provision." 
The Governors of Ohio, in successive messages, 
urged attention to this subject upon the people; 
but the thinness of settlement, making it impossi- 
ble, except in few districts, to collect youth in suf- 
ficient numbers, and impossible to sell or lease 
lands to advantage, caused the delay of eflScient 
school system for many years. In 182.5, however, 
a general law establishing a school system, and levy- 
ing a tax for its support, was passed. 

This was again enlarged and increased by new 
legislation in 1836 and 1846. From that time to 
this, Ohio has had a broad, liberal and eificient sys- 
tem of public instruction. The taxation for schools, 
and the number enrolled in them at different pe- 
riods, will best show what has been done. In 
1855 the total taxation for school purposes was 
$2,672,827. The proportion of youth of school- 
able age enrolled was 67 per'cent. In 187-1 the 
amount raised by taxation was $7,425,135. The 
number enrolled of schoolable age was 70 per 
cent, or 707,943. 

As the schoolable age extends to twenty-one 
years, and as there are very few youth in school 
after fifteen years of age, it follows that the 70 
per cent of schoolable youths enrolled in the pub- 
lic schools must comprehend nearly the whole 
number between four and fifteen years. It is im- 
portant to observe this fact, because it has been 
inferred that, as the whole number of youth be- 
tween five and twenty-one have not been enrolled, 
therefore they are not educated. This is a 
mistake; nearly all over fifteen years of age have 
been in the public schools, and all the native 



youth of the State, and all foreign born, young 
enough, have had the benefit of the public schools. 
But in consequence of the large number who 
have come from other States and fi-om foreign 
countries, there are still a few who are classed by 
the census statistics among the "illiterate;" the 
proportion of this class, however, is less in jiropor- 
tion than in twenty-eight other States, and less in 
proportion than in Connecticut and iMassachusetts, 
two of the oldest States most noted for popular 
education. In fact, every youth in Ohio, under 
twenty-one years of age, may have the benefit of a 
public education ; and, since the system of graded 
and high schools has been adopted, may obtain a 
common knowledge from the alphabet to the classics. 
The enumerated branches of study in the pub- 
lic schools of Ohio are thirty-four, including 
mathematics and astronomy, French, German and 
the classics. Thus the State which was in the 
heart of the wilderness in 1776, and was not a 
State until the nineteenth century had begun, now 
presents to the world, not merely an unrivaled de- 
velopment of material prosperity, but an unsur- 
passed system of popular education. 

In what is called the higher education, in the 
colleges and universities, embracing the classics 
and sciences taught in regular cla.sses, it is the pop- 
ular idea, and one which few dare to question, that 
we must look to the Eastern States for superiority 
and excellence ; but that also is becoming an as- 
sumption without proof; a proposition difficult to 
sustain. The facts in regard to the education of 
universities and colleges, their faculties, students 
and course of instruction, are all set forth in the 
complete statistics of the Bureau of Education for 
1874. They show that the State of Ohio had the 
largest number of such institutions; the largest 
number of instructors in their faculties, except one 
State, New York ; and the largest number of stu- 
dents in regular college classes, in proportion to 
their population, except the two States of Connect- 
icut and Massachusetts. Perhaps, if we look at 
the statistics of classical students in the colleges, 
disregarding preparatory and irregular courses, we 
shall get a more accurate idea of the progTcss of 
the higher education in those States which claim 
the best. In Ohio, 36 colleges, 258 teachers, 
2,139 students, proportion, 1 in 124; in Penn- 
sylvania, 27 colleges, 239 teachers, 2,359 students, 
proportion, 1 in 150; in New York, 26 colleges, 
343 teachers, 2,764 students, proportion, 1 in 176; 
in the six NewEngland States, 1 7 colleges, 252 teacli- 
ers, 3,341 students, proportion, 1 in 105; in Illi- 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



145 



nois, 24 colleges, 219 teacliers, 1,701 students, 
proportion, 1 in 140. 

This shows there are more collegiate institutions 
in Ohio than in all New England ; a grcateu- num- 
ber of college teachers, and only a little smaller ratio 
of students to the population ; a greater number of 
such students than either in New York or Pennsyl- 
vania, and, as a broad, general fact, Ohio has made 
more progress in education than either of the old 
States which formed the American Union. Such 
a fact is a higher testimony to the strength and the 
beneficent influence of the American Government 
than any which the statistician or the historian 
can advance. 

Let U3 now turn to the moral aspects of the 
people of Ohio. No human society is found with- 
out its poor and dependent classes, whether made 
so by the defects of nature, by acts of Providence, 
or by the accidents of fortune. Since no society 
is exempt from these classes, it must be judged 
not so much by the fact of their existence, as by 
the manner in which it treats them. In the civil- 
ized nations of antiquity, such as Greece and 
Rome, hospitals, infirmaries, orphan homes, and 
asylums for the infinu, were unknown. These 
are the creations of Christianity, and that must be 
esteemed practically the most Christian State which 
most practices this Christian beneficence. • In Ohio, 
a.s in all the States of this country, and of all 
Christian countries, there is a large number of the 
infirm and dependent cla.sses; but, although Ohio 
is the third State in population, she is only the 
fourteenth in the proportion of dependent classes. 
The more important point, however, was, how does 
she treat them ? Is there wanting any of all 
the varied institutions of benevolence? How docs 
she compare with other States and countries in 
this respect? It is believed that no State or coun- 
try can present a larger proportion of all these 
institutions which the benevolence of the wise and 
■good have suggested for the alleviation of suffer- 
ing and misfortune, than the State of Ohio. With 
3,500 of the insane within her borders, .she has 
five great lunatic asylums, capable of accommodat- 
ing them all. She has asylums for the deaf and 
dumb, the idiotic, and the blind. She has the 
best hospitals in the country. She has schools 
of reform and houses of refuge. She has " homes" 
for the boys and girls, to the number of 800, who 
are children of soldiers. She has penitentiaries 
and jails, orphan asylums and infirmaries. In 
every county there is an infirmary, and in every 
public institution, except the penitentiary, there is a 



school. So that the State has used every human 
means to relieve the suffering, to instruct the igno- 
rant, and to refin-m the criminal. There are in 
the State 80,0l>0 who come under all the various 
forms of the infirm, the poor, the sick and the 
criminal, who, in a greater or less degree, make 
the dependent class. For these the State has 
made every provision which humanity or justice 
or intelligence can recjuire. A young State, de- 
veloped in the wilderness, she challenges, without 
any invidious comparison, both Europe and Amer- 
ica, to show her superior in the development of 
humanity manifested in the benefaction of public 
institutions. 

Intimately connected with public morals and 
with charitable institutions, is the religion of a 
people. The people of the United States are a 
Christian people. The people of Ohio have man- 
ifested their zeal by the erection of churches, of 
Sunday schools, and of religious institutions. So 
far as these are outwardly manifested, they are 
made known by the social statistics of the census. 
The number of church organizations in the leading 
States were : In the State of Ohio, G,488 ; in 
the State of New York, 5,627 : in the State of 
Pennsylvania, 5,984 ; in the State of Illinois, 4,298. 
It thus appears that Ohio had a larger number 
of churches than any State of the Union. The 
number of sittings, however, was not (ptite as 
large as those in New York and Pennsylvania. 
The denominations are of all the sects known in 
this country, about thirty in number, the majority 
of the whole being IMcthodists, Presbyterians and 
Baptists. Long before the American Independ- 
ence, the Moravians had settled on the Mahoning 
and Tusearawiis Rivers, but only to be destroyed ; 
and when the peace with Great Britain was made, 
not a ve.stige of Christianity remained on the 
soil of Ohio ; yet we see that within ninety years 
from that time the State of Ohio was, in the num- 
ber of its churches, the first of this great ITnion. 
In the beginning of this address, I said that 
Ohio was the oldest and first of these great States,' 
carved out of the Northwestern Territory, and that 
it was in some things the greatest State of the 
American Union. I have now traced the physi- 
cal, commercial, intellectual and moral features of 
the State during the seventy-five years of its 
cr)nstitutional history. The result is to establish 
fully the propositions with which I began. These 
facts have brcmccht out : 

1. That Ohio is, in reference to the square 
jniles of its surface, the first State in agricuhure 



^, 



146 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



of the American Union ; this, too, notwitlistan J- 
ing it lias 800,000 in cities and towns, and a large 
development of capital and products in manu- 
factures. 

2. That Ohio has raised more grain per square 
mile than either France, Austria, or Great Britain. 
They raised 1,450 bushels per square mile, and 
10 bushels to each person; Ohio raised 3,750 
bushels per square mile, and 50 bushels to each 
one of the population ; or, in other words, five 
times the proportion of grain raised in Europe. 

3. Ohio was the first State of the Union ih 
the production of domestic animals, being far in 
advance of cither New York, Pennsylvania or Illi- 
nois. The proportion of domestic animals to each 
person in Ohio was throe and one-third, and in 
New York aud Pennsylvania loss than half that. 
The largest proportion of domestic animals pro- 
duced in Europe was in Great Britain and Kussia, 
neither of which come near that of Ohio. 

4. The coal-field of Ohio is vastly greater than 
that of Great Britain, and we need make no com- 
parison with other States in regard to coal or iron ; 
for the 10,000 square miles of coal, and 4,000 
square miles of iron in Ohio, are enough to supply 
the whole American continent for ages to come. 

5. Neither need we compare the results of 
commerce and navigation, since, from the ports of 
Cleveland and Cincinnati, the vessels of Ohio 
touch on 42,000 miles of coast, and her 5,000 
miles of railroad carry her products to every part 
of the American continent. 

G. Notwithstanding the immense proportion 
and products of agriculture in Ohio, yet she has 
more than kept pace with New York and New 
England in the progress of manufactures during 
the last twenty years. Her coal aud iron are pro- 
ducing their legitimate results in making her a 
great manufacturing State. 

7. Ohio is the first State in the Union as to 
the proportion of youth attending school; and the 
States west of the AUeghanies and north of the 
Ohio have more youth in school, proportionably, 
than New England and New York- The facts on 
this subject are so extraordinary that I may be 
excused for giving them a little in detail. 

The projjortion of youth in (Jhio attending 
school to the population, is 1 in 4.2; in Illinois, 1 
in 4.3; in Pennsylvania, 1 in 4.8; in New York, 
1 in 5.2 ; in Connecticut and Massachusetts, 1 in 
8.7. 

Those proportions show that it is in the West, 
and not in the East, that education is now advance 



ing; and it is here that we see the stimulus given 
by the ordinance of 1787, is working out its great 
and beneficent results. The land grant for educa- 
tion w;is a great one, but, at last, its chief efibrt 
was in stimulating popular education ; for the State 
of Ohio has taxed itself tens of millions of dollars 
beyond the utmost value of the land grant, to 
found and maintain a system of public education 
which the world has not surpassed. 

We have seen that above and beyond all this 
material and intellectual development, Ohio has 
provided a vast benefaction of asylums, hospitals, 
and infirmaries, and special schools for the support 
and instruction of the dependent classes. There is 
not within all her borders a single one of the deaf, 
dumb, and blind, of the poor, sick, and insane, not 
an orphan or a vagrant, who is not provided for 
by the broad and generous liberality of the State 
and her people. A cluuit}- which the classic ages 
knew nothing of, a beneficence which the splendid 
hierarchies and aristocracies of Europe cannot 
equal, has been exhibited in this young State, 
whose name was unknown one hundred years ago, 
whose people, fi'om Europe to the Atlantic, and 
from the Atlantic to the Ohio, were, like Adam 
and Eve, cast out — " the world he/ore them where 
to choose." 

Lastly,'we sec that, although the third in pop- 
ulation, and the seventeenth in admission to the 
Union, Ohio had, in 1870, G,400 churches, the 
largest number in any one State, and numbering 
among them every form of Christian worship. 
The people, whose fields were rich with grain, 
whose mines were boundless in wealth, and whose 
commerce extended through thousands of miles 
of lakes and rivers, came here, as they came to 
New England's rock-bound coast — 

" With freedom to worship God." 

The church and the schoolhouse rose beside the 
green fields, and the morning bells rang forth to 
cheerful children going to school, and to a Chris- 
tian people going to the church of God. 

Let us now look at the possibilities of Ohio in 
the future development of the American Repub- 
lican Republic. The two most populous parts of 
Eurojie, because the most food-producing, are the 
Netherlands and Italy, or, more precisely, Belgium 
and ancient Lumbardy ; to the present time, their 
population is, in round numbers, three hundred to 
the .square mile. The density of population in 
England proper is abrtut the same. We may 
assume, therefore, that three bundled to the square 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



147 



mile is, in round numbers, the limit of comfortable 
subsistence under modern civilization. It is true 
that modern improvements in agricultural machin- 
ery and fertilization have greatly increased the 
capacity of production, on a given amount of 
land, with a given amount of labor. It is true, 
also, that the old countries of Europe do not 
possess an equal amount of arable land with Ohio 
in proportion to the same surface. It would seem, 
therefore, that the density of population in Ohio 
might exceed that of any part of Europe. On 
the other hand, it may be said with truth that the 
American people will not become so dense as in 
Europe while they have new lands in the West 
to occupy. This is true ; but lands such as those 
in the valley of the Ohio are now becoming 
scarce in the West, and we think that, with her 
great capacity for the production of grain on one 
hand, and of illimitable quantities of coal and 
iron to manufacture with on the other, that Ohio 
will, at no remote period, reach nearly the den.sity 
of Belgium, which will give her 10,000,000 of 
people. This seems extravagant, but the tide of 
migration, which flowed so fast to the West, is 
beginning to ebb, while the manufactures of the 
interior offer greater inducements. 

With population comes wealth, the material for 
education, the development of the arts, advance 
in all the material elements of civilization, and the 
still grander advancements in the strength and 
elevation of the human mind, conquering to itself 
new realms of material and intellectual power, 
acquiring in the future what we have seen in the 
past, a wealth of resources unknown and undreamed 
of when, a hundred years ago, the fathers of the 
republic declared their independence. I know 
how ea.sy it is to treat .this statement with easy 
incredulity, but statistics is a certain science ; the 
elements of civilization are now measured, and we 
know the progress of the human race as we know 



that of a cultivated plant. We know the resources 
of the country, its food-producing capacity, its 
art proces.scs, its power of education, and the unde- 
fined and illimitable power of the human mind 
for new iiiventi(jns and uuimagincd progress. With 
this knowledge, it is not difficult nor unsafe to say 
that the future will produce more, and in a far 
greater ratio, than the past. The pictured scenes 
of the prophets have already been more than ful- 
filled, and the visions of beauty and glory, which 
their imagination failed fully to describe, will be 
more than realized in the bloom of that garden 
which republican America will present to the 
eyes of astonished mankind. Long before another 
century shall have passed by, the single State of 
Ohio will present fourfold the population with which 
the thirteen States began their independence, more 
wealth than the entire Union now has ; greater 
universities than any now in the country, and a 
development of arts and manufacture which the 
world now knows nothing of You have seen 
more than that since the Constitution was adopted, 
and what right have you to say the future shall 
not equal the past ? 

I have aimed, in this address, to give an exact 
picture of what Ohio is, not more for the sake of 
Ohio than as a representation of the products 
which the American Republic has given to the 
world. A State which began long after the 
Declaration of Independence, in the then unknown 
wilderness of North America, presents to-day 
the fairest example of what a republican govern- 
ment with Christian civilization can do. Look 
upon this picture and upon those of Assyria, 
of Greece or Rome, or of Europe in her best 
estate, and say whore is the civilization of the 
earth which can equal this. If a Roman citizen could 
say with pride, " Civis Romanus sum," with far 
greater pride can you say this day, "I am an 
American citizen." 




^^ 



!£: 



148 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



EDUCATION* — EARLY SCHOOL LAWS — NOTES — IXSTITL'TES AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS- 
SCHOOL SYSTEM- SCHOOL FUNDS— COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 



WHEN the .survey of the Northwest Terri- 
tory was ordered by Congi-ess, March 20, 
1785, it was decreed that every sixteenth, section 
of land should be reserved for the "maintenance 
of public .schools within each township." The 
ordinance of 1787 — thanks to the New England 
Associates — proclaimed that, " religion, morality 
and knowledge being essential to good government, 
schools and the means of education should forever 
be encouraged." The State Constitution of 1802 
declared that " schools and the means of instruc- 
tion should be encouraged by legislative provision, 
not incou.-iistcnt with the rights of conscience." 
In 1825, through the persevering efforts of Nathan 
Guilford, Senator fi'om Hamilton County, Ephraim 
Cutler, Kepresentative from Washington County, 
and other friends of education, a bill was passed, 
" laying the foundation for a general system of 
common schools." This bill provided a tax of one- 
half mill, to be levied by the County Commis- 
sioners for school purposes ; provided for school 
examiners, and made Township Clerks and County 
Auditors school officers. In 1829, this county 
tax was raised to three-fourths of a mill ; in 1 834 
to one mill, and, in 1836, to one and a half mills. 
In March, 1837, Samuel Lewis, of Hamilton 
County, was appointed State Superintendent of Com- 
mon Schools. He was a very energetic worker, trav- 
eling on horseback all over the State, delivering ad- 
dresses and encouraging school officers and teachers. 
Through his efforts much good was done, and 



* From thp School Commissioners' Reporls. principally those of 
Thomas W, Il^.rvey, A. M. 

Note I. — The first school tiiugbt in Ohio, or in the Northwestern 
Territory, wan in IT'Jl. Tho first te.icher was Waj. Anstin Tiipper, 
f'Idcstson of Gen. Benjamin Tnpper, tir)th Revolvitioiiary offi<'era. 
The room occnpied was the same as that in wliich the first Court wa8 
held, and was sitnated in (he northwest Mock-houeeot the garrison, 
called the stockade, at Marietta. During the Indian war school 
was also taught at Fort Harmar, Point Marietta, and at other set- 
tlements. A meeting was held in Marietta, April 29, 1797, to con- 
sider the erection of a school Imildiug suitable for the instruction 
of the youth, and for conrhictinK religious services. Resolutions 
wore adopted which led to the erection of a building called the 
Muskingum Academy. The building was of frame, forty feet long 
and twenty-four feet wide, and is yet(1878!3tanding. Thebuildlng 
was twelve feet high, with an arched ceiling. It stood upon astone 
foundation, three steps from tlio ground. There were luo chimneys 
and a lobby projection. There was a cellar under the whole build- 
ing. It stood upon a beautiful lot. fronting the Muskingum River, 
and about sixty feet back from the street. Some largo trees were 



many important features engrafted on the school 
system. He resigned in 1839, when the office was 
abolished, and its duties imposed on the Secretai-y 
of State. 

The most important adjunct in early education 
in the State was the college of teachers organized 
in Cincinnati in 1831. Albert Pickett, Dr. Joseph 
Ray, William II. McGuffey — so largely known by 
his Readers — and Milo G. Williams, were at its 
head. Leading men in all parts of the West at- 
tended its meetings. Their published deliberations 
did much for the advancement of education among 
the people. Through the efforts of the college, 
the first convention held in Ohio for educational 
purposes was called at Columbus, January 13, 
183U. Two years after, in December, the first 
convention in which the ditlerent sections of the 
State were represented, was held. At both these 
conventions, all the needs of the schools, both com- 
mon and higher, were ably and fully discussed, 
and appeals made to the people for a more cordial 
support of the law. No successful attempts were 
made to organize a permanent educational society 
until December, 1847, when the Ohio State Teach- 
ers' Association was formed at Akron, Summit 
County, with Samuel Galloway as President; T. 
W. Harvey, Recording Secretary ; M. D. Leggett, 
Corresponding Secretary ; William Bowen, Treas- 
urer, and M. P. Cowdrey, Chairman of the Executive 
Committee. This Association entered upon its 
work with commendable earnestness, and has since 

upon the lot and on the street iu front. Across the street was aa 
open common, and beyond that the river. Immediately opposite 
the door, ou entering, was a broad aisle, and, at the end of the 
aisle, against the wall, was a desk or puljat. Ou the right and left 
of the pulpit, against the wall, and fronting the pulpit, was a row 
of slips, tin each sideof the door, facing the pulpit, were two slips, 
and. at each end of the room, one slip. These slips were stationary, 
and were fitted with desks that could be let down, and there were 
boxes in the desks for holding books and papers. In the center of 
the room was an open space, which could be filled with movable 
seats. The first school was opened here in ISOO." — Letter of A. T. 
Nije. 

Note 2. — Another evidence of the character of the New England 
Associates is the founding of a public library as early as 1796, or 
before. Another was also established at Belpre about the same time. 
Abundant evidence proves the existence of these libraries, all tend- 
ing to the fact that the early settlers, though conquering a wilder- 
ness and a savage foe, would not allow their mental faculties to 
lack for food. The cliaracter of the books shows that "solid" 
reading predominated. 



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HISTORY OF OHIO. 



149 



never abated its zeal. Semi-annual meetings were 
at first held, but, since 185S, only annual meetings 
occur. They are always largely attended, and al- 
ways by the best and most energetic teachers. 
The Association has given tone to the educational 
interests of the State, and has done a vast amount 
of good in popularizing education. In the spring 
of 1S51, Lorin Andrews, then Superintendent of 
the I\Ias.sillon school, resigned his place, and be- 
came a common-school missionary. In July, the 
Association, at Cleveland, made him its agent, and 
instituted me;isures to sustain him. He remained 
zealously at work in this relation until 1S53, when 
he resigned to accept the presidency of Kenyon 
College, at Gambler. Dr. A. Lord was then chosen 
general agent and resident editor of the Journal 
of Education, which positions he filled two years, 
with eminent abUity. 

The year that Dr. Lord resigned, the ex officio 
relaticta of the Secretary of State to the common 
schools was abolished, and the office of school com- 
missioner again created. H. H. Barney was 
elected to the place in October, 185.3. The office 
has since been held by Rev. Anson Smyth, elected 
in 1856, and re-elected in 1859 ; E. E. White, 
appointed by the Governor, November 11, 1863, 
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. 
W. H. Cathcart, who was elected in 1862; John 
A. NorrLs, in 1865; W. D. Henkle, in 1868; 
Thomas W. Harvey, in 1871; C. S. Smart, in 
1875, and the present incumbent, J. J. Burns, 
elected in 1878, his term expiring in 1881. 

The first teachers' institute in Northern Ohio 
was held at Sandusky, in September, 1845, con- 
ducted by Salem Town, of New York, A. D. Lord 
and M. F. Cowdrey. The second was held at Char- 
don, Geauga Co., in November of the same year. 
The first institute in the southern part of the 
State was held at Cincinnati, in February, 1837; 
the first in the central part at Newark, in March, 
1848. Since then these meetings of teachers have 
occurred annually, and have been the means of 
great good in elevating the teacher and the public 
in educational interests. In 1848, on petition of 
forty teachers, county commissioners were author- 
ized to pay lecturers from surplus revenue, and the 
next year, to appropriate §100 for institute pur- 
poses, upon pledge of teachers to raise half that 
amount. By the statutes of 1864, applicants for 
teachers were required to pay 50 cents each as an 
examination fee. One-third of the amount thus 
raised was allowed the use of examiners as trav- 
eling expenses, the remainder to be applied to in- 



stitute instruction. For the year 1871, sixtj'-eight 
teachers' institutes were held in the State, at which 
308 instructors and lecturers were employed, and 
7,158 teachers in attendance. The expense incurred 
wafe $16,361.99, of which §10,127.13 was taken 
from the institute fund; §2,730.34, was contrib- 
uted by members; §680, by county commis- 
sioners, and the balance, §1,371.50, was ob- 
tained from other sources. The last report of the 
State Commissioners — 1878 — shows that eighty- 
five county institutes were held in the State, con- 
tinuing in ses.sion 748 days; 416 instnictors were 
employed; 11,466 teachers attended; §22,531.47 
were received from all sources, and that the ex- 
penses were §19,587.51, or §1.71 per member. 
There was a balance on hand of §9,460.74 to com- 
mence the next year, just now closed, whose work 
has been as progressive and thorough as any former 
year. The State Association now comprises three 
sections; the general a.ssociation, the superintend- 
ents' section and the ungraded school section. All 
have done a good work, and all report progress. 

The old State Constitution, adopted by a con- 
vention in 1802, was supplemented in 1851 by 
the present one, under which the General Assem- 
bly, elected under it, met in 1852. Harvey Rice, 
a Senator from Cuyahoga County, Chairman of 
Senate Committee on " Common Schools and 
School Lands," reported a bill the 29th of March, 
to provide '-for the re-organization, supervision 
and maintenance of common schools." This bill, 
amended in a few particulars, became a law 
March 14, 1853. The prominent features of the 
new law were : The substitution of a State school 
tax for the county tax ; creation of the office of 
the State School Commissioner; the creation of a 
Township Board of Education, consisting of repre- 
sentatives from the subdistricts ; the abolition of 
rate-bills, making education free to all the youth of 
the State; the raising of a fund, by a tax of one- 
tenth of a mill yearly, " for the purpose of fiir- 
niching school libraries and apparatus to all the 
common schools." This '' library tax " was abol- 
ished in 1860, otherwise the law has remained 
practically unchanged. 

School journals, like the popular press, have 
been a potent agency in the educational history of 
the State. As early as 1838, the Ohio School 
Director was issued by Samuel Lewis, by legisla- 
tive authority, though after six months' continu- 
ance, it ceased for want of support. The same 
year the Pcstahzzian, by E. L. Sawtell and II. 
K. Smith, of Akron, and the Common School 



liL 



150 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Advocate, of Cincinnati, were issued. In 184(5, 
the School Journal began to be publisbed by A. 

D. Lord, of Kirtland. The same year saw the 
Free School Clarion, by W. Bowen, of Massillon, 
and the School Friend, by W. B. Smith & Co., 
of Cincinnati. The next year, W. H. Moore & 
Co., of Cincinnati, started the Western School 
Journal. In 1851, the Ohio Teacher, by 
Thomas Rainey, appeared ; the News and Edu- 
cator, in 18G3, and the Educational Times, in 
1866. In 1850, Dr. Lord's Journal of Educa- 
tion was united with the School Friend, and 
became the recognized organ of the teachers in 
Ohio. The Doctor remained its principal editor 
until 185G, when he was succeeded by Anson 
Smyth, who edited thejournal one year. In 1857, 
it wa.s edited by John D. Caldwell; in 1858 and 
and 1859, by W. T. Coggeshall ; in 1860, by Anson 
Smyth again, when it passed into the hands of 

E. E. White, who yet controls it. It has an 
immense circulation among Ohio teachers, and, 
though competed by other journals, since started, 
it maintains its place. 

The school system of the State may be briefly 
explained as follows: Cities and incorporated vil- 
lages are independent of township and county con- 
trol, in the management of schools, having boards 
of education and examiners of their own. Some 
of them are organized for school purposes, under 
special acts. Each township has a board of edu- 
cation, composed of one member from each sub- 
district. The township clerk is clerk of this board, 
but has no vote. Each subdistriot has a local 
board of trustees, which manages its school affairs, 
subject to the ad\'iee and control of the township 
board. These officers are elected on the fir.'it 
Monday in April, and hold their offices three 
years. An enumeration of all the youth between 
the ages of five and twenty-one is made yearly. 
All public schools are required to be in session at 
least twenty-four weeks each year. The township 
clerk reports annually such facts concerning school 
affairs as the law requires, to the county auditor, 
who in turn reports to the State Commissioner, 
who collects these reports in a general report to 
the Legislature each year. 

A board of examiners is appointed in each 
county by the Probate Judge. This board has 
power to grant certificates for a term not exceed- 
ing two years, and good only in the county in 
wliich they are executed ; they may be revoked on 
sufficient cause. In 1864, a State Board of 
Examiners was created, with power to issue life cer- 



tificates, valid in all parts of the State. Since 
then, up to January 1, 1879, there have been 188 
of these issued. They are considered an excellent 
test of scholarship and ability, and are very credit- 
able to the holder. 

The school funds, in 1865, amounted to $3,271,- 
275.66. They were the proceeds of appropriations 
of land by Congress for school purposes, upon 
which the State pays an annual interest of 6 per 
cent. The funds are known as the Virginia Mili- 
tary School Fund, the proceeds of eighteen quar- 
ter-townships and three sections of land, selected 
by lot from lands lying in the United States 
Military Reserve, appropriated for the use of 
schools in the Virginia Military Reservation ; the 
United States Military School Fund, the proceeds 
of one thirty-sixth part of the land in the United 
States Military District, appropriated "for the use 
of .schools within the same;" the Western Reserve 
School Fund, the proceeds from fourteen quiirter- 
townships, situated in the United States Military 
District, and 37,758 acres, most of which was lo- 
cated in Defiance, Williams, Paulding, Van Wert 
and Putnam Counties, appropriated for the use of 
the schools in the Western Reserve; Section 
16, the proceeds from the sixteenth section of 
each township in that part of the State in which 
the Indian title was not extinguished in 1803; the 
Moravian School Fund, the proceeds from one 
thirty-sixth part of each of three tracts of 
4,000 acTes situated in Tuscarawas County, orig- 
inally granted by Congress to the Society of United 
Brethren, and reconveyed by this Society to the 
United States in 1824. The income of these funds 
is not distributed by any uniform rule, owing to 
defects in the granting of the funds. The territo- 
rial divisions designated receive the income in 
proportion to the whole number of youth therein, 
while in the remainder of the State, the rent of 
Section 16, or the interest on the proceeds 
arising from its sale, is paid to the inhabitants of 
the originally surveyed townships. In these terri- 
torial divisions, an increase or decrease of popula- 
tion mu.'-t necessarily increase or diminish the 
amount each youth is entitled to receive; and the 
fortunate location or judicious sale of the .sixteenth 
section may entitle one township to receive a large 
sum, while an adjacent township receives a mere 
pittance. This inequality of benefit may be good 
for localities, but it is certainly a detriment to the 
State at large. There seems to be no legal remedy 
for it. In addition to the income from the before- 
mentioned ftinds, a variable revenue is received 



2- 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



151 



from certain fines and licenses paid to either county 
or township treasurers for the use of schools; 
from the sale of swamplands ($25,720.07 allotted 
to the State in 1850), and from personal property 
escheated to the State. 

Aside from the funds, a State school tax is fixed 
by statute. Local taxes vary with the needs of 
localities, are limited by law, and are contingent 
on the liberality and public spirit of different com- 
munities. 

The State contains more than twenty colleges 
and universities, more than the same number of 
female seminaries, and about thirty normal schools 
and academies. The amount of property invested 
• in these is more than §6,000,000. The Ohio 
University is the oldest college in the State. 

In addition to the regular colleges, the State 
controls the Ohio State University, formerly the 
Agricultural and Mechanical College, established 
from the proceeds of the land scrip voted by Con- 
gress to Ohio for such purposes. The amount 
realized from the sale was nearly $500,000. This 
is to constitute a permanent fund, the interest only 
to be used. In addition, the sum of |o00,000 
was voted by the citizens of Franklin County, in 
consideration of the location of the college in that 
county. Of this sum $111,000 was p.aid for three 
hundred and fifteen acres of land near the city of 
Columbus, and $112,000 for a college building, 



the balance being expended as circumstances re- 
quired, for additional buildings, laboratory, appa- 
ratus, etc. Thorough instruction is given in all 
branches relating to agriculture and the mechanical 
ai-ts. Already excellent results are attained. 

By the provisions of the act of March 14, 1853, 
township boards are made bodies politic and cor- 
porate in law, and are invested with the title, care 
and custody of all school property belonging to 
the school district or township. They have control 
of the central or high schools of their townships ; 
prescribe rules for the district schools ; may appoint 
one of their number manager of the schools of the 
township, and allow him reasonable pay for his 
services ; determine the text-books to be used ; fix 
the boundaries of districts and locate schoolhouse 
sites ; make estimates of the amount of money re- 
quired ; apportion the money among the districts, 
and are required to make an annual report to the 
County Auditor, who incorporates the same in his 
report to the State Commissioner, by whom it 
reaches the Legislature. 

Local directors control the subdistricts. They 
enumerate the children of school age, employ and 
dismiss teachers, make contracts for building and 
furnishing schoolhousos, and make all necessary 
provision for the convenience of the district schools. 
Practically, the entire management rests with 
them. 



CHAPTER XV. 



AGRICULTURE— AREA OF THE STATE— EARLY AGRICULTURE IN THE WEST— MARKETS— LIVE 

STOCK — NURSERIES, FRUITS, ETC. — CEREALS — ROOT AND CUCURBITACEOUS 

CROPS— AGRICULTURAL IMPLEJIENTS— AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES— 

POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



" Oft did the harvest to their sickles yield, 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke ; 

How jocund did they drive their teams afiehl ! 
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke." 

THE majority of the readers of these pages are 
farmers, hence a resume of agriculture in the 
State, would not only be appropriate, but valuable 
as a matter of history. It is the true ba.sis of 
national prosperity, and, therefore, justly occupies 
a foremost place. 

In the year 1800, the Territory of Ohio con- 
tained a population of 45,365 inhabitants, or a 
little more than one person to the square mile. At 



this date, the admission of the Territory into the 
Union as a State began to be agitated. When the 
census was made to ascertain the legality of the 
act, in conformity to the "Compact of 1787," no 
endeavor was made to ascertain additional statis- 
tics, as now ; hence, the cultivated land was not 
returned, and no account remains to tell how 
much existed. In 1805, three years after the ad- 
mission of the State into the Union. 7,252,856 
acres had been purchased from the General Gov- 
ernment. Still no returns of the cultivated lands 
were made. In 1810, the population of Ohiowa.s 
230,760, and the land purchased from the Gov- 



;^ 



153 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



ernment amounted to 9,933,150 acres, of which 
amount, however, 3,509,314: acres, or more than 
oue-third, was held by non-residents. Of the lands 
occujiicd by resident land-owners, there appear to 
have been 100,908 acres of first-rate, 1,929,000 
of second, and 1,538,745 acres of tliird rate lauds. 
At this period there were very few exports fi-om 
the farm, loom or shop. The people still needed 
iill they produced to sustain themselves, aud were 
yet in that pioneer period where they were obliged 
to produce all they wanted, and yet were opening 
new farms, and bringing the old ones to a productive 
state. 

Kentucky, and the country on the Monongahela, 
lying along the western slopes of the Alleghany 
Blountaius, having been much longer settled, had 
begun, as early as 1795, to send considerable quan- 
tities of flour, whisky, bacon and tobacco to the 
lower towns on the Mississippi, at that time in the 
possession of the Spaniards. At the French set- 
tlements on the Illinois, and at Detroit, were 
being raised much more than could be u.Sed, and 
these were exporting also large quantities of these 
materials, as well as peltries and such commodities 
as their nomadic lives furnished. As the IMissis- 
sippi was the natui-al outlet of the West, any at- 
tempt to impede its free navigation by the various 
powers at times controlling its outlet, would lead 
at once to violent outbreaks among the Western 
settlers, some of whom were aided by unscrupulous 
persons, who thought to form an independent 
Western country. Providence seems to have had 
a watchful eye over all these events, and to have 
so guided them that the attempts with such objects 
in view, invariably ended in disgrace to their per- 
petrators. This outlet to the West was thought 
to be the only one that could carry their produce to 
market, for none of the Westerners then dreamed 
of the immense system of railways now covering 
that part of the Union. As soon as ship-building 
commenced at Marietta, in the year 1800, the 
farmers along the borders of the Ohio and Musk- 
ingum Rivers turned their attention to the culti- 
vation of hemp, in addition to their other crops. In a 
few years sufficient was rapped, not only to furnish 
cordage to the ships in the West, but large quan- 
tities were worked up in the various rope-walks 
and sent to the Atlantic cities. Iron had been 
discovered, and forges on the Juniata were busy 
converting that necessary and valued material into 
implements of industry. 

By the year 1S05, two ships, seven brigs and 
three schooners had been built and rigged by the 



citizens of JIarietta. Their construction gave a 
fresh impetus to agriculture, as by means of them 
the surplus products could be carried away to a 
foreign market, where, if it did not bring money, 
it could bo exchanged for merchandise equally 
valuable. Captain David Devoll was one of the 
earliest of Ohio's shipwrights. He settled on the 
fertile ^luskingum bottom, about five miles above 
Marietta, soon after the Indian war. Here he 
built a "floating mill," for making flour, and, in 
1801, a ship of two hundred and fifty tons, called 
the Muskingum, and the brig Eliza Greene, of one 
hundred and fifty tons. In 1804, he Isuilt a 
schooner on his own account, and in the spring 
of the next year, it was finished and loaded for a . 
voyage downtheJMississippi. It was small, only of 
seventy tons burden, of a light draft, and intended 
to run on the lakes east of New Orleans. In 
shape and model, it fully sustained its name, Nonpa- 
reil. Its complement of sails, small at first, was 
completed when it arrived in New Orleans. It 
had a large cabin to accommodate passengers, was 
well and finely painted, and sat gracefully on the 
water. Its load was of assorted articles, and shows 
very well the nature of exports of the day. It con- 
sisted of two hundred baiTcls of flour, fifty barrels of 
kiln-dried corn meal, four thousand pounds of 
cheese, six thousand of bacon, one hundred sets 
of rum puncheon shooks, and a few grindstones. 
The flour and meal were made at Captain Devoll's 
floating mill, and the cheese made in Belpre, at that 
date one of Ohio's most flourishing agricultural dis- 
tricts. The Captain and others carried on boating as 
well as the circumstances of the days permitted, fear- 
ing only the hostility of the Indians, and the duty 
the Spaniards were liable to levy on boats going 
down to New Orleans, even if they did not take 
it into their erratic heads to stop the entire navi- 
gation of the great river by vessels other than 
their own. By such means, merchandise was car- 
ried on almost entirely until the construction of 
canals, and even then, until modern times, the 
flat-boat was the main-stay of the .shipper inhabit- 
ing the country adjoining the upper Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers. 

Commonly, very little stock was kept beyond 
what was necessary for the use of the family and 
to perform the labor on the farm. The Scioto 
Valley was perhaps the only exception in Ohio to 
thisgeneral condition. Horses were bfoughtby the 
emigrants from the East and were characteristic 
of that region. In the French settlements in Illi- 
nois and about Detroit, French ponies, marvels of 



-^ 



nisToiiY OF OHIO. 



cnilurancc, yfarc, chiefly aifed. Th<:y were impraetio 
able in hauling the iramcii.HC emigrant wagonn over 
the mountains, and honoc wore conijarativcly 
unknown in Ohio. Until 181^8, draft horw^ 
W(;re chiefly ased here, the b(9!t wtrain.i being 
brought by the "Tunkers," " Mennonito)." and 
" Omii.sh," — three religiou.s Hect«, who.sc niftml>er.s 
were invariably ^niculturi.st«. In Stark, Wayne, 
H<»lni(«, and Ilichland Counties, as a gr^ncral thing, 
they congregated in wmimunitirsi, whfrre the neat- 
nc«8 of their farm.'*, the exi;<;llent (y>ndition of 
their Htock, and the primitive .simplicity of their 
manncr.-i, made them c^n-^pieuou-s. 

In H28, the French licgan to Hcttic in Stark 
County, where they introduced the otock r/f hofHCH 
known aa " Selim," "Florizcl," " I'(j«t Boy" and 
"Timolen." These, crosscfl upon the descents of 
the Nonnan and Conest^fga, profluccd an excellent 
Htock of farm horses, now largely u«<;<l. 

In the Western Reserve, blofxled horw* were in- 
troduced as early as 1825. John I. Van Met*:r 
brought fine horses into the Hcioto Valley in 1815, 
or thereabouts. Soon after, fine horw*) were 
brought to Steubcnville from Virginia and Penn- 
sylvania. In Northern Ohio the Ht«;k was more 
mi.scellaneou.'t, until the introdueti<)n of improved 
breeds from 1815 to 18:j5. Uy the latter date 
the strains of horses had greatly improved. The 
same c^uld be said of other parts of the State. 
Until after 1825, only farm and road horses were 
rec|uired. That year a race-course — the first in 
the State — was established in Cincinnati, sh.>rtly 
followed by others at Chillicothe, Dayf/)n and Ham- 
ilton. From that date the race-horst? ste-adily im- 
proved. Until 1838, however, all raf;<;-courses 
were rather irregular, and, f/f those named, it is 
difficult to det<;rminft which one has priority of 
date over the others. To Cincinnati, the prece- 
dence is, however, generally given. In )8:i8, the 
Buckeye Course was f«tabli.shed in Cin<:innati, and 
before a y(,-ar had eIafK<ed, it is stated, thfjre were 
fifteen regular race-wjurses in Ohio. The effec-t 
of these courses was to greatly stimulate the stock 
of racers, and rather detract frrjm draft and road 
horses. The organization of c/imjianiea Ut Impcirt 
hhxAod horses has again revived the int/jrcst in 
this cla.s.1, and now, at annual stock sales, these 
strains of hors<s) are eagerly sought after by thfjse 
having occasion to use them. 

Cattle were brought ovct the mountains, and, 
for several years, wctc kept entirely for domestic 
u.ses. By 1805, the vjuntry had so far settled 
that the surplus stock was fiittencd on com and 



foilder, and a drove was driven to Baltimore. The 
drove was owned by fle/irge Renick, of Chillicothe, 
and the feat was lookr^l ujion as one of great im- 
portance. The drove arrived in Baltimore in ex- 
cellent cmdition. The imfictus given by this 
movement of Mr. li<:niek stimulated greatly the 
fwKling of cattle, and Id to the improvement of 
the bri^;d, heretofore only of an ordinary kind. 

l.'ntil the advent of railroads and the shipment 
of cattle thereon, the number of cattle driven to 
eastern markets from Ohio alone, was estimated at 
over fifWn thoutand annually, whose value was 
plawd at 8000,0I)<J. B<«ides thlf, large numljers 
were driven from Indiana and Illinois, whose 
boundless pniiries gave free scoj)*; to the herding of 
cattle. Improved breeds, "Short Horns," '-Ijjmg 
Homa" and others, were intro<lneed into Ohio as 
early as 1810 and 1815. Since then the stock 
has b<%n gradually improved and acclimated, until 
now Ohio provinces as fine cattle as any State in 
the Union. In some localities, especially in the 
Western llcs<;rve, che<;s<:makingand dairy interesti 
arc the chief occupations of whole neigh borhrxxls, 
where may \xs found men who have grown wealthy 
in this busint^ss. 

Sheep were kept by almost every family, in pio- 
nficr times, in order U> be supplied with wixA for 
clothing. Tlie wrxjl was carded by hand, spun in 
the cabin, and frwjuently dyed and woven as well 
as shapefl int/j garments there, Uio. All emigrant* 
brought the best household and farming imple- 
ments their limited means would allow, so also did 
they bring the l>eHt strains of horB<i4, cattle and 
she<;p they could obtain. About the year 1809, 
Mr. Thomas li'iteh, a QuakcT, emigrat<^l to Stark 
County, and brought with hira a small flock of 
Merino sheep. They were gwxl, and a part of 
them were from the original flock brought over 
from Spain, in 1801, by Col. Humphrey, Unit/;d 
States Minister U) that country. He had brought 
200 of these sheep, and hoped, in time, to see 
every part of the UnitwJ States st/jcked with Me- 
rinos. In this he partially succt-eded only, owing 
to the prejudice again.'^t them. In 181 'J, Messrs. 
Wells & Dickenson, who were, for the rlay, exten- 
sive Wfiolen manufarturers in Steubcnville, drove 
their fine flocks out on the Stark County Plains 
for the summer, and brought them back for the 
winter. This course was pursued for several years, 
until farms wctc prcf/ared, when they were f)er- 
manently kept in Stark County. This flfK-k was 
originally derived from the Humphrey imfxirtation. 
The failure of Wells & Dicken.'^jn, in 1824, placed 



r?7 



^1 



^ 



156 



HISTOEY OF OHIO. 



a good portion of this flock in the hands of Adam 
Ilildebrand, and became the basis of his celebrated 
flock. Mr. T. S. Humrickhouse, of Coshocton, 
in a communication regarding sheep, writes as fol- 
lows: 

" The first merinos brought to Ohio were doubt- 
less by Seth Adams, of Zanesville. They were 
Humphrey's Merinos — undoubtedly the best ever 
imported into the United States, by whatever 
name called. He kept them part of the time in 
Washington, and afterward in Muskingum County. 
He had a sort of partnership agency from Gen. 
Humphrey for keeping and selling them. They 
were scattered, and, had they been taken care of 
and appreciated, would have laid a better found- 
ation of flocks in Ohio than any sheep brought 
into it from that time till 1852. The precise date 
at which Adams brought them cannot now be as- 
certained ; but it was prior to 1813, perhaps as 
early as 1804." 

" The first Southdowns," continues Mr. Hum- 
rickhouse," "New Leicester, Lincolnshire and Cots- 
wold sheep I ever saw, were brought into Coshocton 
County from England by Isaac Majmard, nephew 
of the flimous Sir John, in 1834. There were 
about ten Southdowns and a trio of each of the 
other kinds. He was ofiered $500 for his Lin- 
colnshii-e ram, in Bufiiilo, as he passed through, 
but refused. He w;is selfish, and unwilling to put 
them into other hands when he went on a farm, 
all in the woods, and, in about three years, most of 
them had perished." 

The raising and improvement of sheep has kept 
steady tread with the growth of the State, and 
now Ohio wool is known the world over. In quan- 
tity it is equal to any State in America, while its 
quality is unequaled.' 

The first stock of hogs brought to Ohio were 
rather poor, scrawny creatures, and, in a short 
time, when left to themselves to pick a livelihood 
from the beech mast and other nuts in the woods, 
degenerated into a wild condition, almost akin to 
their originators. As the country settled, however, 
they were gathered from their lairs, and, by feed- 
ing them corn, the farmers soon brought them out 
of their semi-barbarous state. Improved breeds 
were introduced. The laws for their protection 
and guarding were made, and now the hog of to- 
day sliows what improvement and civilization can 
do for any wild animal. The chief city of the 
State has become famous as a slaughtering place ; 
her bacon and sides being known in all the civil- 
ized World. 



Other domestic animals, mules, asses, etc., have 
been brought to the State as occasion required. 
Wherever their use has been demanded, they have 
been obtained, until the State has her complement 
of all animals her citizens can use in their daily 
labors. 

Most of the early emigrants brought with them 
young fruit trees or grafts of some favorite variety 
from the " old homestead." Hence, on the West- 
ern Reserve are to be found chiefly — especially in 
old orchards — New England varieties, wliile, in the 
localities immediately south of the Reserve, Penn- 
sylvania and Maryland varieties predominate ; but 
at Mai'ietta, New England fiaiits are again found, 
as well a.s throughout Southea.stern Ohio. One of 
the oldest of these orchards was on a Mr. Dana's 
farm, near Cincinnati, on the Ohio River bank. It 
consisted of five acres, in which apple seeds and 
seedlings were planted as early as 1790. Part of 
the old orchard is yet to be seen, though the trees 
are almost past their usefiilness. Peaches, pears, 
cherries and apples were planted by all the pioneers 
in their gardens. As soon as the seed produced 
seedlings, these were transplanted to some hillside, 
and the orchard, in a few years, was a productive 
unit in the life of the settler. The first fruit 
brought, was, like everything else of the pioneers, 
rather inferior, and admitted of much cultivation. 
Soon steps were taken by the more enterprising 
settlers to obtain better varieties. Israel Putnam, 
as early as 1790, returned to the East, partly to 
get scions of the choicest apples, and, partly, on 
other business. He obtained quite a quantity of 
choice apples, of some forty or fifty varieties, and 
set them out. A portion of them were distrib- 
uted to the settlers who had trees, to ingraft. 
From these old grafts are yet to be traced some of 
the best orchards in Ohio. Israel Putnam was one 
of the most prominent men in early Ohio days. 
He was always active in promoting the interests of 
the settlers. Among his earliest efl'brts, that of 
improving the fruit may well be mentioned. He 
and his brother, Aaron W. Putnam, Uving at Bel- 
pre, opposite Blennerha.sset's Island, began the 
nursery business soon afi«r their arrival in the 
West. The apples brought by them from their 
Connecticut home were used to commence the busi- 
ness. These, and the apples obtained from trees 
planted in their gardens, gave them a beginning. 
They were the only two men in Ohio engaged in 
the business till 1817. 

In early times, in the central part of Ohio, 
there existed a curious character known as "Johnny 



^ 



« k^ 




Appleseed." His real name was John Cliapmaa. 
He received his n;iiiic from his habit of planting, 
along all the streams in that part of the State, 
apple-seeds from which sprang many of the old 
orchards. He did this as a religious duty, think- 
ing it to be his especial mission. He had, it is 
said, been disappointed in his youth in a love 
affiiir, and came West about 1800, and ever after 
followed his singular life. He was extensively 
known, was quite harmless, very patient, and did, 
without doubt, much good. He died in 18-17, at 
the house of a Mr. Worth, near Fort Wayne, 
Indiana, who had long known him, and often 
befriended him. He was a minister in the Swed- 
enborgian Church, and, in his own way, a zealous 
worker. 

The settlers of the Westft-n Reserve, coming 
from New England, chiefly from Connecticut, 
brought all varieties of fruit known in their old 
homes. These, whether seeds or grafts, were 
planted in gardens, and as soon as an orchard 
could be cleared on some favorable hillside, the 
young trees were transplanted there, and in time 
an orchard was the result. BIucli confusion 
regarding the kinds of fruits thus produced arose, 
partly from the fact that the trees grown from 
seeds did not always prove to be of the same qual- 
ity as the seeds. Climate, soil and surroimdings 
often change the character of such fi'uits. 
Many new varieties, unknown to the growers, 
were the result. The fruit thus produced was 
often of an inferior growth, and when gi-afts were 
brought from the old New England home and 
grafted into the Ohio trees, an improvement as 
well as the old home fruit w;ls the result. Aft«r 
the orchiu'ds in the Reserve began to bear, the 
fi'uit was very often taken to the Ohio River for 
shipment, and thence ibuud its way to the South- 
ern and Eastern seaboard cities. 

Among the indiWduals prominent in introducing 
fi-uits into the State, were ]\Ir. Dillo, of Euclid, Judge 
Fuller, Judge Whittlesey, and Jlr. Lindley. 
George Hoadly was also very prominent and ener- 
getic in the matter, and was, perhaps, the first to 
introduce the pear to any extent. He was one of 
the most persistent and enthusiastic amateurs in 
horticulture and pomology in the West. About 
the year 1810, Dr. Jared Kirtland, father of 
Prof. J. P. Kii'tland, so favorably known 
among horticulturists and pomologists, came from 
Connecticut and settled in l-'oland, Mahoning 
County, with his family. Tliis family has done 
more than any other in the State, perhaps, to 



advance fruit culture. About the year 1824, 
Prof J. P. Kirtland, in connection with his brother, 
establLshcd a nursery at Poland, then in Trumbull 
County, and brought on from New England above 
a hundred of their best varieties of apples, cherries, 
peaches, pears, and smaller ft-uits, and a year or 
two atler brought from New Jersey a hundred of 
the best varieties of that State ; others were ob- 
tained in New York, so that they possessed the larg- 
est and most varied stock in the Western country. 
These two men gave a great' impetus to fniit cult- 
ure in the West, and did more than any others 
of that day to introduce improved kinds of all 
fi'uits in that part of the United States. 

Another prominent man in this branch of mdus- 
try was Mr. Andrew H. Ernst, of Cincinnati. 
Although not so eai-ly a settler as the Kirtlands, 
he was, like them, an ardent student and propa- 
gator of fine fruits. He introduced more than 
six hundred varieties of apples and seven hun- 
dred of pears, both native and foreign. His 
object was to test by actual experience the mo.st 
valuable sorts for the diversified soil and climate 
of the Western country. 

The name of Nicholas Longworth, also of Cin- 
cinnati, is one of the most extensively known of any 
in the science of horticulture and pomology. For 
more than fifty years he made these his especial 
delight. Having a large tract of land in the 
lower part of Cincinnati, he established nurseries, 
and planted and disseminated every variety of 
fr'uits that could be found in the United States — 
East or West — making occasional importations 
from European countries of such varieties as 
were thought to be adapted to the Western climate. 
His success has been variable, governed by the 
season, and in a measure by his numerous experi- 
ments. His vineyards, cultivated by tenants, gen- 
erally Grermans, on the European plan, during the 
latter years of his experience paid him a hand- 
some revenue. He introduced the famous Catawba 
grape, the standard grape of the West. It is 
stated that Mr. Longworth bears the same relation 
to vineyard culture that Fulton did to steam navi- 
gation. Others made earlier eifort, but be was the 
first to establish it on a permanent basis. He has 
also been eminently successful in the cultivation of 
the strawberry, and was the first to firmly establish 
it on Western soil. He also brought the Ohio Ever- 
bearing Raspberry into notice in the State, and 
widely disseminated it throughout the country. 

Other smaller fruits were brought out to the 
West like those mentioned. In some ca.ses fruits 



'V 



-4* 



158 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



indigenous to the soil were cultivated and improved, 
and as improved fruits, are known favorably where- 
ever used. 

In chronology and importance, of all the cereals, 
corn stands foremost. During the early pioneer 
period, it was the staple article of food for both 
man and beast. It could be made into a variety 
of forms of food, and as such was not only palata- 
ble but highly nutritious and strengthening. 

It is very difficult to determine whether corn 
originated in America or in the Old World. Many 
prominent botanists a.ssert it is a native of Turkey, 
and originally was known as " Turkey wheat." Still 
others claimed to have found mention of maize in 
Chinese writings antedating the Turkish discovery. 
Grains of maize were found in an Egyptian mum- 
my, which goes to prove to many the cereal was 
known in Africa since the earliest times. Maize 
was found in America when first visited by white 
men, but of its origin Indians could give no ac- 
count. It had always been known among them, 
and constituted their chief article of vegetable diet. 
It was cultivated exclusively by their squaws, the 
men considering it beneath their dignity to engage 
in any manual labor. It is altogether probable corn 
was known in the Old World long before the New 
was discovered. The Arabs or Crusaders probably 
introduced it into Europe. How it was introduced 
into America will, in all probability, remain un- 
known. It may have been an indigenous plant, 
like many others. Its introduction into Ohio dates 
with the settlement of the whites, especially its 
cultivation and use as an article of trade. True, 
the Indians had cultivated it in small (juantities ; 
each lodge a little for itself, but no effort to make 
of it a national support began until the civilization 
of the white race became established. From that 
time on, the increase in crops has grown with the 
State, and, excepting the great corn States of the 
West, Ohio produces an amount equal to any State 
in the Union. The statistical tables printed in 
agricultural reports show the acres planted, and 
bushels grown. Figures speak an unanswerable 
logic. 

Wheat is probably the next in importance of the 
cereals in the State. Its origin, like corn, is lost 
in the mists of antiquity. Its berry was no doubt 
used as food by the ancients for ages anterior to 
any historical records. It is often called cum in 
old writings, and under that name is frequently 
mentioned in the Bible. 

"As far back in the vistas of ages as human 
records go, we find that wheat has been cultivated. 



and, with corn, aside from animal food, has formed 
one of the chief alimentary articles of all nations ; 
but as the wheat plant has nowhere been found wild, 
or in a state of nature, the inference has been 
drawn by men of unquestioned scientific ability, 
that the origin;il plant from which wheat has been 
derived was either totally annihilated, or else cul- 
tivation has wrought so great a change, that the 
original is by no means obvious, or manifest to bot- 
anists." 

It is supposed by many, wheat originated in 
Persia. Others affirm it was known and cultivated 
in Egypt long ere it found its way into Persia. It 
was certainly grown on the NUe ages ago, and 
among the tombs are found grains of wheat in a 
perfectly sound condition, that unquestionably 
have been buried thousands of years. It may be, 
however, that wheat was grown in Persia first, and 
thence found its way into Egypt and Africa, or, 
vice versa. It grew first in Egypt and Africa and 
thence crossed into Persia, and from there found 
its way into India and all parts of Asia. 

It is also claimed that wheat is indigenous to 
the island of Sicily, and that from there it spread 
along the shores of the Mediterranean into Asia 
Minor and Egypt, and, as communities advanced, 
it was cultivated, not only to a greater extent, but 
with greater success. 

The goddess of agriculture, more especially of 
grains, who, by the Greeks, was called Demeter, 
and, by the Romans, Ceres — hence the name ce- 
reals — was said to have her home at Enna, a fertile 
region of that i,sland, thus indicating the source 
from which the Greeks and Romans derived their 
Ceralia. Homer mentions wheat and spelt as 
bread; also corn and barley, and describes his 
heroes as using them as fodder for their horses, as 
the people in the South of Europe do at present. 
Rye was introduced into Greece from Thrace, or 
by way of Thrace, in the time of Galen. In 
Csesar's time the Romans grew a species of wheat 
enveloped in a husk, like baiiey, and by them 
called " Far." 

During the excavations of Herculaneum and 
Pompeii, wheat, in an excellent state of preserva- 
tion, was frequently found. 

Dr. Anson Hart, Superintendent, at one time, of 
Indian Affairs in Oregon, states that he found 
numerous patches of wheat and flax growing wild 
in the Yackemas country, in Upper Oregon. There 
is but little doubt that both cereals were intro- 
duced into Oregon at an early period by the Hud- 
son Bay, or otlier fur companies. Wheat was also 






HISTORY OF OHIO. 



159 



found by Dr. Boyle, of Columbus, Ohio, growing 
in a similar state in the Carson Valley. It w;is, 
doubtless, brought there by the early Spaniards, 
lu 1530, one of Coi-tez's slaves found several grains 
of wheat accidentally mixed with the rice. The 
careful negro planted the handful of grains, and 
succeeding years saw a wheat crop in Mexico, 
which found its way northward, probably into 
California. 

Turn where we may, wherever the foot of civil- 
ization has trod, there will we find this wheat 
plant, which, like a monument, has perpetuated 
the memory of the event; but nowhere do we find 
the plant wild. It is the result of cultivation in 
bygone ages, and has been produced by "progress- 
ive development." 

It is beyond the limit and province of these 
pages to discuss the composition of this important 
cereal; only its historic properties can be noticed. 
With the advent of the white men in America, 
wheat, like corn, came to be one of the staple prod- 
ucts of life. It followed the pioneer over the 
mountains westward, where, in the rich Missis- 
sippi and Illinois bottoms, it has been cultivated 
by the French since 1690. When the hardy New 
Englanders came to the alluvial lands adjoining 
the Ohio, Muskingum or Miami Rivers, they 
brought with them this "staflF of life," and forth- 
with began its cultivation. Who sowed the first 
wheat in Ohio, is a question Mr. A. S. Guthrie 
answers, in a letter published in the Agricultural 
Report of 1857, as follows: 

" My father, Thomas Guthrie, emigiatcd to the 
Northwest Territory in the year 1788, and arrived 
at the mouth of the Mu.skingum in July, about 
three months after Gen. Putnam had aiTived with 
the first pioneers of Ohio. My father brought a 
bushel of wheat with him from one of the frontier 
counties of Pennsylvania, which he sowed on a 
lot of land in Marietta, which he cleared for that 
purpose, on the second bottom or plain, in the 
neighborhood of where the Court House now 
stands." 

Mr. Guthrie's opinion is corroborated by Dr. 
Samuel P. Ilildreth, in his " Pioneer Settlers of 
Oliio," and is, no doubt, correct. 

From that date on down through the years of 
Ohio's gTowth, the crops of wheat have kept pace 
with the advance and growth of civilization. The 
soil is admirably adapted t« the growth of this ce- 
real, a liirge number of varieties being grown, and 
an excellent ((uality produced. Tt is firm in body, 
and, in many cases, is a successful rival of wheat 



produced in the great wheat-producing regions of 
the United States — Minnesota, and the farther 
Northwest. 

Oats, rye, barley, and other grains were also 
brought to Ohio from the Atlantic Coast, though 
some of them had been cultivated by the French 
in Illinois and about Detroit. They were at first 
used only as food for homo consumption, and, until 
the successful attempts at river and canal naviga- 
tion were brought about, but little was ever sent 
to market. 

Of all the root crops known to man, the potato 
is probably the most valuable. Next to wheat, 
it is claimed by many as the stafi' of life. In 
some localities, this a.ssumption is undoubtedly 
true. What would Ireland have done in her fam- 
ines but for thLs simple vegetable? The potato is 
a native of the mountainous districts of tropical 
and subtropical America, probably from Chili to 
Mexico ; but there is considerable difficulty in 
deciding where it is really indigenous, and where 
it has spread after being introduced by man. 
Humboldt, the learned savant, doubted if it had 
ever been found wild, but scholars no less famous, 
and of late date, have expressed an op[)Osite 
opinion. In the wild plant, as in all others, the 
tubers are smaller than in the cultivated. The 
potato had been cultivated in America, and its 
tubers used for food, long before the advent of the 
llluropeans. It seems to have been first brought 
to Europe by the Spaniards, from the neighbor- 
hood of Quito, in the beginning of the sixteenth 
century, and spread through Spain, the Netherlands, 
Burgundy and Italy, cultivated in gardens as an 
ornament only and not for an article of food. 
It long received through European countries the 
same name with the batatas — sweet potato, which 
is the plant meant by all English winters down to 
the seventeenth century. 

It appears that the potato was brought fi-om 
Virginia to Ireland by Hawkins, a slave-trader, 
in 1565, and to England by Sir Francis Drake, 
twenty years later. It did not at first attract much 
notice, and not until it w;».s a third time imported 
ft-om America, in 1C23, by Sir Walter Raleigh, 
did the Europeans make a practical use of it. 
Even then it wa.s a long time before it was exten- 
sively cidtivated. It is noticed in agricultural 
journals as food for cattle only as late as 1719. 
Poor people began using it, however, and finding it 
highly nutritious, the Royal Geographical Society, 
in 166:;, adopted measures for its propagation. 
About this time it began to be u-sed in Ireland as 



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lii^ 



160 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



food, and from the beginningoftheeigliteenth cent- 
ury, its use has never declined. It is now known 
in every quarter of the world, and has, by cultiva- 
tion, been greatly improved. 

The inhabitants of America learned its use 
from the Indians, who cultivated it and other 
root crop.? — rutabagas, radishes, etc., and taught 
the whites their value. When the pioneers of 
Ohio came to its fertile valleys, they brought 
improved species with them, which by cultiva- 
tion and soil, are now greatly increased, and are 
among the standard crops of the State. 

The cucurbitaceous plants, squashes, etc., were, 
like the potato and similar root crops, indigenous 
to America — others, like the melons, to Asia — 
and were among the staple foods of the original 
inhabitants. The early French missionaries of 
the West speak of both root crops and cucurbi- 
taceous plants as in use among the aboriginal inhab- 
itants. "They are very sweet and wholesome," 
wrote Marquette. Others speak in the same terms, 
though some of the plants in this order had found 
their way to these valleys through the Spaniards 
and others through early Atlantic Coast and Mex- 
ican inhabitants. Their use by the settlers of the 
West, especially Ohio, is traced to New England, 
as the first settlers came from that portion of the 
Union. They grow well in all parts of the State, 
and by cultivation have been greatly improved in 
quality and variety. All cucurbitaceous plants 
require a rich, porous soil, and by proper atten- 
tion to their cultivation, excellent results can be 
attained. 

Probably the earliest and most important imple- 
ment of husbandry known is the plow. Grain, 
plants and roots will not grow well unless the soil 
in which they are planted be properly stirred, 
hence the first requirement was an instrument that 
would fulfill such conditions. 

The first implements were rude indeed ; gener- 
ally, stout wooden sticks, drawn through the earth 
by thongs attached to rude ox-yokes, or fastened 
to the animal's horns. Such plows were in use 
among the ancient Egyptians, and may yet be 
found among uncivilized nations. The Old Testa- 
ment furnishes numerous instances of the use of 
the plow, while, on the ruins of ancient cities and 
among the pyramids of Egypt, and on the buried 
walls of Babylon, and other extinct cities, are rude 
drawings of this useful implement. As the use 
of irou became apparent and general, it was util- 
ized for plow-points, where the wood alone would 
not penetrate the earth. They got their plow- 



shares sharpened in Old Testament days, also 
coulters, which shows, beyond ^ doubt, that iron- 
pointed plows were then in use. From times 
mentioned in the Bible, on heathen tombs, and 
ancient catacombs, the improvement of the plow, 
like other fiii-ming tools, went on, as the race of 
man grew in intelligence. Extensive manors in 
the old country required increased means of turning 
the ground, and, to meet these demands, ingenious 
mechanics, from time to time, invented improved 
plows. Strange to say, however, no improvement 
was ever made by the farmer himself This is ac- 
counted for in his habits of life, and, too often, 
the disposition to "take things as they are." When 
America was settled, the plow had become an im- 
plement capable of turning two or three acres per 
day. Still, and for many years, and even until 
lately, the mold-board was entirely wooden, the 
point only iron. Later developments changed the 
wood for steel, which now alone is used. Still 
later, especially in prairie States, riding plows are 
used. Like all other improvements, they were 
obliged to combat an obtuse public mind among 
the ruralists, who surely combat almost every 
move made to better their condition. In many 
places in America, wooden plows, straight ax 
handles, and a stone in one end of the bag, to bal- 
ance the grist in the other, are the rule, and for no 
other reason in the world are they maintained than 
the laconic answer: 

" My father did so, and why should not I? Am 
I better than he?" 

After the plow comes the harrow, but little 
changed, save in lightness and beauty. Formerly, 
a log of wood, or a brush hiurow, supplied its 
place, but in the State of Ohio, the toothed instru- 
ment has nearly always been used. 

The hoe is lighter made than formerly, and is 
now made of steel. At first, the common iron 
hoe, sharpened by the blacksmith, was in constant 
use. Now, it is rarely seen outside of the South- 
ern States, where it has long been the chief imple- 
ment in agriculture. 

The various small plows for the cultivation of 
corn and such other crops as necessitated their use 
are all the result of modern civilization. Now, 
their number is large, and, in many places, there 
are two or more attached to one carriage, whose 
operator rides. These kinds are much used in the 
Western States, whose rootless and stoneless soil is 
admirably adapted to such machinery. 

When the grain became ripe, implements to cut 
it were in demand. In ancient times, the sickle 



^V 



^1 



^ 




was the only instrument used. It was a short, 
curved iron, wliose inner edge was sharpened and 
serrated. In its most ancient form, it is doubtti.il 
if the edge was but little, if any, serrated. It is 
mentioned in all ancient works, and in the Bible is 
fi-equently referred to. 

" Thrust in the .sickle, for the harvest is 
ripe," wrote the sacred New Testament, while 
the Old chronicles as early as the time of Moses : 
"As thou beginnest to put the sickle to the 
corn." 

In more modern times, the handle of the sickle 
was lengthened, then the blade, which in time led 
to the scythe. Both are yet in use in many parts 
of the world. The use of the scythe led some 
thinking person to add a " finger " or two, and to 
change the shape of the handle. The old cradle 
was the result. At first it met considerable oppo- 
sition from the laborers, who brought forward the 
old-time argument of ignorance, that it would 
cheapen labor. 

Whether the cradle is a native of America or 
Europe is not accurately decided; prolxibly of the 
mother country. It came into common use about 
1818, and in a few years had found its way into 
the wheat-producing regions of the West. Where 
small crops are raised, the cradle is yet much used. 
A man can cut from two to four acres per day, 
hence, it is much cheaper than a reaper, where the 
crop is small. 

The mower and reaper are comparatively mod- 
ern inventions. A rude reaping machine is men- 
tioned by Pliny in the first century. It was pushed 
by an ox through the standing grain. On its 
front was a sharp edge, which cut the grain. It 
was, however, impracticable, as it cut only a por- 
tion of the grain, and the peasantry preferred the 
sickle. Other and later attempts to make reapers 
do not seem to have been successful, and not till 
the present century was a machine made that would 
do the work required. In 1826, Mr. Bell, of 
Scotland, constructed a machine which is yet used 
in many parts of that country. In America, Mr. 
Hussey and Mr. McCormick took out patents for 
reaping machines of superior character in 1833 
and 1834. At first the cutters of these machines 
were various contrivances, but both manufacturers 
soon adopted a serrated knife, triangular shaped, at- 
tached to a bar, and driven through " finger 
guards " attached to it, by a forward and backward 
motion. These are the common ones now in use, 
save that all do not use serrated knives. Since, 
these pioneer machines were introduced into the 



harvest fields they have been greatly improved and 
changed. Of late years they have been constructed 
so as to bind the sheaves, and now a good stout 
boy, and a team with a " harvester," will do as 
much as many men could do a few years ago, and 
with much greater ease. 

As was expected by the inventors of reapers, 
they met with a determined resistance from those 
who in former times made their living by harvest- 
ing. It was again absurdly argued that they would 
cheapen labor, and hence were an injury to the 
laboring man. Indeed, when the first machines 
were brought into Ohio, many of them were torn 
to pieces by the ignorant hands. Others left fields 
in a body when the proprietor brought a reaper to 
his farm. Like all such fallacies, these, in time, 
passed away, leaving only their stain. 

Following the reaper came the thresher. As 
the country filled with inhabitants, and men in- 
creased their possessions, more rapid means than 
the old flail or roller method were demanded. At 
first the grain was trodden out by horses driven over 
the bundles, which were laid in a circular inclosure. 
The old flail, the tramping-out by horses, and the 
cleaning by the sheet, or throwing the _gi-ain up 
against a current of air, were too slow, and 
machines were the result of the demand. In Ohio 
the manufacture of threshers began in 1846, in 
the southwestern part. Isaac Tobias, who came 
to Hamilton from Miamisburg that year, com- 
menced building the threshers tlien in use. They 
were without the cleaning attachment, and simply 
hulled the grain. Two years later, he began 
manufacturiug the combined thresher and cleaner, 
which were then coming into use. He continued 
in business till 1851. "Four years after, the in- 
creased demand for such machines, consei|ucnt 
upon the increased agricultural products, induced 
the firm of Owous, Lane & Dyer to fit their, estab- 
lishment for the manufacture of threshers. They 
afterward added the manufacture of steam engines 
to be used in the place of horse power. Since 
then the manufiicture of these machines, as well as 
that of all other agricultural machinery, has greatly 
multiplied and improved, until now it seems as 
though but little room for improvement remains. 
One of the largest firms engaged in the manufact- 
ure of threshei-^s and their component machinery is 
located at JIansfield— the Aultman & Taylor 
Co. Others are at Massillon, and at other cities 
in the West. 

Modern times and modern enterprise have devel- 
oped a marvelous variety of agricultural implements 



r^ 



1G3 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



— too many to be mentioned in a volume like 
tliis. Under special subjects they will occasionally 
be found. The former's life, so cheerless in pioneer 
times, and so fiill of weary laljor, is daily becom- 
ing less laborious, until, if they as a class profit 
by the advances, they can find a life of ease 
in farm pursuits, not attainable in any other 
profession. Now machines do almost all the work. 
They sow, cultivate, cut, bind, thresh, winnow 
and carry the grain. They, cut, rake, load, mow 
and dry the hay. They husk, shell and clean the 
corn. They cut and split the wood. They do al- 
most all ; imtil it seems a.s though the day may 
come when the farmer can sit in his house and 
simply guide the affairs of his farm. 

Any occupation prospers in proportion to the 
interest taken in it by its members. This interest 
is always heightened by au exchange of views, hence 
societies and periodicals exercise an influence at 
first hardy realized. This feeling among prominent 
agriculturists led to the formation of agricultural 
societies, at first by counties, then districts, then 
by States, and lastly by associations of States. 
The day may come when a national agricul- 
tural fair may be one of the annual attractions of 
America. 

Without noticing the early attempts to found 
such societies in Europe or America, the narrative 
will begin with those of Ohio. The first agricul- 
tural society organized in the Buckeye State was 
the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. Its 
exact date of organization is not now preserved, 
but to a certainty it is known that the Society held 
public exhibitions as a County Society prior to 
182.3. Previous to that date there were, doubt- 
less, small, private exhibitions held in older local- 
ities, probably at Marietta, but no regular organi- 
zation seems to have been maintained. The 
Hamilton County Society held its fliirs annually, 
with marked success. Its successor, the present 
Society, is now one of the largest county societies 
in the Union. 

During the legislative session of 1832-33, the 
subject of agriculture seems to have agitated the 
minds of the people through their representatives, 
for the records of that session show the first laws 
passed for their benefit. The acts of that body 
seem to have been productive of some good, for, 
though no records of the number of societies or- 
ganized at that date exist, yet the record shows 
that " many societies have been organized in con- 
formity to this act," etc. No doubt many societies 
held fairs from this time, for a gTeater or less 



number of years. Agricultural journals* were, 
at this period, rare in the State, and the subject of 
agricultural improvement did not receive that at- 
tention from the press it does at this time ; and, 
for want of public spirit and attention to sustain 
these fail's, they were*gradually discontinued until 
the new act respecting their organization was 
passed in 1846. However, records of several 
county societies of the years between 1832 and 
1816 yet exist, showing that in some parts of the 
State, the interest in these fairs was by no means 
diminished. The Delaware County Society re- 
ports for the year 1833 — it was organized in June 
of that year — good progress for a beginning, and 
that much interest was manifested by the citizens 
of the county. 

Ross County held its first exhibition in the 
autumn of that year, and the report of the mana- 
gers is quite cheerful. Nearly all of the exhibited 
articles were sold at auction, at greatly advanced 
prices from the current ones of the day. The en- 
try seems to have been free, in an open inclosure, 
and but little revenue was derived. Little was ex- 
pected, hence no one was disappointed. 

Washington County reports an excellent cattle 
show for that year, and a number of premiums 
awarded to the successful exhibitors. This same 
year the Ohio Importation Company was organ- 
ized at the Ross County fair. The Company began 
the next season the importation of fine cattle from 
England, and, in a few years, did incalculable good 
in this respect, as well as make considerable money 
in the enterprise. 

These societies were re-organized when the law 
of 1846 went into effect, and, with those that had 
gone down and the new ones started, gave an im- 
petus to agriculture that to this day is felt. Now 
every county has a society, while district, State 
and inter-Stat« societies arc annually held; all 
promotive in their tendency, and all a benefit to 
every one. 

The Ohio State Board of Agriculture was organ- 
ized by an act of the Legislature, passed February 
27, 1840. Since then various amendments to the 
organic law have been passed from time to time as 

*Tho irMteni raferwaa published in Cincinnnti, in 1826. Itwas 
"miycellanoouB," but contiiined many exceUent articles on agri- 
culture. 

Tlie F'tnuem' Itecord was published in Cincinnati, in 1831, and 
continued for several yean;. 

The Ohio Fm-nter was published at Batavia, Clermont County, in 
1S33, by Hon. .Samuel Medary. 

These were the early agricultural journals, some of which yet 
survive, though in new uames,and under new management. Others 
have, also, since been added, some of which have an exceedingly 
large circulation, and are an influence for much good in the State. 



h fy 






HISTORY OF OHIO. 



163 



tlie necessities of the Board and of agriculture in 
the State demanded. The same day that the act 
was passed creating the State Board, an act was 
also passed providing for the erection of county and 
(li.striet societies, under which law, with subsequent 
amendments, the present county and district agri- 
cultural societies are managed. During the years 
from 1 846 down to the present time, great improve- 
ments have been made in the manner of conduct- 
ing these societies, resulting in exhibitions unsur- 
passed in any other State. 

Pomology and horticulture are branches of in- 
dustry so closely allied with agriculture that a 
brief resume of their operations in Ohio will be 
eminently adapted to these pages. The early 
planting and care of fruit in Ohio has already been 
noticed. Among the earliest pioneers were men of 
fine tastes, who not only desired to benefit them- 
selves and their country, but who were possessed 
with a laudable ambition to produce the best fruits 
and vegetables the State could raise. For this end 
they studied carefully the topograj)hy of the coun- 
try, its soil, climate, and various influences upon 
such culture, and by careful experiments with fruit 
and vegetables, produced the excellent varieties now 
in use. Mention has been made of Mr. Longworth 
and Mr. Ernst, of Cincinnati ; and Israel and Aaron 
W. Putnam, on the Muskingum River ; 5Ir. Dille, 



Judges Fuller and Whittlesey, Dr. Jared Kirtland 
and his sons, and others — all practical enthusiasts in 
these departments. At first, individual eiforts alone, 
owing to the condition of the country, could be 
made. As the State filled with settlers, and means 
of communication became better, a desire for an in- 
terchange of views became apparent, resulting in 
the establishment of periodicals devoted to these 
subjects, and societies where difierent ones could 
meet and discuss these things. 

A Horticultural and Pomological Society was 
organized in Ohio in 1866. Before the organiza- 
tion of State societies, however, several distinct or 
independent societies existed ; in fact, out of these 
grew the State Society, which in turn produced 
good by stimulating the creation of county societies. 
All these societies, aids to agriculture, have pro- 
gressed as the State developed, and have done much 
in advancing fine fruit, and a taste for a5sthetic cul- 
ture. In all parts of the West, their influence is 
seen in better and improved fruit ; its culture and 
its demand. 

To-day, Ohio stands in the van of the Western 
States in agriculture and all its kindred associa- 
tions. It only needs the active energy of her 
citizens to keep her in this place, advancing 
as time advances, until the goal of her ambition is 
reached. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



CLIMATOLOGY— OUTLINE —VARIATION 



IN OHIO— ESTIMATE 
—VARIABILITY. 



IN DEGREES— RAINFALL— AMOUNT 



THE climate of Ohio varies about four degrees. 
Though originally liable to malaria in many 
districts when first settled, in consequence of a 
dense vegetation induced by summer heats and 
rains, it has became very healthful, owing to clear- 
ing away this vegetation, and proper drainage. 
The State is as favorable in its sanitary char- 
acteristics as any other in its locaUty. Ohio is re- 
markable for its high productive capacity, almost 
every thing grown in the temperate climates being 
within its range. Its extremes of heat and cold 
are less than almost any other State in or near the 
same latitude, hence Ohio suflfers less from the ex- 
treme dry or wet seasons which affect all adjoining 
States. These modifications are mainly due to the 
influence of the Lake Erie waters. These not 



only niodify the heat of summer and the cold of 
winter, but apparently reduce the profusion of 
rainfall in summer, and favor moisture in dry pe- 
riods. No finer climate exists, all conditions con.sid- 
ered, for delicate vegetable growths, than that por- 
tion of Ohio bordering on Lake Erie. This is 
abundantly attested by the recent extensive devel- 
opment there of grape culture. 

Mr. Lorin Blodget, author of "American Clima- 
tology," in the agricultural report of 1853, says; 
"A "district bordering on the Southern and West- 
ern portions of Lake Erie is more fiivorable in this 
respect (gi-ape cultivation) than any other on the 
Atlantic side of the Rocky Jlountains, and it will 
ultimately prove capable of a very liberal extension 
of vine culture." 



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164 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



Experience haa proven Mr. Blodget correct in 
his theory. Now extensive fields of prapes are 
everywhere found on the Lake Erie Slope, while 
other small fruits find a sure footing on its soil. 

" Considering the climate of Ohio by isother- 
mal lines and rain shadings, it must be borne in 
mind," says Mr. Blodget, in his description of 
Ohio's climate, from which these facts are drawn, 
" that local influences often require to be considered. 
At the South, from Cincinnati to Steubeuville, the 
deep river valleys are two degrees warmer than the 
hilly districts of the same vicinity. The lines are 
drawn intermediate between the two extremes. 
Thus, Cincinnati, on the plain, Is 2° warmer than 
at the Observatory, and 4° warmer for each year 
than Hillsboro, Highland County — the one being 
500, the other 1,(J00, feet above sea-level. The 
immediate valley of the Ohio, from Cincinnati to 
Gallipolis, is about 7.5° for the summer, and 5-t° 
for the j'ear; while the adjacent hilly districts, 
300 to 500 feet higher, are not above 73° and 52° 
respectively. For the summer, generally, the 
river valleys are 73° to 75° ; the level and central 
portions 72° to 73°, and the lake border 70° to 
72°. A peculiar mildness of climate belongs to 
the vicinity of Kelley's Island, Sandusky and 
Toledo. Here, both winter and summer, the cli- 
mate is 2° warmer than on the highland ridge ex- 
tending from Norwalk and Oberlin to Hudson and 
the northeastern border. This ridge varies from 
500 to 750 feet above the lake, or 850 to 1,200 
feet above sea level. This high belt has a summer 
temperature of 70°, 27° for the winter, and 49° 
for the year ; while at Sandusky and Kelley's 
Island the summer is 72°, the winter 29°, and the 
year 50°. In the central and eastern parts of 
the State, the winters are comparatively cold, the 
average falling to 32° over the more level districts, 
and to 20 ' on the highlands. The Ohio River 
valley is about 35°, but the highlands near it foil 
to 31° and 32° for the winter." 

As early as 1824, several persons in the State 
began taking the temperature in their respective 
localities, for the spring, summer, autumn and win- 
ter, averaging them for the entire year. From time 
to time, these were gathered and published, inducing 
others to take a step in the same direction. Not 
long since, a general table, from about forty local- 



ities, was gathered and compiled, covering a period 
of more than a quarter of a century. This table, 
when averaged, showed an average temperature of 
52.4°, an evenness of temperature not equaled 
in many bordering States. 

Very imperfect observations have been made 
of the amount of rainfall in the State. Until 
lately, only an individual here and there through- 
out the State took enough interest in this matter 
to faithfully observe and record the averages of 
several years in succes.sion. In consequence of 
this fact, the illustration of that feature of Ohio's 
climate is less satisfactory than that of the 
temperature. "The actuid rainfall of different 
months and years varies greatly," says Mr. Blod- 
get. "There may be more in a month, and, 
again, the quantity may rise to 12 or 15 inches 
in a single mouth. For a year, the variation may 
be from a minimum of 22 or 25 inches, to a maxi- 
mum of 50 or even 60 inches in the southern part 
of the State, and , 45 to 48 inches along the lake 
border. The average is a fixed quantity, and, 
although requiring a period of twenty or twenty- 
five years to fix it absolutely, it is entirely certain 
and unchangeable when known. On charts, these 
average quantities are represented by depths 
of shading. At Cincinnati, the last fifteen years 
of observation somewhat reduce the average of 
48 inches, of former years, to 46 or 47 inches." 

Spring and summer generally give the most rain, 
there being, in general, 10 to 12 inches in the 
spring, 10 to 14 inches in the summer, and 8 to 
10 inches in the autumn. The winter is the most 
variable of all the seasons, the southern part of 
the State having 10 inches, and the northern part 
7 inches or less — an average of 8 or 9 inches. 

The charts of rainfall, compiled for the State, 
show a foil of 30 inches on the lake, and 46 inches 
at the Ohio River. Between these two points, the 
fall is marked, beginning at the north, 32, 34, 36 
and 38 inches, all near the lake. Farther. down, 
in the latitude of Tuscarawas, Monroe and Mercer 
Counties, the fall is 40 inches, while the south- 
western part is 42 and 44 inches. 

The clearing away of forests, the drainage of 
the land, and other causes, have lessened the rain- 
fall, making considerable difference since the days 
of the aboriiiines. 




COSHOCTON, COUNTY COURT HOUSE, ERECTED 1873. J. C. M 




E, 8. M. DAUGHERTY, WM. BERRY, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.* 

Topography— General Geological Structure of the County- 
Local Geology. 

COSHOCTON county lies wholly in the great 
bituminous coal field, reaching close to its 
western margin. Its surface is, in appearance, 
very rough and hilly ; yet, there are no ridges, 
and rarely any point of considerable elevation 
above the general summit level. This leveli 
which is that of the great plateau of Eastern 
Ohio, and the neighboring country farther east, 
varies little from 1,100 to 1,200 feet above the sea. 
By the excavation of the valleys below it, the sur- 
face has been carved into hills, the slopes of which 
descend to the general depth of 3.30 to 400 feet. 
That the surface of the great plateau once stood 
jConsiderably higher, is rendered probable by the 
occasional occurrence of a mound of hard strata, 
standing like a monument above the general 
level. A very conspicuous one of this kind, 
rising about 80 feet higher than the summits of 
the highlands about it, and composed, apparently, 
of beds of conglomerate (loose pieces of which 
cover its top and steep sides), is seen near Co- 
shocton county, in Tuscarawas, opposite Port 
Washington. Another, of similar appearance, is 
seen in the north-east part of Coshocton county, 
just north of the road between Chili and Bakers- 
viWe. 

As the highlands of the county appear to have 
once been considerably higher than now, so the 
bottoms of the valleys were obviously once much 
deeper than at present ; for below the surface of 

"From the State Geological Report of 1878. 



the valleys are frequently accumulations of sand, 
clays and gravels, reaching to the depth of more 
than 100 and sometimes to nearly 200 feet. The 
gravel beds of the rivers, made up of pebbles of 
sienitic, porphyritic basaltic and other more an- 
cient rocks than are found in Ohio, and the same 
class of bowlders in the sand hills and terraces 
bordering the streams, point to the currents of 
the Drift period as the agents of this denudation ; 
while the great width of the valleys, which is 
sometimes four to five miles, bear witness to the 
long time these currents must have been in ac- 
tion to have produced such astonishing results. 
Sometimes, indeed, it appears that a broad valley, 
once formed, has been blocked up and deserted, 
while another, as extensive, has been excavated 
in a new direction, and is followed by the river 
of the present day. 

In Coshocton county such an ancient valley is 
seen to the south of West Lafayette, extending 
from the Tuscarawas valley, south south-east to the 
valley of Will's creek. When far enough from the 
Tuscarawas valley nut to be confounded with this, 
it is seen, in places, to be full three miles wide, vary- 
ing from this to one mile. It is a valley of dilu- 
vium, somewhat sandy, with hills of sand from 
thirty to forty feet high, the beds of which are 
sometimes seen exposed to this extent in the cut- 
tings of present streams. Hills of the stratified 
rocks of the coal measures project into it from its 
sides, as irregular-shaped peninsulas, or stand in ' 
its midst as islands. A remarkable single hill of 
this character is seen directly north from West 
Lafayette, on the edge of the Tuscarawas river, 
opposite the mouth of White Eyes creek. This 
ancient valley is known as White Eyes Plains. 
It is nearly all under cultivation ; and from tlie 



16G 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



elevated points that overlook it, especially where 
it blends with the broad valley of the Tusca- 
rawas,it aflfords views sinsjularly boautifid and pic- 
turesque. Toward the south the White Eyes 
Plains are lost in the valley of Will's creek. By 
these two valleys and that of tlic Tuscarawas, the 
larger part of the townships of Tuscarawas, La- 
fayette, Franklin and Linton are encircled and 
isolated. 

Opposite this valley, and north of the Tuscarawas, 
a similar valley, but of much smaller dimen- 
sions, extends north-westwardly through the 
south-west part of Kecne township, and toward 
the Killbuck, in the center of Bethlehem town- 
ship. Possibly it may be found on further ex- 
amination, that this was an ancient valley of the 
Killbuck. 

Geiingical Structure. — Besides the diluvium in 
the valleys of the streams, no other geological 
formation is found in Coshocton county, except 
the carboniferous ; and of this the range is lim- 
ited to the lower half of the coal measure (com- 
prising a thickness of some 350 feet), and the 
upper portion of the Wavcndy group — the lowest 
subdivision of the carboniferous. The lov/er 
carboniferous limestone, which belongs above 
the Waverly, appears to be wanting; and the 
conglomerate, which, in places, forms the floor 
of the coal measures in massive beds, often 
several hundred feet thick, was seen in place 
only in one locality, and there in a small layer 
not more than two or three feet thick. The al- 
most total absence of any fragments of it, where 
one would look for them, near the base of the 
coal measures, indicates that this stratum is, also, 
generally wanting. The bottom of the coal 
measures is marked by its lowest great bed of 
sandstone, commonly about a hundred feet thick; 
and in places directly under this, the lowest coal 
bed is seen, sometimes of workable thickness, 
and sometimes pinched and insignificant, and 
separated from the well marked Waverly shales 
by only a few feet of clayey strata. 

These beds are all so nearly horizontal, that the 
dip is imperceptible at any locality. It is detected 
only by tracing them for several miles in the 
direction of the dip, which is toward the south- 
east, or in the opposite direction as they rise. 
Owing to this general inclination of the strata, 



the sub-carboniferous group is only seen in the 
northern and western townships of the county ; 
and in these, only in the deep valleys, where the 
Waverly shales form the lowest portion of the 
marginal hills, and rise in them sometimes to the 
height of over two hundred feet ; as on the east 
side of the Mohican river, and on the upper part 
of the Walhonding. The toj) of the group comes 
down to the level of the canal, near the junction 
of the Killbuck and Walhonding, a little over 
twelve miles, in a straight line, from the Mohican 
river. The canal, in this distance, has descended, 
by nine locks, so that the total fall of the strata is 
over 270 feet, and may, perhaps, be 320 feet in the 
twelve miles; as, on the south side of the Wal- 
honding, toward the town of Newcastle, the top 
of the Waverly is about 2.50 feet above the level 
of the canal.* 

The brown and olive-colored shales, and light- 
colored sandstones of the Waverly, are seen in 
most of the branches of the Walhonding river, 
and in all the runs in Tiverton township that 
discharge into the jMohican river. In the bot- 
toms of these, the group is exposed within a mile, 
or a little more, to the town of Tiverton, toward 
the south. From Warsaw, it is traced up Beaver 
run into Monroe township; but the valley rising 
faster than the strata, it is lost to view above 
Princeton. On the other side of the Walhonding, 
the group psvsscs under the valley of Simmon's 
creek, within about a mile of its mouth; and the 
same is true of Mohawk creek, the next branch 
above. It stretches up the valley of the Killbuck 
into Holmes county; and near the mill in the 
great bend of this stream, in Clark township, it 
forms clitls of shales and sandstones forty to fifty 
feet high, in which the peculiar fossils of the 
group are found in great profusion. It forms 
here, altogether, perhaps 100 feet of the lower 
portion of the hills. Dough ty's Fork, a branch of 
the Killbuck, also runs in the Waverly shales, as 
the}' were found with their fossils in the bottom, 
two miles south-west from Bloomfield. Over the 
line, in Holmes county, near the north-east cor- 

* Later observations show that Coshocton is near the bot- 
tom of a synclinal trough, the dip. south-east from Tiverton 
to Coshocton, beiUK about 500 feet; while at Bridgeville, fif- 
teen miles farther on the line south-east, the strata have 
risen 135 feet from the bottom of the basin. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



167 



ner of Tiverton township, the Waverly is exposed 
in the valley of Wolf run. 

This group of the carboniferous formation 
contains little of economical importance. It 
affords no coal nor iron ore. Some of its beds of 
sandstone may prove of value, especially for 
flagging stones. The coal measures are very de- 
ficient in these, and the want of such stones is 
already felt at Coshocton and the other princij^al 
towns situated in this formation. The brown 
and olive colored shale produce, by their decom- 
position, soils of great fertility, as is seen every- 
where through the bottoms where they occur. 
Probably no more productive corn fields, for 
their extent, are to be found in the State, th.an 
those in the Waverly soils of the western town- 
ship of Coshocton county. 

Small quantities of galena are not unfrequently 
met with in the Waverly, and they have led to 
the conviction that this metal might be found in 
abundance in this and adjoining counties. There 
are, however, no facts yet known that justify this 
telief. The lead of the Waverly forms no con- 
nected veins or beds, but is found replacing fossil 
shell, or, in isolated crystals, scattered in small 
numbers through the rock. Hence, while the 
reports of the existence of lead in Coshocton 
county, are "founded on fact," there is not the 
slightest probability that it will be ever discov- 
ered in sufficient quantity to pay for working. 

That portion of the coal measures found in 
Coshocton county, comprises, altogether, the 
seven or eight coal beds in the lower half of the 
series; but only a small number of these occur 
of workable dimensions in the same vicinity ; 
and it is not often that more than one bed has 
been opened and mined in the same hill or 
neighborhood. The relative position of these 
coal beds and of the accompanying strata may be 
seen from the subjoined general section of the 
rocks of Coshocton covmty, which exhibits the 
general manner of their arrangement : 

Sandstone and shale. Limestone and 
mountain ore. Blackband. Coal 
No. 7. Fire-clay. Shale and Sand- 
stone Soto 100 feet. 

Iron ore, local. Coal No. 6. Iron 
ore, local. Sandstone and shale. 
Black limestone, local. Coal, local. 
Fire-clay, local 8 to 25 feet. 



Gray limestone. Coal. Fire-clay 10 to 50 feet. 

Sandstone and shale 20 to 30 feet. 

Limestone, local. Cannel coal, local. 

Fire-clay, local. Sandstone and 

shale 20 to 30 feet. 

Blue limestone. Coal No. 3. Shale, 

with nodular iron ore 10 to 20 feet. 

Shale or sandstone 50 to 80 feet. 

Coal No. 1. Fire-clay. Conglomerate, 

local. Waverly 200 feet. 

Every farm in the county, that lies above the 
Waverly strata, contains one or more of these 
coal beds beneath its surface ; and those lo- 
calities that contain the uppermost beds, also 
contain all the lower ones. But while each coal 
bed can almost always be found and recognized 
in its proper place in the column, it does not fol- 
low that it should always maintain the same 
character, even approximately. On the contrary, 
it is not unusual for it to change in the course of 
a few miles — sometimes even in the same hill — 
from a workable bed of several feet, to a worth- 
less seam of a few inches in thickness. Hence, 
there is no safety in figuring ui) an aggregate of 
so many feet of workable beds in any locality, 
until these beds have there been actually opened 
and proved. The indications afforded by bor- 
ings, are generally of a very uncertain character, 
as respects the thickness of the coal beds and the 
quality of the coal. It is, without doubt, often 
the case that the beds of black shale passed 
through are called coal, and when one occurs as 
the roof of a coal bed, it serves to add so much 
to the thickness of the latter. By rem.arking, in 
the description of the townships, how rare it is 
for two workable beds to be found in the same 
locality, and how seldom any bed at all is worked 
below the sixth bed of the series, it can hardly 
be safe to estimate the total average distribution 
of the workable coal in the county at much more 
than the thickness of this one bed ; and this, 
taking into consideration the ])robability that 
some of the lower beds will yet be worked below 
the level of the valleys, where their range is un- 
broken. It is to be hoped, that the lowest bed of 
all, about which very little is now known, may 
be found as productive and valuable as it is in 
the counties to the north, in which event the 
estimate given above would j)rove too low. The 
sixth bed is a very remarkable one for the regu- 



16S 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



larity it maintains, not onlj^ througli this comity, 
but over several others— even to the Pennsylva- 
nia line, and into tliat State. It here varies but 
little from four feet in thickness, and is every- 
where depended upon as the most valuable bed 
of the lower coal measures. Throughout its 
great extent, even into Holmes county, and to 
the Ohio river, at Steubenvillc, it may be recog- 
nized by the peculiar purplish ash. The heaps of 
it seen by the farm houses show to the jsasser-by, 
almost always without fail, whether it is this coal 
or some other bed that supjJies the neighbor- 
hood. 

Of air the strata, the limestones are the most 
persistent, and serve as the best guides for identi- 
fying the coal beds that accompany them. 

There are two bands of these, in particular, 
that are most useful in this respect. Both are 
fossiliferous, often abounding in crinoids and 
shells. The upper one, called the gray limestone, 
is found varying in thickness from one foot, or 
less, up to six feet ten inches. It lies immedi- 
ately on the coal bed known as No. 4. The lower 
one, called the blue limestone, has about the 
same range of thickness as the gray, and is some- 
times only twenty feet below this. 

In some localities in the county, two other 
beds of limestone make their appearance: one, 
dark gray, or black, above the " gray limestone " 
and coal No. 6 ; the other a local bed, between 
the " blue " or " Zoar " and " gray " or " Putnam 
Hill " limestone. In one place— Alexander Han- 
Ion's farm, Mill Creek township — those lower 
limestone beds seem to run together, forming a 
nearly continuous mass, twenty feet in thickness. 
Usually, the persistent limestone strata — the 
"blue" and the "gray" — are fifty to eighty feet 
apart. A coal seam (No. 3) generally lies injme- 
diately under this limestone, also, but is rarely of 
any value; and the same may be said of the bed 
above it (No. 3 a), and also of the next below it 
(No. 2), both of which seem to be wanting in 
this county. The limestones in the western and 
central parts of the county are frequently accom- 
panied by large quantities of the hard, flinty 
rock, known as chert. There is often a great 
display of it, in loose pieces, in the roads above 
and below the outcrops of these calcareous strata; 
but natural exposure of it in place are very rare. 



In several instances, the limestone beds are seen 
intermixed with chert, and it is also noticed that 
chert sometimes takes the place entirely of the 
limestone. 

A few other limestone beds have occasionally 
been noticed at a higher position than the gray 
limestone, and are also between that and the 
blue, but they are of rare occurrence, and have 
only a local interest, except in their relation to- 
limestone beds in similar part of the series in 
other counties. 

The sandstone beds arc sometimes developed 
to the thickness of 70 to 100 feet of massive lay- 
ers. Thov are very apt, however, to pass into 
thin bedded sheets, and again into shales. Rarely 
do they become even slighth' calcareous, and no- 
instance was observed of their passing into lime- 
stone. The most persistent of the sandstone 
beds, so far as it could be traced before it disap- 
pears under the overlying strata, is the great bed 
at the base of the coal measures. The bed over 
coal No. 6 is also very uniform. 

No iron ore, in any encouraging quantity, has 
been met with in the county. It is seen scattered 
in kidney-shaped pieces among the shales, but 
never concentrated sufficiently to justify drifting 
for it. There may be one exception to this on 
the farms of James Boyd and W. Hanlon, in 
Keene township, near Lewisville, where an explo- 
ration has developed, just below coal bed No. 6 
(or it may be the one above it) ferruginous lay- 
ers resembling the black-band ore, mixed with 
kidney ore, from three to six feet thick. Kidney 
ore of good quality is also fovnid between Lin- 
ton and Jacobsport, in the southeast part of Lin- 
ton township. 

The gravel beds of the rivers may be men- 
tioned as among the useful mineral products. At 
Coshocton they furnish an excellent material for 
covering the streets of the town, or the clean peb- 
bles might serve well for concrete work. 

L(xal Geology. — In describing the localities vis- 
ited, it will be convenient to take them up in the 
order of the townships, beginning at the north- 
west, and attention will be directed chiefly to the 
coal beds as of principal importance. 

Tivertvn. — The highest range of the coal meas- 
ures in this township is but little above the gray 
limestone. Its outcrop is seen on the high. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



169 



plateau in the neighborhood of the town of Tiv- 
erton, and that of the bhic Hmestone about forty 
feet lower down. The " blossom " of a coal bed 
is occasionally seen in the road to the north of the 
town ; in one instance, about a mile north from 
Tiverton, five feet below a bed of " black marble," a 
black, compact limestone, which h:is been found 
in the same relative position at a few other local- 
ities in the county. This rock appears as if it 
•would take a good polish, and be serviceable for 
ornamentiil purposes. There are coal beds in the 
northern part of the township, but they are small 
and unimportiint, and the coal is of little demand. 
It is probable none of the beds above No. 1 are 
worth working, or there would have been more 
development made. No. 1 might be looked for 
to advantage at the base ot the great sandstone 
bed, and between that and the Waverly shales, 
for about 200 feet above the Mohican river. This 
coal bed is opened, and ajjpears w'ell, so far as it 
could be examined at McFarland's, in Monroe 
township. It is very variable in thickness, often 
being cut. out by the sandstone that always over- 
lies it. In Mahoning county it is known as the 
Brier Hill coal, and is regarded as the most valu- 
able bed in the State for blast furnaces. It should 
be looked for in the deep runs below Tiverton 
Center, and on the slope of the steep hill down 
to the Mohican. 

Mannie. — The coal seams of this township have 
been developed but little more than those of Tiv- 
erton. There is here the same range of the coal 
measures, with the addition of one higher coal 
bed, the outcrop of which may be recognized 
close to the town of Spring Mountain, which is 
on as high land as any in the township. The 
gray limestone is seen about sixty feet lower 
down, half a mile to the south. The only coal 
mines opened in the township, of which we have 
any knowledge, are Cooper's two mines, north- 
west from Spring Mountain, and McFarland's, on 
the south line of the township. Our examina- 
tions of these, as of most of the other coal beds of 
the county, were made under very unfavorable 
circumstances. As they are worked only in the 
winter season, the localities are commonly found 
■with difficulty, and when found the drifts are flood- 
ed with water, so that they can not be entered, 
iind no one is about to give any information. 



Cooper's bed was found in this condition. The 
coal seam ajipears to be four feet thick. It is 
overlaid by a confused mixture of fire-clay, shale 
and limestone, the last close to the roof, and sup- 
posed to be the gray limestone. Over these 
strata, which are sometimes more than ten feet 
thick, are massive sandstone rocks, much tum- 
bled, the bed of which is not less than twenty 
feet thick. McFarland's coal mine, as already 
mentioned, is in the lowest bed of the series No. 
1. It appears to be three feet thick, and is over- 
laid by slaty sandstone, of which eight feet are 
visible. The coal seems to be partly cannel. In 
the run, about fifteen feet below the opening, are 
the Waverlj' shales, recognizable by their fossils. 

Clark. — The principal coal mines of this town- 
ship are in the southeast part, near the line of 
Bethlehem, on the farms of Thomas Elliott, John 
Moore and J. Shannon, all in coal No. 6. Jas. C. 
Endsley's coal bank in Bethlehem belongs to the 
same group, and is the most important one, hav- 
ing been worked eighteen years, and supplying a 
large part of the two townships with coal. It is 
forty feet above the gray limestone, under which 
is said to be a coal bed two feet thick ; and it is 
about ninety feet below another coal seam eigh- 
teen inches thick, struck near Mr. Endsley's 
house, over which the hill still rises some sev- 
enty or eighty feet. The bed worked is three 
feet nine inches thick, less a seam it contains of 
six inches of pyritous fire-clay. The roof is 
black shale, of which five feet are exposed. The 
coal is in good repute for domestic uses, but does 
not answer for blacksmiths. 

Thomas Elliott's coal bed, just over the line in 
Clark township, is probably a continuation of 
Endsley's. It is two feet ten inches thick, under 
a black shale roof, the shales abounding in fossil 
shells, but too fragile for preservation. The coal 
appears to be too pyritous to be of much value. 
The other beils we did not succeed in finding. 
On the highlands northeast from the mill at the 
great bend of the Killbuck, a coal bed is worked 
which, from its elevation, we suppose to be No. 
6. Those northern townships seem to be the 
most hilly and uncultivated in the county. They 
lie along the heads of many of the branches of 
the TuscarawiW, and the general course of the 
streams i.s not far from the dip of the stratiu 



170 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The greater elevation of tlie plateau in this re- 
gion accounts for the occurrence of the higher 
coal beds in the summits. Though unu.sually 
hilly and rough, the surface exhibits few out- 
crops of the coals and limestones for long dis- 
tances. From the bend of the Killbuck, north- 
east toward Bloom field, the road ascends 350 
feet to the first mile. The first coal outcrop 
observed is about two miles southwest from 
Bloomfield, just after crossing the small branch 
of the Killbuck, running on the Waverly shales. 
This must be the outcrop of coal No. 1. De- 
scending toward Bloomfield, on the other side of 
the summit, the gray limestone is met with at 
170 feet liigher elevation by barometer, with 
large coal outcrop immediately under it. Forty 
feet below this is another outcrop of coal, and 
about seventy-five feet below this a third, and a 
sandstone bed beneath this, with no appearance 
of the Waverly to the bottom of the valley in 
which Bloomfield is situated. This group, how- 
ever, must be very near the surface at this place. 
None of the outcrops noticed above appear to 
have been followed up to ascertain the character 
and thickness of the coals. This neighborhood 
is sui>plied with coal from beds in the adjacent 
township of Mill Creek. 

Recent e.xplorations disclose the fact that in 
Bethlehem and Clark townships, near the line 
separating them, coal No. 7 is in places four feet 
thick, and of good quality. At Jlr. Durr's bank, 
it has this thick vein, is an open, burning, white 
ash coal, containing little visible suljihur, and 
giving better promi.se of being a good iron-mak- 
ing coal than any other examined in the county. 
A coal was disclosed in a well near Mr. Glover's 
residence, without cover, showing eighteen 
inches of the bottom bench, which may be No. 7 
or perhaps No. 7 a. On the east half of the south- 
east quirter of section 23, Clark township, an out 
crop of coal No. G is thirty seven inches in thick- 
ness, with a heav}' body of shale above it. Other 
outcrops in the neighborhood are reported to 
show three feet nine inches of coal. At the open- 
ing examined, the coal increased in thickness as 
the drift was carried into the hill. The coal is 
hard and black, with a brilliant, resinous luster, 
containing a largo percentage of fixed carbon, 
and is evidently of excellent quality. At the 



Imley bank, on section 25, Bethlehem township, 
the coal at an outcrop measures forty-three 
inches, and is reported to reach a thickness of 
four and one-half feet in some of the rooms 
worked. It is, by the barometer, twenty-five feet 
below the coal on section 23, Clark township, and 
about one-half a mile distant. This coal in Beth- 
lehem township I am inclined to regard as below 
No. 6 and, .as that which is disclosed a little 
farther north, capped with the black limestone. 
The coal is of superior quality, and there is quite 
a large territory underlain by it. 

At the place of these openings, all the rocks of 
the coal measures are in their positions, and the 
horizons of seven coals and two limestones can 
be determined. About one mile north, on Mr. 
Glover's land in Clark township, the following 
section was obtained: 

Coal No 6, 100 feet from top of hill. 

Shaly sandstone 30 feet. 

Black limestone '■ 3 feet. 

Coal 2 feet 6 inches. 

Sandy shale with coal streak at base 20 feet. 

Unevenly bedded, massive, coarse 
sandstone, with steak of coal 
near base 280 feet. 

Conglomerate. 

This section shows that .after the deposit of the 
lower coals there was an upheaval of 280 feet, 
and a channel plowed by the water to the b.ase of 
the coal measures. The thin conglomerate in 
this neighborhood is cherty, and from one of 
these fragments of cherts I have obtained a fair 
sized crystal of galena, the best specimen of lead 
ore I have ever seen obtained from Ohio rocks. 

Mill Creek. — Low's coal bank, in the northwest 
corner of this township, one mile east from 
Bloomfield, lies directly under the gray' lime- 
stone, a seam of fire-clay, seven inches thick, sej)- 
arating the limestone from the ujiper layer c>f 
coal. This upper layer is bright coal, five inches 
thick, under it cannel coal seven inches thick, 
and under this two feet five inches of good, 
briglit coal. In the next hill west is Evan's coal 
bank, at thirty feet higher elevation. This hjis 
been opened, but not worked much, and was in 
no condition to enter. The bed is said to be 
three feet thick, the coal to be of good quality. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



171 



It has a good covering of sandstone, making the 
summit of the hill. 

Through the western part of Mill Creek, by 
the " grade road," exposures of strata that can be 
recognized are very rare; and no openings of 
coal are met with. Near the south line of the 
township the blue limestone is seen at several 
places along the road, sometimes with the "blos- 
som " of coal beneath it. Chert in considerable 
quantity is often associated with it. Atone place 
the blue limestone appears to be seven or eight 
feet thick. Immediately over it is a large bed of 
chert, and about forty feet higher up the blossom 
of coal, but no appearance of the gray limestone. 

In the southeast corner of Mill Creek, and in 
the adjoining lauds in the three townships of 
Keene, White Eyes and Crawford, are several coal 
banks, all in coal No. 6, which is recognized both 
by its jwsition (about 100 feet above the gray 
limestone) and by its peculiar purplish a.sh. The 
outcrop of other coal beds is seen at several 
places on these lands, but the only bed worked is 
No. 6. The coal is mined only in the winter sea- 
son, and chiefly on the farms of A. Overholts, in 
Mill Creek ; of Thomas Davis, adjoining this, in 
Keene; of Scott, Funk, Boyd and Miller in 
White Eyes ; and of Boyd, Graham and Swigert 
in Crawford. The bed where it was accessible 
was found varying from two feet ten inches 
at Davis', and at Overholts' to four feet three 
inches thick at Scott's; but the openings being all 
deserted, nothing could be determined as to the 
quality of the coal. Some pyrites is seen, one 
seam of it an inch thick near the Hoor, but the 
quantity is small. As this group of mines sup- 
plies the demand of a large portion of the four 
townships, the coal is without doubt, the best the 
county affords. It is, moreover, obtiiined exclu- 
sively from the bed well known to be the most 
important one in the county. The sunnnit level 
in this vicinity is about 100 feet above the plane 
of the coal bed; and immediately over the coal 
is a heavy bed of slaty sandstone, apparently not 
under thirty-live feet thick. On Alexander 
Hanlon's farm, half a mile northwest from Over- 
holts', and also on Oliver Crawford's, nearly a 
mile farther north, arc seen a number of expos- 
ures of coal and limestone beds, which, tnkcn to- 
gether, give sections not readily explained in con- 



nection with the barometrical elevations ob- 
tained, and which were verified in part in going 
and returning. Coal No. 6 is opened on the 
south side of the hill, on Mr. Hanlon's farm 
about 120 feet below its summit A bed of lime- 
stone, about one foot six inches thick, shows it- 
self sixty-five feet above the coal bed. To the 
south about one-quarter of a mile and 200 feet 
below the coal bed, is the top of a great bed of 
gray limestone, which, followed by successive 
steps down the bed of a run, presents a thick- 
ness of about twenty-five feet, as leveled with the 
hand-level. This may be somewhat exaggerated, 
as there is a strong dip to the south, and the ex- 
posure is down the run in this direction for 
nearly 2.50 feet Under the upper layers is seen 
some coal smut, and under the whole is a bed of 
coal, said to be two feet thick. The strata for 
twenty feet below are hidden, and then succeeds 
a bed of massive sandstone, from thirty to forty 
feet thick. On Crawford's land, nearly a mile to 
the north, two coal outcrops are seen in two 
neighboring runs. One is of a coal bed about 
thirteen inches thick, directly under gray lime- 
stone, apparently only two inches thick, and 110 
feet below the level of coal No. 6. In the other 
run at twenty feet lower level, is a bed of coal 
three feet thick, of which the upper portion is 
cannel, and the lower partly cannel and partly 
bright coal. No limestone is exposed near the 
coal. It would appear that these two coal out- 
crops are continuations of the beds on the south 
side of the hill, though they are ninety feet 
higher, and nothing is seen of the great mass of 
limestones that there lies between them. The 
coals are prt)bably the representatives of Nos. 
3 and 4, and the limestones that overlie these 
have here run together. The unusual high 
el(!vation of coal No. 6, on the south side of 
the hill, may be a barometrical error. The dip, 
which is certainly very great here, would accoimt 
for a part, at least, of the discrepancy in the 
height of the coal above the two outcrops of 
limestone on the opposite sides of the hill. 

Crau'ftird. — Beside the coal banks on the edge 
of Mill Creek Township, there appear to be 
none worked in Crawfiird. The outcrop of coal 
was observed on the north line of the township, 
near New Bedford, but over all the rough coun- 



172 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



trj' from thence to Chili, through the center of 
the township, no one appears to have given any 
attention to obtaining coal elsewhere than from 
the locality in the southwest corner, already 
described. It is probable that No. 6 disappears 
tp the north, rising faster than the surface of the 
country in this direction, and the lower beds 
have not been found worth working. 

Newcastle. — The northern half of this township 
is in the Waverly, excepting only the upper part 
of the hills in the northeast quarter. The 
highest lands, near the town of Newcastle, on the 
south side of the Walhonding, are about 420 feet 
above the bottoms of this river, i. e., 780 above 
Lake Erie. The highest and only coal bed 
worked in the township is No. 4, under the gray 
limestone, and from seventy to eighty feet below 
the highest elevations. Coal No. 1 is seen on 
descending the steep hill from Newcastle to the 
Walhonding, in a bed only eighteen inches thick, 
beneath the great sandstone bed at the base of 
the coal measures, which is hereabout thirty feet 
thick. Kidney ore, with a little shale from six 
inches to a foot thick, separates the coal from the 
sandstone. For fifty feet over the sandstone the 
strata are concealed, except that the smut of a 
v.ery small coal seam is observed below the dig- 
gings for fire-clay, at the top of this interval. 
Over the fire-clay, which is three feet to four feet 
thick, is coal (seen here only in the outcrop), and 
over the coal a fossiliferous gray limestone, two 
feet thick, overlaid with blue chert. The fire- 
clay is dug for the supply of a pottery at New- 
castle. Though the gray limestone is met with 
most everywhere near the summit of the town- 
ship, the openings of the coal beds it covers are 
not very numerous. One of these is James 
Smith's, half a mile northeast from Newcastle. 
The limestone is here several feet thick, and forms 
the roof of the coal. This is two and a half feet 
thick, and much mixed with small seams of shale 
and pyrites. 

At Calvin Scott's, one and one-half miles south- 
east from Newcastle, the coal is found two and 
one-half feet thick under six feet of the gray 
limestone. It is here of better quality, compact 
and bright, with not so much sulphur. 

This bed may be opened in numerous places, 
and is the best the township afibrds ; yet the next 



higher bed may perhaps be found near the line 
of JefTerson, on the road to Jericho. 

The following section, from summit of hills at 
Newcastle to the mouth of Owl creek, will show 
the general geological structure of this portion of 
the county : 

1. Interval covered 45 feet. 

2. Blue chert I " 

3. Gray, rotten limestone 2 '* 

4. Blue chert it^" 

5. Coal No. 3 2)^" 

6. Fire-clay worked for pottery 4 " 

7. Slope covered 85 " 

8. Sandstone 30 " 

9. Iron ore 6 to 8 in. 

10. Coal No. I l>^ ft. 

11. Waverly shales 225 " 

The cherty limestone over the upper coal is 
traceable several miles along the banks of Owl 
creek into Knox county. It abounds in fossils, 
which include nearly all the species found in the 
famous locality on Flint Ridge, near Newark. 
The lithological character of the rock is the 
same, a blue, earthy, sometimes cherty limestone^ 
weathering light brown. The horizon of the two 
loaclities is doubtless the same. The base of the 
section is 300 feet above Lake Erie. 

Jeffersmi.—The north half of this township is 
in strata probably too low for any of the worka- 
ble coal beds except No. 1, which may be looked 
for with good prospect of success, as it is worked 
just over the line in Monroe, as already described. 
On the south side of the township, coal No. 3 a 
has been opened upon several farms, and being 
found of large size and cannel character, rich in 
oil, large preparations were made to work it for 
the supply of oil distilleries, when the great 
developments of the petroleuni wells put a stop 
to the business. On the farm of John Taylor 
(west side of Simmons' creek), the bed is opened 
about fifty feet below the top of the hill. It is 
about five feet thick, sound, cannel coal, with a 
little pyrites scattered through it. The coal 
abounds with impressions of coal plants, and in 
the shaly blocks from the roof are remarkably 
fine specimens of stiffmariiF, with lateral rootlets. 
On the other side of the same hill (to the west), 
is Lyman's opening in the same bed. The roof 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



173 



is here exposed, and consists, next the coal, of 
blue limestone six inches, over this chert eighteen 
inches, and limestone at top, making in all over 
three feet. The coal bed is full six feet thick. 
Sharpless' mine, acro-s the valley, in Bedford 
township, belongs to this group. The gray 
limestone is found scattered near the top of the 
hill above Lyman's opening, but the coal bed 
under it is not opened. Its outcrop is observed 
in the road toward Newcastle, overlain by a thick 
bed of shale. Chert is very abundant, associated 
■with both the limestone beds, and also at higher 
levels than the gray limestone. Descending the 
hill toward the Little Mohawk, the gray lime- 
stone is seen not far below the summit, about 
four feet thick, with coal smut below, and shale 
beds containing kidneyore, above it. The coal 
bed is opened on the farm of James Moore, Sr., 
close by this outcrop, and was worked for oil, the 
coal yielding forty gallons to the ton. The bed is 
seven feet thick, the lower live feet cannel and 
the upper two feet bright coal, overlaid by gray 
limestone and chert. On the opposite side of the 
road the same bed was worked by Wm. Gibbons. 
The descent from this point to the bridge over 
the Little Mohawk, at Jericho, about a quarter of 
a mile to the west, is 180 feet by barometer. This 
should reach into the Waverly shales. There are 
no exposures of any strata to be seen. The hill 
to the west rises nearly or quite 300 feet above 
the Little Mohawk, beyond the township line, in 
Newcastle, and the next coal bed above the gray 
limestone is probably carried in, an outcrop being 
seen, supposed to belong to this bed. 

Section between Simmons', run and Jericho, 
Jeflerson township : 

Gray shale 40 feet. 

Gray limestone 3 to 4 " 

Coal — 

Fire-clay and shale 50 " 

Blue limestone 3 to 4 " 

Cannel coal 5 to 7 " 

Fire-clay, sandstone and shale 30 " 

Bituminous coal 2 " 

Fire-clay and sandstone 70 " 

Sandstone 

Bdhtehem. — This township is very largely in 
the Waverly and the lower undeveloped coal 
measures. The coal found to the north wa.s 



noticed in the account of Clark township. It is 
probable that coal bed No. 4 may be found of 
good size aiad character in the extreme south- 
west corner, as it is worked in the northwest 
corner of Jackson. 

Keene. — The eastern half of Keene township 
has several openings of coal No. 6, which appears 
to be the only bed now worked. That of Thos. 
Davis, in the northeast corner, h;is been referred 
to in the account of the coal beds of Mill Creek. 
In the southern part of the township, James 
Boyd has worked the same bed to considerable 
extent, by three openings on his farm, about one 
and a half miles north from Lewisville. The bed 
lies about 150 feet above the level of the canal at 
Lewisville, and 100 feet below the summit of the 
hill. The canal is about on the same level as the 
railroad at Coshocton. Fifty feet above this is 
an outcrop of the gray limestone near Lewisville. 
In one of the openings the coal is found three 
feet nine inches thick, with a parting seam of 
either fire-clay or pyrites, three inches thick, 
nine inches above the floor. In another, on the 
west side of the same hill, the bed is four feet 
thick, including four inches of fire-clay, eight 
inches above the bottom. The overlying strata 
are slaty sandstones, thirty feet thick. The coal 
appears to be of excellent quality, is of brilliant, 
jet-black color, and is mostly free from sulphur. 
It is not in demand by the blacksmiths, probably 
from not melting well to make a hollow fire, 
but is sold wholly for domestic uses. 

On the adjoining farm of W. Hanlon another 
coal bed was opened sometime ago, sixty feet 
higher up, and is said to be three feet thick. 
Other coal openings are reported in the south- 
east corner and also about two miles east from 
Keene Center ; they are supposed to be in coal 
bed No. 6. Keene Center, though on very high 
grdund, does not, apparently, quite reach up to 
the plane of coal No. 6; and no openings are 
made in the lower beds. To the nortli of the 
town the strata are well exposed by the side of 
the road, from the top of the hill down into the 
valley of Mill creek, presenting the following 
section : near the top, at the town, slaty sand- 
stone; shales, mostly olive-colored, forty feet, 
limestone (gray?), coal-smut, and fire-clay, under- 
laid by olive shales, sixty feet; several layers of 



174 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



kidney iron-ore, ten feet above the bottom of the 
shales; coal outcrop under the shales; five feet 
under this, to top of great bed of chert, associa- 
ted with blue limestone, and coal outcrop beneath. 
A large bed of massive sandstone, supposed to be 
that at the base of the coal measures, lies not far 
below the blue limestone, its upper layers about 
twenty feet below the top of the chert and blue 
limestone This group of about 150 feet affords 
little promise of any workable bed of coal; and 
some portions of it occupy the greater part of 
the township. 

]Vliiie Eyes. — The onl)' co.al openings visited in 
this township, are those in the northwest corner, 
noticed with the coal beds of Mill Creek. The 
developments there have had the effect of dis- 
couraging other enterijrises of the kind, es- 
pecially as the demand for coal is so limited. In 
the northeast part of the township, along the road 
from Chili toward Bakcrsville, the lands lie near 
the jjlane of the two limestone beds, with no 
promise of workalile coal. 

Adams. — Throughout the north part of Adams, 
the coal bed most worked is No. 4, under the 
gray limestone. It is a bed of inferior character, 
both as regards the amount and quality of the 
coal. It is commonly known as the " double 
bed," from a seam of (ire-clay, about a foot tliick, 
in the middle of the bed. It has been worked 
half a mile west from Bakcrsville, where the 
whole bed was four feet thick, the ujiper part 
mi.xed with cannel coal. About twenty feet 
above the gray limestone, which covers the coal 
bed.isabedof black limestone, of slaty structure, 
perhaps two feet thick. It contains fossil shells, 
but in poor condition. This bed corresponds, in 
position, with the "black marble" found in the 
western part of the county. Near the western 
part of the township, the doulilc bed is worke^d on 
the farms of Powell, of Fillibaum and of others 
in the neighborhood ; and further east on Zin- 
kon's. At this place, the ne.xt upper bed (No. 6) 
is also opened ninety to one hundred feet higher 
up, and too close to the top of the hill to be worked 
to advantage. It is a little over three feet thick, 
contains no slate seams and but little sulphur. 
On Vance's farm, lying next south from Zinkon's, 
the same bed is again opened near the top of the 
hill, and has, so far, been worked by stripping. It 



appears to be about three feet thick, of sound cu- 
bical coal, very black, the upper jiortion sulphur- 
ous. It is overlaid by black shale, two feet nine 
inches ; sandstone, one foot three inches ; and 
over this shaly sandstone, a thick bed, to the top 
of the hill. The lower part of the bed, and the 
strata below, are hidden. In a run near by, at 
about fifty feet lower elevation, is a bed of chert 
and " black marble," some of the latter of com- 
pact structure, and some of it shelly; and thirty- 
five to forty feet below this, is the outcrop of the 
gray limestone, and coal No. 4 (not opened), the 
strata between being mostly slaty sandstones. 
There are numerous coal openings to the south- 
east of Vance's, all in No. coal bed. 

i%rry.— The strata here, as in Newcastle, are of 
the lower part of the coal measures ; and, fre- 
quently, over the surface of the hills, the gray and 
blue limestone are recognized, accompanied with 
chert. They are seen in the neighborhood of 
East Union; but no openings of the coal beds 
usually associated with those, are met with ; and 
it is probable these beds are of little or no value 
in this township. A little to the southeast of the 
center of the township, near the foot of a long 
hill, and below a great bed of ma-ssive sandstone, 
is Crawford's coal bank in bed No. 1. The bed is 
from two and a half to three feet thick, with a 
black shale roof. The coal is of excellent qualitj', 
mostly in sound blocks, very free from sulphur 
and of "open burning " character. Some of it is 
of slaty cannel structure, with mineral charcoal 
intermixed. This is the only really good display 
of this lowest coal bed met with in the county; 
and itisan encouragement for ho2iing that a seam 
that has proved so valuable as this has in other 
counties, may be found at many other localities 
in this, of good character. Its low position gives 
it an extensive range; but there is always uncer- 
tainty about its continuing far without being en- 
croached uiwn and disturbed by the sandstone 
above it. Its occurrence here indicates that of 
the Waverly group in the bottoms of the runs in 
this township. 

Bedford. — The occurrence of cannel coal in a 
large bed under the blue limestone on Sharpless' 
farm, on the north side of the township, has been 
noticed in describing the coal openings in Jeffer- 
son. In the northwest part of Bedford, at the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



175 



coal openings of John Little and Jos. Frcese, a 
greater number of coal beds are seen in one sec- 
tion than at any other locality in the county. At 
the base of the hill, in the road, and under a bed 
of massive sandstone not less than, thirty feet 
thick, is the blossom of coal supposed to be N(3. 1. 
Fifty feet above this is John Little's coal bank 
under a bed of blue shale, the lower layers of 
which are calcareous, and no doubt represent the 
blue limestone. The coal bed (No. 3) is of work- 
able size, but nothing more could be ascertained 
of its character, the opening being flooded with 
water. In the run close by, and seventy feet 
above the base is Jos. Freese's coal opening under 
massive sandstone, of which twelve feet are ex- 
posed. 

The following is a section near Freese's mine 

in Bedford township : 

Ft. In. 

Soil and drift 

Buff limestone 

Sandstone and shale partly covered loo o 

Coal outcrop 

Shale 30 o 

Gray limestone 5 o 

Coal No. 4 2 4 

Shaly sandstone 30 o 

Coal, J. Freese's (No. 3a?) 3 11 

Blue calcareous shale 20 o 

Coal outcrop (No. 3) 

Space partly covered, mostly sandstone 80 o 

Coal No. I (?) 

Freese's coal is a comisound seam, consisting of 

Bituminous coal iS inches. 

Cannel coal 10 inches. 

Fire-clay 3 to 4 inches. 

Bituminous coal 15 inches. 

Black shale 

At 100 feet elevation the gray limestone appears 
in the run overlying a coal seam twenty-eight 
inches thick, not opened, and at 130 feet isthcout- 
croj) of another coal bed of cannel character, the 
thickness not known. Over this coal is a heavy bed 
of massive sandstone, and above this to the top 
of the hill, about 100 feet more, no more exposures 
are seen. But in the forks of the road near by, and 
some twenty to thirty feet higher elevation than 
the uppermost coal bed in the section, is an out- 
crop of hard, compact limestone, abounding in 



fossil shells, the stratum probably not over two 
feet thick. It is remarkable, at this place, what a 
change the coals Nos. 3 and 4 have undergone 
from their much larger dimensions in Jefferson, 
only about three miles distant. No. 3 a also here 
assumes a workable character, not observed any- 
where else in the county. 

No other coal openings are seen between this 
place and the village of West Bedford. The vil- 
lage stands some fifty feet above the gray lime- 
stone, which is seen a little to the north ; and the 
range of the strata is, from the summit down 
into the bottoms, about 240 feet. About forty 
feet lower than the gray limestone is a large out- 
crop of coal in the road, which is probably No. 
3 a, the blue limestone being met thirty feet 
lower in a large exposure of massive blocks. At 
the lowest point in the road, about one-half mile 
east from West Bedford, where the road forks, 
is the lower great sandstone bed of the coal 
measures, about 190 feet below the gray lime- 
stone. Two miles east from West Bedford is 
Sproule's coal bank, three feet thick, the coal very 
sulphury, no cannel in it. John.son's mine 
farther east, and Marshall's still farther, exhibit 
the same characters. The bed is evidently the 
same at the three places, and is supposed to be 
No. 4, though the gray limestone is not seen near 
it. Coal No. 6, found in the northeast corner of 
Washington township, could no doubt be found 
in the south part of Bedford, as near the school 
house, not a mile south from Sproule's mine, the 
following are observed from the blue limestone up. 
The gray limestone fifty feet higher, four feet 
thick; coal outcrop (No. 6), eighty feet up. 
Above the school house: coal outcrop 124 feet 
up; top of the hill, ISO feet above the blue lime- 
stone, reddish brown sandstone : 

Section on Sproule's farm, Bedford township: 

Soil and drift 

Gray limestone 

Coal, Sproule's land 3 '««'• 

Fire clay 

Shales and sandstones, mostly covered 80 feet. 

Blue limestone 8 feet. 

Cannel coal 2 feet. 

Fire-clay 

Space, mostly covered, sandstone below 100 feet. 

Coal No. I 



176 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Jackson. — In the northwest corner of this town- 
ship coal No. 4 is worked on the farm of Abm. 
Haines, near the summit of the liills. The bed 
is four feet thiclv, and the coal ai)pears to be of 
good quality; lias no cannel seams. Its roof is 
shale, three inches thick, and over this is the 
gray limestone, six feet ten inches thick. From 
the bottom of this limestone it is twenty-four 
feet to the blue limestone, exposed in the run 
below, mixed with chert, and overlying a cannel 
coal bed, thickness unknown. As both these 
coal beds attain large dimensions on the other 
side of Simmons creek, in Jefferson and Bedford 
townships, they may be expected to occur in 
other places in the northwest part of Jacksoni 
also, of workable si/.o; but the only locality in 
Jackson where either is opened is in the extreme 
corner of the township. Toward Roscoe, over 
the highlands to the south of the Walhonding 
river, the summits are far above the plane of 
these beds, and between four and one-half and 
five and one-half miles from Roscoe, the outcrops 
of two coal beds are ob.servcd, one of which is 
supposed to be No. 6, and the other the next bed 
above. 

In a run near the road in this vicinity an im- 
perfect section was obtained, showing the blue 
limestone at bottom three feet thick, and thirty 
feet above it the bottom of a bed of massive sand- 
stone full fifty feet thick, with signs of coal six 
feet below it, with shale between the coal and 
sandstone. Near the summit, about seventy feet 
above the top of the sandstone, is the outcrop of 
the uppermost bed. On the next road to the 
^outh of this, a mile and a half west from Ros- 
coe, the upper part of the great sandstone bed, 
helow coal No. 0, forms the pavement of the 
Toad, and beneath is a cave formed by the over- 
hanging rock and extending entirely across un- 
der the road. The bottom of the smdstone is 
fifty-five feet below the road, and down the run 
fifteen feet lower is a fine exposure of the gray 
limestone, two or three feet thick, with an infe- 
rior kind of cannel coal under it. A blue lime- 
stone crops out still further down the run, only 
about twenty feet under the gray limestone — 
shales and slaty sandstones occujiying the inter- 
mediate space The hills in this part of the town- 
ship are quite high enough to catch No. 6 coal, and 



also the next bed in many localities. But No. 6 
is the only bed known in the township as of 
much importance, and is opened at a number of 
places to the south of Roscoe. The bed is from 
three to four feet thick, and the coal is in good 
repute. The most important mines in the town- 
ship are in the southeast part, near the line of 
Virginia, especially those worked on adjoining 
tracts, belonging respectively to the Coalport 
Coal Company and the Summit Coal Company. 
The coal bed is three feet ten inches thick, with 
a seam of shale one to two inches thick, fifteen 
inches above the floor. The roof of the bed is 
blue shale, and in the shale beds above and below 
the beds kidney ore is found. The dip is south- 
east, sixteen and one-half feet in a mile. 

Prosser's coal mine is three miles south from 
Coshocton, and half a mile west from the canal. 
The bed is close upon four feet thick ; contains 
no visible sulj)hur but what can be easily sorted 
out. The upper part is harder coal than the 
lower, and separated from it by a small seam of 
fire-clay eighteen inches above the floor. The 
following is the succession of strata observed in 
the run below the coal bed: Seventy-five feet 
below is the bottom of a large bed of massive 
sandstone, not less than thirty feet thick, some 
layers of it conglomeritic; under it shale beds 
(bluish) about twenty feet thick, with balls and 
layers of iron ore ; at ninety-five feet below the 
coal is fire-clay, and, under this, blue shale and 
kidney ore; at 105 feet black chert, five feet 
thick ; and fifteen feet below this, black shale and 
cannel coal, not distinctly divided — altogether 
about four feet thick. The lowest of these strata 
represent the blue limestone and coal No. 3; and 
the black chert is the representative of a lime- 
stone, which is locally found over the next coal 
above. 

Tuscarawas. — The lowest strata in this township 
are those near the blue limestone. It lies near 
the level of the railroad, and of the canal near 
the aqueduct to the north of Coshocton. Where 
the highway crosses Mill creek, in the northeast 
part of the township, the following section of 165 
feet may be observed : At top of the hill, mas- 
sive sandstone, extending down about 100 feet; 
125 feet below the top of this sandstone, gray 
limestone, four feet thick, with much chert inter- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



177 



mixed and overlying a coal bed, the thickness of 
which is not known, only about fifteen inches 
seen in the outcrop; thence ilown to the level of 
the bridge over Mill creek (165 feet below the top 
of the sandstone), is a bed of shales, about thirty- 
five feet thick. The blue limestone was not seen 
in place, but a loose piece of it was found below 
the level of the bridge and of the road. These 
strata produce no workable coal beds. The mines 
to the south and east of Coshocton are altogether 
in coal No. 6. Those of the Home Mining Com- 
pany, a mile southeast from the town, are situated 
on the west side of a high hill, near together, and 
are worked by means of twelve separate en- 
trances. The bed is about 150 feet above the 
level of the railroad ; its thickness three feet eight 
inches ; the coal is very free from sulphur, bright, 
hard and compact, and breaks with clear and 
brilliant, smooth faces ; is better adapted for 
steam and domestic purposes than for black- 
smith's use, not having the melting and coking 
qualities to the extent they require; still, it is in 
demand for this purpose, and is, in fact, the best 
this part of the country affords. It is worked by 
large chambers, the roof being strong. A thin 
seam of shale divides the bed into two benches, 
and the ujiper bench supplies the best coal. It is 
overlaid by gray shales and sandstones; and 115 
feet above it is the outcrop of another coal bed 
(No. 7), not opened, overlaid with limestone and 
some iron ore — the position in which to look for 
the black-band iron ore. The gray limestone is 
about sixty-five feet below coal No. 6. 

In the hill northeast from the last described 
locality, toward the coal mines worked on that 
side, and discharged on the railroad, the following 
section is obtained from co.al No. 6, down : 

1. Coal No. 6 feet. 

2. Fire-clay 

3. Sandstone 30 " 

4. Black marble 6 " 

5. Gray shale lo " 

6. Gray limestone 3 " 

7. Coal outcrop 

8. Kire clay 

9. Blue shale 60 " 

10. Blue limestone 7 " 

11. Cannel coal, thin and poor 

12. Fire-clay 

13. Shale to railroad, three miles from Co- 

shocton 30 " 



In the central part of the township, the simi- 
mit level is, for the most part, high above the 
plane of No 6 coal ; the tops of the hills full 200 
feet higher. Indications of the black-band ore 
were looked for in these higher strata, but none 
were met with that can be considered encour- 
aging. No. 7 coal must occur* considerably below 
the general summit level, but the only bed 
worked appears to be No. 6. 

Sections southeast of Coshocton : 
Nodular calcareous iron-ore. Gray limestone. 

Coal outcrop (No. 7). 

Ft. In. 

Gray shale and sandy shale 115 o 

Coal No. 6 (Home company's) 3 8 

Fire-clay 20 o 

Gray shale 45 ° 

Gray limestone. Coal outcrop 3 o 

Shaly sandstone and shale (railroad at Co- 
shocton). 80 o 

Blue limestone. Coal outcrop 3 o 

Fire-clay 5 ° 

Shale, to low water in river 15 'o 

Lafayette. — The greater part of this township is 
alluvial bottom land. No coal openings were 
encountered in the township. The higher parts 
of it, however, must contain, what appears to be 
the only important bed of this region, viz: No. 6. 
The ancient valley or river bed, extending 
through it from northwest to southeast, has 
already been noticed. 

Oxford. — A considerable parf of this township 
also is bottom land in the broad valley of the 
Tuscaraw.as. Coal beds, however, are worked in 
the northwest corner of the township, which 
were not visited. They are probably on the same 
bed (No. 6) as the workings in Adams, not far to 
the north, and those on the same side of the 
river, and as near to 'it at Newcomerstown, in 
Tuscarawas county. The valley of Mill's creek, 
on the south edge of the township, is on the level 
of the blue limestone, and a small seam of cannel 
coal is seen directly under it in this vicinity; and 
under the gray limestone, twenty-five feet higher 
up in the same run, is a coal bed not well exposed, 
the upper part of which is cannel. Coal No. 6 
must be in the hills in the southwest part of the 
township, but no openings of it were seen. 

From Coshocton to the east line of the county, 



178 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the dijihus not continued in an easterly direction, 
but ajjpears to be reversed. At Coslioclon, coal 
No. 6 at the Home company's mine is about ]48 
feet above the railroad, which is there about 1.3S 
above Lake Erie; and at Ncwcomerstown, the 
same bed is 130 feet above the railroad, which is 
there 16.3 feet above the lake, making the bed 
seven feet higlier at Newcomer.stown. The direc- 
tion is about due east. The effect of this flatten- 
ing of the dip is to keep the same series of strata 
near the surface, and give a monotonous char- 
acter to the geology. There appears to be no 
southern dip, either, in the southeast part of the 
■county, judging fr(jm the barometrical elevations 
in Tuscarawas and jNIIU's creek valleys. 

Pike. — This township is altogether near the 
bottom of the coal measures. The gray limestone 
is seen very frequently in the high grounds, ac- 
companied by its coal bed No. 4 ; and as we see no 
evidence of the coal being worked, it is probably 
of little importance. At West Carlisle, the sand- 
stone just under the gray limestone contains 
numerous specimens of what are probably fu- 
coidal stems, in a variety of unusual forms, some 
bearing a curious resemblance to the fossil sau- 
rian foot-prints. On the west side of the village, 
is a large outcrop of slaty cannel coal, probably 
belonging to the gray limestone, but of no value. 
No particular change is observed in the strata 
from this point to the southwest part of the 
township, where the land soon descends down to 
the Waverly. . 

No considerable deposit of iron ore was found 
in place in Pike township, but a number of 
nodules of ore, of fine quality, were noticed in 
the valleys of the streams, doubtless washed from 
the hills in the vicinity. The excellence and 
abundance of this ore render it highly probable 
that the importtvnt deposits of Jackson town- 
ship, Muskingum county, extend northward into 
Coshoeton. 

Washinfftf/n. — The only coal mine of import. 
ance seen in this township is Parks, in the north- 
east corner. The bed is No. 6, three and a half 
to four feet thick, the coal of superior quality, 
very brilliant, of waxy luster, giving a brownish 
red powder, and purplish ash. It is a good cok- 
ing coal, melting easily. The pyritous seams it 
contains are small and easily sorted out. The 



coal finds a ready sale over a considerable region 
around. The bed lies high up near the top of 
the hill, but probably may be found in many 
other places in the eastern part of the township 
The following is a section of the strata asso- 
ciated with Park's coal : 

Ft. 

1. .Slope covered loo 

2. Coal No. 6 fPark's) 3 to 4 

3. Fire-clay 

4. Sandstone 80 

5. Gray limestone 4 

6. Coal No. 4 I 

7. Gray shale 30 

8. Blue shale 20 

9. Blue Urn stone 

10. Coal outcrop, No. 3 

Virginia. — Coal No. 6 is pretty generally 
worked throughout the north and east parts of 
the township — in the northwest part, by Joshua 
Cornell, half a mile north from Moscow. The 
bed is here about three and a half feet thick, the 
coal in sound blocks, with very little waste of fine 
coal, and very little sulphur. When burned it 
shows the purple-colored ash peculiar to this bed. 
This, as well as Park's coal, is in good demand 
through the neighborhood. From Moscow, east 
to Franklin, there are numerous openings worked 
in this coal bed, and thence south nearly to the 
canal and the railroad. At Michael Zimmer's, two 
miles northwest from the can.al, the bed is about 
ninety feet below the top of the hill, and overly- 
ing a bed of sandstone ninety feet thick, under 
which is the graj- limestone. The roof of the 
coal is black shale. The coal bed is four feet 
thick, the coal very hard, black, compact, highly 
bituminous, melting easily and of excellent qual- 
ity altogether. What sulphur is found is in 
heavy lumps and easily separated. A small seam 
of shale runs through the bed, a foot above the 
bottom. The elevation of this bed above the 
canal is about 170 feet. 

Two miles south from this, and near the south 
line of the township, is the mine of James Scott, 
in coal bed No. 3, under the blue limestone. The 
locality is near the canal and not far above its 
level. The coal bed is four feet thick, divided 
into two benches bj- fire-clay parting, the upper 
bench from six to twelve inches thick. The 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



179 



mine was opened in 1833 and has produced a 
large amount of semi-cannel coal of good quality. 
The roof of the bed is a black, calcareous shale, 
two feet thick, abounding in fossil shells. The 
blue limestone resting upon this is from four to 
five feet thick. The gray limestone is seen about 
forty foot higher up the hill, and under it a bed 
of slaty cannel coal, fifteen inches thick. 

Section of hills, near Scott's coal mine, Vir- 
ginia township : 

Slope covered 90 feet. 

Coal No. 6 (Zimmer's) 4 " 

Fireclay. 

Sandstone 9° " 

Gray limestone 4 " 

Coal No. 4 — poor I " 

Fire clay. 

Covered 40 " 

Blue limestone 3 " 

Coal No. 3 (Scott's) 4 " 

Fire-clay. 

FrnnUin. — The western half of this township 
is chiefly bottom land along the valley of the 
Muskingum. The eastern half rises, for the 
most part, above the plane of coal No. 6, which bed 
is worked near both the northern and .southern 
line of the township and in the eastern part. On 
the north line, by the mouth of Rock run, three 
miles below Coshocton, the coal bed is four feet 
thick; the coal in cubical blocks, very black and 
brilliant, with frequent flakes of charcoal scat- 
tered through it. The coal bed is here 110 feet 
above the railroad, and the railroad 125 feet above 
Lake Erie, which proves the coal to be fifty-one 
feet lower than at the mines of the Coshocton 
Coal Company, three miles east of Coshocton. 

Section at Rock run : 

1. Black shale 

2. Coal No. 6 4 to 6 feet. 

3. Fireclay 3 to 6 " 

4. Massive sandstone 75 " 

5. Spring and probable horizon of coal seam 

6. Shaly sand.stone 30 " 

'7. Black shale and covered space 40 " 

8. Blue limestone 3 " 

9. Covered to river 10 " 

Near the southern line is a coal bank, one mile 
above the bend of AVill's creek, on the east side. 



and ninety feet above its level. The bed is four 
and one-half to five feet thick, and yields very 
sound and black coal of apparently excellent 
quality. Near the bottom is a thin seam of sul- 
phury shale, which can be e;isily separated. It 
has a thin roof of shale, and over this is sand- 
stone. Below the coal is sandstone thirty feet 
thick, and under this a large bed of shale. 

Linton. — E.xcept in the wide bottoms of Wills 
creek, the greater part of the surface of this 
township is above the plane of coal No. 6. The 
road from Coshocton comes down to it near the 
northwest corner of the township, where an old 
opening is seen by the run, to the right-hand side 
of the road. At the school house near by, and 
below the level of the coal, is a display of iron- 
ore in oxj'dized "blocks, that might be supposed 
to indicate a considerable quantity; but these 
outcrops are little to be depended upon. 

The road continues' to descend toward the oast, 
following the valley of the run, and in the bed of 
this, two miles before reaching Jacobsport, the 
blue limestone is seen, well exposed, over three 
feet thick. At Jacobsport, over the bridge across 
Will's creek, the same rock lies ten or fifteen 
feet above the creek, in a bed nio;isuring four 
feet ten inches thick. Great blocks of it, of rect- 
angular shape and weighing many tons, have 
fallen down and lie by the side of the creek. 
The rock abounds in fossil shells, which, how- 
ever, are obtained with difficulty. A little seam 
of slaty cannel coal, four inches thick, adheres 
closely to the underside of tliese blocks. The 
underlying strata down to the creek are shales, 
with nodules of kidney ore. A gray lime- 
stone is twenty-five feet above the blue, and 
under it is a coal outcrop. A mile south from 
the bridge, toward Linton, is an opening in No. 6 
coal ; and others, also, are seen along the road. 
At Linton the same bed is found on the land of 
Mr. Heslip, where it presents its usual features. 
At this place another coal bed is found fifteen 
feet below No. 6, and has been worked to some 
extent, but it appears to be of little value. The 
shales in this neighborhood contain balls of iron- 
ore of good quality, sufficient in quantity to in- 
spire hopes of their being of value, but little de- 
pendence, however, can be placed upon them. 
They are seen in the road a mile or more north- 



180 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



west from Linton. Deposits of bog iron, also, are 
said to occur in the bottom of the creek. 

This locahty is interesting from the discovery 
of bones of mastodonsj found in the banks of the 
creek and in tlie alluvial bottoms. One of these 
bones was found a few years ago in excavating the 
bank for the mill dam at Linton. One large 
joint, supposed to be a cervical vertebra, with a 
cavity through it, as large as a man's arm, was 
taken out, and more bones were thought to be be- 
hind it. Search can be made for these whenever 
the water is drawn down at the dam, at Jacobs- 
port. This backs the water up eight feet, which 
is all the rise for fourteen miles by the creek. 
Another discovery was made a mile below Lin- 
ton, at the mouth of White Eye^ creek, of a large 
and sound tooth, which now belongs to Mr. W. R. 
Johnson, of Coshocton. 

A third discovery was made about fifty years 
ago, two and a half miles above Linton, near 
Bridgeville, in Guernsey county, on the farm now 
owned by George Gay Mitchell. His father, at 
that time, in digging a well on the terrace, fifty 
feet above the creek bottom, found, at the depth 
of forty-two feet, some large bones in a bed of 
blue mud. Only two of these were taken out, 
one described by Mr. Mitchell to be a hip bone, 
and the other as a shin bone, weighing eight 
pounds. The well was then abandoned, and the 
rest of the skeleton is supposed to be still there. 



CHAPTER XVHL 



\K."IT.F.OLOaY. 



Mound Builders and Indians — Antiquities — The Different 
Classes of Jloimds, Effigies and Inclosures— Lessons taught 
by These Works— Implements used by the Mound Builders 
and Indians. 

THE archseologist has found the territory em- 
br.aced within the present limits of Coshoc- 
ton county a most cxcelleitt one. It is probably 
one of the most interesting fields for the scientist 
and antiquarian in the State. When the wave of 
white emigration reached the Mississippi and 
Ohio valleys, the discovery was made of strange 
looking mounds of earth, here and there, and, af- 
ter a time, learning that these and other similar 



works were of pre-historic origin — the work of an 
unknown r.ace of people — they were called, in a 
general way, " Ancient Mounds," and in time the 
lost race that erected them came to be appropri- 
ately nameil the " Mound Builders." There is no 
authentic history regarding this people. The 
known records of the world are silent — as silent 
as these monuments that perpetuate their memo- 
ry. There are many theories regarding them, 
but this is all that can be said — nothing of their 
origin or end is certainly known. 

They probably antedate the various Indian 
tribes who anciently occupied and claimed title 
to the soil of Ohio. Probably many centuries 
elapsed between the first occupancy here by the 
Mound Builders and the advent of the earliest In- 
dian tribes or nations, though this is only conjec- 
ture. 

This county was once, and, peradventure, con- 
tinued to be through many passing centuries, one 
of their most favored localities. The e.xtent, va- 
riety, elaborate, and labyrinthian intricacies of 
their works, still found in many sections of Ohio, 
cle.arly indicate the plausibility of this view. 
Here they dwelt for ages, erected their works 
and made a long chapter of history, albeit it is 
yet unwritten — a history whose leading features 
and general characteristics can be gathered only 
from those of their works that yet exist. It 
must be collected scrap by scrap, and item by 
item, after a thorough examination and patient 
investigation of their works, and by careful, la- 
borious, faithful study of their wonderful re- 
mains. The principal events and leading inci- 
dents in the strange career of this mysterious 
and apparently now extinct people, can be traced 
out and recorded only so far as they are clearly 
indicated by those of their works which yet re- 
main, but which, it is to be regretted, are, to a 
large extent, in a state of mutilation and partial 
ruin, and rapidly tending to utter e.xtinction un- 
der iconoclastic wantonness, and the operations 
of the plow ; also from the devastating effects of 
the elements, and the destructive tendencies of 
the great destroyer — Time. 

There is no reason to believe that the Mound 
Builders ever had a written language, and, if they 
had not, it must be manifest that very few 
authentic facts pertaining to their domestic and 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



181 



local history, can be verified by reliable testimony 
other than that deduced from their works, which 
are the sole memorials left by them from which 
to work out the problems of their origin, their 
history, habits, manners, customs, general char- 
acteristics, mode of life, the extent of their 
knowledge of the arts of husbandry, their state 
of civilization, their religion and its rites, their 
ultimate fate, and the manner and circumstances 
of their final disappearance, whether by process 
of absorption from intermingling and intermar- 
rying with other and more vigorous races, by 



some data as to the probable history they made 
during the unknown, perchance barren, unevent- 
ful cycles of their indefinitely long career as a 
nation or race. 

As the history the INIound Builders is yet un- 
written, it is certainly a matter of gratulation 
that so many way-marks, and traxies of this peo- 
ple yet remain within the boundaries of the State. 
Their works in tlw St^ite, still existing in a toler- 
ably perfect condition, are approximately esti- 
mated at ten thousand, but they doubtless far 
exceeded that number at the time of the first 




WEDGE-SHAPED INSTRUMENTS. 



dispersion or'captivity, or by extinction through 
war, pestilence, or famine. 

Although generation after generation of Mound 
Builders have lived and flourished, and, perad- 
venture, reached the acme of their glory, then 
passed through age after age of decadence and 
decrepitude into "the receptacle of things lost 
upon earth," without leaving anything tliat may 
properly be called history ; and though no records 
of their exploits have come down to this genera- 
tion through the intervening centuries, yet their 
enduring works furnish the laborious student 
some indications, even though they be slight, of 
the characteristics of their builders, and afford 



permanent Anglo-American settlement here, in 
1788. 

Only such monuments, or remains of ancient 
works can be properly ascribed to the Jlound 
Builders as were really regartled by the Indian 
tribes at the period of the first settlement at 
Marietta as antiquities, or as the ruins and relics 
of an extinct race, and "concerning the origin of 
which the}' were wholly ignorant, or only ytos- 
sessed a traditionary knowledge." 

These consisted of mounds, effigies and inclos- 
ures, which are known and designated as the 
three general classes of ancient works that can 
be appropriately regarded as belonging to the 



182 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Mound Builders. Mounds are sub-divided into 
sepulchral, sacrificial, temple (or truncated); also 
of observation, and memorial or monumental. 
Etfigies are sometimes called animal mounds, 



Under the general title of inclosures, are also 
walls of circuriivallation or ramparts constructed 
for militiiry or defensive works, while others 
were doubtless walls surrounding the residence 





STONE AND CLAY PIPES. 



sometimes emblematic, -and frequently symbol- 
ical. 

Inclosures are of several kinds, one class being 
known as military or defensive works ; another 
as parallel embankments or covered ways; and 
the third as sacred inclosures. 



of the reigning monarch; perchance others were 
erected for the performance within them of their 
national games and amusements, and perhaps 
many also served the purpose in the performance 
of their religious rites and ceremonies, and facil- 
itated indulgence in some superstitious practices. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



183 



Most of tlie above named works were con- 
structed of earth, a few of stone, and perhaps 
fewer still of earth and stone combined. The 
title each bears indicates, in a measure, the uses 
they are supposed to have served. 

Sepulchral mounds are generally conical in 
form, and are more numerous than any other 
kinds. They are of all sizes, ranging from a very 
small altitude, to about seventy feet in height, 
and always contain one or more skeletons, or 
parts thereof, or present othep plausible indica- 
tions of having been built or used for purposes 
of sepulture, and were, unmistakably, memorials 
raised over the dead. 

By some arcliMologists it is maintained that 
the size of these mounds bears a certain relation 
to the importance, when living, of the person 
over whose remains they were erected. 



element wa.s employed in their burial cere- 
monies. 

Mica is often found in pi'oximity to the skele- 
tons, as well as specimens of pottery, bone and 
copper heads, and animal bones. 

The name given to this description of tumuli 
clearly indicates that they were erected chiefly 
for burial purposes. They generally contain but 
a limited number of skeletons, indeed, often but 
a single one ; but Professor Marsh, of the Sheffield 
Ssientitic School, connected with Yale College, a 
few years ago opened a mound in Licking county, 
which contained seventeen skeletons in whole or 
in part. 

The most remarkable of all mounds in the 
State, was one in Hardin county, in which were 
found about three hundred skeletons. A doubt 
has, however, been expressed that these were al 




FLINT SCRAPERS. 



In this class of mounds are often found imple- 
ments antl ornaments, supposed to have been 
buried with the person or persons there interred, 
under the superstitious and delusive notion still 
entertained by some tribes of American Indians, 
who indulge in similar practices, that they might 
be useful to them in the happy hunting grounds 
of the future state. 

The practice being one common to both the 
Indians and Mound Builders, apparently con- 
nects the former with the latter, and raises the 
presumption that the Indians may have descended 
from the ISIound ]?uildcrs. 

That fire was used in the burial ceremonies of 
the Mound Builders is manifest from the fact 
that charcoal is often, if not always, found in close 
proximity to the skeleton. The presence of ashes, 
igneous stones, and other traces of the action of 
fire in these tombs, renders it quite probtvble this 



Mound Builders' skeletons — some persons enter- 
tiiining the belief that they were Indian remains, 
as it is well known that the Indians frequently 
buried their dead on or near the mounds. 

Sacrificial mound.s are usually stratified, tiie 
stratii being convex layers of clay and loam, alter- 
nating with a layer of fine sand. They generally 
contain ashes, charcoal, igneous stones, calcined 
animal bones, beads, stone implements, pottery 
and specimens of rude sculpture. These mounds 
are frequently found within inclosures, which 
were supposed to have been in some war con- 
nected with the performance of the religious 
rites and ceremonies of the Mound Builders. 
An altar of stone or burnt clay is usually found 
in this class of mounds. 

These altars, which sometimes rest on the sur- 
face of the original earth, at the center of the 
mounds, are symmetrically shaped, and are among 



IM 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 




MISCELLANEOUS RELICS. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



185 



the chief distinguishing characteristics of sacri- 
ficial mounils. Ui)on these altars sacrifices of 
animals, and probably of human beings, were 
oflercd, the fire being used to some extent in that 
superstitious and cruel performance. Some of 
this class of mounds seem also to have been used 
for purposes of sepulture as well as sacrifice ; the 
presence of skeletons, in some of them at least, 
suggest their sepulchral as well as sacrificial 
cliaracter. 

In common with sepultural mounds these like- 
wise contain implements of war, also mica from 



The supposition is that the summits of these 
mounds were crowned with structures of wood 
that served the purposes of temples, all traces of 
which, however, owing to the perishable nature 
of the materials used in their construction, have 
disai)peared. Thej- were also used to a limited 
extent for burial purposes, as well as for uses 
connected with their religion. 

Mounds of observation are generally situated 
upon eminences, and were doubtless "observa- 
tories," " alarm posts," " watch towers," " signal 
stations," or " look outs," serving the purposes 




CHISELS, GOUGES AND ADZES. 



the .Mleghenies, shells from the Gulf c)f Mexico, 
obsidian, and in some instances porphyry from 
Mexico, as well as silver and copper articles, both 
for use and ornament. 

Temple mounds are less numerous and gen- 
erally larger than the preceding classes, and in 
form are oftenest circular or oval ; but, whether 
round, square, oblong, oval, octangular, or what- 
ever form, are invariably truncated, having the 
appearance of being in an unfinished condition. 
They are frequently surrounded by embank- 
ments, and many of them have sjiiral pathways, 
steps or inclined i)lanes leading to their summits. 
They are generally of large base and of com- 
paratively limited altitude. 



indicated by their title. Tliej- are said by some 
writers to occur in chains or regular systems, and 
that many of them still bear traces of the beacon 
fires that were once burning on them. They are 
sometimes found in connection with embank- 
ments and inclosures, forming a portion, though 
greatly enlarged, of the banks of earth or stones 
that compose said embankments and inclosures. 

One of this description is situated two miles 
west of Newark, Ohio, and though somewhat 
mutilated, is yet about twenty-five feet high. 

This class of mounds is tolerably numerous in 
some portions of the State. 

Memorial or Monumental mounds belong to 
the class of tumuli that were erected to perpetu- 



186 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ate the memory of some important event, or in 
honor of some distinguished character. They 
are mostly built of earth, but some of the stone 
mounds found in some portions of the State 
probably belong to this not numerous class. 

Etligies or Animal mounds are simply raised 
figures or gigantic basso relievos of men, beasts, 
birds or reptiles, and in some instances, of inani- 
mate objects. They are on the surface of the 
earth, raised to a limited height, generally from 
one foot to six feet above the natural surface of 
the ground. Mr. Schoolcraft, an authority, calls 
this class of ancient works Emblematic mounds, 
and expresses the belief that they were " totems " 
or " heraldic symbols." Professor Daniel Wilson, 
the learned author of " Pre-historic Man," and 



high ground, and in naturally strong positions, 
frequently on the summits of hills and steep 
bluffs, and are often strengthened by exterior 
ditches. The walls generally wind around the 
borders of the elevations they occupy, and where 
the nature of the ground renders some points 
more accessible than others, the height of the 
wall and the depth of the ditch at those weak 
points are proportionally increased. The gate- 
ways, are narrow, few in number, and well 
guarded by embankments placed a few yards . 
inside of the openings or gate-ways, parallel with 
them, and projecting somewhat beyond them at 
each end, thus fully covering the entrances, 
which, in some cases, are still further protected 
by projecting walls on either side of them. 




STONE PESTLE, 



otlier writers of distinction, call them symbolical 
mounds, and hold the opinion that they were 
erected as objects of worship, or for altars upon 
which sacrifices were oftered, or that they served 
some other purposes connected with the religious 
worshijiof their idolatrous and superstitious con- 
structors. 

Of the three most not;xble examples of Effigies 
in the State, two are situated in Licking county. 
One is the Eagle mound, near the center of what 
is known as the "Old Fort," near Newark; and 
the other is called the " Alligator mound," and is 
situated on the summit of a hill nearly two hun- 
dred feet high, near Granville. 

Inclosures defensive and sacred, have been 
briefly mentioned. Most of them are earth- 
works, thougli a few are of stone. Defensive in- 
closures are of irregular form, are always on 



These works are somewhat numerous, and in- 
dicate a clear appreciation of the elements, at 
least, of fortification, and unmistakably point out 
the purpose for which they were constructed. 
A large number of these defensive works con- 
sist of a line of ditch and embankments, or sev- 
eral lines carried across the neck of peninsulas 
or bluft' head-lands, formed within the bends of 
streams — an easy and obvious mode of fortifica- 
tion, common to all rude peoples. 

Covered ways are i)arallel walls of earth of lim- 
ited height, and are frequently found contiguous 
to inclosures, sometimes, indeed, connecting 
them by extending from one to another One of 
their purposes, at least, seems to have been the 
protection of those passing to and fro within 
them. 

Sacred inclosures are mainly distinguished 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



187 



from those of a military character by tlie regu- 
larity of their form, their difTerent construction 
and their more frequent occurrence* They are 
of all shapes and forms, and where moats or 
ditches exist they are invariably found inside of 
the embankments. They are generally in the 
form of geometrical figures of surprising accu- 
racy, such as circles, squares, hexagons, octagons, 
ellipses, jiarallelograms and of various others. 
They are sometimes found within military 
inclosures, and evidently had some connection 
with the religious ideas and ceremonies of their 
builders. Frequently there is situated in the 
center of this class of works a mound, or eleva- 
tion, supposed to have served the purpose of an 
altar upon which sacrifices were ofl'ered, or which 




many such) within which no central elevation or 
altar occurs, which were erected for the purposes 
last named, and not exclusively (if at all) for pur- 
poses connected with religion, and are therefore 
erroneously called sacred inclosures. 

Other ancient peoples, if indeed not all the 
nations of antiquity, had their national games, 
amusements, festivals and jubilees, and why not 
the Mound Builders ? Without doubt they had, 
and congregated within their inclosures to prac- 
tice, celebrate and enjoy them. 

It is natural to indulge in speculations regard- 
ing these ancient works. Probably none of them 
have been constructed since Christopher Colum- 
bus reached America in 1492. About sixty years 
ago a tree which stood upon the bank of the 





CT.UB-HEADED STONES. 



was, at least, in some way, used in conducting 
their religious services. Within these sacred 
inclosures were doubtless celebrated religious 
festivals, and upon those central mounds or altar, 
were undoubtedly performed, by priestly hands, 
the rites and ceremonies demanded by their sac- 
rificial and idolatrous religion. 

The very extensive works near Newark, known 
as the "Old F^ort," and situated in the fair 
grounds, evidently belong to this class. Some 
archreologists, however, maintain that many 
works called sacred inclosures were erected for 
and used as places of amusement, where these 
ancient people jiracticed their national games, and 
celebrated their groat national events, where Ihey 
held their national festivals and indulged in their 
national jubilees, as well as performed the cere- 
monies of their religion. 

It may be that there are those (and there are 



" Old Fort," at a point where the bank was twenty 
feet high, was cut down, and its concentric cir- 
cles numbered five hundred and fifty, thus prov- 
ing conclusively that the said inclosure was con- 
structed more thiui six hundred years ago. 

.Authorities differ regarding many matters con- 
nected with the Mound Builders, but a few facts 
seem to be fully established by their works. 
There can be no doubt that they were a numer- 
ous people. Works so elaborate, so gigantic, 
could not have been erected by a people insignfi- 
eant in numbers. This is the more apparent 
when it is considered that they were probably 
witiiout iron or any suitable metal instruments 
or tools with which to perform their herculean 
labors. 

It could scarcely have been otherwise than that 
they were also the subjects of a single strong gov- 
ernment, because, under any other, the perform- 



188 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ance of such an iniinense amount of, probabl}% 
enforced labor could not have been secured. 
Very likely some sort of vassalage or servitude 
prevailed. There is abundant evidence that they 
were a war-like people, and probably, like some 
savage nations now existing, they made slaves of 
their prisoners. The number and magnitude of 
their works, and their extensive range and uni- 
formity, prove that they were essentially homo- 
geneous in customs, habits, religion and govern- 



The construction of military works would in- 
dicate that they were, occasionally, at least, at 
war, either among themselves or withsome other 
nation or tribe. If another nation, what utherf 
Perhajis with the North American Indian to 
whom the countrj- may have belonged before the 
Mound Builders entered it. There are various 
scraps of history relating to the antiquity of the 
Indian. For instance, in the annual report of the 
council of the American Antiquarian Society 




TERl-'ORATED PLATES, THREAD SIZERS AND I5HULTLES. 



ment. The general features common to all their 
remains identify them as appertaining to a single 
grand system, owing its origin to men moving 
in the same direction, acting under common im- 
pulses, .and influenced by similiar causes. 

That they possessed military skill, and were 
not without some knoweldge of mathematics, is 
quite evident. 

Building their defensive works in naturally 
strong jiositions, and constructing many of their 
other works in the form of various geometrical 
figures, show this. 



page 40, occurs this note from Sir Charles Lycll : 

"A human cranium, of the aboriginal type of 
the re<l Indian race, has been found in the delta 
of the Jlississippi, beneath four buried forests, su- 
perimiiosed, one upon another, implying, as esti- 
mated by Dr. Dowler, an antiquity of 50,000 
years." 

Lyell, himself, estimated the age of the delta 
at 100,000 years. 

It may be conjectured from many historical 
facts, that the Mound Builders were a foreign peo- 
ple who invaded the soil of America, as there i* 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



189 



but little evidence thiit they spread themsclvefi 
over the continent, but much, that they passed 
througli it from northeast to southwest, coverinc; 
a broad belt, on which they erected their mysteri- 
ous mounds. The time occupied by them in 
crossing the continent can only be conjectured. 
They probably came in great numbers, attempt- 
ed to conquer the country, found the Indians too 



terest of their religion, shows a strong tendency 
toward a superstitious belief. They doubtless of- 
fered up animals in sacrifice, as a part of their re- 
ligious ceremonies, and it may be that human 
sacrifices were not unknown among them. Pris- 
oners of war arc thus disposed of sometimes by 
peoples and nations who have attained to as high 
a grade of civilization as that probably reached by 




PERFORATED PLATE.?, TIIKEAD SI/,EKS AND SHUTTLES. 



strong for them, but conquered a certain portion 
of the territory, clung together, moved gradually 
southwest, protecting themselves on the way by 
forts and other earthworks, finally disappearing 
in Mexico, either conquering ^that country or in- 
termingling with and becoming absorbed by that 
people. 

The Mound Builders were doubtless a super- 
stitious people, cherishing faith in some religious 
system. The amount of labor bestowed upon 
those of their works that were erected in the in- 



the Mound Builders. The sacrificial character of 
their religion is clearly established. 

The late Dr. Foster hesitated not to say that 
they were worshipers of the elements; that they 
also worshiped the sun, moon and stars; and that 
thny offered up human victims as an acceptable 
sacrifice to the gods they worshiped. He de- 
duced this fact from the charred or calcined 
bones that cover their altiirs. Other high author- 
ities also unhe.sitatingly assert that there is con- 
vincing proof that they were fire-worshipers 



190 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



It may be well in this connection to notice, 
briefly, the implements made and used by this 
people, especially so far as investigation has re- 
vealed their character in Coshocton county. 

Very few copper imiifements have been found 
in this part of Ohio, owing partly to the fact of 
the unexplored condition of many of the 
mounds, and to the fact that little, if any, copper 
exists in this part of the United States. What 
does exist is in loose fragments that have been 
wa.shed down from the upper lake region. 
When mounds are explored, great care is neces- 
sary lest these small utensils be lost, as they are 
commonly scattered tlirough the mass, and not 
always in close proximity to the skeletons.. The 
copper deposits about Lake Superior furnished 
the pre-historic man with this metal, and, judg- 
ing from the amount of relics made of this 
metal now found, it nuist have been quite abun- 
dant. The population of the country, then, must 
have been quite extensive, as occasional copper 
implements, tempered to an exceeding hardness, 
are still found about the country. These imple- 
ments are small, generally less than a half a 
pound in weight, and seldom exceeding three 
pounds. There were millions of these in use 
during the period of the ancient dwellers, which 
may have been thousands of years in duration. 
The copper implements left on the surface soon 
disappeared by decomposition, to which copper 
is nearly as liable as iron. Only a part of the 
dead Mound Builders were placed in burial 
mounds, and of these only a part were buried 
with their copper ornaments and implements on 
and about them. Of those that were, only a 
small part have been discovered, and, in many 
instances, the slight depth of earth over them 
has not prevented the decay and disappearance 
of the coper relies. 

Articles of bronze or brass are not found with 
the builders of the mounds. It is evident they 
knew nothing of these metals in the Ohio valley, 
nor did they possess any of the copper that had 
been melted or cast in molds. 

Stone relics are very numerous and well pre- 
served. Stone axes, stone mauls, stone hain)ners, 
stone chisels, etc., arc very plentifid yet, and 
were the common implements of the pre-historic 
man in this part of the Avest. None were made 



with holes or eyes for the insertion of a helve or 
handle, but were grooved to receive a withe 
twisted into the form of a handle. Under the 
head of axes, archaeologists include" all wrought 
stones with a groove, a bit and a poll. They are 
found unpolished, partly polished and polished. 
The bit was made sharp by rubbing, and the 
material is liard anil tough, generally of trachyte, 
greenstone, granite, quartz or biisalt. Most of 
them are straight on one edge. In Ohio, it is 
very rare that stone axes are found in the 
mounds, indicating that they are modern, or 
were not so much prized by the Mound Builders 
as to be objects of burial. Occasionally, axes of 
softer material are found, such as slate, hematite 
and sandstone, but these are small in size and not 
common. They appear to have been manufac- 
tured from small, oblong bowlders, first brought 
into shape by a pick, or chipi)ing instrument, 
the marks of which are visible on nearly all of 
them. They were made more perfect by rub- 
bing and polishing, probably done from time to 
time after they were brought into use. A handle 
or helve, made of a wythc or split stick, was fas- 
tened in the groove by thongs of hide. The bit 
is narrower than the body of the ax, which is 
generally not well enough balanced to be of 
much value as a cutting instrument. 

It is very seldom the material is hard enough 
to cut green and sound timber. The poll is 
usually round, but sometimes flat, and rarely 
pointed. It is much better adapted to breaking 
than cutting, while the smaller ones are better 
fitted for war-clubs than tools. As a maul to break 
dry limbs, they were very efficient, and this was 
probably the use made of them. In weight they 
range from half a pound to sixteen pounds, but 
are generally less than three pounds. The very 
heavy ones must have been kept at the regular 
camps and villages, as they were too heavy for 
convenient transportation. Such axes are occa- 
sionally found in the Indian towns on the frontier, 
as they were found in Ohio among the aborigines. 
The Mound Builders apparently did not give 
them as much j)rominence among their imple- 
ments as their savage successors. Double-headed 
hammers have the groove in the middle. They 
were made of the ssime material as the axes, so bal- 
anced as to give a blow with equal force at either 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



191 



end. Their mechanical symmetry is often perfect. 
As a weapon in war, they were, indeed, formid- 
able, for which purpose they are yet used among 
the Indians on the Pacific coast. 

Implements known as " tieshors " and "skin- 



thing without destroying the perfect edge most 
of them now exhibit. The grooved axes were 
much better adapted to this purjjose. 

Stone pestles are not plentiful in this county, 
while stone morfcxrs are rare, indicating that they 





linn.I,i;j) CEKEMOXIAI, WEAPONS — SLATE. 



ners," chisel-formed, commonly called "celts," 
were probably used iis aids in peeling tlie skin of 
animals from the meat and bones. For the pur- 
pose of cutting tools for wood, they were not suf- 
licientlyhard,and do not show such use, excepting 
in a i:^\v Hint cliisols. They may have been 
applied as coal scrapers where wood had been 
burned ; but this could not have been a general 



were made of wood, whicli is lighter and more 
easily transported. Most of the pestles are short, 
witli a wide base, tapering toward the top. They 
were probably used with one hand, and moveil 
about in the mortar in a circle. The long, 
round instrument, usually called a pestle, does 
not appear to be Htted for crushing seeds and 
grain by pounding or turning in the mortiir. It 



192 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COrNTY. 



was probably used as a rolling-pin, perhaps on a 
board or leveled log, not upon stone. It is sel- 
dom found smooth or polished, and varies from 
seven to thirteen inches in length. In outline 
they taper toward each end, which is gencrallj' 
smooth, and circular in form, as though it had 
been twirled in an upright position. 

There is almost an endless variety of perforated 
plates, thrcad-sizers, sliuttles, etc. They are 
usually mule of striped slate, most of which 
have tiipering holes through them flat-wise, the 
use of which has been much discussed. The ac- 
companying plate e.xhibits several specimens of 
these ; but there are, doubtless, many other forms 
and styles. They are generally symmetrical, the 
material fine-grained, and their proportions 
graceful, as though their principal use was that 
of ornamentation. Many of them may well have 
been worn suspended as beads or ornaments. 
Some partake of the character of badges or en- 
signs of authority. Others, if strung together on 
thongs or belts, would serve as a coat of mail, 
protecting the breast or back against the arrows 
of an enemy. A number of them Wduld serve 
to size and twist twine or coarse thread made of 
bark, rawhide or sinew. The most common 
theory regarding their use is, however, lacking 
one important feature. None of them show 
signs of wear by use. The edges of the holes 
through them are sharp and perfect. This objec- 
tion applies equally well to their use as suspended 
ornaments. Some of them are shuttle-form, 
through which coarse threads might have been 
passed, for weaving rude cloth or bark of fibrous 
plants, such as milk- weed or thistles. There are 
also double-ended and pointed ones, with a cross 
section about the middle of which is a circle, and 
through which is a perforation. 

A great variety of wands or badges of distinc- 
tion are found. They are nearly all fabricated 
from striped and variegated slate, highly finished, 
very symmetrical and elegant in proportion, evi- 
dently designed to be ornamental. If they were 
stronger and heavier, some of them would serve 
the purpose of liatchets or battle-axes. The ma- 
terial is compact and fine-grained; but the eyes, 
or holes, for handles or staves, are quite small, 
seldom half an inch in diameter. Their edges 
are not sharp, but rounded, and the body is thin. 



usually less than one-fourth of an inch in thick- 
ness. 

The form of badges, known as ''double-cres- 
cents," are the most elegant and expensive of any 
yet brought to notice. They wore probably used 
to indicate the highest rank or otfice. The single 
crescent, perhaps, signified a rank next below the 
double. In the collection of Mr. John B. Matson, 
of Richland county, there is a rough-hewn double 
one in process of construction, the horns of which 
turn inward. In nearly or quite all the finished 
ones the points turn outward. The finish around 
the bore of all winged badges and the crescents 
is the same, and the size of the bore about the 
same — from two-fifths to three-fifths of an inch. 
On one side of al! is a narrow- ridge ; on the other, 
a flat band, lengthwise, like a ridge that has been 
ground down to a width of one to two-tenths of 
an inch. Badges and crescents are invariably 
made of banded slate, generally of a greenish 
shade of color. The other forms of wands or 
badges, such as those with symmetrical wings or 
blades, are also made of green striped slate, higlily 
polished, with a bore of about one-half inch in 
diameter, apparently to insert a light wooden rod 
or staiT. They were probably emblems of distinc- 
tion, and were not ornaments. Nothing like 
them is known among the modern tribes, in form 
or use, hence they are attributed to the Mound 
Builders. 

In addition to stone ornaments, the pre-historic 
man seems to have had a penchant, like his sav- 
age successors, to bedaub his body with various 
colors, derived from ditierent colored minerals. 
These compounds were mixed in hollowed stones 
or diminutive mortars — "paint cups,'' — in which 
the mineral mass of colored clay was reduced to 
powder and jirejKired for application to the body. 
Such paint cups are not common ; in fact, are 
quite rare, but one being known to exist in this 
part of the State, that in the collection of Dr. 
Craig, of Mansfield. 

The comparative rarity of aboriginal smoking 
pipes is easily explained by the fact that they 
were not discarded, as were weapons, when those 
by whom they were fashioned entered upon the 
iron age. The advances of the whites in no way 
lessened the demand for pipes, nor did the whites 
substitute a better implement.- The pipes were 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



193 



retained and used until worn out or broken, save 
the few that were buried witli their dead owners. 
What was the ultimate fate of these can only be 
conjectured. In very few instances docs an In- 
dian grave contain a pipe. If the practice of 
burying the pipe with its owner Wiis common, it 
is probable that the graves were opened and 
robbed of this coveted article by members of the 
same or some other tribes. 

It only remains to notice the '• Hints," in addi- 
tion to which a few other arch;eological relics of 
minor import^mce are fc)und about the country, 
but none of sufficient import to merit mention, 
or to throw additional light on the lost tribes of 
Anaerica. Arrow and spear lieads and other 
similar pieces of flaked Hints are the most abund- 
ant of any aboriginal relics in the United States. 
They are chiefly made of hard and l^rittle silice- 
ous materials; are easily damaged in hitting any 
object at which they are aimed, hence many of 
them bear marks of violent use. Perfect speci- 
mens are, however, by no means rare. The art 
of arrow making survives to the present day 
among certain Indian tribes, from whom is 
learned the art practiced that produces them. 

A classification of arrow heads is not within 
the scope of this work ; indeed, it is rarely 
attempted by archajologists. The styles are 
almost as numerous as their makers. In general, 
they are all the same in outline, mostly leaf- 
shaped, varying according to the taste of their 
makers. The accompanying cut exhibits a few 
of the common forms, though the number is 
infinite. They may have been chipped — proba- 
bly most were — and some may have been 
ground. Spear heads e.xliibit as large a variety 
as arrow heads. Like arrow heads, spear heads 
were inserted in wooden handles of various 
lengths, though in many tribes they were fast- 
ened by thongs of untanned leather or sinews. 

Their modes of manufacture were generally 
the same. Sometimes tribes contained " arrow 
makers," who.se business was to make these im- 
plements, selling them to, or exchanging them 
with, their neighbors for wampum or peltry. 
When the Indian desired an arrow head, he 
could buy one of the " arrow maker " or make 
one himself. The common method was to take 
a chipping implement, generally made of the 



pointed rods of a deer horn, from eight to six- 
teen inches in length, or of slender, short pieces 
of the same material, bound with sinews to 
wooden sticks resembling arrow shafts. The 
"arrow maker" held in his left hand the flake of 
flint or obsidian on which he intended to operate, 
and pressing the point of the tool against its 
edge, detached scale after scale, until the flake 
assumed the desired form. 

Note. — For more particular iuformiitiou regarding the 
worlis of the llountl Builders, in rtifTerent parts of this county 
the reader is referred to the history of the different townships 
in which such works are located. 



CHAPTER XIX 

INDIANS. 

Geographical Location of the Various Tribes— The Dela- 
waros— Their Towns in this County— Brief History of the 
Tribes in Ohio — Captain Pipe — White Eyes — ^^'ingonund 
and Killb\ick—Netawatwecs— Manners, Customs, Feasts, 
etc. — Cabins, Wigwams, Food, etc. — Amusements and 
Hunting— Removal Beyond the Mississippi. 

THE next inhabitants in the form of a human 
being to occupy the territory now embraced 
in Coshocton county, after the Jlound Builders, 
were the American Indians. At least such is the 
generally received opinion, though whether the 
Indians and Mound Builders were not cotem- 
poraneous is, perhaps, an open question. The 
Indian history, as well as that of the Mound 
Builders, is a good deal involved in okscurity, 
and much of it largely dependent on tradition, 
yet much of it is authentic and reliable. The 
Indians themselves, however, can be allowed 
very little, if any, credit for this preservation of 
their history; it is almost, or entirely, owing to 
white occupation that they have any history at all. 
The day is not far distant when the Indian 
race, as a race, will become extinct. Supposing 
this extinction had occurred before white occu- 
pation of this country, what would the world 
know of the Indian race? Where are their 
monuments ? Where the works that would 
perpetuate their memory ? In what particular 
spot on this great earth have they left a single 
indellible footprint or imperishable mark to tell 



194 



HISTOflY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



of their existence ? Not so with the Mound 
Builders. They left works of an imperishable 
nature, and from these something of their his- 
tory may be learned, even though personally 
they do not appear to exist anywhere. They 
were evidently workers, and much superior to 
the Indian, viewed from a civilized standpoint. 

It is not an easy matter to define the bound- 
aries of the territory of the various tribes occu- 
pying the Northwest Territory at the date of the 
advent of the whites. Nearly all the tribes were 
more or less migratory in their di.^position, and 
doubtless during long ages in the dark past they 
all moved about from place to place, continually 
at war with each other; conquering and possess- 
ing each other's territory; driving out and being 
in turn driven out; doubtless occasionally exter- 
minating a weak tribe; occasionally becoming 
friendly and intermingling and intermarrying, 
thus, perhaps, occasionally consolidating and 
losing their tribal individuality, and during all 
changes in all ages leaving no written record of 
the history they must have made. 

Several tribes were found occupying the terri- 
tory now embraced in Ohio, at the beginning of 
the present century; among them the Delawares, 
Wyandots.Shawanees, Ottawas, Miamis and some 
others. These tribes were generally leagued to- 
gether for self-protection and self-defense, all de- 
termined to resist the encroahments of the all- 
powerful white race. They were generally on 
friendly terms with each other and, although 
each tribe occupied permanent camps or homes 
in some particular part of the territory, and 
hunted in particular localities, the exact bound- 
aries of the domain of each was not probably 
known or defined. Each tribe was generally 
camped upon some stream and claimed for a 
hunting ground all the territory drained by that 
stream. Nevertheless they were a good deal 
mixed, and hunted much upon each other's 
territory, often establishing temporary and even 
permanent camps upon grounds outside of the 
domain of their tribe. 

The Muskingum valley was generally claimed 
by the Delawares, though the Shawaneseand Wy- 
andots were also found here in considerable 
numbers, camping and roaming over the Dela- 
ware grounds with great freedom. 



During the latter half of the last century the 
Shawnees occupied the Scioto country, and some- 
times spread themselves more or less over this 
section; but the Wyandots (also called the 
Hurons) and the Delawares mainly occupied the 
country between the Muskingum and Scioto 
rivers. 

In 1785, by the treaty of Fort Mcintosh, it was 
stipulated that the boundary line between the 
United States and the Delaware and Wyandot 
nations should "begin at the mouth of the Cuya- 
hoga river and run thence up said river to the 
portage between that and the Tuscarawas branch 
of Muskingum, thence down said branch to the 
forks (at the present town of Bolivar), thence 
westerly to the portage of the Big Miami, thence 
along said portage to the great Miami of the 
lakes (Maumee river), and do'mi said river to its 
mouth ; thence along the southern shore of Lake 
Erie to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, the place of 
beginning." By this treaty, as will be seen, they 
ceded a large territory, including Coshocton 
county, to the United States. It is certain, how- 
ever, that man}' of them continued to occupy 
this territory many years after the date of the 
above treaty, which they found little difficulty in 
doing, as there were then no white settlers to 
dispute the possession with them. 

To the Shawnees was assigned, by the treaty of 
Fort Finnej-, in 17S6, the country between the 
Big Miami and M'abash rivers. They also relin- 
quished all claims to whatever territory they had 
in Ohio, but some of them also lingered here, 
even within the limits of this county, until the 
close of the century, or later. 

When the English-speaking white man first 
came into the territory now embraced in Co- 
shocton county, it Wiis occuined by the Dela- 
wares. It is quite certain that just before them 
the Shawnee Indians were in the land, retiring as 
the Delawares came in, to the more westerly and 
southerly regions. The French were then claim- 
ing dominion of all the Mississippi valley, and 
the head of the Muskingum, as an interesting 
and favored locality, was not unknown to their 
soldiers, traders and missionaries. 

The Delawares, crowded out by the white set- 
tlers about the Delaware river and in eastern 
Pennsylvania, found a home to their taste in the 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



195 



beautiful and fertile Tuscarawas, Walhonding, 
and Muskingum valleys. 

Their language at least will al)i<le in the land 
as long as the names just mentioned, and also 
those of White Eyes, Mohican, and Killbuck 
continue to be accepted as the designations of 
the rivers and creeks to which they are now 
attached. Within the limits of the county as 
now bounded, there were, a hundred years ago, 
at least six considerable Indian towns, the houses 
being built of bark and limbs and logs, and 
arranged in lines or on streets. One of these 
towns Wiis called White Eyes (Koguethagachton), 
and was in the neighborhood of Lafayette. Two 
other towns were located — one three and the 
other ten miles up the Walhonding — and were 
called the ^Monsey towns, the more distant being 
occupied by a faction of the Delawares under 
control of Captain Pipe, who became disgusted 
with the generally peaceful and Christian policy 
of the nation, and seceded from it, desiring more 
indulgence for his ba.se and bloodj' passions. 
The lower town was Wengenunds'. The fourth 
town was Goschachgunk, occupying that part of 
the present town of Coshocton (a name said to 
be a modification of the name of the old Indian 
town) between Third street and the river. This 
was much the largest town, and for many years 
was the capital of the Delaware nation, where 
the grand councils were held and whither the 
tribes assembled. It was the residence of Neta- 
watwees, their great chief, and was often visited 
bj' the famous councilors, White Ej-es and Kill- 
buck, as well as the big captains and braves of 
numerous tribes. The fifth town was situated 
about two miles below Coshocton on the cast side 
of the Muskingum river (on the farms since in 
the possession of Samuel Moore and the Tingle 
heirs), and was called Lichtenau ("Pasture of 
Light"). It was occupied by Christian Indians 
under the direction of Rev. David Zcisborger 
(and afterward Rev. Wm. Edwards in conjunction 
with him), the famous Moravian missionary. In 
addition to these there was also a small Shawnee 
town in Washington township on the Waka- 
tomica, and perhaps, at various times many 
others, either temporary or permanent, in ditl'er- 
ent parts of the county. One called Muskingum 
was said to be located live miles above Coshocton, 



on the Tuscarawas. A brief history of the prin- 
cipal tribes occupying^ the soil of Ohio, and of 
their habits and customs, may be of interest here. 
Speaking of the Shawaneese or Shawarwes, Col- 
onel Johnston, a most excellent authority on such 
subjects, says : 

" We can trace their history to the time of their 
residence on the tide-waters of Florida, and, as 
well as the Dtinunres, they aver that they origin- 
ally came from west of the Mississippi. Black- 
hoof, who died at Wapaghkonnetta, at the ad- 
vanced age of 105 years, and who. in his tlay, was 
a very influential chief among the Indians, told 
me that he remembered, when a boy, bathing in 
the salt waters of Florida ; also that his people 
firmly believed white, or civilized, people had 
liccn in. the country before them, luiving found 
in many instances the marks of iron tools upon 
the trees and stumps." 

Shawanoese means " the south," or the " people 
from the south." * After the peace of 1763, the 
Miamia removed from the big Miami river and a 
body of Shdivm'es established themselves at Lower 
and Upper Piqua, which became their principal 
headquarters in Ohio. They remained here un- 
til driven ofi' by the Kentuckians, when they 
crossed over to the St. Mary's and to Wapaghkon- 
netta. The Upper Piqua is said to have con- 
tained at one period over 4,000 Shawnees. They 
were very wjirlike and brave, and often were 
quite formidable enemies. 

In the French war, which ended in 1763, a 
bloody battle was fought near the site of Colonel 
Johnsons residence, at Upper Piqua. At that 
time the 3Ii'iinis had their towns here, which on 
ancient maps are marked as " Tewightcwee 
towns." The 3Iiamis, Ottawas, Wyandtjts, and other 
northern tribes adhering to the French, made a 
stand here, assisted by the French. The Bela- 
V'firi's, 'Shnicnees, Mimsri/s, parts of the Senecas, re- 
siding in Pennsjdvania ; Cherokecs, C'atawbas, and 
other tribes, adhering to the English, with English 
traders, attacked the French and Indians. The 
latter had built a fort in which to protect and de- 
fend themselves, and were able to withstand the 
seigc, which lasted UK^re than a week. Not long 
after this contest, the Miamis left the ctamtry, 
retiring to the Miamies of the Lake (Maumee 
river and tributaries), at and near Fort Wayne, 

'■■Howe's CoUectious. 



196 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and never returned. The Shawnees toi)k the'r 
plaee, and gave names to many towns in this p.'%rt 
of Ohio. • 

The northern part of Oliio belonged in ancient 
times to the Eries, who were exterminated by the 
Five Nations in some of their wars. The Wyamkts, 
who, at the time the French missionaries came 
to America were dwelHng in the peninsula of 
Michigan, were allowed by the Five yations to 
occupy the land of the Eries, and thus came to 
dwell in Ohio. From Howe's Historical Collec- 
tions, it is ascertained that the Wyaiidots once oc- 
cupied the north side of the St. Lawrence river, 
down to Coon lake, and from thence up the Uti- 
was. The Senecas owned the opposite side of the 
river, and the island upon which Montreal now 
stands. Both were large tribes, consisting of 
many thousands, and were blood relations, claim- 
ing each other ;is cousins. 

A war originated between the two tribes in the 
following manner : A Wyandot brave wanted a 
certain woman for his wife; she objected; said 
he was no warrior, as he had never taken any 
scalps. He then raised a party of warriors and 
they fell upon a small party of Senecsis, killing 
and scalping a number of them. It is presumed 
the Wyandot brave secured his wife, but this 
created a war between the tribes which lasted 
more than a hundred years, and until both 
nations were much weakened, and the Wyandots 
nearly exterminated. The latter were compelled 
to leave the country, and took up their residence 
on the peninsula of Michigan, as before stated. 
They were often compelled to fight their old ene- 
mies even in this far ofl' region, as war parties of 
Senecas frequently went there for that purpose. 
A peace was finally arranged, and the romnan- 
of Wyandots came to reside in Ohio. The Ottat 
was, another conquei-ed tribe, and one allowed 
existence only bj' paying a kind of tribute to 
their conquerors, the Iroquis, were also j)art 
occupants of this same part of Ohio. This nation 
produced the renowned chief, Pontiac, who was 
the cause of such wide-spread desolation in the 
West. The Ottawas were often known as "Canada 
Indians " among the early settlers. Their prin- 
cipal settlements were on the Maumee, along the 
lake shore, on the Huron and Black rivers, and 
on the streams flowing into them. These Indians 



were distinguished for their cunning and artifice, 
and were devoid of the attributes of a true war- 
rior. They were often employed as emissaries, 
their known diplomacy and artifice being well 
adapted for such business. The Wyandots, on 
the other hand, were a bold, warlike people. 
General Harrison says of them : " They were true 
warriors, and neither fatigue, famine, loss, or any 
of the ills of war could daunt their courage. 
They were our most formidable and stubborn 
enemies among the aborigines in the war of 
1812." They, like all tribes in the West, were 
often influenced by British rum and British gold, 
and found, in the end, as their chiefs so aptly 
expressed it, that they were "only tools in the 
hands of a superior jjowcr, who cared nothing 
for them, only to further tbeir own selfish ends." 
Of the Delawares, who were the principal oc- 
cupants of the Muskingum valley and Coshocton 
county ujion the advent of the first white settlers. 
Col. John Johnson says: "The true name of 
this once powerful tribe is Wa-he-nagh-ka, that 
is, ' the people from the east,' or ' the sun rising.' 
The tradition among themselves is, that they 
originally, at some very remote period, emigrated 
from the west, crossed the Mississippi, and as- 
cending the Ohio river, fought their way east- 
ward until they reached the Delaware river (so 
named from Lord Delaware), near where Phila- 
delphia now stands, in which region of country 
they became fixed. 

" About this time they were so numerous that 
no enumeration could be made of them. They 
welcomed to the shores of the new world that 
great law-giver, William Penn, and his peaceful 
followers; and ever since, this people have enter- 
tained a kind and grateful recollection of them ; 
even to this day, in speaking of good men, they 
would say, ' wa-slie-a E-le-ne' — such a man is a 
Quaker ; i. e., all good men are Quakers." Col. 
Johnson says: "In 1S23, I removed to the west 
of the Mississijipi persons of this tribe who were 
born and raised within thirty miles of Philadel- 
phia. These were the most squalid, wretched 
and degraded of their race, and often furnished 
chiefs with a subject of reproach against the 
whites, pointing to these of their people and say- 
ing to us, 'see how you have spoiled them,' — 
meaning they had acquired all the bad habits of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



197 



tlie white people, and were ignorant of hunting 
and incapable of making a livelihood as were 
other Indians." 

In 1810, there were belonging to Col. jQhnson's 
agency in Ohio eighty Delawares, who were sta- 
tioned near the village of Upper Sandusky, in 
Wyandot county, and 2,300 of the .same tribe in 
Indiana. They had been driven gradually back 
througli Pennsylvania and Ohio. 

Bookinghelas was, for many years after the ad- 
vent of the whites, the principal chief of tlie Del- 
awares. He was a distinguished warrior in his 
day. Killbuck, another Delaware chief, whose 
name is fortunately preserved for all time in the 
little stream in this county, was one of the prin- 
cipal chiefs in this valley. He was educated at 
Princeton college, and was prominent among the 
converts of the Moravian missionaries. 

Captain Pipe was a prominent chief ot the 
Wolf tribe, the most warlike of all the tribes of 
the Delaware nation. He was a very artful, de- 
signing man, and a chief o£ considerable abilitj' 
and influence. Captain Pipe was ambitious, 
hold, and noted for schemes and strategy. He 
was engaged at one time in plotting for a division 
of his nation. His ambitious spirit would brook 
no rival, and he was ever intriguing or engaged 
in plotting some nefarious scheme. He was one 
of the many warriors present at Fort Pitt, in 
July, 1759, at a conference between George Cro- 
ghan (Sir William Johnson's deputy Indian agent), 
Hugh Mercer (Commandant), and the Indians of 
the Six Nations, Shawnese and Delawares. In 
September, 1764, he ajipeared at Fort Pitt, with 
other warriors, manifestly with hostile purposes, 
and he and two of his warriors were detained as 
hostages, and were not released until after the re- 
turn of Col. Bouquet, with his army from the 
Muskinginn in the latter part of November. 

In 17Cr), Captain Pijie was at Fort Pitt, as one 
of the chief warriors of the Delawares, attending 
the conference held with the Senecas, Shawnese, 
Delawares and other tribes. He was also present 
at the great conference held at Fort Pitt in 
April, 17GS, under the direction ot George Crog- 
han, with the chief warriors of the Si.x Nations, 
Delawares. Shawnese, Monsies, Mohicans and 
Wyandote. In 1771, Captoin Pipe (as a chief), 
sent "a speech" to Governor John Pcnn, which 
3 



is printed in the fourth volume of the Pennsyl- 
vania Archives. 

Li May, 1774, Pipe, with other chiefs, went to 
Fort Pitt, to confer with Cajitain John Connolly 
(Gov*nor Dunmore's deputy), George Croghan, 
^nd other inhabitants of Pittsburgh, in reference 
to recent aggressions— the murder of Logan's 
family, and other outrages; the object of the 
conference being to avert the impending Indian 
war, whicli soon followed. 

When the revolutionary war broke out and 
hostilities had commenced, the Delawares divided ; 
a portion of them under the lead of White Eyes 
and Killbuck (two influential chiefs), making 
common cause with the Colonies against the 
mother country, and Pipe, who espoused the 
cause of the British. Netawatwes, White Eyes, 
Killbuck and Big Cat labored to preserve peace 
and to avert war, but in all their endeavors they 
were always frustrated by the restless, intriguing 
Pipe, who was ever warlike and vengeful, always 
brooding over old resentments. Captain Pipe, at 
this time (1775-G), had his residence fifteen miles 
up the Walhonding, from the " Forks of the Mus- 
kingum (now Coshocton), near or at the point of 
confluence of the Mohican and Owl creek (now 
Vernon rivor), where, in 1751, was situated an 
Indian town, known as Tnllihis, and where was 
located the Indian village named " Owl Town," on 
Hutchin'smap,in Smith's history of the Bouquet 
expedition ot 1764, issued the next year. Pipe's 
residence could not have been remote from the 
point above designated, now in Newcastle town- 
ship, this county, if it was not immediately at the 
junction of those streams. There was an Ind;an 
chief who figured somewhat conspicuously as 
"The Owl," in early-time western history, but the 
impression that he built " Owl Town,'' or that it 
was named bj' liim, or that he ever lived there, is 
not well authenticated. The Indian name of Owl 
creek, or Vernon river, was, according to Zeisber- 
ger, Heekeweider, and Loskiel, Gok-lui-sing, the 
meaning or interpretation being " habitation of 
owls," and it is more likely that " Owl Town " 
was so called because of the great abundance 
of owls found at that point than from tlie prob- 
lematical connection of the Indian chief known 
to history as " The Owl," with that town, or even 
with that locality. 



198 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Captain Pipe, in I7S0, removed to Crane's 
Town, an Indian village, situated about two miles 
above the present town of Uj)per Sandusky. He 
Wius a prominent leader at the defeat of Colonel 
Crawford in 1782, and at the tortiirini; aiffl Inirn- 
ing of that ofiieer by the Indians, which was doije 
within a mile of his house, on the southea.st bank 
of Tymocktee creek, in what is now Crawford 
township, Wyandot county. The town in which 
he lived was sometimes called " Pipe's Town." 

Buttertield, in " Crawford's E.vpedition against 
Sandusky, in 1782,'' characterizes Captain Pijae as 
a famous war-chief of the Delawares, and as one 
of the most implacable of all the savage enemies 
of the Americans in the western wilderness 
during the revolution. He was also a bitter 
enemy of the Moravian missionaries before he 
removed from the jNIuskingum valley, although 
it is said that he defended Zeisberger, Hecke- 
welder and others that were tried at Detroit in 
1781, on the charge of being spies, and of being 
ininneal to the interests of the British. His 
enmity towards the Moravian missionaries, it is 
said, was not on personal grounds, but because 
"he was hostile to all attempts, come from what 
source they might, having a tendency to make the 
Delawares a civilized and an agricultural people." 
That a large majority of the Delaware nation, in 
1780, took up the hatchet against the Americans, 
forming a close alliance with the British, says 
Buttorlield, was almost whoUydue to the influence 
and machinations of Captain Pipe. 

Captain Pipe was present and signed the treaty 
of Fort Mcintosh, in 1785. He was also at the 
treaty of Fort Finney (mouth of the Great 
Miami), with the Shawanese, in 1780, signing 
that treaty as one of the witnesses. 

Captiiin Pipe fought against Gen. Harmar in 
1790, and participated actively in 1791, against 
General St. Clair. In 1792, a grand council of 
nearly all the Northwestern tribes a.ssembled at 
the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumec riv- 
ers, (now Dcliance,) to take into consideration 
the condition of afliurs with the United States, 
at which it was agreed to hold a treaty with the 
Americans during the next summer. Pipe was 
there next summer, an advocate for peace, but 
the Indians declared for war. The result was 
that a large army was sent against them, com- 



manded by General Wayne, who met the confed- 
eracy of Indians on the Maumee, in ,\.ugust, 
1794, and there fought and won the battle of the 
"Fallen Timbers." 

The death of Captain Pi]ie occurred a few days 
before the battle of the " Fallen Timbers" was 
fought. His record is most unsavory — his con- 
duct was seldom commendable — his periidious- 
ness and treacherj' were conspicuous — and his 
barbarity and infamous conduct at the burning 
of Col. Crawford, will attach infamy to his name 
wherever and whenever it is uttered. 

Captain White Eyes was a mighty chief of the 
Delawares, who was once prominently identified 
with the territory that now constitutes Coshocton 
county. He had his residence in " White Eyes 
Town," which was situated near White Eyes 
Plains, on the Tuscarawas river, in what is now 
Oxford township, Coshocton county. " White Eyes 
Town" was probably situated at or near to the 
mouth of White Eyes creek, a small stream that 
enters the Tuscarawas river from the north, about 
eight miles east of Coshocton. Captain White 
Ej^es undoubtedly gave name to the town. He 
was a warm friend of the Colonies in their contest 
for independence, and antagonized Captain Pipe, 
on all occasions, and labored hard to counteract 
his influence. He also heartily and zealously 
favored the efl'orts made by the Moravian Mis- 
sionaries to enlighten and christianize the Dela- 
ware Indians. 

Captain White E^'cs steadily and rmiformly 
advocated peace measures, and attended a con- 
ference held at Fort Pitt, in 1774, with a view of 
averting the war that was then threatened be- 
tween the whites and Indians, known in history 
as the " Dunmorc war." 

On the breaking out of the war of the Revolu- 
tion, the next year, the Delawares of. the Mus- 
kingum valley divided into peace and war parties 
— White Eyes and Killbuck heatling the former, 
and Captain Pipe the latter, or British party. 
White Eyes attended a conference held at Fort 
Pitt, in October, 1775, where he avowed himself 
the continued and unflinching friend of peace. 
The record made by White Eyes shows him to 
have been "a man of high character and clear 
mind, of courage such as became the leader of a 
race whose most common virtues were those of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



199 



the wild niiin, and of a forbearance and kindness 
as unusual as fearlessness was frequent among 
his people." His achievements had given glory 
to the Delaware nation, and wherever the lires 
of their lodges burned, his fame was rehearsed. 
It was the all-absorbing purpose of his life to re- 
claim the Indian from Isarbarism and elevate him 
to an equality with the white man Hence he 
readily and earnestly seconded the efl'orts and 
labors of the Moravian missionaries made in be- 
half of the red man. 

Captain White Eyes was one of the chiefs of 
the Delawares who, in 1778, advocated the scheme 
of admitting the Delaware nation, or at least all 
that had boon friendly to the .American cause, to 
a perpetual alliance and confederation with the 
United StJites. 

Gen. Mcintosh, during the year 1778, made a 
requisition upon the Delaware council for two 
captains and sixty warriors, and White Eyes 
joined his command. IMcIntosh, with a small 
force, encamped at Tuscarawas, an olil Indian 
town on the river of that name, and built Fort 
Lansing, named in honor of the President of 
Congress. Tuscarawas, the old Indian village, 
was situated on the west bank of the Tuscarawas 
river, at or near the crossing-place of the trail 
from Fort Pitt, and on the line, or very near it, 
that separates Tuscarawas and Sbirk counties, 
Ohio. And it was here, at Tuscarawas — that 
ancient seat of the aborigines where their old 
men had, for generations, rehearsed their deeds 
of glory — that White Eyes, one of tlie greatest 
and best of the later Indians, finished his career, 
in the midst of an army of white men to whom 
he had ever remained true. 

He died of small-pox on the tenth of Novem- 
ber, 1778. Where his remains are resting no 
man laiows ; the plowshare ha.s doubtless often 
furrowed his grave, but his name lives. Few 
men have done more for his race, especially for 
the Delaware nation, and few men labored more 
faithfully or zealously than White Eyes to bring 
the aboriginal tribes of the Great West under 
the influence of civilization and Christianit)'. 

The deatli of White Eyes caused deep sorrow 
throughout the Indian country, and many em- 
bassies were sent from the West to condole witli 
the Delawares. 



The Christian Indians of the Tu.scarawas 
valley and the Jloravian missionaries every- 
where realized that in the death of White Eyes 
they had lost a true friend. And no less did the 
friends of the American cause realize that in 
the death of this noble chief they too had lost a 
valued, unfailing friend! And lastly, the Dela- 
ware nation had good reason to deplore the 
death of Captain White Eyes, than whom it 
would be diflicult to find one who was more stead- 
ily and heartily devoted to their interests. 

A hundred years ago, there were six or more 
Indian villages within the present limits of 
Coshocton county, all being Delaware towns, 
except a Shawanose village; on the Wakatomika, in 
the present township of Washington, and INIus- 
kingum, five miles up the Tuscarawas from its 
mouth, which Captain Trent's journal calls a 
Mingo town. The Delawares were divided into 
three tribes, known as the Wolf, the Turkey and 
the Turtle tribes. The Wolf and the Turtle 
tribes were the most numerous here, if indeed 
there were any of the Turkey tribe here at all, 
before the arrivitl, in 1776, of a chief and ten fam- 
ilies of that tribe from Assunvmk, a town on the 
Hockkocking. The two villages up the Wal- 
honding (the Mousey towns) were occupied by 
the Delawares of the Wolf tribe. Wingenund, 
the chief at White Woman's town, like Captain 
Pipe, made himself conspicuously infamous at 
the burning of Colonel Crawford. 

Killbuck, son of Netiiwatwees, was a chief who 
rendered himself somewhat conspicuous by his 
opposition to the Jloravian missionaries. 

Killbuck, grandson of Netawatweos, sometimes 
called Geleleniend, was also prominently identi- 
fied with the interests of the Delawares that for- 
merly occupied the territory now constituting 
Co.shocton e(junty. The former was but of small 
importance, but the last named was a man of 
consideration and influence, and of generally 
commendable deportment. He favored the ef- 
forts of the Moravian missionaries ; took a de- 
cided stand in favor of peace, and of the Ameri- 
can cause against the British. Gelelemend was 
a wise, sagacious, able chief. He bore an irre- 
proachable character, and lived -an exemplary, 
useful life, adhering to the last to the Christian 
faith as taught by the Moravians. Killbuck, 



200 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



(Gelelemend,) was bom in 1737, near the Lehigh 
Water-Gap, now in Northampton county, Penn- 
sylvania, and died at Goshen, a Moravian town 
on the Tuscarawas river, situated within the 
present limits of Goshen township, Tuscarawas 
county, in the year 1811, at the age of seventy- 
four years. 

While some of the Delaware chiefs of this 
locality acquired infamous notoriety, it can be 
truthfully said of Gelelemcnd that he attained to 
most honorable distinction, and died greatly 
esteemed. 

Netawatwees was the head of the Turtle tribe 
of the Delaware nation. His first capital was 
situated at the mouth of Gekelemukpechunk, 
(Still Water creek,) and bore the unpronounce- 
able Indian name of the creek. It was situated 
on the north bank of the Tuscarawas river, in 
•what is now Oxford township, Tuscarawas 
county, and occupied tlie outlots of the present 
village of Newcomerstown. He was an advo- 
cate for peace, an ardent friend of the colonies, 
and devotedly attached to the cause of Christian 
missions, and to Moravian interests. His sym- 
pathy with the Moravian cause was manifested 
by large donations of land for the promotion of 
said cause. In 1775, Netawatwees and a grand 
council of the Delawares decided to abandon 
their capital and found a new one farther down 
the river. This decree was carried into eflect by 
selecting the junction of the Tuscarawas and 
Walhonding rivers as the site, and by founding 
the town of Goschachunk, which was henceforth 
to be the capital of the Delaware nation. 

Lichtenau, built by the Moravians, was located 
near to the capital of the Delaware nation, in def- 
erence to the repeatedly expressed wishes of 
Netawatwees. He thought that the evil conse- 
quences which had formerly grown out of the 
proximity of heathen villages were not any more 
to be expected, since so large a portion of the 
nation had become christianized; and moreover 
he held it to be his duty to afford his people 
every opportunity to hear the gospel preached. 
He often visited Lichtenau, taking great interest 
in its progress, and hoped for success. 

But he was not to live to see much more ac- 
complished for his people in the valley of the 
Muskingum. Nor did he live long enough to see 



the end of the war wage4 between the colonies 
and the mother country, in the result of which 
he was so deeply interested. Nor did he live 
long enough to witness the return of that peace 
which he had so zealously and perseveringly ad- 
vocated, and so ardently desired. 

This great chief of the Delaware nation died 
at Fort Pitt before the close of the 3'ear 1776; 
and in his death the cause of peace — the cause 
of the colonies — the cause of missions — the 
cause of Christianity lost a true, faithful, devoted 
friend. Few, very few, of the chiefs of the Dela- 
ware nation died more sincerely i-cgretted than 
Netawatwees. 

Many of the Indians of all these tribes were 
friendly to all whites until the breaking out of the 
war with Great Britain, when they left the 
country to join the forces of the king, and destroy 
the whites who occupied their country. They 
considered them then their enemies, and acted 
accordingly on all occasions, save where personal 
friendship, so strong in the Indian, developed 
itself, and in many instances, saved the lives of 
those in danger. 

The manners, customs, feasts, war parties and 
daily life of these sons of the forest, form inter- 
esting chapters in aboriginal hJfetory. The char- 
acter of the Indians was largely the result of 
their lives. They judged and lived by what the 
senses dictated. They had names and words for 
what they could hear, see, feel, taste and smell. 
They had no conceptions of abstract ideas until 
they learned such from the whites. Hence their 
language was very symbolical. Tliey could see 
the sun in its brightness, they could feel his heat; 
hence they compared the actions of a good man 
to the glory of the sun, and his fervent energy to 
the heat of that body. The moon in her bright- 
ness, the wind in its fury, the clouds in their 
majestj', or in their slow, graceful motion through 
a lazy atmosphere ; the grace and flight of the 
deer; the strength and fury of thebe.ar; the rush 
or ripple of water as it coursed along the bed of 
a river, all gave them words whose expressive- 
ness are a wonder and marvel to this day. They 
looked on the beautiful river that borders the 
southern shores of our State, and exclaimed, 
" 0-he-zo! " beautiful ; on the placid waters of the 
stream bordering the western line of Indiana, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



201 



and ejaculated," Wa-ba," a summer cloud moving 
swiftly; on the river flowing into Lake Erie, and 
said, "Cuy-o-ga" (Cuyahoga), crooked ; and so on 
through their entire vocabulary, each name 
expressive of a meaning, full ;iud admirably 
adapted to the object. 

The Indians in OWo, the tribes already men- 
tioned, had learned a few things from their inter- 
course with the whites on the borders of Western 
Pennsylvania, when tliey were first seen by the 
pioneers of Coshocton county. Their cabins or 
wigwams were of two kinds — circular and par- 
allelogram. The former, the true wigwam, was 
in use among the Oltawas when the whites came 
to their country. It was made of a number of 
straight poles driven firmly into the ground, their 
upper ends being drawn closely together ; this 
formed a kind of skeleton tent. The squaws 
plaited mats of thongs, bark or grass, in such a 
manner as to render them impervious to water. 
.These were spread on the poles, beginning at the 
bottom, and extending upward. A small hole 
was left for the egress of smoke from the fire 
kindled in the center of the wigwam. Around- 
this fire, mats or skins were spread, on which 
the Indians slept at night, and on which they sat 
during the day. For a door they lifted one end 
of the mat, and crept in, letting it fall down be- 
hind them. These tents were warm and dry, 
and generally quite free from smoke. Their 
fuel was nearly always split by the squaws in the 
fall of the year, and sometimes kept dry by placing 
it under an inverted birch-bark canoe. These 
wigwams were easily moved about fro!n place to 
])Iace, the labor of their destruction and construc- 
tion being always performed by the squaws — the 
beasts of burden among all savage nations. The 
wigwam was very light, and easily carried about. 
It resembled the tents of to-day in shape, and 
was often superior in point of comfort and pro- 
tection. 

The cabins were more substantial aiTairs, and 
were built of poles, about the thickness of a small 
sized telegraph pole, but were of various sizes, 
and commonly, about twelve or fifteen feet in 
length. These poles were laid one on the other, 
similar to the logs in a cabin, save that, until the 
Indians learned that notching tlie point of con- 
tact near the end, from the whites, they were 



held by two stiikes being driven in the angles 
formed in the corners, and fastened at the top by 
a hickory or bark withe, or by a thong of buck- 
skin. The pen was raised to the height of from 
four to six feet, when an arched roof was made 
over it by driving at each end a strong post, with 
a fork at the upper end, which stood a conven- 
ient height above the topmost log or pole. A 
stout pole was laid on the forks, and on this was 
laid a small pole reaching down to the wall. On 
these rafters, small lath was tied, and over the 
whole pieces of linn bark were thrown. These 
were cut from the tree, often of great length, and 
from six to twelve inches in width. They were 
then cut into proper lengths to cover the cabin. 
At the ends of the cabin split timbers were set 
up, so that the entire cabin was inclosed except 
a small aperture at one end, left for a door. This 
was covered by a deer or bear skin. At the top 
of the cabin an opening was left for the smoke 
to escape, for all Indians built their fires on the 
ground in the center of the cabin or wigwam, 
aroiuid which they spread skins and mats on 
which to recline and sleep. The cracks between 
the logs were filled with moss gathered froni old 
logs. When made, the cabin was quite comforta- 
ble, and was often constructed in the same man- 
ner by the pioneers, while making improve- 
ments, and used until a permanent structure 
could be erected. 

Most, if not all the villages in this county were 
composed of huts constructed as above de- 
scribed, mingled perhaps with some of better 
construction, as they had learned of the wiiitcs 
how to build them. In addition to these huts at 
their capital or central town (Goschachgunk), 
they had, in the center of the village, as was their 
custom, a large council house, used for all public 
meetings of the tribe. 

In regard to food, the Indians were more care- 
ful to provide for their future needs than their 
successors of the west are to-day. In the spring 
they made maple sugar by boiling the sap in 
large bra^ or iron kettles which they had ob- 
tained from the French and English traders. To 
secure the water they used vessels made of elm 
bark in a very ingenious manner. They would 
strip the bark in the winter season when it woidd 
strip or run, by cutting down the tree, and, with 



202 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



a crooked stick, sharp and broad at one end, peel 
the bark in wide strips, from which they would 
construct vessels holding two or three gallons 
each. They would often make over a hundred 
of these. They cut a sloping notch in the side of 
a sugar-tree, stuck a tomahawk into the wood at 
the end of the notch, and, in the dent thus made, 
drove a long chip or spile, which conveyed the 
water to the bark vessels. They generally selected 
the larger trees for tajiinng, as they considered 
the sap from such stronger and productive of 
more sugar. Their vessels for carrying the sap 
would hold from three to five gallons each, and 
sometimes, where a large camp was located and 
a number of squaws at work, using a half-dozen 
kettles, great quantities of sugar would be made. 
When the sugar-water would collect faster than 
they could Ijoil it, they would make three or four 
large troughs, holding more than a hundred gal- 
lons each, in which they kept the sap until ready 
to boil. When the sugar was made, it was gen- 
erally mixed with bear's oil or fat, forming a 
sweet mi.xture into which they dipped their 
roasted venison. As cleanliness was not a reign- 
ing virtue among the Indians, the cultivated taste 
of a civilized person would not always fancy the 
mi.xture, unless driven to it by hunger. The com- 
pound, when made, was generally kept in large 
bags made of coon skins, or vessels made of bark. 
The former were made by strijijiing the skin 
over the body toward the head, tying the holes 
made b\- the legs with buckskin cords, and sew- 
ing securely the holes of the eyes, ears and mouth. 
The l^xir was all removed, and then the bag blown 
full of air, from a hole in the upper end, and al- 
lowed to dry. Bags made in this way would hold 
whiskey, and were often used for such pur])oses. 
M'hcn they became saturated they were blown 
full of air again, the hole plugged, and they were 
left to dry. Sometimes the head was cut ofT with- 
out stripping the skin from it, and the skin of 
the neck gathered in folds like a purse, below 
which a string was tied and fastened with a pin. 
Skin vessels are not indigenous to the natives of 
America. All oriental' countries jwssess them, 
where the traveler of to-day llnds them the rule. 
They are as old, almost, as time. 

The Indians inhabiting this part of Ohio were 
rather domestic in their tastes, and cultivated 



corn, potatoes and melons. Corn was their prin- 
cipal crop, and was raised entirely by the squaws. 
When the season for planting drtw near, the 
women cleared a spot of rich alluvial soil, and dug 
over the ground in a rudemanner with theirhoes. 
In planting the corn they followed lines, toa certain 
extent, thus forming rows each way across the 
field. When the corn began to grow, they culti- 
vated it with wonderful industry, imtil it liad ma- 
tured sufficiently for use. The cornfields were 
nearly always in the vicinity of the villages, and 
sometimes were many acres in extent, and in fa- 
vorable seasons yielded plentifully. The squaws 
had entire charge of the work. It was considered 
beneath the dignity of a brave to do any kind of 
manual labor, and, when any one of them, or any 
of the white men whom they had adopted, did 
any work, they were severely reprimanded for 
acting like a squaw. The Indian women raised 
the corn, dried it, pounded it into meal in a rude 
stone mortar, or made it into hominy. Corn, in 
one form and another, formed the chief staple of 
of the Indian's food. They had various legends 
concerning its origin, which, in common with 
other stories, they were accustomed to recite in 
their assemblies. 

The Indians were always fond of amusements 
of all kinds. These consisted of races, games of 
ball, throwing the tomahawk, shooting at a mark 
with the bow and arrow, or with the rifle after its 
distribution among them, horse races, and other 
sports incidental to savage life. Their powers of 
endurance were remarkable, and astonishing ac- 
counts are often now told of feats of prowess ex- 
hibited by these aborigines. Of the animals hunt- 
ed by the Indians, none seems to have elicited 
their skill more than the bear. To slay one of 
these beasts was proof of a warrior's prowess, and 
dangerous encounters often resulted in the hun- 
ter's search for such distinction. The vitality of 
bruin was unequaled among the animals of the 
forest, and oi» this account, and because of the 
danger attached to his capture, made him an ob- 
ject of special hunts and feats of courage. 

The region of the Muskingum, and more es- 
pecially of the Wakatomaka, further south, was 
somewhat famous for bear hunting. Some of 
the pioneers yet surviving can relate astounding 
stories of their exploits in this line. The habit 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



205 



of these animals was to search out a hollow tree, 
or secure a warm clump of hushes late in the 
autumn, where thoy could remain three or four 
months, during the extreme cold of the winter, 
subsisting entirely on the fat of their bodies. 
They would emerge in the spring very lean, and 
when so were exceedingly ferocious. When 
searching out their places of winter solitude, 
they often left the impress of their feet on the 
bark of the tree they ascended, or on the grass 
in the lair they had found. The signs were 
easily discovered by Indians and expert bear 
hunters. They were then very fat, and were 
eagerly sought by the Lidians for their flesh and 
fat. Sometimes they would ascend trees thirty 
or forty feet high, and lind a good wintering 
place and take possession. Again they would as- 
cend the tree, if hollow, from the inside, and, 
finding a good place, occupy it. Then the hunt- 
ers would divide forces — one ascend the tree, 
and with a long pole, sharpened at one end, or 
wrapped with a rag or dry skin saturated with 
greese and set on fire, thrust the same down on 
the bear, and compel him to descend only to 
meet death at the foot of the tree from the arrow 
or bullet of the hunter below. 

The skin of a fat bear was a great prize to an 
Indian. It made him an excellent couch on 
which to sleep, or a cloak to wear. His flesh 
■was supposed to impart bravery to those who ate 
it, hence when dipped in sweetened bear's fat, it 
was considered an excellent dish, and one often 
oft'ered to friends. Venison, prepared the same 
way, was also considered a dish fit for the most 
royal visitors; a hospitality always extended to 
all who came to the camp, and if not accepted 
the donor was sure to be ofi'endcd. 

The domestic life of the Indians was very 
niucli the same in all jiarts of America. Among 
the Nortliern Ohio tribes, marriage consisted 
simply of two persons agreeing to live together, 
which simple agi-eement among many tribes was 
never broken. Sometimes the young woman 
courted the young brave, much after the fashion 
of the white people during leap years. This cus- 
tom was considered quite proper, and favorably 
looked upon by the braves. In some localities 
the chief gave away the yoinig woman to some 
Lrave he considered competent to support her in 



the chase, a part of the domestic economy always 
devolving on the man. \Vlien the game was 
killed, the squaw was expe('ted to cut up and pre- 
pare the meat for use, and stretch and tan the 
hide. 

The marriage relation among the most of the 
tribes was held strictly by all, a variation from it 
on the part of the female meriting certiiin death. 

The Wyandots and Delawares prided them- 
selves on their virtue and hospitality, and no 
authenticated case of the misuse of a female 
captive, except to treat them as prisoners of war, 
can now be quoteil. Tiiey always evinced the 
utmost modesty toward their female captives. 
Itespect for the aged, for parents and those in 
authority prevailed. When one among them 
spoke, all listened — never, vnider any circumstjm- 
^es, interrupting him. When he was done, then 
was the time to reply. 

In theology, the natives were all believers in 
one Great Spirit. They firmly believed in his 
care of the world and of his children, though 
different theories prevailed among the tribes re- 
garding their creation. Their ideas of a divinity, 
as expressed by James Smith, a captive many 
years among them, are well given in the follow- 
ing story, preserved in Smith's Memoirs : 

He and his elder Indian brother, Tecaughre- 
tanego, had been on a hunt for some time, and, 
meeting with i)oor success, found themselves 
straitened for food. After they had smoked at 
their camp-fire awhile, Tecaughretanego deliv- 
ered quite a speech, in which he recounted how 
Owaneeyo (God) had fed them in times gone by; 
how he fed the white people, and why they 
raised their own meat; how the Great Spirit 
provided the Indian with food for his use; and 
how, though the prospect was sometimes gloomy, 
the Great Spirit was onlj' trj'ing them ; and if 
they would only trust him and use means dili- 
gently, they would be certain to be provided for. 
The next morning Smith rose early, according 
to the Indian's instructions, and ere long killed a 
buffalo cow, whoso meat kept them in food many 
days. This was the occasion of another speech 
from his Indian brother. This trust often led 
them to habits of prodigality. They seldom 
provided for the future, almost literally fulfilling 
the adage: "Let each day provide for its own 



204 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



wants." They hunted, lished and idled away 
their days. Possessed of a bomulloss inheritance, 
they allowed the white race to come in and pos- 
sess their lands and eventually drive them en- 
tirely away. Their manner of feasts may also be 
noticed. 

The following description is from the pen of 
Dr. Hill, of Ashland, Ohio. The Mr. Copus 
mentioned is the same who was afterwards mur- 
dered by the Indians. 

" The ceremonies took place in the council- 
house, a building made of clapboards and poles, 
about thirt}' feet wide and fifty feet long. 
When the Indians entered the council-house, the 
squaws seated themselves on one side of the 
room, while the braves occupied the opposite 
side. There was a small mound of earth in the 
center of the room, eight or ten feet in diameter, 
which seemed to be a sort of sacrificial mound 
The ceremonies began with a sort of rude music, 
made by beating on a small brass kettle, and on 
dried skins stretched over the mouths of pots, 
making a kind of a rude drum. The jiounding 
was accompanied by a sort of song, which, as near 
as can be understood, ran : ' Tiny, tiny, tiny, ho, 
ha, ho, ha, ho,' accenting the last syllables. Then 
a chief arose and addressed them ; during the 
delivery of his sjieech a profound silence pre- 
vailed. The whole audience seemed to be deeply 
moved by the oration. The speaker seemed to 
be about seventy years of ago, and was very tall 
and graceful. His eyes had the fire of youth, 
and shone with emotion while he was speaking. 
The audience seemed deeply moved, and fre- 
quently soblied while he spoke. Mr. Copus could 
not understand the language of the speaker, but 
presumed he was giving a summary history of 
the Delaware nation, two triljes of which, "the 
Wolf and the Turtle, were represented at tiie 
feast. jNIr. Copus learned that the sjieaker was 
the famous Captain Pipe, of Mohican Johnstown, 
the executioner of Colonel Crawford. At the 
close of the address, dancing commenced. The 
Indians were clothed in deer skin leggings and 
English blankets. Doer hoofs and bears' claws 
were strung along the seams of their leggings, 
and when the dance connnenced, the jingling of 
the hoofs and claws made a sort of harmony to 
the rude music of the pots and kettles. The men 
danced in tiles or lines by themselves around the 
central mound, the squaws following in a com- 
pany by themselves. In the dance there seemed 
to be a proper modesty between the sexes. In 
fact, the Green town Indians were always noted 
for being extremely scrupulous and modest in 
the presence of one another. After the dance, 
the refreshments, made by boiling venison and 
bear's meat, sUghtly tainted, together, were 



handed ai'oimd. The food was not very palatable 
to the white persons present, and they were com- 
pelled to conceal it about their persons until they 
liad left the wigwam, when they threw the 
unsavory morsels away. No greater insult could 
have been oll'erod the Indians than to have refused 
the prollered refrt shments, hence a little decep- 
tion was necessary t(.) evatle the censure of these 
untutored sons of the forest, whose stomachs 
could entertain almost Miything." 

Usually, and as to the great mass of them, the 
Delaware Indians entertained very friendly feel- 
ings for the whites. In their old home in Penn- 
sylvania, from the day of Willian Penn's treaty 
down, they had received a treatment calculated 
to produce such feelings, and the influence of 
the Moravian missions among them tended to 
the same end. Far more Indian blood than 
white was shed about the forks of the Mus- 
kingum, and there is neither dark and bloody 
battle-lield nor site of sickening family massacre 
within the limits of the county of Coshocton, so 
far as known. The numerous bullets found in 
after times, in the plowed fields near Coshocton, 
were doubtless from the volleys fired by the expe- 
ditions, or from the rifles of the early settlers, 
with whom shooting at marks was a grand 
pastime. At one time seven hundred Indian 
warriors from the West encamped near the town, 
many with rifles. 

When the Revolutionary War broke out, it was 
a matter of the utmost importance to the colo- 
nists to secure at least the neutrality of the In- 
dian tribes, and eftbrts were accordingly made. 
Two treaties were made at Pittsburgh in suc- 
cessive years — 1775 and 1770 — binding to neu- 
trality the Delawares and some of the imme- 
diately adjacent nations. 

At the opening of 1777, the hatchet sent from 
Detroit (the British headquarters), was accepted 
by the Shawnces, Wyandots and ^Mingoes. Ru- 
mor had it that it was also to be sent to the Dela- 
wares, and if they declined it they were to be 
treated as common enemies, and at once attacked 
by the British and their Indian allies. The 
famous chief Cornstalk himself came to Gos- 
chachgunk, reporting that despite his otTorts the 
Shawnees were for war , parties were already 
out, and anumition was being forwarded for their 
use from Detroit. Even aportion of the Delawares 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



205- 



had been already pledged to take up arms. At 
this crisis — so threatening to the colonists— a 
general council of the Delawares met at the 
capiUil, on the 9tli of March, 1777. Some of the 
young warriors appeared with phunes and war 
paint. After earnest discussion and eloquent 
speeches, especially from White Eyes, it was re- 
solved to decline the hatchet should it be offered. 
Three times during that summer it was tendered 
and as often declined. Despite the taun.ts of 
their own race — against even a faction of their 
own nation — rejecting bribes and spurning 
threats, the people stood, month after month, as 
a mighty wall of protection to the western colo- 
nists. Looking to the plainly discernible natural 
consequences of a different decision in that 
grand council, it is not without reason th,at the 
claim may be made, that one of the grandest 
victories for the colonists in the American Eevo- 
lutionary v^-ar was won at the Delaware capital, 
at the forks of the Muskingum. Subsequently, 
indeed, by the machinations of renegades like 
Simon Girty (who was several times at the 
capital), and the taunts of the tribes, a part of 
the naticfti was led to join the British Indians. 
Li 1778, the rightful authorities of the nation 
made a complete treaty of alliance with the 
commissioners of the United States, therein pro- 
viding for carrying out a cherished project of 
White Eyes, that the Delaware nation should be 
represented in the Colonial Congress, and be- 
come, as a Christian Indian State, one of the 
United States. By the neighboring tribes the 
Delawares were often taunted with being unduly 
gentle — " women " — and were always remarked 
upon as having too many captives ; making exer- 
tions to secure as such those commonly appointed 
by other Indians to the tomahawk or stake. 

Killbuck, aided by the other Christain Indians, 
for a time held the nation very much in hand; 
but by 1780 Captain Pijie got the ascendancy at 
Goschachgunk, and jiut the people on the side of 
the British, setting up a new town in the Seneca 
coimtry. Killbuck and those who sided with 
him went over fully to the colonists, and left the 
forks, never to return. In 1705 their country, of 
which Coshocton county forms the central part, 
became by treaty the possession of the United 
States. Until after the war of 1812, a few strag- 



gling members of the nation, especially the Gna- 
denhutten ones, moved about in 'the country, 
hunting, disposing of pelts, or possibly visiting 
the graves of their ancestors. Fragments of the 
nation are yet recognized in Canada and in the 
Indian Territory, but its power was broken and 
the scepter had dej)arted when it was turned 
away from its loved haunts in the Tuscarawas 
and Walhonding valleys. 

By the treaty of September 20, 1817, the Dela- 
wares were deeded a reservation on the south of 
the Wyandot reservation, both in Marion and 
Wj-andot counties. When this was done, Cajjtain 
Pipe, son of " Old Captain Pipe," was the principal 
Delaware chief. The Delaware Indians remained 
on their reservation until about 1829, when they 
ceded it to the United States for $3,000, and were 
moved, as before stated, west of the Mississippi. 
The Wga7idots ceded theirs in March, 1842, and 
left lor the far west in July of the next year. At 
that date they numbered about 700 souls, and 
were the last Indian tribe to relinquish its 
claims to the soil of Ohio. 



CHAPTER XX. 

bouquet's expedition. 

The causes which led to the E.Kpoilition— Tlie ronUac War— 
Boiuiuct ordered to the relief of Fort Pitt— His niiireli from 
Fort Pitt— Incidents of the M.ireh— Indian Trail.s— March 
down tlieTnscarawas— Council with the Chiefs— Ii(>\iquet's 
Camp at tlie Fork.s of the Muskingum— The Ti-ealy of 
Pence- The Recovery ol Prisoners- Slccteh of Colonel 
Boutiuefs Life. 

FOR a full understanding of this great mili- 
tary campaign, whith had its terminus in 
this county, it is necessary to review, briefly, the 
causes which rendered it necessary. 

In 17(53, the v;ist region from the Alleghenies 
to the Rocky mountains, wiis mostly in posses- 
sion of the French. Their fort-s, missions, trad- 
ing posts— the centers, in some cases, of little 
colonies — were scattered throughout the valley of 
the Mississippi and on the borders of all the great 
lakes. They liad gained a controlling influence 
over the Indians, and by the right of discovery 
and colonizatidii, they regarded the country ;is 
their own. 



206 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



When Wolf and Amherst conquered Canada, 
the vast but frail fabrif of French empire in the 
west crumbled to the dust. 

To the Indian tribes occupying this terri- 
tory, the change Wivs nothing but disaster. Tliey 
had held, in a certjxin sense, the balance of power 
between the two rival colonies of France and 
England. Both had bid for their friendship, and 
both competed for trade with them, but the 
French had been the more successful, their inllu- 
ence among the Indians was great, and they had 
generally gained their good will. 

The English came among them, erected forts, 
generally claimed the country, but where tliey 
came in contact with the Indians only jealousy 
and hatred were engendered. This feeling con- 
tinued until it culminated in the groat Indian 
war known as " Pontiac's War." The tribes 
leagued together to drive the English into the 
sea. At one fell swoop all the small jiosts of the 
interior were captured from the English, and the 
frontiers swept by lire. Tlie two great forts, De- 
troit and Fort Pitt, alone withstoo;! the assailants, 
and these were reduced to extremity. 

Pontiac, himself, beleaguered Detroit, while the 
Dalawares, Shawanese and WyandoU, who occu- 
pied territory now embraced in Ohio, laid siege, 
in their barbarous way, to Fort Pitt. Other 
bands of the same tribes meanwhile ravaged the 
frontiers of Pennsylvania, burning liouses, mur- 
dering settlers, and producing indescribable dis- 
tress and consternation. 

This is the jioint where the history of Bouquet's 
exiieditions properly begins. He was then in 
command at Philadelphia, and was ordered to 
march at once to the relief of the garrison at 
Fort Pitt. It was a desperate and difficult under- 
taking, but Colonel Bouquet was an experienced 
officer, a man of science, courage and sense, and 
proved himself in every way equal to the emer- 
gency. 

Of the difficulties he encountered in collecting 
his troops; of their long march over the Alle- 
gheny mountains ; of the fierce and bloody bat- 
tle of Bushy Run: of Bouquet's arrival at Fort 
Pitt and relief of that sorely beleaguered garri- 
son, August 10, 1763, it is not witliin the province 
of this chapter to speak in detail. 

With this introduction the reader will lie able 



to understand more clearly the details of the 
campaign of 1764, into the territory embraced 
within the limits of this county. 

The Indians, disheartened by their overwhelm- 
ing defeat at Bushy Bun, and despairing of suc- 
cess against Fort Pitt, now it WiVs so heavily rein- 
forced, retired sullenly to their homes beyond 
the Ohio, leaving the country between it and the 
settlements free from their ravages. Communi- 
cation now being rendered safe, the fugitive set- 
tlers were able to return to their friends, or take 
possession again of their ab.indoned cabins. By 
comparing notes they were soon able to make out 
an accurate list of those who were missing — either 
killed or prisoners among the various tribes — 
when it was found to contain the names of more 
than 200 men, women and children. Fathers 
mourned their daughters slain, or subject to a 
captivity worse than death ; husbands their wives 
left mangled in the forest, or forced into the em- 
braces of their savage captors — some with babes 
at their breast, and some whose ofispring would 
first see the light in the red man's wigwam— and 
loud were the cries that went up on every side 
for vengeance. • 

Boquet wished to follow up his success and 
march at once into the heart of the enemy's coun- 
try, and wring from the hostile tribes, by force of 
arms, a treaty of peace which should forever put 
an end to these scenes of rapine and murder. 
But his force was too small to attempt this, while 
the season was too iar advanced to leave time to 
organize another expedition before winter. He 
therefore determined to remain at tho fort till 
spring, and then assemble an army sufliciently 
large te crush all opposition, and finish what he 
had so successfully begun. 

Acting under instructions, he matured during 
the winter all his plans, and soon as spring opened 
set on foot measures by which an army strong 
enough to render resistance hopeless slujuld be 
placed under his command. 

In the nieantime the Indians had obtained 
powder from the French, and as soon as the 
snow melted recommenced their ravages along 
the frontier, killing, scalping and taking prison- 
ers men, women and children. 

Bouquet could muster scarcely 5l10 men of the 
regular army — most of them Highlanders of the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



207 



4tli and 6th regiments — but Pennsylvania, at her 
own expense, furnished 1,000 militia, and Vir- 
ginia a corps of volunteers. With this imposing 
force he was directed to march against (he Dela- 
wares, Mohicans and Mingoes ; while Col. Brad- 
street, from Detroit, should advance into the ter- 
ritory of the Wyandots, Ottawas and Chippewas ; 
and thus, by one great simultaneous movement, 
crush those warlike tribes. Bouquet's route, how- 
ever, was without any water communication 
whatever, but lay directly through the heart of 
an unbroken wilderness. The expedition, from 
beginning to end, w^as to be carried on without 
boats, wagons, or artillery, iind without a post to 
fall back upon in ease of disaster. The army 
was to be an isolated thing, a self-supporting ma- 
chine. 

Although the preparations commenced early 
in the spring, difficulties and delays occurred in 
carrying them forward, so that'the troops, that 
were ordered to assemble at Carlisle, did not get 
ready to march till the 5th of August. Four 
days after, they were drawn up on parade, and 
addressed in a patriotic speech by the Governor 
of the State. This ceremony being finished, 
they turned their steps toward the wilderness, 
followed by the cheers of the people. Passing 
over the bloody field of Bushy Run, whicli still 
bore marks of the sharp conflict that took place 
there the year before, they pushed on, unmo- 
lested by the Indians, and entered Fort Pitt on 
the 13th of September. 

In the mean time a company of Delawares 
visited the fort, and informed Bouquet that Col- 
onel Bradstreet had formed a treaty of peace 
with them and the Shawnees. 

Bouquet gave no credit to the story, and ^^^^nt 
on with his preparations. To set the matter at 
rest, however, he oflfered to send an express to 
Detroit, if they would furnish guides and safe- 
conduct, saying he would give it ten days to go 
and ten to return. This they agreed to ; but 
unwilling to trust their w^ord alone, he retained 
ten of their nimiber as hostages, whom he de- 
clared he would shoot if the express came to any 
harm. Soon after other Indians arrived, and en- 
deavored to persuade him not to advance till the 
express should return. Suspecting that their 
motive was to delav him till the season was too 



far advanced to move at all, he turned a deaf ear 
to their solicitations, saying that the express 
could meet him on his march; and if it was true, 
as they said, that peace was concluded, they 
would receive no harm from him. So, on the 
3d of October, undtr a bright autumnal sky, 
the imposing little army of 1,500 men defiled out 
of the fort, and taking the great Indian trail 
westward boldly entered the wilderness. The 
long train of pack-horses, and immense droves 
of sheep and cattle that accompanied it, gave to 
it the appearance of a huge caravan, slowly 
threading its way amidst the endless colonades 
of the forest. Only one woman was allowed to 
each corps, and two for general hosjiital. 

This expedition, even in early history, was a 
novel one; for following no water-course, it struck 
directly into the trackless forest, with no definite 
point in view, and no fixed limit to its advance. 
It was intended to overawe by its magnitude — to 
move, as an exhibition of awful power, into the 
very heart of the red man's dominions. Expect- 
ing to be shut up in the forest at least a month, 
and receive in that time no supplies from with- 
out, it had to carry along an immense quantity 
of provisions. Meat, of course, could not be pre- 
served, and so the frontier settlem«nts were 
exhausted of sheep and oxen to move on with it 
for its support. These necessarily caused its 
march to be slow and methodical. A corps of 
Virginia volunteers went in advance, preceded 
by three scouting parties — one of which kept the 
path, while the other two moved in a line abreast, 
on either side, to explore the woods. Under 
cover of these the axe companies, guarded by two 
companies of light infantry, cut two parallel 
paths, one each side of the main path, for the 
troops, pack-horses, and cattle that were to fol- 
low. First marched the Highlanders, in column 
two-deep, in the center path, and in the side paths 
in single file abreast — the men six feet apart; and 
behind them the corps of reserve, and the second 
battalion of Pennsylvania militia. Then came 
the officers and pack-horses, followed by the vast 
droves of cattle, filling the forest with their loud 
comjilainings. A company of light horse walked 
slowly after these, and the rear-guard closed the 
long arrav. No talking was allowed, and no music 
cheered the way. ^^'hen the order to halt passe'i 



208 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



along the line, the whole were to face outward, 
and the moment the signal of attack sounded, to 
form a hollow square, into the center of which 
pack-horses, ammunition, and cattle were to be 
hurried, followed by the light horse. 

In this order the unwieldy caravan struggled 
on through the forest, neither extremity of which 
could be seen from the center, it being lost amidst 
the thickly clustering trunks and foliage in the 
distance. 

The first day the expedition made only three 
miles. The next, after marching two miles, it 
came to the Ohio, and moved down its gravelly 
beach six miles and a lialf, when it again strucTc 
into the forest, and making seven miles, en- 
camped. The sheep and cattle, which kept up an 
incessant bleating and lowing that could be heard 
more than a mile, were placed far in the rear at 
night and strongly guarded. 

Tuesday, October 5, the march led across a level 
country, covered with stately timber and with 
but little underbrush; so that paths were easily 
cut, and the army made ten miles before camp- 
ing. The next day it again struck the Oliio, but 
followed it only half a mile when it turned ab- 
ruptly oft', and crossing a high ridge over which 
the cattle were urged with great difticultj', found 
itself on the banks of the Big Beaver creek. The 
stream was deep for fording, with a rough rocky 
bottom and high steep banks. The current was, 
moreover, strong and rapid ; so that, although the 
soldiers waded across without matei'ial difficulty, 
they had great trouble in getting the cattle safely 
over. The sheep were compelled to swim, and 
being borne down by the rapid current landed, 
bleating, in scattered squads, . along the steep 
banks, and were collected together again only af- 
ter a long eft'ort. Keeping down the stream they 
at length reached its mouth, whore they found 
some deserted Indian huts, which the Indians 
with them said had been abandoned the year be- 
fore, after the battle of Bushy Run. Two miles 
farther on they came upon the skull of a child 
stuck on a pole. 

There was a large luunber of men in the army 
who had wives, children and friends prisoners 
among the Indians, and who had accompanied 
the expedition for the purpose of recovering 
them. To these the skull of this little child 



brought sad reflections. Some one among them 
was perhaps its father, while the thought that 
it might stand as an index to tell the fate of all 
that had been captured made each one shudder. 
As they looked on it, bleached by the winds and 
rain, the anxious heart asked questions it dared 
not answer. 

Tlie next day was Sunday, but the camp broke 
up at the usual hour and the army resumed its 
slow march. During the day it crossed a high 
ridge, from the top of which one of those won- 
drous scenes found nowhere but in the American 
wilderness burst on their view. A limitless ex- 
panse of forest stretched away till it met the 
western heavens, broken only here and there by 
a dark gash or seam, showing where, deep down 
amidst the trees, a river was pursuing its solitary 
way to the Ohio, or an occasional glimpse of the 
Ohio itself, as in its winding coiu'se it came in 
the line of vision.* In one direction the tree tops 
would extend, miles upon miles, a vast flooring 
of foliage, level as the bosom of a lake, and then 
break into green billows that went rolling gently 
against the cloudless horizon. In another, lofty 
ridges rose, crowned with majestic trees, at the 
base of which swamps of dark fir trees, refusing 
the bright beams of the October sun, that flooded 
the rest of the wilderness, made a pleasing con- 
trast of light and shade. The magnificent scene 
was new to officers and men, and they gazed on 
it in rapture and wonder. 

Keeping on their course, they came, two days 
after, to a point where the Indian path they had 
been following so long divided — the two branches 
leading ofT at a wide angle. The trees at the 
forks were covered with hieroglyphics, describ- 
ing ^he various battles the Indians had fought, 
and telling the number of scalps they had taken, 
etc. 

This point was in the southern part of the 
present county of Columbiana. The trails were 
both plainly marked and much traveled. The 
right hand trail took a general course northwest 
toward Sandusky, and led to that place and on to 
Detroit; the course of the left hand trail was gen- 
erally southwest, and passed through the counties 
of Carroll and Tuscarawas, striking the Tusca- 
rawas river in the latter county, down which it fol- 
lowed, on the south side, to Co.shocton, and cross- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



209 



ing the Muskingum a few miles below the site of 
Coshocton, continued down the west side of the 
Muskingum to Dresden, where it crossed the 
A\'akatomika and entered Licking county, passing 
across that county to the present reservoir, con- 
tinued on southwest to the Indian towns on the 
Scioto. 

Col. Bouquet took the right liand trail, which he 
followed until he reached the Tuscarawas river 
when he left it and turned southward along that 
stream. 

The path selected by the army was so over- 
grown with bushes that every foot of the way 
had to be cleared with the axe. It led through 
low, soft ground, and was frequently crossed by 
narrow, sluggish rivulets, so deep and miry that 
the pack-horses could not be forced across them. 
After several attempts to do so, in which the an- 
imals became so thoroughly imbedded in the 
mud that they had to be lifted out with main 
force, they halted, while the artificers cut down 
trees and poles and made bridges. This was 
the hardest day's toil to which they had been 
subjected, and with their utmost eflbrts they were 
al)le to accomplish but five miles. On Thursday 
the 11th, the forest was open, and so clear of 
undergrowth that they made seventeen miles. 
Friday, the 12th, the path led along the banks of 
Yellow creek, through a beautiful country of 
rich bottom land, on which the Pennsylvanians 
and Virginians looked with covetous eyes, and 
made a note for future reference. The next day 
they crossed it, and ascending a swell of land, 
marched two miles in view of one of the love- 
liest prospects the sun ever shown upon. There 
had been two or three frosty nights, which had 
changed the whole aspect of the forest. Where, 
a few days before, an ocean of green had rolled 
away, there now was spread a boundless carpet, 
decorated with an endless variety of the gayest 
colors, and lighted up by the mellow rays of an 
October sun. Long strips of yellow, vast masses 
of green, waving lines of red, wandering away 
and losing themselves in the blue of the distant 
sky — immense spaces sprinkled with every im- 
aginable hue, now separated clear and distinct as 
if by a painter's brush, and now shading grad- 
ually into each other, or mingling in inextrica- 
ble, beautiful confusion, combined to form a 



scene that appeared more like a wondrous vision 
sucklenly unrolled before them than this dull 
earth. A cloudless sky and the dreamy haze of 
Indian summer, overarching and enrobing all 
this beauty and splendor, completed the picture 
and left nothing for the imagination to suggest. 
At length they descended to a small river, 
which they followed till it joined the main branch 
of the Muskingum (Tuscarawas), where a scene 
of a very diflerent character greeted them. A little 
below and above the forks the shores had been 
cultivated and lined with Indian houses. The 
place was called " Tuscaroras," and for beauty of 
situation could not well be surpassed. The high, 
luxuriant banks, the placid rivers meeting and 
flowing on together, the green fields sprinkled 
with huts and bordered with the rich autumnal 
foliage, all basking in the mellow October light, 
and so out of the way there in the wilderness, com- 
bined to form a sweet picture, and was doubly 
lovely to them after having been so long .shut up 
in the forest. 

They reached this beautiful spot Saturday 
afternoon, October 13, and the next day being 
Sunday they remained in camp, and men and 
cattle were allowed a day of rest. The latter 
revived under the smell of green grass once 
more, and roaming over the fields, gave a still 
more civilized aspect to the quiet scene. 

During the day the two messengers that had 
been sent to Detroit came into camp, accompa- 
nied by Indian guides. The report they brought 
showed the wisdom of Bouquet in refusing to de- 
lay his march till their return. They had not 
been allowed to pursue their journey, but were 
held close prisoners by the Delawares until the 
arrival of the .army, when, alarmed for their own 
safety, they released them anil made them bearers 
of a petition for peace. 

The next day, Monday, the army moved two 
miles farther down' the Tuscarawas, and encamped 
on a high bank, where the stream was 300 feet 
wide, within the present limits of Tuscarawas 
county, where it remained in cfdnp about a week 
On Tuesday, six chiefs came into camp, saying 
that all the rest were eight miles ofl", waiting to 
make peace. Bouquet told them he would, be 
ready to receive them next day. In the mean- 
time, he ordered a large bower to be built a short 



210 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



distance from camii, while sentinels were posted 
in every direction to prevent surjirise, in case 
treachery was meditated. 

The next day, the 17th, he paraded the High- 
landers and Virginia volunteers, and escorted by 
the light horse, led them to the bower, where he 
disposed them iu the most imposing manner, so 
as to impress the chiefs in the approaching inter- 
view. The latter, as they emerged from the for- 
est, wore conducted with great ceremony to the 
bower, which they entered with their accustomed 
gravity; and without saying a word, quietly 
seated themselves and commenced smoking. 
When they had finished, they laid aside their 
pipes, and drew from their pouches strings of 
wampum. The council being tluis opened, they 
made a long address, in which they were profuse 
in their professions of peace, laying the whole 
blame of the war on the young men, whom they 
said they could not control. Bouquet,not wishing 
to appear eager to come to a settlement, replied 
that he would give his answer the next day ; and 
the council broke up. The next day, however, a 
pouring storm prevented a meeting of the coun- 
cil till the day following. Bouquet's answer was 
long and conciliatory, but the gist of it was he 
would 7nake peace on one condition, and no other 
— that the Indians should give up all the prison- 
ers in their possession within ten days. 

The Indians present at this council were Kiy- 
a.sh-utiX, chief of the Senecas, with fifteen war- 
riors ; Custaloga, chief of the AVolf tribe of Del- 
awares, and Beaver, chief of the Turkey tribe of 
the Delawarcs, with twenty warriors; and Koissi- 
nautchtha, as chief of the Shawanesc, with six 
warriors. 

Monday, October 22, the army, accompanied 
by the Indian deputies, recommenced its march, 
as Bouquet wished to show that he was determined 
to enforce his demands. They marched nine 
miles down the Tuscarawas, and went into camp. 
This was their fourteenth camp since leaving 
Fort Pitt, and was within a few miles of the east 
line of Coshocfon county. The next day (Octo- 
ber 23) the army crossed the present boundaries 
of this county, marching sixteen miles and 
camping about seven miles east of the present 
site of the town. This camp must have been in 
Lafayette township, very near the line between 



it and Oxford. Here Bouquet remained until the 
25th, when he continued his march a little more 
than si.x miles, camping within a mile of the 
forks of the Muskingum. 

Judging this to be as central a position as he 
could find, he resolved to fix himself here until 
the object of his mission was accomplished. He 
ordered four redoubts to be built, erected several 
store-houses, a mess-house, a large number of 
ovens, and various other buildings for the recep- 
tion of the captives, which, with the white tents 
scattered up and down the banks of the river, 
made a large settlement in the wilderness, and 
filled the Indians with alarm. A town with 
nearly two thousand inhabitants, well supplied 
with horses, cattle, and sheep, and ample means 
of defense, was well calculated to awaken the 
gloomiest anticipations. The steady sound of 
the ax day after day, the lowing of cattle, and 
all the sounds of civilization echoing along the 
banks of the Tuscarawas within the very heart 
of their territory, was more alarming than the 
resistless march of a victorious army ; and anx- 
ious to get rid of such unwelcome companions, 
they made every effort to collect the prisoners 
scattered among the various tribes. 

Bouquet remained here two weeks, occupied in 
sending and receiving messengers w"ho were 
charged with business relating to the restoration 
of the captives. At the end of this time twa 
hundred and six, the majority of them women 
and children, had been received in camp. A 
hundred more still remained in the hands of the 
Indians; yet, as they solenmly i;)romised to restore 
them in the spring, and the leafless forest and 
biting blasts of November, and occasional flur- 
ries of snow, reminded Bouquet of the coming 
on of winter, he determined to retrace his steps 
to Fort Pitt. 

These two weeks, during which the prisoners 
were being brought in, were filled w^ith-scencs 
of the most intense and often painful excite- 
ment. Some of the captives had been for many 
years with the Indians, recipients of their kind- 
ness and love; others had passed from childhood, 
to maturity among them, till they had forgotten 
their native language, and the past was to them, 
if remembered at all, like a half-forgotten dream. 
All of them — men, women and children — were 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



211 



dressed in Iiuliaii costume, and their hair ar- 
ranged in Indian fasliion. Their features also 
were bronzed by long exposure to the weather ; 
so tliat they appeared to have j)a8sed more than 
half way to a pure savage state. As troop after 
trooj) came in, the eager look and inquiries of 
those who had aceompanied the army to find 
their long-lost families and kindred made each 
arrival a most thilling scene. In some instances, 
where the separatirjn had been only for a short 
jieriod, the recognition was instantaneous and 
mutual, and the .short, quick cry, and sudden 
rush into each other's arms, brought tears to the 
eyes of the hardy soldier. In others, doubt, 
agony, fear and hope, would in turn take posses- 
sion of the heart, and chase each other like 
shadows over the face, as question after question 
was put, to recall some event or scene familiar 
to both, till at last a common chord would be 
touched, when the dormant memory would 
awake as by an electric touch, a flood of fond 
recollections sweep away all uncertainty, and 
the lost one be hurried away amidst cries and 
sobs of joy. Sometimes the disapiiointed parent 
or brother would turn sorrowfully away and, 
with that hope deferred which makes the heart 
sick, sadly await the arrival of another group. 
But the most painful sight was when a mother 
recognized her own child, which, however, in turn, 
persisted in looking on her as a stranger and coldly 
turning from her embrace, clung to hs savage 
protector; or when a mutual recognition failed 
to awaken aflection on one' side, so entirely had 
the heart beconae weaned from its early attach- 
ments. 

In these cases the joy of the captors knew no 
bounds, and the most endearing epithets and 
caresses would be lavished upon the prisoner. 
But when they saw them taken away, torrents of 
tears attested their sincere affection and grief. 
The attitude of intense interest, and the exhibi- 
tions of uncontrollable sorrow of these wild 
children of the forest, on one side, and the 
ecstatic joy of the white mother as she folded her 
long-lost child in her arms, and the deep emotion 
of the husband as he strained his recovered wife 
to his bosom, on the other, combined to form one 
of the most moving, novel specUicles ever wit- 
nessed in the American wilderness. One of the 



captive women had an infant three months old 
at her breast, born in the Indian's wigwam. A 
Virginia volunteer instantly recognized her as 
his wife, stolon from his log-cabin six months 
previous, and rushing forward he snatched her 
to his bosom and flew with her to his tent, where, 
tearing off the savage costumes of both, he 
clothed them in their proper garments. After 
the first burst of joy was over he inquired after 
his little boy, two years old, who was carried olT 
the same time she was maile prisoner; but she 
could give no tidings of him. A few days after 
another group of prisoners arrived, in which was 
a child whose appearance answered to the de- 
scriptions of this little fugitive. The woman was 
sent for and the child placed before. She looked 
at it a moment, anil shook her head. But the 
next moment the powerful maternal instinct 
triumphed, and recognizing in the little savage 
before her her long-lost child, she dropped her 
babe, and snatching him to her bosom burst into 
a torrent of tears. The husband caught the babe 
from the ground on which it had fallen and Isoth 
hurried away to his tent. The poor Indian 
mother watched their retreating forms, and then 
burying her face in her blanket sobbed aloud. 

A scene equally affecting occurred between an 
aged mother and her daughter, who had been 
carried off nine years before and adopted in a 
distant tribe. Though the latter had passed from 
childhood to womanhood in the forest, and diflered 
from other young squaws only in the tint of her 
skin, which her wild life could not wholly bronze, 
the eyes of the parent, sharpened by maternal 
instinct, instantly recognized the features of her 
child in the handsome young savage, and called 
her by name, and rushed forward to embrace her. 
But the latter, having forgotten her native lan- 
guage and name, and all her childhood's life, 
looked on wondering, and turned, frightened, 
from the profTered embrace, to her Indian parent. 
The true mother tried in every way to recall the 
memory of her child and awaken recognition, 
but in vain. At length, despairing of success, 
she gave way to the most passionate grief. 
Colonel Bouquet had been a silent witness of the 
painful inter\'icw, and, moved at the grief of the 
mother, approached her, and asked if she could 
not recall some song with which she used to sing 



■212 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



her child to sleep. Brightening at the sugges- 
tion, .she looked up through her tears, and struck 
a familiar strain, one with which she used long 
ago to quiet her babe. The moment the ears of 
the maiden caught the sound her countenance 
changed, and as the strain proceeded a strange 
Hglit stf)le over her features. All stood hushed 
as death, as that simple melody floated out through 
the forest, and watched with intense interest the 
countenances of the two actors in this touching 
scene. The eager, anxious look of the mother as 
she sang, and the rapidly changing expression of 
the captive's face as she listened, awoke the pro- 
foundest sympathy of Bouquet's manly, generous 
heart, and he could hardly restrain Iiis feelings. 
Slowly, almost painfully, the dormant memory 
awoke from its long sleep; at length the dark 
cloud thatpovered the past rent asunder, and the 
scenes of childhood came back in all the fresh- 
ness of their early spring time, and the half wild 
young creature sunk in joy on her mother's 
bosom. 

Some of the children had been so long with 
their captors that they looked upon tliem as their 
true parents, and cried bitterly on being sepa- 
rated from them. Stranger still, the young 
women had become so attached to their savage 
yet kind husbands, that, when told they were to 
be given up to their white friends, they refused 
to go ; and many of them had to be bound and 
brought as prisoners to camp. Repelling all ad- 
vances, and turning a deaf ear to entreaties, they 
besought Bouquet to let them return to their for- 
est homes. The promise that they should take 
their half-breed children with them could not 
change their wishes. "On the otlier liand, the 
Indians clung to them with a tenacity and fond- 
ness that made the spectators forget they were 
looking upon savages. It was pitiful to see their 
habitual stoicism give way so completely at the 
thought of separation. They made no eflbrt to 
conceal their grief; and the chieftain's eye that 
gleamed like his own tomahawk in battle, now 
wept like a child's. His strong nature seemed 
wholly subdued, and his haughty bearing changed 
to one of humility as he besought the white man 
to treat his pale-faced wife tenderly. Ilis wild 
life suddenly lost all its charms, and he hung 
round the camp to get a sight of her whom, 



though she was lost to him, he still loved. He 
v.-atched near the log building in which she was 
kej)t, leaving it only to bring from the forest 
pheasants, wild pigeons, or some delicacy, and 
lay it at her feet. Some of the young captive 
wives refused to be comforted, and using* that 
sagacity they had acquired in their long sojourn 
with the Indians, managed to escape from their 
friends, and joining their swarthy lovers fled 
with them to the forest, where they remained in 
spite of all efforts to recover them. 

The American wilderness never presented 
such a spectacle as was here exhibited on the 
banks of the JIuskingum. It was no longer a 
hostile camp, but a stage on which human na- 
ture was displaying its most attractive and noble 
traits; or rather a sublime poem, enacted there 
in the bosom of the wilderness, whose burden 
was human aftection, and whose great argument 
the common brotherhood of mankind. 

Bouquet and his ofhcers were dee]ily impressed, 
and could hardly believe their own senses when 
they saw young warriors, whose deeds of daring 
and savage ferocity had made their names a ter- 
ror on the frontier, weeping like children over 
their bereavement. 

A treaty of peace having been concluded with 
the various tribes, Bouquet, taking hostages to se- 
cure their good behavior and the return of the 
remaining prisoners, broke up his camp on the 
18th of November, and began to retrace his steps 
toward Fort Pitt. The leafless forest rocked and 
roared above the little army as it once more en- 
tered its gloomy recesses; and that lovely spot 
on the banks of the Tu.scarawas, on which such 
strange scenes had' been witnessed, lapsed again 
into solitude and silence. The Indians gazed 
with various and conflieting emotions on the 
lessening tiles — some with grief and desolation 
of heart because they bore away the objects of 
their deep affection, others with savage hate, for 
they went as conquerors. 

A few, impelled by their affection for the pris- 
oners, refused to stay behind. Though warned 
by the officers of the danger they incurred in re- 
turning to the frontiers which they had drenched 
in blood — of the private vengeance that would be 
wreaked on them by those whose homes they had 
made desolate — they could not be persuaded to 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



213 



turn back. Thus, iliiy after day, they moved on 
witli tlie army, leaving it only to hunt for those 
who had so long shared their wigwams. Among 
these was a young Mingo chief, who could not be 
forced to leave a young Virginian woman whom 
he had taken for his wife. Neither persuasions 
nor the prospect of falling a victim to the ven- 
geance of those whose friends he had slain could 
make hkm remain behind. He trea.sured the 
young pale-face in his fierce heart with a devotion 
that laughed at danger. His love was as un- 
tamable as his hate; and in his bosom the fires of 
passion glowed with an intensity found only in 
those who have never submitted to a restraint, 
and whose highest law is the gratification of their 
own desires. Silent and gloomy he accompanied 
the army, drawn irresistibly on by one sweet 
face that shut all other objects from his sight. 
She had left his wigwam forever, and he could no 
longer soothe her with caressing words and be 
rewarded by a gentle look ; but he could hover 
round her path, and bring her those delicacies 
which he so well knew how to select. No knight 
in the days of chivalry ever e.xhibited a higher 
gallantry or more unselfish devotion than did this 
haughty yoimg Mingo. 

Li ten days the army again drew up in the lit- 
tle clearing in front of Fort Pitt, and were wel- 
comed with loud shouts. The war was over, and 
the troubled frontier rested once more in peace. 
As a perusal of the details of this interesting 
expedition may have created a desire to know 
more of the man who conducted it, it is thought 
best to add the following .personal sketch of Col. 
Henry Bouquet: 

He was born in Rolle, on the northern border 
of Lake Geneva, in the canton of Berne, Switzer- 
land, in 1719. At the age of seventeen he was 
received as a cadet in the regiment of Constant, 
in the service of the States General of Holland, 
and two years later obtained the commission of 
ensign in the same regiment. Subsequently he 
entered the service of the King of Sardinia, and 
distinguished himself first as a lieutenant and 
afterward as adjutant in the campaigns conducted 
by that Prince against the combined forces of 
Franch and Spain. He acquitted himself with 
much credit, and his ability and courage coming 
to the knowledge of the Prince of Orange, he en- 
4 



gaged Bouquet in the service of the Republic. He 
held rank here as Lieutenant Colonel in the 
Swiss Guards, f<:)rmed at The Hague in 174S. 

At the breaking out of the war between France 
and England, in 1754, he accepted a commission 
in the Royal American or Sixtieth British regi- 
ment, as Lieutenant Colonel, and embarked 
for America. His ojjerations from this time to 
the date of his expedition against the Indians are 
involved in ob-scurity; little or nothing having 
been preserved except the fact that he was a 
subordinate in the Forbes expedition against 
Fort Du Quesne (Fort Pitt) in 1758. 

After his successful Indian campaign in 1764, 
he went to Philadel]ihia, where he was received 
with distingui.^hed kindne.ss, and warmly wel- 
comed, especially by those whose friends he had 
rescued from the Indians. The Assembly voted 
him a complimentary address; while the Home 
Government, as a reward for his services, pro- 
moted him to the rank of Brigadier General, and 
placed him in command of the Southern Depart- 
ment of North America. He did not live long, 
however, to enjoy his honors, for, in the latter 
part of the year 1765, he died of a fever in Pensa- 
cola. 



CHAPTER XXL 

COL. brodhead's expedition.' 

Causes of the Expedition— The Objective Point— March of 
the Army— .\rrival at tlie Forks ot the JIiiskinRum- De- 
struction of Indian Villiises— Return of the .Vriny— War of 
Extermination — Col. Brodhead's Official Report — Bio- 
Kraphieal Sketches of Col. David Shepherd and Col. Daniel 
Brodhcad. 

DURING the year 1780, frequent predatory 
J incursions were made into the frontier set- 

tlements east of the Ohio river, to the very seri- 
ous detriment of those settlements, whose growth 
was greatly impeded thereby. Naturally the 
people living on the frontiers were constantly in 
a state of feverish excitement and alarm, and 
would so remain as long as there was good reason 
to apprehend hostile and murderous raids into 
their communities. And of course while that 
condition of things existed but small prosperity 
to the exposed settlements could reasonably be 
anticipated. 



214 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



As the winter of 1780-81 wore away the shrewd 
and observing frontiersmen saw but httle pros- 
pect of peace, tranquility and prosperity for the 
frontier settlements, and h:ul but slight hojaes 
that the savages would be at peace with them, 
unless a sanguinary policy was adopted and rig- 
orously pursued towards tliem, for self protec- 
tion. ^^^ith the approach of spring there were 
unmistakable indications of an early renewal of 
hostilities, and these apprehensions soon turned 
out to be well founded. During the early spring 
of 1781, as was anticipated, marauding parties of 
hostile Indians crossed the Ohio river at various 
points for purposes of plunder and murder, and 
frequently succeeded in executing their nefari- 
ous and brutal purjjoses. 

Col. Daniel Bi'odhead was at this time Com- 
mander of the Western Military Department 
with headquarters at Fort Pitt, (now Pittsburgh). 
Learning of' the growing disaffection of the un- 
civilized and unchristianized Delawares on the 
Muskingum toward the white settlers east of the 
Ohio, and also towatd the American cause, as 
against Great Britain in the then pending revo- 
lutionary struggle; and knowing the losses the 
frontiersmen had sustained ; tlie barbarities they 
had endured, the cruelties of which they had 
been the victims at the hands of the savages, and 
also seeing the then exposed condition of the 
weaker frontier settlements, he decided that the 
time had fully come when measures should be 
taken to guard against the future recurrence and 
to avenge the cruelties and atrocious barbarities 
of the savages. Accordingly he organized an ex- 
pedition composed of about 300 men, in part vol- 
unteers, at Wheeling, in April, 1781, to march 
against the Indians on the Muskingum. Col. 
David Shepherd was the second officer in rank^ 
The Indian village of Goschachgunk, the second 
capital of the Delaware nation in Ohio, built on 
the site of Coshocton, on tlie left bank of the 
Muskingum, just below the junction of the Tus- 
carawas and Walhonding rivers, also called the 
" Forks of the ^Muskingum," was the objective 
point of the expedition. 

Col. Brodhead's force, of 300 efl'ective men, 
composed to a large extent of experienced Indian 
liunters, rendezvoused at Fort Henry, (formerly 
called Fort Fincastle, its name having been 



changed in honor of Governor Patrick Henry, of 

the colony of Virginia,) situated in the then small 
village of Wheeling. The cojiimand was well 
officered, Col. David Shepherd, County Lieutenant 
of Ohio county, Virginia, having command of 
131 men (probably the volunteer portion); the 
whole force being under the command of Col- 
onel Brodhead, who " was esteemed a successful 
commander in Indian warfare." 

This small army marched from Fort Henry in 
April, 1781, crossed the Ohio, and made a rapid 
march, by the nearest route, to the principal 
Delaware village upon the Muskingum, where 
the present town of Coshocton now stands. The 
army, reached the point of destination by a 
forced march on the evening of the 19th of 
April, 1781, (just one hundred years ago, at thU 
vriting,) completely surprising the Indians. 
Owing to high water, however, tlie Indians on 
the west side of the river escaped, but all on the 
east side were captured without firing a shot. 
Sixteen Indian warriors captured were taken be- 
low the town and killed by direction of a coun- 
cil of war held in the camp of Brodhead, being 
dispatched says Dr. Doddridge with tomahawks 
and spears, and afterwards scalped. The next 
morning an Indian called from the opposite side 
of the river for the " big captain," (as thej- called 
Brodhead,) saying he wanted peace. Brodhead 
sent him for his chief, who came over under a 
promise that he should not be killed. After he 
got over it is said that the notorious Lidian 
fighter, Lewis Wetzel, tomahawked him! Some 
authorities represent tkat it was an older brother 
of Lewis Wetzel that committed this murder. 

Another village, two and a half miles below, 
was also destroyed. This was Lichtcnau, the 
Moravian village, abandoned tlic year before, at 
this time occupied by some straggling band.s of 
uncivilized Delawares, who had named it In- 
doachaic. A strong determination was mani- 
fested by a portion of the soldiers to march to 
the Moravian town.s up the river (S;dem, Gna- 
denhutten and Schonbrunn) and destroy them, 
but Colonels Brodhead and Shepherd prevented 
this contemplated outrage. 

The army then began its return, with some 
twenty prisoners, in charge of the volunteers, 
but it had gone but a short distance, when those 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



215 



having the prisoners in charge killed tlicin all 
except a few women and children, who were 
taken to Fort Pitt, and afterwards exchanged for 
an equal number of prisoners held b}- the Indians. 
On his return' march Colonel Brodhead met 
some friendly Delawares, who accompanied him 
to Fort Pitt and placed themselves under the 
protection of the United States. 

Before leaving the valle}- of the Tuscarawas 
(tlien called Muskingum), Colonel Brodhead had 
an interview with the Rev. John Heckewelder 
and perhaps other Moravian missionaries who 
had been friendly to the frontier settlers and true 
to the cause of the colonists in their struggle 
with the mother country, and advised them and 
all of the Christian Indians, in view of their 
dangerous position, " between two tires," to break 
up their settlements and accompany him to Fort 
Pitt for protection. This atlvice they unfortun- 
antely declined to accept, and before the expira- 
tion of a year 7iineti)-four oi them were massacred 
in cold blood, at Gnadenhutten, by infuriated 
frontiersmen, under command of Colonel David 
Williamson, many of whose command had been 
of Colonel Brodhead's expedition to the Mus- 
kingum the previous year. 

The settlements on the frontiers had suffered 
greatly from the Indians, and about this time 
the settlers came to the determination to arrest 
in future the marauding and murderous incur- 
sions of the savages. The time had come when 
they must make a vigorous defense of those set- 
tlements or abandon them. They must fight 
efhciently or be exterminated. It was a contest 
for life, for home, for wives and children. It 
was a battle between barbarism and civilization, 
between Paganism and Christianity. It is not 
surprising therefore that the border wars of this 
period were prosecuted on both sides as wars of 
extermination, and that the barbarities perpe- 
trated by the Indians h.ad produced such a malig- 
nant spirit of revenge among the white settlers 
as to make them little less brutal and remorse- 
less than the savages themselves. Some of their 
e.xpeditions against the Indians were mere mur- 
dering parties held together only by the com- 
mon thirst for revenge, and the malignant spirit 
of retaliation; audit is not likely that any disci- 
pline calculated to restrain that pervading feeling 



could, in all cases, have been enforced, however 
anxious the commander and a minority of his 
men might be. It is certainly unfortunate for 
the reputation of Colonel Brodhead that his 
name is thus associated with the murder of pris- 
oners, but it is highly probably that he never 
sanctioned it, and could not have ji re vented it. 
It is clear however that the combined influence 
of Col. Brodhead and Col. Shepherd saved the 
Moravian Indians of tlie Tuscarawas Valley 
from the massacre that disgraced the soldiers of 
Col. Williamson the next year, and which their 
commander and eighteen of his men desired to 
prevent but could not! The killing of prisoners 
by the men of Col. Brodhead's expedition, in 
April, 1781, and the cruel murder of ninety-four 
Moravian Indians bj' Col. Williamson's com- 
mand, in March, 1782; succeeded in June, 1782, 
by the terrible torture and burning of Col. Craw- 
ford and others of his force, followed in August 
of the same year of the cruelties and barbarities 
of the Indians practiced towards Col. Lochry 
and all his command, ambushed, captured or 
killed, and some of the prisoners murdered in 
cold blood, well illustrate the spirit of the times 
and the sanguinary temper that controlled the 
whites and savages alike, on the fiery arena of 
the western border, at this period of fierce con- 
flicts and desperate deeds— deeds that were in 
such terrible harmony with those wild and 
thrilling days— heroic years on the western bor- 
der they have been called— years of barbarity, 
massacre, murder they were! 

The following is Col. Brodhead's official re- 
port of his expedition to the Muskingum made 
to President Reed, of the Executive Council of 
Pennsylvania : 

" Philadelphia, May 22, 1781. 

" Sir: — In the last letter I had the honor to ad- 
dress to your Excellency, I mentioned my in- 
tention to carry an expedition against the re- 
volted Delaware towns. I have now the jilcasure 
to inform you that with about 300 men, (nearly 
half the number volunteers from the county), I 
surprised the towns of Cooshasking and Indao- 
chaie, killed fifteen warriers, and took ujnvards 
of twenty old men, women and children. About 
four miles above the (own I detached a party to 
cross the river Bluskingum and destroy a jiarty 
of about forty warriors, who had just before (as 
I learned by an Indian whom the advance guard 
took prisoner) crossed over with some prisoners 



216 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and scaljis, and were drunk, but excessive hard 
rains having swelled the river bank high, it was 
found inipraetieable. A ftcr destroying the towns, 
with gi-eat quantities of poultry and other stores, 
and killing about forty head of cattle, I marched 
up the river about seven miles, willi a view to 
send for some craft from the Moravian towns, 
and cross the river to jiursue the Indians; but 
wlien I projwsed my plan to the volunteers I 
founil they conceived they had done enough, 
and were determined to return, wherefore I 
marched to Newcomerstown, where a few Indi- 
ans, who remained in our interest, had with- 
drawn themselves, not exceeding thirty men. 
The troops experienced great kindness from the 
Moravian Indians and tliose at Newcomerstown, 
and obtained a sullicient suiij)ly of nieatand corn 
to subsist the men and liorses to llie Ohio river. 
Captain Ivillbuck and Captain Luz(>rne, upon 
hearing of our troops being on ihe Muskingum, 
immediately pursued the warriors, killed one of 
their greatest villains and brought his scalj) to 
me. The plundei' brought in by the troojis sold 
for about eighty jiounds at Fort Henry. I had 
upon this exjicdition Cajitain Montour and Wil- 
son, and tln-ee other faithful Indians who con- 
tributed greatly to success. 

" The troops" behaved with great spirit, and al- 
though there was considerable firing between 
them and the Indians, I had not a man killed or 
wounded, and only one horse shot. 

" I have the honor to be with great respect and 
attachment, your Excellency's most obedient, 
most humble servant. Daniel Rhodhead, 

"Col. 1st P, E. 
Directed : 

" His E.xcellency, 

'"Joseph Reed, Esq."* 

COL. DAVID SHEPHERD. 

Col. David Shepher<l came to Wheeling, from 
the South Branch of the Potomac, in 1770. His 
«nergy, enterprise, courage and other character- 
istics of iirst-class frontiersmen, soon made him 
" a man of mark." 

In 1776, upon the organization of Ohio county, 
Virginia, Col. Shepherd became the commanding 
officer of the militia of the county; was also tlie 
presiding justice of the county court; and be- 
fore the close of the year 1776, he became the 
sherifl' of the county of Ohio, that office at the 
time named going to the senior Justice of the 
county court, under the laws of the colony, and 
for many years afterward, in pursuance of the 

* Fcnu-sylvania .\rcliivcs, vol. ix, p. IGl. 



laws of the State. Col. Shepherd also jiresided at 
a notable meeting or convocation held ne.lr the 
close of the year, for tlie purpose of carrying into 
eilcct certain requirements of the legislature. 

On the 12lh of March, 1777, the Governor of 
Virginia (Patrick Henry), authorized the raising 
of a force of 300 men in certain western counties 
of Virginia, "to penetrate the country and inllict 
summary piniishment upon certain Indians that 
were characterized as outlaws and banditti," lo- 
cated at " Pluggystowu," near the head waters of 
the Scioto, and the command of the expedition 
was tendered to Col. David Shepherd, wlio had 
previously been appointed to the position of 
lieutenant of the county of Ohio. 

In September, 1777, Fort Henry (formerly 
called Fort Fincastle), was besieged by a large 
force of Indian warriors, numbering nearly 400, 
but it was successfully defended by the small 
force within it, under the command of Col. David 
Shepherd. He continued to take a leading i)art 
in arranging for the defense of the frontiers un- 
til 1781, when he was second in command to Col. 
Daniel Brodhead in the " Coshocton Campaign," 
as it was called. 

Col. Shepherd was a jirominent man on the 
frontiers, acting in various ways against the lios- 
tile Indians west of the Ohio river. As a civilian 
he long held a position in the front rank of use- 
ful, upright, valuable public officers, and as a just, 
impartial magistrate. 

COL. DANIEL BRODHEAD. 

Col. Daniel Brodhead was a citizen of Berks 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1771, having removed 
there during that year from Ulster county, New 
York. He entered the army as a lieutenant- 
colonel, his comnii-ssion bearing date July 4, 
1776. Until early in the year 1779 he was en- 
gaged in most of the battles fought by Gen. 
Washington's array', and had attained a colonel's 
commission, commanding the Sth Pennsylvania 
regiment. On March 5, 1779, he was appointed 
to the command of the western militiu-y depart- 
ment (succeeding Gen. McInto.sh), with head- 
quarters at Fort Pitt. This position he retained 
until some time after the Coshocton campaign in 
April, 1781, when Col. John Gibson temporarily 
occupied the position, until the permanent ap- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



217 



pointmcnt of Gen. William Irvine, September 
24, 1781. 

Col. Brodheatl, in August and September, 
1779, led an expedition against certain Seneca 
and Muncie Lidians, on the Allegheny river, 
his command consisting of 609 men, including 
militia and volunteers, which, however, result- 
ed in little less than the destruction of a num- 
ber of Indian villages and some hundreds of 
acres of corn, and the 'confiscation of certiiin 
articles, of the estimated value of $3,000. These 
villages were situated nearly 200 miles above Fort 
Pitt. 

Colonel Brodhead's administration of affairs 
generally in the Western Military Department, 
during those two years, was in the main rather 
popular with the frontiersmen, and was so satis- 
factory to Congress in its results as to elicit a 
specially complimentiiry resolution from that 
body. He was doubtless a meritorious officer, 
and was one of four brothers who all rendered 
essential services to their country during the 
perilous years of our revolutionary struggle. 
Colonel Brodhead ultimately attained to the rank 
and command of a brigadier-general, and those 
of his countrymen who have knowledge of his 
history and services, concede to him the reputa- 
tion of a commander of energy, efficiency, and 
imdoubted courage and patriotism. 

General Brodhead remained in retirement 
until November 3, 1789, when he was elected Sur- 
veyor-General of Pennsylvania, an oflSce which 
he continued to hold until 1799. One of his sons, 
an officer in the revolutionary army, oflbrcd up 
his young life on the alt;ir of his country. The 
Brodheads were true patriots, gallant soldiers, 
and rendered valuable services to their country 
in its time of peril. 

General Brodhead was married twice. His last 
marriage was with the widow of Governor 
MifHin, one of the early tim<; Governors of Penn- 
sylvania. His death occurred,iit Milford, Penn- 
sylvania, November 15, 1S09, where and when was 
brought to a close a life that had been so con- 
spicuously and por-istcntly dedicated to the pro- 
motion of the liberty of his countrymen, and to 
the establi.-ihment of free institutions, as to de- 
mand the grateful consideration of posterity, and 
an honorable mention in history. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

WETZEL AND BEADY. 

Lewis Wet/cl — Ilis Character — The Wetzel Family — The 
Murder of Lewis' Father— Capture of Wetzel by the In- 
dians—His Adventures in the MuskinRum Valley- Tragedy 
at Indian Spring- The expedition to the Musltingum 
under MeMahon— Wetzel takes a Sealp— The Turkey Call- 
Various Adventures- Imprisoned— Wetzel's Personal Ap- 
pearance and Death. 

Samuel Brady— His Expedition to Wallionding- A Brief 
Sketch of his Life and Services. 

LEWIS WETZEL, who has been mentioned 
in the preceding chapter as assassinating the 
chief who sought a conference with General 
Brodhead, under promise of protection, stands 
side by side with Samuel Brady, Simon Kenton, 
Daniel Boone and a few others, as a prominent 
leader in the border wars of the time. The single 
act mentioned indicates his somewhat savage na- 
ture and the intense feeling of hatred that then 
existed among the pioneers. Wetzel was, him- 
self, the personification of this feeling, and prob- 
ably outrivaled his cotemporaries, above men- 
tioned, in his intense and bitter hatred of the 
whole Indian race. 

As Lewis Wetzel was identified with all the 
border wars of the time, and with the numerous 
private expeditions against the Indians in Ohio; 
and as this was not his first or last visit to the 
Muskingum valley, any history of Ohio, or es- 
pecially of the eastern part of it, would seem to 
be incoinplete without some account of him. 

He was looked upon, in the neighborhood of 
Wheeling and along the upper Ohio, by the set- 
tlers as the right arm of their defence; his pres- 
ence was a tower of strength in the infant settle- 
ments, and his name a terror to the fierce and 
restless savages, who, making the ^Muskingum 
valley their stopi>ing and starting point, waged 
a relentless war of extermination against the 
frontiersmen. 

Although he was fiefce and unrelenting in 
his warfare, and always shot an Indian on sight, 
when ho could, yet his foe was equally fierce 
and unrelenting, and the memory of Wetzel 
siiould be cmlvilmcd in the hearts of the jieople 
of Eastern Ohio, and Western PiMinsylvania, for 
his eflbrts in defence of their forefathers are 
almost without a parallel. 



218 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Almost always foremost and most devoted, he 
threw into tlie common treasury a soul as heroic, 
as adventurous, as full of energy and exliaustless 
resources as ever animated a human being. 

Unfortunately for his memory no entirely re- 
liable account of him has ever appeared in print. 
The jjrcsent generation know little of his per- 
sonal history, save as gathered from the jjages of 
romance, or the scarcely less painted traditions 
of the day. 

With many he is regarded as having been little 
better than a savage; a man whose disposition 
was that of an enraged tiger, and whose only 
propensity was for blood. Many of his acts, 
notably the one mentioned, would seem to 
strengthen this belief, yet if the people of to-day 
could but comprehend the state of feeling then 
existing between the belligerents, they would 
look upon his acts in a somewhat different light. 

He was revengeful, it is true, because ho had 
sufTered deep injuries at the hands of his foes; 
yet he was never known to inflict cruelty vipon 
women and children, or to torture or mutilate 
his adversary. 

He was literally without fear; brave as a lion, 
cunning as a fox, "daring where daring was the 
wiser part ; prudent when discretion was valor's 
letter self." He .seemed to possess in a remark- 
able degree that intuitive knowledge which can 
alone constitute a good and efficient hunter and 
successful scout,]added to which he was sagacious, 
prompt to act, and possessed an iron frame and 
will to render his acts efficient. 

John Wetzel, the father of Lewis, was one of 
tlie lirst settlers on Wheeling creek. He had five 
sons and two daughters, whose names respect- 
ively were Martin, Lewis, Jacob, John, George, 
Susan and Christina. 

The elder Wetzel spent much of his time 
locating lands, hunting and fishing. His neigh- 
bors frequently admonished him against expos- 
ing himself to the enemy, who was almost con- 
tinually prowling about, but disregarding advice, 
and laughing at their fears, he continued to 
widen the range of his excursions, until he 
finally \icU a victim to the tawny foe. He was 
killed near Captina, in 1787, on his return from 
Middle Island creek. Himself and companion 
were paddling slowly along in a canoe, near the 



.shore, when they were hailed by a party of In- 
dians and ordered to land. This they refused, 
and they were immediately i1r»d upon and 
Wetzel shot through the body. FeeHng himself 
mortally wounded, he directed his companion to 
lie down in the canoe, while he (Wetzel), so 
long an strength remained, would paddle the 
vessel beyond the reach of the savages. In this 
way he saved the life of his friend, while his own 
was ebbing fast. He died soon after reaching 
the shore, at Baker's station. Not many years 
ago a rough stone, on which was inscribed in 
perfectly distinct characters, "J. W., 1787," still 
marked the last resting place of John Wetzel. 

At the time of his father's death, Lewis was about 
twenty-three years of age, and in common with 
his brothers, swore vengeance against the whole 
Indian race, and terribly was that resolution car- 
ried into eft'ect. From that time forward they 
were devoted to the wood; and an Indian, whether 
in peace or war, b)' night or by day, was a 
doomed man in the presence of either of them. 

The first event worthy of record in his life ac- 
curred when he was about fourteen years old, 
when he was taken prisoner. He had juststepjied 
from his father's door and stood looking at his 
brother, Jacob, playing in the yard, when he hap- 
pened to see a gun pointing from the corner of 
the cosn crib. He .sprang quickly to one side, 
just in time to receive the ball upon his breast 
bone, cutting a gash and carrying away a piece of 
the bone. In an instant two athletic warriors 
came uj), and making the lads jirisoners, hurried 
them away without being discovered. On the 
second day they reached the Ohio, and crossing, 
near the inouth of McMahon's creek, gained the 
Big Lick, about twenty miles from the river, that 
evening. During the whole of this painful 
march Lewis suficred severely from his wound, 
but bore up with true courage, knowing if he 
complained the tomahawk would be his doom. 

That night, on l.ving down, the Indians, con- 
trary to their usual custom, failed to tie their 
j)risoners, and Lewis resolved to escape. While 
the Indians were sleeping they both arose .with- 
out disturbing their captors and pas.sed into the 
woods. Finding, however, that they could not 
travel without moccasins, Lewis returned to 
camp and secured two pairs, with which he re- 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



219 



•turned to his brotlier. He then went back after 
his father's gmi, wliich the Indians had secured 
in the yard where the lads were taken prisoners. 
Having secured this witliout awakening the sav- 
ages, the}' started in the direction of home. Find- 
ing the trail, they traveled on for some time, oc- 
casionally stopping to listen. Tliey soon ascer- 
tained the Indians were in pursuit, but stej)ping 
aside into the brush the savages passed them, and 
they again resumed their march. They liad not 
proceeded far before they heard the Indians re- 
■turning, and again avoided them by hiding in the 
brus-h. Before daylight they were followed by 
two Indians on horseback, but again resorting to 
a similar expedient, they readily escajied detec- 
tion. The ne.xt day, about eleven o'clock, they 
reached the Ohio, at a point opposite Zane's Is- 
land, and lashing two logs together they crossed 
over and were once more with their friends. 

Space will not allow a conij)lete review of this 
man's adventurous life, as that would, if justice 
were done, make a volume ; but some of his 
more daring deeds may be noticed, that the full 
•character of the man may be brought out ; and 
those expeditions in which he was known to have 
visited the Muskingum valley, may be referred to 
more in detail. There is no doubt whatever that 
Lewis Wetzel frequently visited the neighbor- 
hood of the Indian town.s about the junction of 
the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers. Killing 
Indians was his trade, and these towns were the 
nearest ones to his field of operations. 

That he often came to the neighborhood of 
these towns alone, and j>rowled about in the 
woods until he saw an opportunity to take a scalp 
and return in safety, may safely be inferred from 
the nature of the man and his known mode of 
warfare. Indeed he did not always stop on the 
Muskingum, but pafeed on into the heart of the 
Indian country, about the head waters of the 
Sandusky river, in his incessant and tireless 
search for scalps. 

He was a lover of the woods and of solitude, 
and after reaching the years of manhood spent 
most of his time alone in the great wilderness 
west of the Ohio. 

He .seemed to worship the grand old trees with 
more than pagan devotion, and was delighted 
with every fresh grove, hill, valley and rippling 



stream. The quiet rej)ose, the moving shadow, 
the song of birds, the whoop of the savage, the 
long, melancholy howl of the timber wolf, were 
siglits and sounds that most interested him, and 
made up largely the pleasures of his e.xistence. 
Rising from his couch of leaves beside some 
moss-covered log, the lone hunter made his hur- 
ried meal, and pressed on through the day, care- 
less of fatigue or danger, until night again spread 
her mantle over the woods. 

Shortly after (Crawford's defeat, a man named 
Thomas Mills, escaping from that unfortunate 
expedition, reached Indian Spring, about nine 
miles from Wheeling, on the present National 
road, where he left his horse and proceeded on 
foot to' Wheeling. Thence he went to Van 
Metre's Fort, and after a day or two of rest. 
induced Lewis Wetzel to return with him to the 
Spring for his horse. Lewis was then eighteen 
years old, but skilled in wood-craft, and advised 
Mills not to go, but the latter determined to pro- 
ceed, and the two started. Approaching the 
Spring, they discovered the horse tied to a tree, 
and Wetzel at once comprehended their danger. 

Mills walked up to unfasten the animal, when 
instantly a discharge of rifles followed, and the 
unfortunate man fell, mortally wounded. Wetzel, 
knowing his only chance for life was in flight, 
bounded away at his utmost speed. Four of the 
Indians followed in rapid pursuit, and after a 
chase of half a mile, one of the most active of 
their number approached Wetzel so closely that 
fearing he might throw his tomahawk with 
deadly' eti'ect, he turned suddenly and shot the 
savage dead. Wetz<'l was very fleet on foot, and 
had acquired the habit of loading his gun while 
running, and it was now, as it was many times 
subsequently, of great advantage to him. Keeping 
in advance another half mile, his gun was reloaded, 
and the second savage came so near that, upon 
turning, the Indian caught the muzzle of hisgini, 
and the contest became doubtful. At one moment 
the Indian by his great strength and dexterity 
brought Wetzel to his knee, and had nearly 
wrenched the rifle from his hands, when by a 
powerful efl'ort he drew the weapon from the 
han<ls of the savage, and thrusting the muzzle 
against the side of his neck, pulled the trigger, 
killing him instantly. 



220 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



By this time the other two Indians were nearly 
upon him, and he again bounded away, reloading 
his rifle while running. The savages fell behind, 
but Lewis slackened his pace, and even stopped 
once or twice to allow them to come up. When- 
ever he looked around, however, they treed, un- 
willing to expose themselves to his deadly rifle. 
Kunning on some time, he reached an open 
space in the woods, and, turning suddenly, the 
foremost savage sprang behind a tree, which did 
not, however, screen his body entirely, and Wet- 
zel tired, dangerously wounding him. The re- 
maining Indian beat a liasty retreat. 

This illustrates Wetzel's mode of warfare; he 
could generally out-run and out-shoot most of 
his enemies. • 

The following is related as one of his exploits 
with the Indians about the head waters of the 
Muskingum : 

In the suninicr of I7.?6 these Indians killed a 
m^n near Mingo bottom, and a party of fron- 
tiersmen under the famous Major McMahon (who 
was afterward killed in the defense of Fort Re- 
covery), followed them with the intention of get- 
ting revenge. One hundred dollars was offered 
to the man who should bring in the first scalp. 
Lewis Wetzel was one of this party. They 
crossed the Ohio August 5, and proceeded by a 
rapid march to the Muskingum. 

The expedition numbered about twenty men, 
and an advance of five was detailed to recon- 
noitre. 

Approaching the Muskingum, this party re- 
ported that they had discovered a large camp of 
the Indians — so large that it Wiis useless to think 
of making an attack upon it. 

After a long consultation it was decided to re- 
treat. 

During tbis'conference Lewis Wetzel sat apart 
upon a log witii his gun resting carelessly across 
his knees, silent, but listening to all that was said. 
When the decision was reached and the party be- 
gan to move away Lewis still retained his seat 
upon the log, which McMahon noticing turned 
back and asked if he was not going along. "No!" 
was his sullen reply. " I came out to hunt In- 
dians, and now they are found, I am not going 
home like a fool with my fingers in my mouth. 
J will take a scalp or lose my own." 



All arguments were unavailing, and he was 
left alone in the great woods, surrounded by sav- 
age foes. 

Once alone he gathered his blanket around him> 
adjusted his tomahawk and scalping knife, and 
taking his rifle moved cautiously away. Keep- 
ing away from the larger streams, he crept si- 
lently through the woods like a wild beast of p rey 
keeping his piercing black eyes open for any 
stray Indians that might be strolling or camping 
in limited numbers. 

He stopped freequently and was keenly alive 
to every sight and sound ; nothing, however, 
crossed his path tliat day. 

The night being dark and chilly it was neces- 
sary for comfort to have a fire, but to show a light 
in the midst of his enemy was to invite certain 
destruction ; he therefore constructed a small 
coal-pit of bark and dried leaves, and covering 
these with loose earth, leaving an occassional air- 
hole, he seated himself, encircling the pit with 
his legs, and then completed the whole by cover- 
ing his head with a blanket. In this way he kept 
comfortable, witliout endangering himself by a 
light. 

During the following day he roamed the woods 
without discovering any signs of Indians until 
toward evening, when he discovered a smoke, 
and approached it cautiously. He fotmd a ten- 
antless camp. It ccjntained two blankets and a 
small kettle, which Wetzel at once knew belonged 
to two Indians, who were probably out bunting. 
Concealing himself in the matted undergrowth, 
he patiently awaited the return of his pre}'. 
About sunset one of the Indians came in, made 
a fire and began cooking supper. Shortly after 
the other appeared ; tliey then ate their supper, 
after which they smoked their pipes and amused 
themseves by singing and telling comic ritories, 
which at times caused them to indulge in roars 
of laughter. They little dreamed that death was 
lurking near them, in the dark forest, in the 
shape of the terrible Wetzel. 

About nine o'clock one of the Indians 
wrajipcd his blanket around him, shouldered his 
rifle, took a tire-brand in his hand and left the 
camp, doubtless with tlie intention of watching a 
deer-lick. 

The absence of tliis savage was a cause of vexa- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



221 



tion and disnppointment to Wetzel, who looked 
upon both as his game. He indulged the hope 
that the Indian would return to camp before 
day-break, but in this he was disappointed. 
Through the long, still hours of the night he 
waited and watched, like a tiger watching his 
prey. When he heard the birds begin to chirp and 
chatter, and he knew daylight was approaching, 
he determined to delay no longer, and walking 
to the camj) with noiseless step, he found his vic- 
tim in jjrofound slumber, lying upon his side. 
He drew his butcher knife and drove the keen 
blade with all his force to the heart of the savage. 
The Indian gave a quiver, a convulsive motion 
and then lay still in the sleep of death. Wetzel 
scalped him, and set out for home, arriving at 
Mingo Bottom but one day after his unsuccessful 
companions. 

He claimed and received his reward of one 
hundred dollars. 

A most fatal decoy on the frontier was the 
turkey-call. On several difi'erent occasions men 
from the fort at Wheeling had gone across tlie 
hill in quest of turkeys, whose plaintive cries had 
elicited their attention, and on more than one 
occasion the men never returned. Wetzel sus- 
pected the cause, and determined to satisfy him- 
self. 

On the cost side of the creek, and at a point ele- 
vated at least sixty feet above the water, there is 
a capacious cavern ; the entrance at that time 
was almost obscured by a thick growth of vines 
and foliage. Into this the alluring savage would 
crawl, and could there have an extensive view of 
the hill front on the opposite side. From that 
cavern issued the decoy of death to more than 
one uncautious soldier and settler. Wetzel knew 
of the existence and e.xact locality of the cave, 
and accordingly started out before day, and by a 
circuitous route reached the spot in the rear 
Posting himself so as to connnand a view of the 
opeiiing, he waited patiently for the expected 
cry. Directly the twisted tuft of an Indian war- 
rior slowly rose in the mouth of the cave, and 
looking cautiously about, sent forth the long, 
shrill, peculiar "cry," and immediately sank 
back out of view. Lewis screened himself in 
his position, cocked his gun, and anxiously 
awaited a rc-appearance of the head. In a few 



minutes up rose the tuft. Lewis drew a fine 
aim at the polished head, and the next instant 
the brains of the savage were scattered about the 
cave. That turkey troubled the inhabitants no 
longer, and tradition does not say whether the 
place was ever after similarly occupied. • 

Deliass states that this daring borderer was in 
the habit of visiting the Muskingum valley every 
fall, on an Indian hunt, and almost invariably 
went alone. The Indian camps about the forks 
of the Muskingun were the most accessible and 
sufl'ered more, perhaps, from the stealthy raids 
of this daring hunter than any others. Armed 
only with his trusty rifle and hunting knife, he 
would enter the Indian country and hiding in 
thickets and creeping through the woods, would 
sometimes pass days patiently awaiting an oppor- 
tunity to fall upon an unprotected and unsus- 
pecting camp of savages. 

On one of these visits he came upon a camp of 
four Indians. Hesitating a moment whether to 
attack a party so much his superior in numerical 
strength, he determined to make the attempt. 
At the hour of mid-night, when naught was 
heard but the long dismal howl of the wolf, 

" Cruel as death and hungry as the grave. 
Burning for blood, l)ony, gaunt and grim," 

he moved cautiously from his covert, and gliding 
through the darkness, stealthily approached the 
camji, supporting his rille in one hand and a 
tomahawk in the other. A dim flicker from the 
camp fire faintly revealeil the forms of the 
Indians, wrapped in profound slumber, which, to 
part of them, was to know no waking. There 
they lay, with their dark faces turned up to the 
night-sky, in the deep solitude of their own wil- 
derness, little dreaming that their most relentless 
enemy was hovering over them. Quietly resting 
his gim against a tree, he unsheathed his knife 
and with an intrepidity that could never be sur- 
pa.ssed, stepiioil boldly forward, like the minister 
of death, and quick as thought cleft the skidl of 
one of his sleeping victims. In an instant a sec- 
ond one was similarly served, and as a third 
attempted to rise, confused by the horrid yells 
with which Wetzel accomjxmicd his blows, he, 
too, shared the fate of his companioTis, and sunk 
dead at the feet of this ruthless slayer. The 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



fourth darted into the darkness of the wood and 
escaped, although Wetzel pursued him some dis- 
tance. Returning to camp, he scalped his vic- 
tims, and then left for home. Wlien asked, on 
his return, what luck, " Not much," he replied : 
," I treed four Indians, but one got away." This 
unexampled achievement stamped him as one of 
the most daring, and at the same time successful 
hunters of his daj-. The distance to and from 
the scene of this adventure could not have been 
less than 120 miles. 

During one of his scouts, in the neighborhood 
of Wheeling, Wetzel took shelter, on a stormy 
evening, in a deserted cabin on the bottom, not 
far from the former residence of Mr. Hamilton 
Woods. Gathering a few broken boards he pre- 
pared a i)lace in the loft to sleep. Scarcely had 
lie got himself adjusted for a nap, when six 
Indians entered, and striking a fire, commenced 
preparing their meal. Wetzel watched their 
movements closely, with drawn knife, determined 
tlie moment he was discovered, to leap in their 
midst, and in the confusion endeavor to escape. 
Fortunately, they did not see him, and .soon after 
supper the whole six fell asleep. Wetzel now 
crawled noiselessly down, and hid himself behind 
a log, at a convenient distance from the door of 
the cabin. At early dawn, a tall savage stepped 
from the door, and in an instant \\'etzel had his 
finger upon the trigger, and the next moment 
the Indian fell heavily to the ground, his life's 
blood gushing upon the young grass brilliant 
with the morning due drops. The report of his 
rifle had not ceased echoing through the valley 
ere the daring borderer was far away, secure from 
all pursuit. 

When about twenty-five j'ears of^age, Wetzel 
was employed by General Harmar as a scout. 
While acting in this capacity he shot and killed 
and Indian chief known as Geoi?;e Washington, 
a large, fine looking savage, who possessed much 
influence over his tribe. It was a time of com- 
parative peace, and General Harmar was es- 
pecially anxious to preserve the good feeling then 
existing. He justly regarded the act as an out- 
rage, and caused Wetzel to be arrested and 
placed in close confiiiement in the fort, heavily 
ironed. The confinement was extremely galling 
to one accustomed to the freedom of the woods. 



Being allowed one day to walk on the point at 
the mouth of the IMuskingum, imder a strong 
guard, he suddenly sprang away from the guards, 
being determined to risk his life in an attempt 
to escape. He was nearly a hundred yards away 
before the guards could recover from their 
astonishment and fire upon him. They missed 
their aim ; and being more fleet on foot than 
they, he made his escape to the woods, secreting 
himself in a den.se thicket, two or three miles 
from the fort. While here a party of soldiers 
and Indians, sent out by General Harmar in 
search of him, stood for a time upon the log 
under w'hich he lay concealed, yhey did not 
find him, however, and that night, though still 
hand-cufled, he swani the Ohio river and took 
refuge among his many friends on the Virginia 
side. 

After a time, hearing of his whereabouts. Gen- 
eral Harmar sent a squad of men under Captain 
Kingsbury to the neighborhood of Wheeling 
with orders to take him ilead or alive. Kings- 
bury, found Wetzel at Mingo Bottom, attending 
a shooting match, but as he was surrounded by a 
large number of his friends, among whom was 
Major McMahon, and as these, headed by Wetzel, 
threatened to annihilate the little squad of sol- 
diers, Kingsbur}' was pursuaded to return with- 
out efi'ecting his object. 

Soon after this, however, he was arrested at 
Limestone by a squad of soldiers and delivered 
to General Harmar at Fort Washington. 

As the news of his arrest spread through the 
settlement where Wetzel was known and loved, 
the settlers determined to embody and release 
him by the force of arms. It is said that General 
Harmar seeing the storm approaching, set Wetr 
zel at liberty. 

His short life wjis full of adventure of the 
character already mentioned. He was univer- 
sally regarded as one of the most efficient of the 
scouts and woodsmen of his day. He frequently ac- 
companied Captain Samuel Brady in his expedi- 
tions against the Indians, and was often engaged 
by parties who desired to hunt up and locate 
lands, but were afraid of the Indians. Under the 
protection of Lewis Wetzel, however, they felt 
safe, and he W'as thus emjiloyed for months at a 
time. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



223 



Among those who became largely interested in 
■western lands was John Madison, brother of 
James, afterward President Madison. He em- 
ployed Lewis Wetzel to go with him through 
the Kanawha region. During the expedition 
they came upon the deserted camp of a hunter, 
in which were some concealed goods. Each of 
them helped himself to a blanket, and that day, 
in crossing the Kanawha, they were fired upon 
by a party of Indians and Madison killed. 

Wetzel was engaged to accompany the Lewis 
and Clark expedition to the Rocky mountains, 
but after traveling with the party three months 
returned home. Shortly after this he went 
down the river to Mississippi, on a visit to a rela- 
tive named Philip Sikes, who lived about twenty 
miles in the interior from Natchez. Here he re- 
mained until the summer of ISOS, when he died. 

His personal appearance was somewhat re- 
markable. He was five feet ten inches in height, 
very erect, broad across the shoulders, an ex- 
pansive chest, and limbs denoting great muscular 
strength. His complexion wiis very dark and 
eyes of the most intense blackness, emitting, 
when excited, such fierce and withering glances 
as to cause the stoutest adversary to quail be- 
neath their power. His hair corresponded with 
his eyes in color, was very luxuriant and reached, 
when combed out, below his knees. The length 
of his hair was his greatest pecidiarity, and when 
seen running or stealthily passing through the 
woods, gave him the appearance of a wild man. 
No wonder he became a terror to the Indians; 
he could outrun their fleetest warriors, his gun 
seemed to be always loaded and he made every 
shot count, rarely missing his aim ; they were 
never .safe from his vengeance, even in their own 
camp, hundreds of miles from any white settle- 
ment. They could not lay down to sleep about 
their camp fires witliout the thought that Lewis 
Wetzel might be among them before morning, 
•with his terrible tomahawk and scalping knife. 

Such was the man who jirobably knew every 
square mile of Coshocton county before the first 
white settler made his appearance. 

Captain Samuel Brady was one of the many 
distinguished characters that figured prominently 
in western history. He made himself pre-emi- 



nently conspicuous in the defense and protection 
of the early-time settlements on the ^vestern 
frontiers. The traditionary tales and legendary 
stories current among the border settlers con- 
nected his name with numerous daring adven- 
tures and gallant exisloits. The unwritten history 
of the west, with more truth than fiction, coupled 
his name with many heroic achievements — with 
many a valorous deed. Few leaders, during the 
" heroic age on our western borders," could in- 
spire his brave followers with more hope, courage 
and enthusiasm than Captain Brady. Few border 
chieftains commanded public confidence to a 
larger extent, or secured a readier, more cheerful 
or more confident following than he. His name, 
in his generation, was the synonym of courage, 
skill, daring, energy, perseverance, success. And 
probably few men that were prominent actors on 
the fiery theater of war, on which was waged the 
bloody contest for supremacy between barliarism 
and ci\alization, better deserved the well-merited 
reputation he had acquired than Captain Brady. 
The annals of western border warfare, which re- 
cord the heroic achievements of those who par, 
ticipated therein, present the names of very few 
men, indeed, who bore a more conspicuously gal- 
lant part in said warfare ; and none whose memory 
better deserves to be cherished by posterity than 
Captain Brady's. 

In an address delivered by the late Rev. C. 
Springer, before the Licking County Pioneer 
Society, July 4, 1867, he gave an account of an ex- 
pedition up the Walhonding, or White Woman, 
from its mouth to Owl creek, or Vernon river, 
and up the latter stream, and thence down the 
Licking and Muskingum rivers, which was under 
the command of Captain Samuel Brady. Mr. 
Springer was a venerable pioneer whose remfjval 
to the Muskingum valley dates back to the early 
years of the century, and he gave the history of 
this expedition as obtained from several reputa- 
ble gentlemen with whom he had been personally 
well acquainted for many years, and who had 
been themselves members of said expedition. 

Mr. Springer stated that he took a special in- 
terest in the campaign, when its history was first 
given him ; its incidents, he said, deeply impressed 
themselves upon his memory. The narrative 
may therefore be considered altogether reUable ; 



224 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



certainly the venerable author of the address so 
regarded it. 

For the facts presented in the following histori- 
cal sketch, as well as for the language in which 
they are related, credit is due and is hereby given 
to the late Rev. C. Springer, author of the address 
from which they are taken : 

Not long before the defeat of the Indians at 
the battle of the " Fallen Timbers," on the banks 
of the Maumee, in August, 1794, by General 
Wayne, Captain Samuel Brady, of border fame, 
with a scouting party principally from the " Mo- 
nongahela country," crossed the Ohio river at 
Wheeling for the purpose of ascertaining the 
condition of the Indians, and giving annoyance 
in turn to such small hunting or marauding 
parties as might fall in their way. They directed 
their course to the " Forks of the Muskingum," 
passed up the White Woman and Walhonding 
creeks, thence up Owl creek or Vernon river, 
from its mouth up said stream some twenty miles 
or more; then passed over to the head waters of the 
Licking, and down it to the " Falls," four miles 
west of its mouth, now Zanesville. As none of 
the party had ever been there before, they sup- 
posed they were at the " Falls of Hocking," of 
which they had often heard. 

As game was remarkably plenty, and having to 
procure their subsistence from the forest, the 
company concluded to make a temporary stay at 
this place, and having struck up a fire, most of 
them turned out to hunt, and procure such wild 
meats as were necessary for their comfort. Near 
evening all had returned to their camp-tire except 
Jonathan Evans. After waiting for some time 
in great suspense, they gave their usual signal 
for lost persons — by tiring guns — but there w;is 
no'rcsponsc from Evans. As tliey had that day 
seen fre^h Indian signs, they entcrtainod no 
doubt but that these had captured Jonathan ; 
and fearing an attack themselves, they left their 
fires and passed back of the hill, immediately 
southeast of Dillon's old furnace, where they 
remained concealed during the night. In the 
morning they resumed their march down the 
Licking, and soon reached the Falls of the Mus- 
kingum, now Zanesville. Some of the expedi- 
tion having been there before, they understood 
their whereabouts. \ 



As they had determined to visit the Marietta 
settlement before their return home, they started 
down the river, and before going very far below 
the Falls, to their great astonishment and greater 
pleasure, they met Jonathan Evans, who was 
moving up the river for the i)urpose of rejoining 
the expedition. The joy on meeting Jonathan, 
who they apprehended had been captured by the 
Indians, was great indeed. Having got lost the 
day before, he lay all night on the banks of a 
creek the Indians called Moxahala, which empties 
into the Muskingum river two or three miles 
below the Falls. The Moxahala has, ever since 
Jonathan Evans lodged upon its banks, as above 
related, been generally called Jonathan's creek, 
in memory of the lost man of Brady's expedi- 
tion. In the morning, after lodging on the banks 
of the Moxahala, he followed the creek to its 
mouth, and seeing no signs of the expedition 
havnig passed down, he moved up the river in 
search of his comrads, when lie met them, as 
above detailed. 

In the summer of 1813, the Rev. Cornelius 
Springer was passing the " Falls of Licking," in 
company with a Mr. Simms (his neighbor), who 
was a member of the expedition, and the conversa- 
tion naturally turned upon the foregomg events, 
that being the point . where the Brady expedi- 
tion passed the night, after Jonathan Evans had 
strayed away from them unintentionally, and 
passed the night on the Moxahala, "solitary and 
alone." After Mr. Simms had circumstantially 
related the history of the expedition, particularly 
as it related to Jonathan Evans, his subsequent 
history was inquired into. In answer, Mr. 
Simms stated that, many years before, Jonathan 
had moved down the Ohio river and located at 
some point unknown, and that he had .heard 
nothing from him since his removal. 

In 1817, the writer of this sketch was engaged 
as an itinerent minister on a circuit which ex- 
tended many miles along the Ohio river, between 
the Scioto and Hockhocking. In the course of 
his ministrations he found Jonathan Evans, who 
was then a member of one of his congregations, 
living live miles above "Letart Falls," on ^the 
Ohio river, and the head of a large family, a 
Christian and a class leader in the Methodist 
church. It was by mere accident, Mr. Springer 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



225 



says, that he discovered Mr. Evans to be the Jona- 
than Evans of the Bradj' expedition. On invi- 
tatifTn he spent an evening with him, enjoying 
his hospitality. He was rather Uiciturn and liis 
guest was therefore compelled to lead in the con- 
versation. In answer to the question as to 
whether he had ever been up the Muskingum 
valley, he stated that he passed through it when 
it WiUi a wilderness. It at once occurred to Mr. 
S. that he had probably found the man also who 
gave name to the creek once called Moxahala. 
" Are you not the man for whom ' Jonathan 
creek,' a tributary of the Muskingum, was 
named?" was the next question put to him, and 
he smilingly replied in the affirmative, and pro- 
ceeded to give an account of his wanderings 
from the time he left the camp-fire at the " Falls 
of Litking," until he rejoined his companions 
ne.xt day, near the " Falls of the Muskingum." 
As the liev. Mr. Springer had spent his boyhood 
near " Jonathan creek," he was well acquainted 
with the localities that witnessed that day's wan- 
derings and travels of Jonathan Evans, and 
knew familiarly the point or bluiT on which he 
spent the night, amidst the hideous bowlings of 
wolves, as he said ; he was therefore able to trace 
him as he moved from point to point along his 
entire line of travels, while away from his com- 
rades of the expedition. These circumstances 
and facts all tended very much to give increased 
zest to their highly interesting interview. 

Captain Brady while on this expedition, it is 
said, gave name to the Bowling Green, on the 
Licking, four miles below Newark. He had seen 
a place of similar ai:>i-iearance, to this locality, 
somewhere, perhaps in Virginia, hence he giive 
the same name to the beautiful and extensive 
prairie on the Licking, and which it has borne 
ever since. 

The same expedition gave to " Duncan's Falls " 
its name. After Jonathan Evans had rejoined 
the expedition, having now less apprehension of 
the Iijdians, the men took time to construct ca- 
noes in which to descend the Muskingum to its 
mouth. An Irishman named Duncan, in passing 
over the rapids or falls in the Muskingum, ten 
miles below the mouth of the Licking, (now 
Zanesville,) by some mishap to his canoe, prob- 
ably striking a rock, was plunged into the river. 



and that circumstance gave name to "Duncan's 
Falls." 

One more incident of this expedition : Wlicn 
it had reached a point about half way to the 
mouth of the Muskingum, from the mouth of 
the Licking, it was deemed advisable to come 
to anchor, and take to the forest for game, 
their supply of provisions having been nearly 
exhausted. Their first day's quest for game, not 
having been entirely successful, they encamjied 
at night on Woll creek, where, after having fallen 
a.sleep, a krge tree fell near their camp, with a 
treinendous crash. All thought it was probably 
a sudden and overpowering attack by Indians; 
at any rate being thus suddenly aroused from 
their slumbers, by such a sudden and fearful 
noise as the falling of a large tree would pro- 
duce, it was a matter of course that great excite- 
ment and trepidation .should immediately pre- 
vail in their camp. The temporary confusion 
and alarm that existed around that camp-fire on 
Wolf creck,among the hunters, soldiers, frontiers- 
men, and adventurers of Captain Brady's expedi- 
tion, naturally enough, led to a good deal of mer- 
riment afterward among themselves, when de- 
tailing circumstantially, the ellects produced 
upon each and every one of the occupants of the 
camp on Wolf creek. The talents of the dog- 
gerel rhymster, even, were called inU) requisi- 
tion, in order to give full eflect, to descriptions 
of scenes, real and imaginary, that were wit- 
nessed on that memorable night on Wolf creek. 
Captiiin Brady's men being not only the witnesses 
but also the victims. 

The expedition under consideration was prob- 
ably disbanded or dispersed, at or soon after 
leaving the mouth of the Muskingum, most of 
them, however, likely went up the Ohio in their 
canoes to Wheeling, and there dispersed. 

As has been stated, Rev. C. Springer, on ac- 
credited authority, was the historian of the Brady 
expedition, as above narrated. And it is emi- 
nently proper to say that his facts are given on 
the authority of four creditable actors in the ex- 
pedition, whose history is given. These were 
Jonathan Evans and three of his neighbors 
named Simms, Hamilton and Darrah, for whose 
veracity he vouches. 

The leader of the foregoing expedition, Capt. 



226 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Samuel Brady, Wiis born at Shippensburg, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1756. His father, John Brady, was 
made a captain in the colonial army, for his 
services in the old French and Indian wars. 
The historian, DeHass, to whom we are in- 
debted for manjT of the incidents in the life of 
Captain Brady here presented, says that at an 
early day Capt. John Brady, with his family, 
moved to the Susquehanna. 

On the breaking out of the Revolution, Samuel 
Brady joined a volunteer company and marched 
to Boston. The patriotic fervor of the youth 
prompted the commander to offer young Brady 
a commission, but his father objected, thinking 
he was too young, saying : " First let him learn 
the duties of a soldier, and then he will better 
know how to act as an officer." 

But the gallant young soldier's patriotism and 
ability were soon i-ecognized. On the 17th of 
July, 1776, he received a lieutenant's commission, 
and bore himself gallantly through most of the 
principal battles until after the engagement at 
Monmouth, when he was promoted (in 1779) to 
a brevet captaincy, and ordered to the West for 
duty under Col. Brodhead. His father, in 1776, 
had accejited a captaincy in the 12th Pennsylva- 
nia regiment, had been badly wounded at the 
battle of Brandywine, and was then at home. 
Whilst there Captain Brady heard of his brother's 
death, who had been murdered by the Indians on 
the 0th of August, 1778. He remained at home 
until 1779, and then rejnined his regiment at 
Pittsburgh. Daring the same year his father was 
murdered by the Indians; and then it was that 
our liero swore vengeance against the whole race. 
Terribly, too, did he keep that vow. 

In 1781, Col. Brodhead sent Captain Brady on a 
secret mission (accompanied by John Williamson 
and one of the Wetzels) to some western Indian 
towns to ascertain their strength and resoiu'ces. 
On this expedition they reached the Indian town 
at Upper Sandusky, from which it was found ex- 
pedient to make a prompt retreat. The restora- 
tion to their friends of a woman and her child, 
who had been captured by some Indians, one or 
more of whom Captain Brady killed, was one of 
the results of this movement. 

The incursions of the Indians, says DeHass, 
had become so frequent, and their outrages so 



alarming, that it was thought advisable to retaliate 
ui)on them the injuries of war, and carry into the 
country occupied by them, the same methods 
that they practiced toward the white settlements. 
For this purpose an adequate force was raised 
and placed under the immediate command of Col. 
Brodhead, the command of the advance guard of 
which was confided to Captain Brady. 

The force proceeded up the Allegheny river, 
and had arrived near the Redbank creek, now 
known by the name of "Brady's Bend," without 
encountering an enemy. Brady and his rangers 
were some distance in front of the main body, as 
their duty required, when they suddenly dis- 
covered a war party of Indians approaching them. 
Relying on the strength of the main body, and its 
ability to force the Indians to retreat, and antici- 
pating, as Napoleon did in the battle with the 
]Mamelukes, that when driven back they would 
return by the same route they had advanced on. 
Brad}' permitted them to proceed without hin- 
drance, and hastened to seize a narrow pass, 
higher up the river, where the rocks, nearly per- 
pendicular, approached the river, and a few deter- 
mined men might successfully combat superior 
numbers. Soon the Indians encountered the 
main bodj' under Brodhead, and, as Brady antici- 
pated, were driven back. In full and swift retreat 
they pressed on to gain the pass between the rocks 
and the river, but it was occupied byBradyandhis 
rangers, who failed not to pour into their flying 
columns a most destructive fire. Many were 
killed on the bank, and many more in the stream. 
Cornplanter, afterward the distinguished chief of 
the Senecas, but then a young man, sa\'ed him- 
self by swimming. 

The celebrated war-chief of this tribe, Bald- 
Eagle, was of the number slain on this occasion. 
After destroying all the Indians' corn, the army 
returned to Pittsburgh. 

Another movement up the Allegheny river, of 
which Captain Bradj- was the master mind, was 
successful, the details of which are given, by De 
Hass. 

Beaver Valley was the scene of many of Cap- 
tain Brady's stirring adventures. Many interest- 
ing localities are there pointed out as Brady's 
theater of action, and which were witnesses of 
many of his thrilling exploits, and of his daring 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



227 



and success, as well as his numerous hair-breatlUi 
escapes by " field and flood." 

The following, illustrative of Brady's .adven- 
tures in the region referred to, we give from a 
published source : In one of his trapping and 
hunting excursions, he was surjiriscd and taken 
prisoner by a party of Indians who had closely 
watched his movements. To have shot or toma- 
hawked and scalped him would have been but a 
small gratification to that of satiating their re- 
venge by Inirning him at a slow fire, in presence 
of all the Indians of their village. He was there- 
fore taken alive to their encampments, on the 
west bank of the Beaver river, about a mile and a 
half above where it empties into the Ohio river. 

After the usual exultations and rejoicings at 
the cai3ture of a noted enemy, and causing him 
to run the gauntlet, a fire was prepared, near 
which Brady was placed, after being stripped and 
with his arms unbound. Previous to tying him 
to the stake, a large circle was formed around 
him of Indian men, women and children, dancing 
and yelling, and uttering all manner of threats 
and abuses that their limited knowledge of the 
English language aflbrdod. The i)ri.soner looked 
on these preparations for death, and on his savage 
foe with a firm countenance and a steady eye, 
meeting all tluur threats with truly savage forti- 
tude. In the midst of their dancing and rejoicing 
a squaw of one of their chiefs came near him 
with a child in her arms. Quick as thought, and 
with intuitive prescience, he snatched it from her 
and threw it into the midst of the flames. Horror- 
stricken at the sudden outrage, the Indians 
simultaneousl}' rushed to rescue the infant from 
the fire. lu the midst of this confusion, Brady 
darted from the circle, overturning all that came 
in his way, and rushed into the adjacent tliicket, 
with the Indians yelling at his heels. He ascended 
the steep side of a hill amidst a shower of bullets, 
and, darting down the opposite declivity, secreted 
himself in the deep ravines and Laurel thickets 
that abounded for several miles to the west. 

His knowledge of the country and wonderful 
activity enabled him to elude his enemies and 
reach the settlements in safety. 

On one of Captain Brady's scouting expeditions 
into the Indian country, with sixteen scouts or 
spies, they encamped one night at a place called 



" Big Shell Camp." Toward morning one of the 
guard heard the report of a gun, and immedi- 
ately communicating the fact to his commander, 
a change of position w-as ordered. Leading his 
men to an elevated point, the Indian camj) w\as 
discovered almost beneath them. Cautiously ad- 
vancing toward their camp, six Indians were dis- 
covered standing around the fire, while several 
others lay ujion the ground, apparently asleep. 
Brady ordered his men to wrap themselves in 
their blankets and lie down, while he kept watch. 
Two hours were thus passed without anything 
material occurring. As day began to appear 
Bradj' roused his men and posted them side by 
side, himself at the end of the line. When all 
were in readiness the commander was to touch, 
with his elbow, the man wdio stood next to him, 
and the communication was to pass successively 
to the farthest end. The orders then were that 
the moment the last man was touched he should 
fire, which was to be the signal for a general dis- 
charge. With the first faint ray of light six In- 
dians arose and stood around the fire. With 
breathless expectation, the whites waited for the 
remainder to rise, but failing, and apprehending 
a discovery, the captain moved his elbow, and 
the next instant the wild woods rang with the 
shrill report of the rifles of the spies. Five of 
the six Indians fell dead, but the sixth, screened 
by a tree.escinped. The camji being large, it was 
deemed unsafe to attack it further, and a retreat 
was immediately ordered. 

Soon after the above occurrence, says DeHass, 
in returning from a similar expedition, and when 
about two miles from the mouth of Yellow 
creek, at a place admirably adapted for an am- 
buscade, a solitary Indian stepped forward and 
fired upon Brady's scouts. Inst:mtly, on firing, 
he retreated toward a deep ravine, into which 
the savage hoped to lead his pursuers. But 
Brady detected the trick, and in a voice of thun- 
der ordered his men to tree. No sooner had this 
been done, than the concealed foe rushed forth 
in great numbers, and opened upon the whites a 
perfect storm of leaden hail. The brave spies 
returned the fire with spirit and effect; but as 
they were likely to be overpowered by sujierior 
numbers, a retreat was ordered to the top of the 
hill, and thence continued until out of danger. 



228 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The whites lost one man in this engngenient, and 
two wounded. The Indian loss is supjiosed to 
have heen about twenty, in killed and wounded. 

In Howe's Historical Collection, Captain Brad}' 
is characterized as the Daniel Boone of the north- 
cast part of the valley of the Ohio. About the 
year 1780, a party of warriors froin the Cuyahoga 
Falls made an inroad into what is now Washing, 
ton county, Pennsylvania, and murdered .sever.il 
families and robbed others, and, with their 
" i)lunder," had recrossed the Ohio river. Brady 
promptly raised a force of his chosen followersi 
and started in pursuit of the murderers, but 
were, however, unable to overtake them before 
reaching their villages, which were situated in 
the present county of Summit. Brad}' and his 
scouts arrived in the vicinity of their towns, but 
were discovered, and by overwhelming numbers 
compelled to retreat. Brady directed his men to 
separate and each take care of himself, regarding 
that the better way. A large force of the Indians, 
knowing Ca])tain Brady, pursued him, and aban- 
doned the chase after his men. The Cuyahoga, 
says Howe, here makes a wide bend to the south, 
including a large tract of several miles of surface, 
in the form of a peninsula. Within this tract 
the i^ursuit was hotly contested. The Indians, 
by extending their line to the right and left, 
forced him on the bank of the stream. Brady, 
knowing the locality, directed his course to the 
river, at a point where it is compressed by the 
rocky clifls into a narrow channel of only twenty- 
two feet across the top of the chasm, but consid- 
erably more near the water, the rocks approach- 
ing each other at the top to within the distance 
named, at a height of forty feet or more above 
the bod of the river. Being so hemmed in by 
the Indians that he saw no way of escape else- 
where, concentrated all his powers, and made the 
leap successfully, and escaped. The place is still 
known as "Brady's Leap." The Indians kept up 
the pursuit, and Captain Brady made for a pond, 
and plunging in, swam under water some dis. 
tiinee, and found a hiding place at the trunk of a 
large tree which had fallen into it. And this is 
called " Brady's Pond " to the present day. It is 
situated in Portage county, near Franklin mills. 

Brady's escape was miraculous. He however 
reached liis home at length, (wliich Howe says. 



was at this time at Chartier's creek), as did also 
his men. Some authority made him at one time 
a resident of Wellsburg. Brooke county, now 
West Virginia, and represented him as tall, 
rather slender, and very active, and of a dark 
complexion. 

Captain Samuel Brady married a daughter, 
(says DeHass), of Captain Swearengen, of Ohio 
county, Virginia, who bore him two children, 
both sons, named John and Van S. 

Such was Brady, the bold leader of the spies, 
on our western frontiers. He died, says the au- 
thor of the "History of the Pan-Handle Coun- 
ties," at West Liberty, Ohio county. West Vir- 
ginia, in the year 1800. and was buried in the 
cemetery at that place ; a small stone marks his 
grave. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

M O K AV I A X JI I S S I O N S . 

Estiitilishment of Lichtcnixu — Koli^jious Services — Moravian 
Towns on the Tuscarawas— .Vliaiuioiunent of Lichtenau— 
Biographieal Sketches of Rev. David Zcislierger and Rev. 
John lleeliewelder. 

THE career or life-story of the laborious and 
self-sacrilicing Moravian missionaries, and 
the establishment of Moravian mission stations 
by them in the wilderness, among the savage 
races that, during the latter half of the eighteenth 
century, occupied the Muskingum valley, together 
with the narratives of the zealous, faithful labors 
bestowed upon them, and generally upon the sur- 
rounding tribes and pagan nations, may well be 
regarded, without drawing largely upon the im- 
agination, as one of the most interesting and 
romantic chapters in our early-time history. 

According to authentic history and flie most 
reliable Moravian annals, there was only one 
Moravian village or mission station established 
within the present limits of Coshocton county. 

So great had been the success and prosperity 
of the two Moravian villages of Schonbrunn and 
Gnadenhutten, situated on the Tuscarawas river, 
within the i)rcsent boundaries of Tuscarawas 
county, that at the close of the year 1775 it was 
found their combined population numbered 
about five hundred; it was therefore deemed ad- 



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t=5 



O 




HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



229 



visiible, after due deliberation, to estiiblish another 
in the Tuscarawas or Jluskinguni valley. " This 
decision was made by the missionaries in 1776; 
accordingly Rev. David Zeisberger and John 
Heckewelder with eight families, numbering 
thirty-five persons, left the aforesaid village and 
passing dow-n the valley, looking out for an 
eligible location, finally encamped on the east 
bank of the Muskingum river, at a point about 
two and a half miles below the " Forks of the 
Muskingum " — now Coshocton — where, upon full 
consideration, they decided to establish the pro- 
posed mission station. This was the 12th of 
April, 177G. A mission house was soon built, and 
the pro.spective Moravian village was called Lich- 
teuau, that is a "Pa.sture of Light" — a green 
pasture illuminated by the light of the Gospel — 
as interpreted or explained by the Moravians. 
It is stated by an accredited Moravian authority, 
the " Life and Times of Rev. David Zeisberger "— 
a work entitled to credit for many facts herein 
contained — that the location of Lichtenau was 
made somewhat in deference to the wishes of 
Netawatwees, .a friendly Delaware chief of the 
Turtle tribe, whose principal village, called Go- 
sehachgunk, and which was subsequently de- 
stroyed by Gen. Brodhead's command in 1781, 
was situated at the junction of the Tuscarawas 
and the Walhonding rivers — now Coshocton — 
the unpronounceable Indian capital occupying 
the site of the lower streets of the present town 
of Coshocton, stretching along the river bank 
below the junction. 

The site of Lichtenau is described by the biog- 
rapher of Zeisberger as a broad level of many 
acres stretched to the foot of the hills, with an 
almost imperceptible ascent, the river bank swell- 
ing out gently toward the stream in the form of 
an arc, covered with maples and stately syca- 
mores. Material for building abounded, and the 
rich soil promised abundant crops. Numerous 
remains showed that the primitive aborigines of 
America had here had a home. 

Rev. Edmund De Schweinitz, author of the 
" Life and Times of Zeisberger," visited the site 
of Lichtenau in 1863, and found it then occupied 
in part by portions of the farms of Samuel Moore 
and Samuel Forker, in Tuscarawa.s township, 
which were separated by a long lane extending 



from the river to the eastern hills. The town 
began near the residence of Mr. Moore, and the 
church probably stood in his yard, reaching 
across the lane to tlie land of Mr. Forker, 
Lichtenau covering a portion of his farm. He 
identified the village site by numerous relics, 
and exact correspondence of former landmarks, 
as described by Mr. Moore, with the topography 
set forth in Rev. David Zeisberger's manuscript. 
The, relative position of Lichtenau to a Mound 
Builder's enclosure of five a?res, and a mound 
three-quarters of a mile further down the river, 
enabled the auther, with Zeisberger's descrip- 
tions and locations before him, to locate Lich- 
tenau with a good degree of certainty. 

The worship of the Great Creator, by this col- 
ony of thirty-five, closed the day, April 12, 1776. 
The next morning the sturdy strokes of the ax 
began to ring through the bottoms, and were 
reverberated from the hills near this embryo 
village in the wilderness of the Muskingum, and 
with a great crash tree after tree fell to the ground 
on the site of Lichtenau, says one author. " Sun- 
day," he continues, " followed upon the days of 
toil. The chief and his villagers came to Lich- 
tenau in full force to attend religious services. 
On the river's bank, beneath the gemmed trees 
ready to burst into verdure, gathered the con- 
gregation of Christian and Pagan Indians. Zeis- 
berger preached on the words, ' Thus it is writ- 
ten, and thus it behooved CTirist to suffer, and to 
rise from the dead the third day; and that re- 
pentance and remission of sins should be 
preached in His name among all nations, begin- 
ning at Jerusalem.' Afterwards fires were 
lighted, around which the converts continued to 
instruct their countrymen in the way of life, 
until the shades of evening fell. And this was 
doubtless the first gospel sermon, either Protest- 
ant or Catholic, preached within the present lim- 
its of Coshoston county. 

"The town progressed rapidly. Its mission 
house served at first as the place of worship; the 
other buildings formed one street, running par- 
allel to the river, and midway between its north- 
ern and soutJiern extremities a chapel was 
subsequently erected. " 

Netawatwees, his son, and a grandson with his 
family of six children, early became converts to 



230 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Moravianism. The principal chief of the Turkey 
tribe of Delawares, together with his own and 
ten other faniiUes, became immediate actual or 
prospective settlers at Lichtenaii, by securing 
lots and by other acts looking to ultimate settle- 
ment there. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was cele- 
brated at Lichtenau for the first time on Satur- 
day evening. May 18, 1776. This event was suc- 
ceeded during the summer by the administra- 
tion of baptism to Che converts from heathenism. 

Rev. John Heckewelder, in the autumn of 
1776, retired from Litchenau and returned to 
Schonbrunn,a mission station up the Tuscarawas 
river, a short distance below the present town of 
New Philadelphia, his place being supplied by 
Rev. William Edwards, who became Zeis- 
berger's associate at Lichtenau, November 4, 
1776. He was an Englishman, born April 24, 
1724, in the parish of Brinkworth, Wiltshire; 
joined the Moravians in 1749, and soon after 
emigrated to America, where he became a dis- 
tinguished missionary among the Indians. 

During the year 1777 schisms and feuds sprang 
up at Schonbrunn, and most of those who had 
not apostatised, came to Lichtenau, including 
Rev. John Heckewelder, leaving the once happy, 
Schonbrunn in possession of renegades who had 
returned to heathenism. This accession to Lich- 
tenau included the missionary. Rev. John George 
Jungman, who remained from April until Au- 
gust, when he returned to Bethlehem, Pennsyl- 
vania. He was born at Hockenhein, in the Pala- 
tinate, April 19, 1720, came to America in 1731, 
settled in Pennsylvania, where he joined the 
Moravians, and became an eminent missionary, 
serving many mission stations usefully, and 
finally died at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, July 17, 
ISOS, in the eight_y-ninth year of his age. 

In 1778, Lichtenau received another accession 
of Moravian Indians. This was from the then 
only other mission station, Gnadenhutten, in the 
Tuscarawas valley, which, iu consequence of dis- 
turbances growing out of the war, had to be 
abandoned temporarily. 

High hopes were cherished of tichtenau until 
early in 1779, when some hostile Wyandot and 
Mingo warriors, having made it a rendezvous and 
the starting point of a new war jiath to the Ohio 



river, and one or two of the surrounding tribes 
becoming more and more unfriendly, its aban- 
donment was reluctantly decided to be a neces- 
sity, and, in jmrsuance of said decision, was grad- 
ually accomplished. Rev. William Edwards, one 
of the missionaries, in April, 1779, left Lichtenau, 
and moved with a colony up the Tuscarawas 
river, and re-occupied the lately abandoned mis- 
sion station and village of Gnadenhutten, on the 
west bank of said river, within the present limits 
of Clay township, Tuscarawas county. During 
the month of December, 1779, Rev. David Zeis- 
berger left with another colony, and passed up 
the Tuscarawas river — Muskingum, it was then 
called — to a short distance above Schonbrunn, 
and commenced building a town, to which was 
given the name of New Schonbrunn. It was 
situated a mile or more below the present town 
of New Philadelphia, in what is now Goshen 
township, Tuscarawas county. And in the spring 
of 1780, Rev. John Heckewelder, with all the 
Christian Indians that remained at Lichtenau, 
left it and started the town of Salem, on the west 
bank of the Tuscarawas, about six miles below 
Gnadenhutten, its site being in the present town- 
ship of Salem, Tuscarawas county, about sixteen 
miles below the county seat of said county. 

And thus terminated the only Moravian mis- 
sion station ever established within the present 
limits of Coshocton county. 

Brief biographical sketches of the two most 
distinguished missionaries connected with Lich- 
tenau — Zeisberger and Heckewelder— may ap- 
propriately be given in conclusion. It may, how- 
ever, be here remarked, incidentally, that after 
the final abandonment of Lichtenau by the Mora- 
vian Indians in April, 1780, it was occupied by 
some Delawares (see Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 
9, page 161), who named it Indaochaic, and that 
it was utterly destroyed by the military forces 
under command of Colonel Daniel Brodlicad in 
April, 1781, the details of which will be found 
elsewhere. 

REV. DAVID ZEISBERGER, 

One of the founders of Lichtenau, was born in 
a small village named Zachtenthal, Moravia (now 
on the railroad from Cracow to Vienna), on Good 
Friday, April 11, 1721. His parents were be- 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



231 



leivers in and followers of the distinguished Bo- 
hemian i/fornier, John Huss. Thcj' removed to 
Hernhut, tlif chief seat of the Moravians in 
Europe, in 1726, and came to America in 1736, 
and settled in Georgia. They, however, left their 
son David at Hernhut to finish his education. 
He was an apt scholar, "learning Latin with the 
facility that he afterward displayed in acquiring 
a knowledge of the Indian languages." Soon 
after he was fifteen years of age, he was taken to 
Holland by Count Zinzendorf, where he soon 
learned the Dutch language spoken by the Hol- 
landers. When he was seventeen he embarked at 
London for the New World, and soon joined his 
parents. 

David spent several years in Georgia and South 
Carolina, and, in 1740, went to Pennsylvania. In 
1741, the village of Bethlehem, in said State, was 
commenced, and he early identified himself with 
it, and it soon became, and has ever since re- 
mained, " the chief seat of the Bloravian church 
in America." There his father died in 1744 and 
his mother in 1746. 

Da\'id Zcisberger soon developed talents, cour- 
age, energy, resolution and self-abnegation that 
marked him as one adapted to the missionary 
service among the aborigines of this country. In 
1744-45 he devoted himself to the study of cer- 
tain Indian languages, first at Bethlehem, then in 
the Mohawk valley, where he perfected himself 
in the Jlohawk tongue. Here he came under the 
suspicion of being a sp3', and suftered imprison- 
ment both in Albany and New York, but being 
found innocent, was discharged. Not long after- 
ward, he was selected as the associate of Bishop 
Spangenbcr« to make negotiations with the 
Iroquois Confederacy, in regard to the transfer of 
the Shekomeko mission to the Wyoming. He 
impressed the Onondagas so favorably, that, they 
adopted him into the Turtle tribe of that nation, 
and gave him an Indian name. He made exten- 
sive explorations of the Susquehanna and its 
branches, acting as an interpreter frequently, and 
serving as assistant missionary at Shamokin. 

Eev. David Zeisberger was ordained to the 
ministry at Bethlehem, February 16, 1749, and 
he at once proceeded to minister to the Shamo- 
kin Mission, which was situated near the present 
town of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. In 1750 he 



made a voyage to Europe in the interest of 
American missions, returning in June, 1751. 
He made frequent visits to the Onondagas, to 
Wyoming, to New York, to New England, and 
various other places, always to promote the wel- 
fare of existing missions, or to establish new 
ones. He also attended the treaty held with the 
Indians at Philadelphia, in 1756; at Easton, in 
July, 1757 ; and again in October, 1758. In 1759 
he journeyed as far south as North Carolina, and 
in 1760 he was appointed superintendent of the 
Brethren's House at Litiz, where he remained 
more than a year. In August, 1761, he was in- 
terpreter at another general congress held with 
the Indian tribes at Easton. 

Eev. David Zeisberger thus continued to make 
himself useful in the various capacities of inter- 
preter, missionary treaty negotiator, instructor 
and superintendent, until the year 1771, when 
we find him visiting the Tuscarawas valley, and 
there, in the tribe of Netawatwees, the principal 
chief of the Delawares, delivering a sermon at 
noon, on the 14th day of March, 1771, and which 
was probably the first Pivtcstnnt sermon preached 
within the present limits of Ohio. The Indian 
capital, in which this sermon was preached, occu- 
pied the suburbs of the present village of New- 
comerstown, in Oxford township, Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio. The proposition to establish a 
mission among the Delawares in the Tuscarawas 
valley met with such a degree of favor as to in- 
duce an effort, at an early day, by the zealous 
Zeisberger, who, after a stay of a few days de- 
voted to missionary labors, returned to Frieden- 
stadt (City of Peace), a Moravian town on the 
Beaver river (now in Lawrence county, Pennsyl- 
vania), where he had, during the previous year, 
established a mission. 

In 1772, Kcv. David Zeisberger arrived at 
Big Spring, two miles south of the present town 
of New Philadelphia, and witli a colony of twenty- 
eight Moravian Indians, commenced. May 3, to 
build the town of Schonbrunn, interpreted 
Beautiful Sjiring. The village of Guadenhutten 
(Tents of Grace) was established later in the 
same year, and was situated eight miles below 
Schonbrunn, on the east bank of the Tuscarawas, 
within the limits of what is now Clay township, 
Tuscawiiwas county. To these two Moravian 



232 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



villages Eev. David Zcisberger gave most of his 
time, from 1772 to 1776, when, with tlio liolp of 
Rev. Joliu Heekewelder, tlie village of Lichtenau 
was started, and where he remained as alreadj- 
detailed until December, 1779, when he moved 
up the Tuscarawas and established New Schon- 
brunn. On June 4, 1781, he was married to 
Susan Lecron, of Litiz, a Moravian village in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 

Rev. David Zeisbcrger remained at New Schon- 
brunn until September 11, 1781, when he, with 
Heelcewelder and other missionaries with the 
Moravians of Tuscarawa.s valley, were made cap- 
tives, by Captain ]^Iatthc^v Elliott, a British 
emissar}-, who had under his command about 
three hundred hostile Indians, and removed to 
the Sandusky river, not many miles from Upper 
Sandusky, where they remained in what is 
called " Captive's Town " until the next spring. 
Zeisberger and the other missionaries were tried 
at Detroit on the charge of being spies, but were 
acquitted. 

Eev. David Zeisberger, with a portion of the 
captives, located on Huron river, thirty miles 
north of Detroit, in the summer of 1782, and 
there built a village called New Gnadenhutten. 
There he remained until the summer of 17SG, 
when he, Rev. John Heekewelder and others 
established themselves as a Moravian community, 
at Pilgcrruh Mission, known also as " Pilgrim's 
Rest," situated on the banks of the Cuyahoga 
river, twelve miles above the mouth of said 
stream. 

In the spring of 1787, Rev. David Zeisberger, 
•with the " Pilgrim's Rest " colony, removed to 
Huron river, and there established the village of 
New Salem, which they abandoned in 1791 and 
established themselves on the Canada side of the 
Detroit river, calling this mission the " Watch- 
Tower." 

In 1798 the Moravian village of Goshen was 
built on the old Schonbrunn tract, and Gnaden- 
hutten was rebuilt, under the direction of Zeis- 
berger, Heekewelder and others, the former 
chosing Goshen fur his residence and the latter 
Gnadenhutten. 

Rev. David Zeisberger was a somewhat volum- 
inous writer, the following being only a partial 
list of his works : • 



1. " Essay of a Delaware Indian and English 
Spelling Book, for the use of the SchTiols of the 
Christian Indians on the Muskingum River." 
Published in Philadelphia, 1776. A second edition 
appeared in 1806. 

2. " A Collection of Hymns for the use of the 
Christian Indians of the Moravian Missions in 
North America." Published in Philadeli)hia in 
1803. This was a volume of 3oS pages. A second 
edition was issued, in an abridged form, in 1847, 
under the editorship of Rev. Abraham Lucken- 
bach, of Bethlehem, where the second edition 
was published. 

3. " Sermons to Children." This was a transla- 
tion from the German into the Delaware, and was 
issued in Philadelphia in 1803. 

4. "Something of Bodily Care for Children." 
This, also, is a translation from the German of 
Bishop Spangenberg into the Delaware, and has 
been bound into one volume with the "Sermons 
to Children," the two making a book of 116 pages. 

5. " The History of Our Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ." This also is a translation from the Ger- 
man of Rev. Samuel Sieberkuhn, into the Dela- 
ware Indian language, and makes a volume of 
220 pages. It was printed in New York, in 1821. 
It is supplemented with an "Address of the late 
Rev. David Zeisberger to the Christian Indians," 
bearing date, Goshen, May 23, 1806. 

6. "A Collection of Delaware Congregations," 
published at Leipsic, in 1821. 

Of the writings of Rev. David Zeisberger, many 
remain in manuscript. Of those deposited in the 
library of the American Philosophical Society, at 
Philadelphia, are the following : 

1. " Lexicon of the German ajid Onondaga 
Languages," a very extensive production of seven, 
or eight volumes. There is an abridgement of it 
also, in manuscript. 

2. "A Complete Grammar of the Onondaga 
Language." 

3. "A Grammar of the Language of the Lenni- 
Lenapi, or Delaware Indians." 

The following is a list of his manuscripts, de- 
posited in the library of Harvard University : 

1. "A Dictionary in German and Delaware." 

2. " Delaware Glossary." 

3. " Delaware Vocabulary." 

4. " Phrases and Vocabularies in Delaware." 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



233 



5. " Delaware Grammar." 

6. " Harmony of the Gospel in Delaware." 

7. " Hymns for the Christian Indians in the Del- 

aware Language." 

8. " Litany and Liturgies in Delaware." 

9. " Ilymn-Book in the Delaware Language." 

10. "Sermons in Delaware." 

11. "Seventeen Sermons to Children." 

12. "Church Litany in Delaware." 

13. "Short Biblical Narratives in Delaware." 

14. "Vocabulary in Maqua and Delaware." 
Some of the foregoing are duplicates. The 

above manuscripts were handsomely bound af- 
ter reaching the library of Harvard University, 
and occupy a conspicuous place there, and will 
be carefully preserved for posterity. 

Rev. David Zeisberger died at Goshen, in the 
Tuscarawas Valley, November 17, 1803, having 
attained the ripe age of eighty-seven years and 
seven months. He left no issue, and the name 
has no living representative as a missionary, or 
even as a Moravian Christian. Mrs. Zeisberger 
remained at Goshen until August 11, 1809, when 
she removed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where 
she died September 8, 1824, aged eighty years, 
six months and twenty-one days. 

A marble slab in the Goshen cemetery bears 
the following epitaph : 

DAVID ZKISBERC5ER, 

who was born U .\pril, 1721, 

in Moravia, iinri departed 

this life 17 Nov., 1808, 

aged 87 years, 7 mo. and 6 days. 

This faithful Servant of the 

Lord labored among the 
-\nierican Indians as a Mis- 
sionary, durinj? the last 
CO years of his Life. 

REV. JOHN HECKEWELDER. 

Rev. John Heckewelder (or, as it was origin- 
ally written, John Gottlieb Ernestus Heckewel- 
der), was horn at Bedford, in England, March 12, 
1743, his father having fled thither from Moravia, 
a province of Austria, in order to avoid persecu- 
tion, and where he might enjoy religious free- 
dom. John was sent to the parochial or secta- 
rian schools, first at Buttermere and afterward at 
Fulneck, where the chief object was the inculca- 
tion of moral and religious principles and thor- 
ough indoctrination into the truths of Christian- 



ity as understood and taught by the Moravian 
church, which has, in an eminent degree, always 
held secular learning subordinate to religious 
knowledge. With that denomination Bible teach- 
ings and the study of the sacred classics have, in 
a special sense, ever been esteemed of paramount 
importimce. To create in the pupil's mind an 
overpowering interest in matters pertaining to 
the life to come, was the all-in-all in the Mora- 
vian system of education, the chief object and 
purpose of Moravian schools. To make Chris- 
tians (in the highest sense) of every student — to 
establish a thoroughly religious congregation in 
each one of their literary institutions — to infuse 
into each individual pupil the missionary spirit, 
and dedicate him to mission labors in heathen 
lands, was the beginning, the middle, and the end 
of their purpose— their main object — the princi- 
pal aim at their seats of learning. 

Such being the ideas always kept prominently 
before the pupils in Moravian educational insti- 
tutions, it is not surprising that he who is the 
subject of this sketch should have become, in 
early life, deeply imbued with the genius of 
Christianity — that he should have entered into 
the spirit of Christ's gospel, and during his school 
years have yielded readily to those favorable in- 
fluences and instructions — and entered enthusi- 
astically, zealously, during his young manhood, 
into the mission field, and remained therein a 
faithful laborer for half a century, even to old 
age. And to the end of his life he cherished 
grateful recollections of the impressions made 
upon his mind, and (if the religious instruction 
imparted to him while at these schools by his 
affectionate, devoted. Christian teachers. 

In 1754, when eleven years of age, John Hecke- 
welder, in company with his parents and about 
forty other Moravian ccilonists, sailed for Amer- 
ica in the ship Irene, which arrived at the port 
of New York. Ajiril 2, when the immigrants dis- 
embarked and started for Bethlehem, the Mora- 
vian village on the Lehigh river, in Pennsylva- 
nia, all arriving there April 20, 1754. Just before 
the Irene sailed. Count Zinzendorf, the then head 
of the Moravian church, went on board and gave 
his parting blessing to those who had embarked 
for the new world. In a paternal manner he 
implored the young lad, John Heckewelder, to 



234 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



make it his principal aim to prepare himself for 
preaching the gospel among the heathen ; and 
then placing his hands upon his head, the pious 
and devout Christian count invoked a special 
blessing upon him. 

John attended school at Bethlehem fcir two 
years, making good progress in his studies, and 
then went to Christian Spring, a small Moravian 
settlement nine miles north of Bethlehem, where 
he was employed somewhat at " field labor and 
other manual occupations." He, however, also, 
meanwhile enjoj'ed opportunities which were 
not neglected, for improving himself during his 
leisure hours, having the benefit of the instruc- 
tion of two Moravian teachers, Messrs. Zeigler 
and Fries, both reputed to possess good scholar- 
ship. His parents, while he was at this place, 
were called to serve a mission station on one of 
the Spanish West India Islands, where they soon 
died, anil he, in 1758, returned to Bethlehem and 
engaged himself as an apprentice to learn the art 
of making cedar- wood ware — to be a cooper, in 
short. Here four years more of his life were 
spent, learning a trade and pursuing his studies 
diligently, when he was chosen by the mission- 
ary, Charles Frederick Post, as an assistant in 
the mission work in the Tuscarawas valley, in 
1761, as has been already related. 

After his return to Bethlehem he assisted in 
establishing the new mission of Friendenshutten, 
and for nine years made himself extensively use- 
ful there and at other, mission stations, and as an 
instructor in schools. In the spring of 1771 he ac- 
companied Rev. David Zeisberger to the mission 
Stilton on Beaver river, in western Pennsylvania 
(now in Lawrence county), called Friedensstadt, 
where he remained a year,and then accompanied 
Zeisberger to the Tuscarawas valley, as heretofore 
stated. The chief incidents of his career, so far 
as they were connected with the mission stations 
from 1772 to 1798, when he entered actively upon 
his duties as the " agent of the society of the 
United Brethren for propagating the gospel 
among the heathen," have been presented in the 
sketch of Rev. Zeisberger. Between those years 
he was almost constantly engaged in the perform- 
ance of mission work at various points, generally 
in company with Rev. David Zeisberger at Lich- 
tenau, at points in the Tuscarawas valley, at 



Salem, Captives' Town, New Gnadenhutten, Pil- 
gerruh, or Pilgrim's Best, New Salem, and at the 
AVatch Tower, and in rendering services, as a 
civilian, by holding councils, forming treaties, 
acting as an assistant ambassador, and sometimes 
as interpreter. 

The exi^edition of General Harmar, in 1790, and 
that of General St. Clair, in 1791, having failed to 
subjugate the unfriendly Lidian tribes in the 
West, and the western settlements still being 
liable to attacks from marauding parties, it 
became a matter of the first importance with the 
Federal Government to secure peace by negotia- 
tion, if possible. With that object in view the 
Rev. John Heckewelder, who was thought to be 
a discreet man, and enjoying a high degree of 
public confidence, was appointed by General 
Knox, then Secretiiry of War, as an associate am- 
bassador with General Rufus Putnam, of Marietta, 
with authority to form treaties of peace with 
various Indian tribes in the West. Instructions 
were issued to them on the 22d of May, 1792. By 
arrangement they met at Pittsburgh near the last 
of June, and reached Fort Washington on the 2d 
of July, on their way to Post Vincennes, on the 
Wabash, w'here they arrived on the 12th of Sep- 
tember. Here, on the 27th of said month, a 
treaty of peace was concluded and signed by Put- 
nam and Heckewelder, and by thirty-one chiefs 
of the tribes from the ujiper and lower ^^'abash, 
Eel river, Cahokia, Kaskaskia. St. Joseph's river, 
and from Lake Michigan. After a liberal distri- 
bution of presents the commissioners started, on 
the oth of October, with sixteen chiefs for Phila- 
delphia, where they arrived early in February, 
Heckwelder having been absent nearly nine 
months. 

As the results of these labors seemed encourag- 
ing, and promising success, a second embassy was 
resolved upon. The ambassadors chosen this- 
time were Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, Col. Timothy 
Pickering, and Governor Beverly Randolph. Mr. 
Heckewelder's acquaintance with the language 
and character of the Indians, and his high per- 
sonal reputation among them, it was thought 
might be of essential service to the embassy in 
their negotiations with the Indians ; he was there- 
fore attached to it as an assistant ambassador. 
They left Philadelphia April 27, 1793, for the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



235 



Miami of the Lakes (now Maumce), where they 
were to meet the Indian chiefs of the northwest 
in council, to agree upon terms of peace, if possi- 
ble. To this end their fruitless labors were pro- 
tracted until about the middle of August, when 
the ambassadors returned to Philadelphia, Mr. 
Heckewelder reaching his home at Bethlehem on 
the 2.5th of September, after an absence of five 
months. 

In 1797 Mr. Heckwelder twice visited the Tus- 
carawas valley, extending his journey to Marietta. 
In 1798 he traveled as far to the northwest as the 
river Thames, in Upper Canada, in the interest 
of the Moravian mission sbition of Fairfield. 
About midsummer of this year we find him again 
in the Tuscarawas valley rebuilding Gnaden- 
hutten, as already stated. 

Rev. John Heckewelder was elected an associ- 
ate judge of Tuscarawas county upon its organi- 
zation in ISOS, and served as such until ISlO 
when he resigned his position of " superintendent 
of the missions west of the Ohio river," and also 
the judgeship, and returned to Bethlehem, Penn- 
sylvania, to close his days in quiet retirement, 
after having served the missionary cause with 
ability and fidelity for almost half a century. 

Rev. John Heckewelder lived more than 
twelve years after his direct and active connec- 
tion with western missions was dissolved in 1810, 
his death occurring January 31, 1823, having at- 
tained to the ripe age of almost 80 years. But 
those twelve years of comparative retirement, 
although they embraced the period of his old age 
and infirmities, were not by any means years of 
idleness and uselessness. His biographer. Rev. 
Edward Rondthaler, says that " he still continued 
to serve missions and the mission cause in an 
•efRcent way, by giving to the public needed in- 
formation i)ertivining to them, and imparting 
much useful information relative to the language, 
manners and customs of the Indians." He wrote 
extensively during his retirment, some of the 
productions of his pen being intended for the 
public generally. Among his i)ublished works 
are his " History, Manners and Customs of the 
Indian Nations who once inhabited Pennsylvania 
and the Neighboring States," and his " Narrative 
of the Mission of the United Brethren among the 
Delaware and Mohegan Indians." The former of 



these works was written in 1819, at the repeated 
request of the President of the American Philo- 
sophical Society, and was published under the 
auspices of the historical and literary committee 
of said society, a society of which he was an hon- 
ored member. The last named work was pre- 
pared by him in 1821, when he had reached the 
age of more than 77 years. . In this jiapcr he ex- 
pressed the opinion that the " Crawford expe- 
dition to the Sandusky, in 1782, was organized for 
the purpose of destroying the remnant of the 
Moravian Indians on said river." The author of 
" Crawford's Campaign againt Sandusky " (C. W. 
Butterfield), clearly refutes that charge against 
Col. Crawford, by testimony that conclusively 
shows the object of the expedition to have been 
" the destmdkin of the Wyandot Itulian toivn and set- 
tlement at Sandusky." 

The life of Rev. John Heckewelder was one of 
great activity, industry, and usefulness. It was & 
life of \'icissitudes, of perils, and of wild, roman- 
tic adventure. How it abounded in hardships, 
privations, and self-sacrificing devotion to the in- 
terests of the barbarians of the western wilder- 
ness ! How earnestly, persistently, faithfully, 
zealously, he labored to propagate that gospel 
which was the chief inspiration of the exalted he- 
roism that characterized his eventful life! Un- 
selfishly he exposed himself to danger ; disinter- 
estedly he toiled to bring wild and barbarous 
tribes into the enjoyment of the blessings of civ- 
ilization and of Christianity. It would indeed be 
difficult to over-estimate the importance or value 
of the labors of Rev. Joiin Heckewelder in the 
various characters of philanthopist, philosopher, 
pioneer, teacher, ambassador, author, and Christ- 
ian missionary. 

Rev. John Heckewelder was a gentleman of 
courteous and easy manners, of frankness, affi\- 
bility, veracity ; without affectation or dissimula- 
tion ; meek, cheerful, unassuming; humble, un- 
pretending, unobtrusive; retiring, rather taci- 
turn, albeit, when drawn out, communicative and 
a good conversationalist. He was in extensive 
correspondence with many " men of letters," by 
whom he was held in great esteem. Throughout 
his long life he was the red man's constant and 
faithful friend, having gone forth a pilgrim, 
while yet in his young manhood, in the spirit of 



206 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



enthusmst.c Iieroism, unappalled by danger, un- 
weaned by fat.gue and privation, anci undiL;ye"l 
by prospective toils and self-denials, to put forth 
h.s best efibrts to ameliorate their ^ondSnld 
brmg them under the benign influences of a no- 
ble, elevatmg, purifying, christian civUization 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

FIRST WHITE GCC'UPATIOX. 
Morav:a„,s-T,.e Gir.ys an.I Other^-Heck^weider'^RMe' 

r£RE early white occupation of Coshocton 
historv ?, r^'^n '•'? "" i»'«-e«tingperiodin her 
a laige volume by itself. The foot of the white 
race pressed ,t,s soil at lea^t sixty years before 
any permanent white .settlement wa^ made and 

:^ZTS Vr ?"-'"-^ P-eJint^S 
across it long before they came to stay. The 

cause of th.s was no doubt the multiplLity o 

Lichan towns along the Muskingum and its ti^u- 

tar>es^ In peace the.se towns were frenuentel 

by white hunters and traders ; in war larg , 

Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, and either 

dot and Shawnee towns; and when the Mora- 
vians began their operations among the Ind an 
white people were almost continual res£S ' 
among the Christian Indians in this county 

o the wlnte occupation of this county prior to 
h hrs permanentsettlcment; and inSJngth . 
1 1 not e.xpected that all white persons who se 

oritTstr"\°V'"°°""^^^'" ^^^ -"tic^H 
for It IS believed that many-perhaps lumdreds- 
white hunters and captives either jLod tWh 
or resided temporarily at the Muskin-^um ^ 
lage., of which history makes no mention 

The valleys of the Tuscarawas and Muskingum 
were famous; stirring and blood-curdling see 

Trior TT^'''"""''' ^^"""^ "- '-'^ -»tu,w 
prior to the first white settlement. The first 



white occupant of this territory of which history 

I T^j '"'"^"' r^^-^ ^'■''■y Harris, the heroine of 
the Legend of the Walhonding," in 1740 

Near the junction of the Killbuck and Wal- 
honding rivers, about .seven miles northwest of 
the present town of Coshocton ('Forks of the 
Muskingum '), lived, as early as 1750, Mary Har- 
ris, a white woman. She had been captured in 
one of the colonies, by the Indians, between 1730 
and 1/40, being at the time of the capture a girl 
verging into womanhood. Her beauty captivated 

i^::^ oftrs"^^^ '- ^^"- '" - --- 

The Indian tribes were being crowded back 
rom the eastern colonies, and the tribe of Custa- 
logohad retired from place to place before the 
white frontiersmen, until about 1740 it found a 
anew hunting ground in this vallev, where the 
white woman became one of the inhabitants 
with her warrior, and where they raised a wig- 
wam which formed the nucleus of an Indian 
town near the confluence of the streams above 

^th the Indians to have become fascinated with 
their nomadic life and to have entered into all its 
romantic avenues. She generally accompanied 
Eagle Feather, her husband, to all the buflEilo, elk 
and bear hunts in the valley, and whenever he 

I J'u "" '"''' P'""*y '° '=^ke a few scalps, 

she mixed his paint and laid it on, and plumed 
hmi for he wars, always putting up witli her 
own hands a sufficiency of dried venison and 
parched corn to serve his purpose. She waa ea- 

httle hatchet," always, however, admonishing 
him not to return without some good, long-haired 
scalps for wigwam parlor ornaments and chig- 
nons such as were worn by the first class of In- 
dian ladies along the Killbuck and the Walhond- 
ing. &o prominent had she become that the 
town was named "The White Woman's Town" 
and the river from thence to the "forks of the 
Miiskingum " was called in honor of her "The 
AVhite Woman's River." 

In 1750-51, when Christopher Gist was on his 
travels down the Ohio valley, on the look-out for 
choice farming lands, for the celebrated "Vir- 
ginia Land Company," in which the Washing- 
ton s were interested, he tarried at "White 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



237 



Woman's Town " from December 14, 1750, until 
January 15, 1751, enjoying in part its Indian fes- 
tivities with Mary Harris, who told him her 
story; how she liked savage warriors; how she. 
preferred .Indian to white life, and that she 
thought (hat the whites were a wiekod race, and 
more cruel than the red man. 

In her wigwam the white woman was the mas- 
ter spirit, and Eagle Feather was ignored, except 
when going to war, or when she desired to ac- 
company him on his hunting expeditions, or was 
about to assist at the burning of some poor cap- 
tive, on which occasions she was a true squaw to 
him, and loved him much. All wentalong as mer- 
rily as possible until one day Eagle Feather came 
home from beyond the Ohio with another white 
woman, whom he had captured, and who he in- 
tended should enjoy the felicities of Indian life 
on the Killbuck with Mary in her wigwam, who, 
however, did not see happiness from that stand- 
point. Forthwith from the advent of the new 
comer, as Mary called her, into that home, it was 
made somewhat unpleasant for Eagle Feather. 
Mary Harris' puritan idea of the marital rela- 
tion overriding the Indian idea of domestic vir- 
tue. Hence, Eagle Feather, when he tendered 
any civilities to the " new comer," encountered 
from Mary all the frowns and hair-raising epi- 
thets usually applied by white women to white 
men under similar surroundings, and he became 
miserable and unhappy. Failing to apj)reciate 
all this storming around the wigwam, he remind- 
ed Mary that he could easily kill her; that he 
had saved her life when captured ; had always 
provided for her bear and deer meat to eat, and 
skins of the finest beasts to lie upon, and in re- 
turn she had borne him no papooses, and to pro- 
vide for her shortcomings in this respect he had 
brought the " new comer " home to his wigwam 
to make all things even again, as a chief who 
died without young braves to succeed him would 
soon be forgotten. So saying he toolc the new 
captive by the hand, and they departed to the 
forest to await the operation of his remarks on 
Mary's mind. Returning at night and finding 
her asleep on her butt'alo skins, he lay down be- 
side her as if all were well, at the same time 
motioning the "new comer" to take a skin and 
lie down in the corner. 



He was soon asleep, having in his perturbed 
state of mind partaken of some whisky saved 
from the last raid into Virginia. On the following 
morning he was found with his head split open, 
and the tomahawk remaining in the skull-crack, 
while the "new comer" had fled. Mary, simu- 
lating, or being actually in ignorance of the mur- 
der, at once aroused " The White Woman's Town " 
with her screams. The warriors were soon at her 
wigwam, and comprehending the situation, at 
once started in pursuit of the fleeing murderess, 
whom they tracked to the Tuscarawas, thence to 
an Indian town near by, whore they found her. 
She was claimed as a deserter from " The \Maite 
Woman's Town," and, under the Indian code, 
liable to be put to death, whether guilty of the 
murder or not. She was taken back while Gist 
was at the town, and he relates in his journal that, 
on December 26, 1750, a white woman captive 
who had deserted, was put to death in this man- 
ner : She was set free and ran ofif some distance, 
followed by three Indian warriors, who, over- 
taking her, struck her on the side of the head 
with their tomahawks, and otherwise be.at and 
mutilated the body after life was e.xtinct, then 
left it lying on the ground until night, when one 
BarneyCurran, who lived at "The White Woman's 
Town," obtained and buried the body, in which 
he was assisted by some Indians. 

Mary Harris insisted that the " new comer " 
killed her husband with his own hatchet, in re- 
venge for being brought into captivity, while 
she, as tradition gives it, alleged that Mary did 
the wicked work out of jealousy, and intended 
dispatching her also, but was defeated in her 
project by the flight of the "new comer." Be 
that as it may. Eagle Feather was sent to the 
spiritland for introducing polygamy among 
white ladies in the valley, and as to the "new 
comer," the town to which she fled was thence- 
forward called " Newcomer's Town " by the In- 
dians as early as 1755, and probably as early as 
1751, when the "new comer" sought protection 
tiiere. When Netawatwees, chief of the Delawares, 
took up his abode there, about 1760, he retained 
the name, it corresponding with his own in En- 
glish. When Colonel Bouquet, in 1764, marched 
down the valley and dejiosed Netawatwees, he re- 
tained the name on liis map. When Governor 



238 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Ponn, of Pennsj'lvania, sent messages to the In- 
dians, in 1774, he retained tlie name in his official 
paper. When Brodhead, in 1781, marched to the 
" Forks of the Muskingum," and up the Tusca- 
rawas valley, he called it by the same name. In 
1827, the good old Nicholas Neighbor, when he 
had laid it ofl' in lots, saw that it would pay liini 
to retain the old name, and did so, and it is yet 
known by the name of Ncwcomerstown. 

Mary Harris married again, had children, and 
removed west about the time Captain Pipe and 
the Wolf tribe of Delawares removed to San- 
dusky, in 1778-79. Nothing is known of Mary 
Harris' history after her removal to Sandu.sky, 
but the river from Coshocton to the mouth of 
Killbuck is often called " Whitewoman," or " The 
White Woman's River." 

Following Mary Harris came Christopher Gist, 
George Croghan, Andrew Montour and William 
Trent. 

Captain Christopher Gist was sent out in 1750 
to explore the country northwest of the Ohio 
river, in the interest of the Ohio Land Company, 
of which the Washingtons and other Virginia 
gentlemen were members. In his journal it is 
recorded that " he reached an Indian town, near 
the junction of the Tuscarawas and White Woman, 
December 14, 1750, which contained about one 
hundred families, a portion in the French and a 
portion in the English interest." (This Indian 
town was probably situated at the mouth of 
White Eyes creek or possibly nearer to, or cd the 
"Forks of the Muskingum.") Here Gist met 
George Croghan, an English trader who had his 
headquarters at this town; here, also, he met 
Andrew Montour, a half-breed of the Seneca 
nation, who, as well as Croghan, subsequently 
figured somewhat conspicuouslj' in the colonial 
history of our country. 

Captain Gist remained at this Indian village 
from December 14, 1750, until January 15, 1751. 
Some white men lived here, two of whose names 
lie gives, namely, Thomas Barney, a blacksmith, 
and Barney Curran. Gist here, on Christmas 
day, 1750, conducted appropriate religious ser- 
vices, according to the Protestant Episcopal 
prayer book, in the presence of some white men, 



and a few Indians who attended at the urgent 
solicitations of Thomas Burney and Andrew 
Montour. And this was probably the first public 
jeligious service (Protestant or Catholic), within 
the present limits of Coshocton county. 

It is proper to say here, that Captiiin Gist's 
journal makes this village the scene of tlie kill- 
ing of " a woman that had long been a prisoner 
and had deserted, being retaken and brought 
into town on Christmas eve ; " also how " Barney 
Curran (an Indian trader, and who in 1753 was 
one of George Washington's escort on his mis- 
sion up the Allegheney river) and his men, 
assisted by some Indians, buried her just at 
dark." 

There is given in the " Legend of the White 
Woman, and New Comerstown," an account of a 
case of punishment similar to the foregoing, the 
latter being the killing of a white woman (a cap- 
tive), charged with the murder of a chief named 
" Eagle Feather," and of desertion. Most likely 
these accounts relate to different transactions, 
the victims being diflferent persons, who sufTered 
death in different places for diflferent offenses, 
that sort of punishment for such crimes being 
usual among the various Indian tribes. 

Captain Gist, according to his journal, left this 
Indian town, (where he had tarried a month), 
January 15, 1751, accompanied by George 
Croghan and Andrew Montour, who in " Colonel 
Smith's Captivity among the Indians," (see page 
168), are represented as " Me-ssengers, with pres- 
ents from Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, 
to the Twightwees, (Miamis). 

"We left Muskingham," continues Gist's 
journal, "Tuesday, January 15, 1751, and went 
west to the White Woman creek, on which is a 
small town," where they found Mary Harris, whO' 
had given name to the stream from the mouth of 
the Killback to its junction with the Tuscarawas. 
The journal of Gist intimates that conversations 
were had with her, and gives, briefly, a few lead- 
ing facts in her history. Gist's party remained 
in " The White Woman's Town "over night only, 
and on Wednesday, January 16, 1751, (to quote 
Gist's journal), they "set out southwest twenty- 
five miles to Licking creek," thus evidently follow- 
ing a trail which led across the southern portion 
of the present county of Coshocton. The journal 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



239' 



kept by Gist describes the land between the 
White Woman and the Licking creek, and men- 
tions several salt licks on the north side of the 
latter. They arrived at the mouth of the Scioto, 
January 28, 1751. From tliis point Captain Gist 
and his company j)assed down the Ohio and up 
the Miami valley to Piqua, tlie chief town of tlie 
Pickawillanies, and there held consultations with 
certain Indian tribes. From this point Gist passed 
down the Great Miami river into the Ohio, and 
down said river to within fifteen miles of the 
Falls of the Ohio, (now Louisville), then returned, 
says the author of the Western Annals, " by way 
of the Kentucky river, and over the highlands of 
Kentucky to Virginia, arriving there after an ab- 
sence of seven months, in May, 1751, having vis- 
ited the Mingoes, Delawares, Wyandots, Shawa- 
nees and Miamis. He seems also to have per- 
formed the other duties with which he was 
charged to the entire satisfaction of the land 
company, such as exploring the country, exam- 
ining the lands as to topography and quality, 
keejung a journal of his adventures, drawing as 
accurate a plan of the country as his observations 
would permit, and made full report to the con- 
trolling board of officers of the aforenamed Ohio 
Land Company. 

In November, 1751, Captain Gist started to ex- 
plore the country on the southeast side of the 
Oliio river down as far as to the mouth of Great 
Kanawha, and continued in that service all win- 
ter. 

In 1752, Captain Gist attended, as an agent of 
the Ohio Land Company, at a treaty held at 
Logstown, between some Indian tribes and com- 
missioners representing the colony of Virginia, 
which resulted in the form.ation of a treaty, 
signed June 13, 1752, by which the Indians stipu- 
lated that they would not molest any settlements 
that might be made on the southeast side of the 
Ohio river. This provision of the treaty was 
deemed highly favorable to the interests of the 
land ct)mp.any which Gist served so faitlifully and 
efficiently. 

In 1753, Christopher Gist accompanied George 
Washington as pilot and escort on his mi-ssion to 
the Ohio river, and up the .Vllegheny river to 
Venango at the mouth of French creek, umler 
authority of Governor Dinwiddle, of the colony of 



Virginia, he receiving his appointment, however, 
from George Wtishington. 

On the 17th of February, 1754, Captixin Christo- 
pher Gist and Captain William Trent, and other 
adventurous frontiersmen, met by appointment 
at the forks of the Ohio (now Pittsburg), for tlie 
purjiose of then and there erecting a fort for the 
protection of the settlers, and in the interest of 
English as against the French. Captain Gist was 
also the principal man in projecting the estab- 
lishment of a town, probably in the interest of 
the Ohio Land Company, at the mouth of Char- 
tiers, a few miles below the forks of the Ohio, 
He is believed to have lived in Virginia, probably 
not far from the mouth of Wells creek, now 
Cumberland, Maryland, at the time he entered 
into the service of the Ohio Lantl Company, in 
1750. He subsequently removed to the Yough- 
iogheny valley, six miles east of Stuart's crossing 
(now Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsyl- 
vania). From there, he moved down the Yough- 
iogheny, and located near its mouth. He after- 
wards lived near to or at the mouth of Chartier's 
creek, a few miles below the forks of the Ohio 
(now Pittsburgli). 

Captain Gist was a land surveyor, and lived on 
the frontiers most of his life. He was a man of 
marked characteristics, distinguished for energy, 
enterprise, force of cliaracter, and possessed the 
qualities of adaptation to life on the frontiers to 
a remarkable degree. He largely enjoyed the 
conlidence and friendship of General Wash- 
ington. 

Colonel George Croghan, w'ho accom])aiiied 
Captain Gist from "Muskingum," an Indian 
town situated on the northern bank of the Tus- 
carawas river, near the Forks of the Muskingum 
(now Coshocton), to the Miami Indians, in 1751, 
was a native of Ireland and educated in Dublin. 
While yet a young man he emigrated to .Vmerica, 
locating at Pennsboro', on the west l>ank of the 
Susquehanna, near H.irrisburg In 174.3-(i, he 
was engaged as an Indian trader along the siiores 
of Lake Erie, west of the Cuyahoga river. While 
thus engaged he learned several Indian languages, 
and acquired much inlluence with the savages. 
Having obtained the confidence of .several Indian 
tribes to a great extent, the government of the 



'240 



HISTOKY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



colony of Pennsylvania employed him as an 
agent,or messenger, to the Indians in the Ohio 
valley, to secure and maintain peaceful relations 
with them, and to operate generally among 
them m the interest of Pennsylvania. 

"Colonel Croghan served as a Captain in Gen- 
eral Braddoek's expedition, in 1755, and during 
the ne.xt year was engaged in the defense of the 
pastern frontier. Late in the year 1756, Sir 
William Johnson appointed him deputy Indian 
agent for the Pennsylvania and Ohio Indians. In 
17fa0 he was at the council held by General 
Moncton, at Fort Pitt, and the same vear accom- 
Major Kogers to Detroit. 

"In 170.3, Col. Croghan was sent to England 
to consult with the ministry as to the boundary 
ime with the Indians, and to arrange for future 
trade among them." In 1765, he negotiated a 
treaty of peace with certain western tribes, and 
and m the succeeding year he located four miles 
above Fort Pitt. In 176S he took an active part 
at the treaty of Fort Stanwix. Until the begin- 
ing of the Revolutionary war. Col. Croghan con- 
tinued to render valuable services in paeifvin<r 
the Indians, and conciliating them to the British 
mterest«. In the boundary controversy between 
Pennsylvania and Virginia, in 1774-5, he favored 
the claims of Virginia. 

_ When the troubles with Great Britain be-^an 
m 1775, Col. Croghan took strong grounds in favor 
of the colonies, but his zeal in behalf of his 
adopted country gradually abated, and in 1778 he 
was charged publicly, not only of having aban- 
doned the American cause and given "aid and 
com ort" to the British, but was posted in a 
proclamation, issued by the highest authority of 
the colony, as "an enemy to the liberties of 
America." 

Col. George Croghan was " a man of affliirs " and 
displayed eonspiciously many of the highest 
traits of a first-class frontiersman. He died at 
Passayunk, Pennsylvania, in August, 1782 



Andrew Montour who.as co-commissioner with 
Colonel Croghan, in behalf of the colony of Pennsyl- 
vania, accompanied Christopher Gist from Mus- 
kingum to the Piqua towns on the Great Miami 
in 1751, was a noted character in his day, and 
exerted a great influence over the Senecas," Dela- 



wares and Shawanees. He acted as an interpre- 
ter for many years, being sometimes in the ser- 
vice of Pennsylvania, and sometimes serving 
Virginia in that capacity. It is also said in Cap- 
tain Trent's journal (page 103), that he also offi- 
ciated as a spy among the Indians on various 
occasions. 

Andrew Montour was a son of the celebrated 
Canadian half-breed, known as Catharine Mon- 
tour. Colonel Stone, in his life of Brant (vol. 1 
page .340,) gives her history as follows : 

"She was a native of Canada, a half breed, her 
father having been one of the early French Gov- 
ernors-probably Count Frontenac, as he must 
have been in the government of that country 
about the time of her birth. During the wars 
between the Sis Nations and the French and 
Hurons, Catharine, when about ten years of age 
was made a captive, taken into the Seneca coun- 
try, adopted and reared as one of their own 
children. When arrived at a suitable age, she 
was married to one of the distinguished chiefs of 
her tribe, who signalized himself in the wars of 
the Six- Nations against the Catawbas, then a 
great nation living southwestward of Viro-inia 
She had several children by this chieftain,'' who 
fell m battle about 1750, after which she did not 
marry again. She is said to have been a hand- 
some woman when young, genteel and of polite 
address, notwithstanding her Indian associations 
It was frequently her lot to accompany the Six 
Nations to Philadelphia and other places in 
Pennsylvania, where treaties were holden ; and 
from her character and manners, she was greatly 
caressed by the American ladies, particularly in 
Philadelphia, where she was invited by the 
ladies of the best circles, and entertained at their 
houses." 

She resided at one time at the junction of the 
Tiogaand Susquehanna rivers, where was a build- 
ing she occupied known as "Queen Esther's 
Castle." Her principal residence, however, was 
at Catharine's Town, at the head of Seneca Lake 

Andrew Montour had a brother named Henrv 
who was an intelligent Indian, and frequently in 
employ of the colonial governors. Andrew Mon- 
tour enjoyed, to a large extent, the confidence of 
those he served in the various positions of agent 
messenger, guide and commissioner. His mother 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



241 



it is said, exerted a controling influence among 
the Indians for many years, as did also her son 
Andrew. In tlie Life and Times of Rev. David 
Zeisbcrger, mention is made of a sister of Andrew 
Montour, wlio was a convert to Sloravianism, at 
New Salem mission. 

Captain William Trent was one of the early- 
time white men that followed an Indian trail 
through the present county of Coshocton, in 1752, 
spending one night at least in the Indian village 
he called " Muskingum," where, his journal says, 
they met some white men from " Hockhocken," 
which he characterizes as "a small place contain- 
ing a few Delaware families, where the French at 
one time had a trading post, called ' Margaret's 
Fort,' probably on some very old maps called 
' French Margaret's Town.' " 

Captain Trent was a sort of messenger appoint- 
ed by Governor Dinwiddle, of the colony of Vir- 
ginia, to bear presents to the Indians at Logstown 
(near the forks of the Ohio), and to the T wightwees 
or Mianiis. He left Logstown on his mission, 
June 21, 1752, and on the 29tli of the same month, 
his journal says, " we got to Muskingum, 150 miles 
from the Logstown." In a foot note in Captain 
Trent's journal, page 85, " Muskingum " is repre- 
sented to be a " Mingo town, on the north bank of 
the Tuscarawas, five miles east of the mouth of 
White Woman's creek, in what is now Coshocton 
county. In 1751, it contiiined about 100 families." 
(This is probably adopting Captain Gist's estimate, 
who was there in said year). " The distance 
from Logstown to Muskingum by the Indian 
trail was 122 miles." 

Captain William Trent was a native of Lancas- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, born about the year 
1715. His father was distinguished in the civil 
history of that colony, holding many positions of 
trust and profit. William Trent entered the ser- 
vice of Pennsylvania at an early day. In June 
1746, Governor Thomas apjiointed him captiiin of 
one of four companies, raised in Pennsylvania, 
for an intcmlod expedition against Canada. 
During that year he was sUvtioned, under orders 
of Governor Clinton, of New York, at Saratoga, 
where his command did garrison and scouting 
duty for over a year. He rendered eflicicnt 
services and received the thanks of the legisla- 



ture for the courage and patriotism he dis- 
played. 

On the 10th of March, 1749, Captain Trent wa.s 
appointed a justice of the peace of the court of com- 
mon pleas and general sessions of Ciunberland 
county, and served in that capacity for several 
years. During this year he was also employed 
as messenger to the Ohio Indians, to carry mes- 
sages and presents to the principal nations. 

In 1750, Captain Trent formed a partnership 
with the celebrated George Croghan, his brother- 
in-law, to engage in the Indian trade. This lirm 
continued in existence more than six years, and 
its members acquired great influence with the 
savages. Ii: the extent of its operations it was 
unequalled in the West. 

In 1752, Captain Trent was employed by the 
Governor of Virginia, as an agent of that colony, 
to attend the Commissioners at Logstown, in 
their council with the Ohio tribes. While the 
conference was in progress he was dispatched 
with messages and presents to the Miamis, and 
it was in the execution of that trust that he 
passed through the territory that now constitutes 
Coshocton county, tarrying over night in the In- 
dian village he called " Muskingum," five miles 
up the Tuscarawas from its mouth. He also 
rendered some services for Governor Dinwiddle 
in 1753, in the matter of selecting a site for a 
fort at the forks of the Ohio. 

Captain Trent was present at the convocation 
for treatj'-making jairposes, held at Winchester, 
Virginia, September, 1753. In pursuance of the 
pro\-isions of a treaty there formed, a large quan- 
tity of amunition and other goods were ordered 
for the Delaware and Miami tribes. Three com- 
missioners were appointed to convey these pres- 
ents to the Ohio, for distribution there, according 
to the terms of the treaty, and these commis- 
sioners turned out to be William Trent, Andrew 
Montour, and Christopher Gist. 

Early in the year, 1754, Governor Dinwiddle 
commissioned Captain Trent to raise one hundred 
men for inunediato service on the frontier. Be- 
fore the expiration of a month the men were 
enlisted, and placed in camp at the nioutli of 
Redstone creek. While here he was directed by 
the Governor to proceed at once to the forks of 
the Ohio, and build a fort tlierc. This he pro- 



242 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ceeded to do, and the work was commenced on 
the 17th of February, 1754. 

Captain Trent entered the service of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1755, he liaving been appointod bj' the 
Governor a member of the proprietary and 
Governor's council. 

Eiirly in the year 1757, Capt. Trent again entered 
into the service of Virginia. In June he was at 
Winchester raising men for the army. A month 
later, at the request of Col. George Croghan, he 
acted as his secretary at the council with the 
Indians at Easton, Pennsylvania. 

In 1758 Capt. Trent accompanied Gen. Forbes' 
expedition against Fort Du Quesne, and by his 
thorough knowledge of the country through 
which the army passed, was enabled to render 
imi^ortant services. 

During the year 1759, Capt. Trent entered the 
service of Sir William Johnson, England's Indian 
agent in America In July, 1759, he also acted 
as assistant to George Croghan, deputy agent, at 
a treaty made at Fort Pitt, with Ohio Indians. 
He was also present, in the same capacity, at 
Gen. Stanwix's conference witli the western nations 
in October. In 1768, Cajatain Trent attended a 
council of the English and the Six Nations, 
Shawanees and Delawares, held at Fort Stanwix, 
New York. 

Captain Trent was loyal to the colonies and 
warmry advocated the American cause ; and Con- 
gress gave him a Major's commission to raise a 
force in Western Pennsylvania. He was pres- 
ent, bearing the title of major, at the treaty of 
Fort Pitt, July 6, 1776. 

Major Trent was not a learned man, Ijut was 
esteemed a careful, prudent, and watchful 
guardian of the interests of his employers. Most 
of his life was usefully spent in the public service. 

The principal- facts in the life and history of 
William Trent, herewith presented, are, for the 
most part, contained in a biographical sketch of 
him, prepared and published by the late Alfred 
T. Goodman, secretary of the Northern Ohio 
Historical Society. — See pages 57 and G7. 

The next white man to press the soil of Coshoc- 
ton county after Messrs. Gist, Croghan & Co., was 
probably James Smith. 

He was a native of western Pennsylvania, and 



was captured near Bedford in that State w-hen 
about eighteen years of age, by three Indians on 
a marauding expedition, in the spring of 1755, a 
.short time before the defeat of General Brad- 
dock. Ho was taken to Ihe Indian village on the 
Allegheny, opposite Fort Du Quesne, and com- 
pelled to run the gauntlet, where he nearly lost 
his life by a blow from a club in the hands of a 
stalwart savage After his recoverj- and the 
defeat of General Braddock, he was taken by his 
captors on a long journey througli the forest to 
the village of Tullihas, on the west brancli of the 
Muskingum (Walhonding), the location of which 
village was at or near the confluence of the Mo- 
hican and Owl creek. In this journey they 
followed the well marked and much traveled 
Indian trail from Fort Pitt to the Tuscarawas, 
and down that river to the present site of Co- 
shocton, thence up the Walhonding. Tullihas 
was then occupied by Mohicans, Caryhnewagas 
and Delawares, the latter predominating. Here 
he was adopted by the Indians into one of their 
tribes. The ceremony consisted in first plucking 
all the hair from his head except the scalp-lock, 
which they fixed according to their fashion; in 
boring his ears and nose, and placing ornaments 
therein; in putting on a breech-clout, and paint- 
ing his body and face in fantastic colors, and in 
washing him several times in the river, to wash 
out all the white blood in his veins. This last 
ceremony was performed by three young squaws 
and, as Smith was iinacquainted with their 
usages, he thought they intended to drown him, 
and resisted at first with all his might, to the 
great amusement of the multitude on the river 
bank. One young squaw finally made out to say, 
" Me no hurt you," and lie then gave them the 
privilege to sou.se and rub him as they desired. 
When brought from the river he was allowed 
other clothes, and in solemn council, in an im- 
pressive speech, he was admitted to full member- 
ship in the nation. He says in his journal he 
alwa\'s fared tlie same as the Indians, no excep- 
tions being made. 

James Smith remained in Tullihas until the 
next October, when he accompanied his adopted 
brother. Ton tileaugo, who had a Wyandot wife on 
the shores of Lake Erie, on a visit to that nation. 
He remained among the Lrdians about four 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



243 



years, traversing all parts of northern Ohio, at 
the end of which time he escajied and made his 
way to Pennsylvania, wliere lie published a 
memoir, from which the above facts were taken. 
About the time of James Smith's captivity 
hundreds of other captives were in the hands 
of the savages, and without doubt scores of them 
were either retained among the Indians on the 
Muskingum, or passed through this territory on 
their way into captivity among the tribes farther 
west. This must have been the case, for in 1764 
Gen. Bouquet, in accordance with a treaty of 
peace made with the tribes at the Forks of the 
Muskingum, received from the Indians 206 of 
these captives, and even then failed to get all that 
were in the hands of the savages. Many of these 
captives had been among the Indians many years ; 
children had been captured who had grown to 
manhood and womanhood among them. 

The next white men in this territory were 
probably those of Gen. Bouquet's army in 1764. 
The details of this expedition appear elsewhere 
in this work. It was, no doubt, the first organ- 
ized body of troops within the present limits of 
the county. 

In 1773, Eev. David Jones, an eccentric charac- 
ter better known as " Chaplain Jones," and an In- 
dian trader named David Duncan passed through 
this territory. They were traveling eastward 
from the Sliawanee towns on the Scioto, along 
the Indian trail of the Licking and Muskingum 
valleys, which had been followed by Christopher 
Gist." 

Duncan was from Shippensburg, Pennsylva- 
nia, and was on his way to F(jrt Pitt, probably, 
for goods. Eev. David Jones was on his return 
journey to Freehold, Monmouth county, New 
Jersey, from the Indians on the Scioto, among 
whom he had been as missionary, by authority 
of the Philadelphia Baptist association, of which 
he was a member. He kept a diary of this jour- 
ney, from which these facts are taken. 

This diary shows that he followed the trail that 
led from the Indian towns on the Scioto to 
"Standing Stone" (Lancaster), where, in the lan- 
guage of the diary, " was an Indian town consist- 
ing chiefly of Ddawares, and which was situated 



on a creek called Hock-Hockin. It appears 
muddy, is not wide, but soon admits of large ca- 
noes." He did not arrive at Standing Stone un- 
til nine o'clock at night, and says that his " road 
was very small and the night dark in this wide 
wilderness, which made traveling more disagree- 
able than can be easilj' expressed." 

Wednesday, February 10, 1773, "we set out 
early in the morning— our course more north- 
erly than northeast — the land chiefly low and 
level, and, where our horses broke through the 
frost, it might be called bad road and good land. 
No inhabitants by the way. Before night came 
to a small town consisting of Delawares and 
Shawanees. About a mile before we came to this 
town we crossed a clear, large stream called Salt 
Lick creek (doubtless Licking river, four miles 
east of Newark), which empties into the Mus- 
kingum." 

The town above mentioned was doubtless the 
Indian village situated on the Bowling Green, five 
miles east of the present site of Newark, Licking 
county, known as "John Elliott's Wife's Town." 
The diary continues : " The country here apjiears 
calculated for health, fertile and beautiful. The 
next day after paying a high price for the corn 
our horses consumed, we started for the Mora- 
vian towns on the Tuscarawas." 

This " Chaplain Jones " was born of Welsh par- 
ents, on White Clay Creek Hundred, Newcastle 
county, Delaware, ISIay 12, 1736. lie was licensed 
to preach by the Welsh Tract Church in 1761, 
and ordained at Freehold, Monmouth county. 
New Jersey, December 12, 1766, and remained 
pastor at that place until he started on his mis- 
sionary tour to the Indians of the northwest. 

In 1775, he became pastor of the Great Valley 
church in Chester county, Pennsylvania, but re- 
signed tlic following year on being appointed 
chaplain of Colonel (afterward General) Arthur 
St. Clair's regiment, raised for service in the Rev- 
olution. He was on duty with his regiment at 
Ticonderoga, and served in two campaigns under 
Major General Gates. In 1777, he served as brig- 
ade chaplain under General Wayne. At the close 
of the war he retired to a farm in Chester 
county. 

In 1789 he again visited the Northwest, and 
January 30, 1790, preached the first sermon ever 



244 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



preached in the Miami country at Columbia, six 
miles above Cincinnati. He wa.s chaplain in 
Wayne's army during his campaign against the 
Indians, and, in 1812, though seventy-six years 
old, he again entered the army as chaplain, and 
served under Generals Brown and Wilkinson 
until the close of the war. This ended his public 
career. He was afterward a large contributor to 
the Philadelphia press on public afiiiirs. 

He officiated in public for the last time Sep- 
tember 20, 1817, when he delivered an address at 
the dedication of the monument erected at Paoli, 
Chester county, Pennsylvania, commemorative of 
the Americans who were massacred there in 
1777. He died February 20, 1820, in liis eighty- 
fourth year, and was buried near the Great Val- 
ley Baptist Church. 

He is yet remembered by a few of the early 
pioneers as a kind, companionable gentleman, of 
rare eccentricities, who always wore a queue, the 
breeches, the shoe and knee buckles, the cockade 
and military toggery of high rank chaplain in 
the service; and as a gentleman of the "Old 
School." 

In 1774, a white trader was mxirdered by the 
Indians at the Indian village of White Eyes, in 
what is now White Eyes township, this county. 
DeHass gives the following brief account of it : 

" In the meantime the Indians were murdering 
whites whenever opportunity presented. Many 
of the traders who had penetrated the Indian 
country, could not retrace their steps in time, 
and thus fell before the merciless hand of the 
destroyer. One of these, near the town of White 
Eyes, the peace chief of the Delawares, was mur- 
dered, cut to pieces, and the fragments of his 
body hung upon the bushes. The kindly chief 
gathered them together and buried them. The 
hatred of the murderers, however, led them to 
disinter and disperse the remains of their victim 
anew; but the kind hearted Delaware chief was 
as persevering as the hatred of his brethren, and 
again lie collected the scattered limbs and in a 
secret place hid them." 

The name of this trader does not appear, but 
he was no doubt one of those wild, reckless 
hunters anil backwoodsmen, so many of whom 
in those days took their lives in their hands and 
established themselves in the business of exchang- 
ing goods with the Lidians for the products of 



the chase. He and John Leeth might be called 
the first merchants of Coshocton county, both 
having established themselves here in 1774. 

In the same year in which the white trader 
was murdered at White Eyes, Major William 
Robinson was taken prisoner by the celebrated 
chief, Logan, a full account of which appears in 
the history of Franklin township, in another part 
of this work. 

John Leeth, before mentioned as a trader at 
Coshocton, and jsrobably one of its first mer- 
chants, has an interesting history, which appears 
in the history of Knox count}', as follows : 

John Leeth was a captive among the Indians, 
and traversed this region long before any white 
settlement was made. 

He was born in South Carolina in 1755 ; ran 
away from home when a boy and went to Penn- 
sylvania. At Fort Pitt he hired out to an Indian 
trader, who had a stock of goods at New Lan- 
caster, Ohio, then an Indian town, and where he 
sent young Leeth to take charge of the stock. 
Here he was taken prisoner by the Delaware 
Indians April 10, 1772, and the stock of goods 
divided among them. 

When Dunmore invaded Ohio with his army, 
the Indians considered the matter of killing 
young Leeth to get him out of the way, but his 
adopted father, who had taken a liking to him, 
saved his life, and he was taken along with the 
Indians when they adandoned their towns and 
retreated before Dunmore's advance. During 
the journey he made several attempts to escape, 
but failed. 

After the war Leeth 's Indian father voluntarily 
gave him his freedom, providing him with a gun, 
ammunition and blanket, and the young man 
spent two years or more hunting and trading 
with the Indians, during which time he accumu- 
lated furs and peltry to the amount of several 
hundred dollars. During these years his favorite 
hunting ground was in Knox and Coshocton 
counties, along the beautiful Kokosing and Wal- 
honding rivers, where he spent much of his time 
among the Delawares in their villages hunting 
deer and bear. 

Mr. Leeth married for his second wife a widow 
lady named Sarah McKee, his first wife being a 
white girl, a captive among the Indians. Mrs. 
McKee was living on Middle Island, near Mari- 
etta. This last marriage took place in 1802. Mrs. 
McKee was the maternal grandmother of Lyman 
W. Gates, of Miller township, Knox county. 
During the summer of 1825, Mr. Leeth visited 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



24.5 



the family of Mr. Gates' father, and spent some 
time there. Wi.shing to visit Mount Vernon, old 
Mr. Gates accompanied him. Wlien they had 
reached the Gotshall place, Mr. Leelh got olf his 
horse and pointed out places where he had lain 
in wait for the wild animals to come and drink, 
and where he shot them. He also pointed out 
other localities along the road where he had 
hunted successfully. As late as thirty years ago, 
Gotshall's lake was a consideral.)le body of water, 
and was a famous place for wild ducks. By suc- 
cessful drainage the water has since been drawn 
oft' and the land cultivated. 

About two years after obtaining his freedom, 
about twenty Indians came from another tribe, 
and, while young Leeth was dealing with a trader 
and his assistant, took them all prisoners, with 
all their property. They took liini some dis- 
titnce through the wilderness, and, after several 
days, sold him toanother tribe. Hisjjurchaser told 
liini he was not bought for the pur].iose of being 
enslave<l ; it was only becatise ho loved him and 
wished him to stay with him, and gave I>eeth his 
liberty on a promise not to run away. Again he 
became a hunter and trapper, and, during the 
following fall and spring, accumulated furs and 
skins to the value of seventy-live or eighty dol- 
lars. 

During the Revolutionary war, he is found at 
Detroit, where he engaged with an Indian trader 
to tiike some goods to Sandusky. While at the 
latter place he witnessed the murder of a prisoner 
brought in by the Wyandots, the murder occur- 
ring in front of the door of his employer. As the 
poor fellow was passing the hou.se, they knocked 
him down with tomahawks, cut oft' his head, 
placed it on a pole and began dancing around it. 
Sometime after this the Indian who took him 
prisoner at New Lancaster came along and told 
Leeth he must accompany him to the Forks of 
the Muskingum, now Coshocton. 

He remained at Coshocton some time. The 
spring following he married a young woman, sev- 
enteen or eighteen years of age, who had been 
taken prisoner when only twenty months old. 
At the time of his marriage Leeth was twenty- 
four years of age. This was in 1770. He resided 
in the Moravian towns on the Muskinginii some 
two years, and upon the removal of the Moravians 
to Sandusky, in 1782, was taken with them. In this 
journey they passed along the Walhiinding and 
Kokosing rivers. At Sandusky Leeth was en- 
gaged by live of the British otticers, who had 
formed a stock company, to attend to their busi- 
ness. While in their employ (1782), Culonels 
Williamson and Crawford marched witli an army 
against Sandusky, during which the Indians 
closely wat<'hed Leeth to prevent him from com- 
municating with the invading army. Being told 
the .iVniericans were within iifteen miles of San- 



dusky, Leeth gathered together liis employers' 

eftects, al>out $^1,500 in silver, furs, powder, "lead, 
horses and cattli>, and started for Lower San- 
dusky. After traveling about three miles, he met 
Ca))!. Elliot, a British otlicer, and about fourteen 
miles further he met Col. Butler's rangers. They 
took from him his cattle and let him pass. Tliat 
night he encamped about fourteen mil(>s above 
Lower Sandusky. A French interpreter for the 
Indians came to the camp and was granted per- 
mission to stay all night. Next morning, after 
the horses were loaded and ready to start, they 
heard the sound of camion at Upper Sandusky. 
The Frenchman clapped his hand to his breas't, 
and .said, " I shall be there before the battle," and 
started. He went to where some Indians were 
painting and jjrcparing for battle, i)ut on a rufHe 
shirt, and painted a red sjiot on his breast, re- 
marking, " Here's a mark for the Virginia rifle- 
men," and, shortly after, marched with the Indians 
to battle, where he soon received a ball in the 
verj' spot, dying instantaneously. Leeth reached 
Lower Sandusky safely. The imfortunate expe- 
dition of Col. Crawford is a matter of historj'. 
After this battle his employers moved their 
goods again to Upper Sandusky, where Leeth re- 
mained about three years, when the partnership 
was dissolved, the goods divided, and each one 
entered into business for himself. One of the 
partners informed Leeth that he was going to es- 
tiiblish a store at New Coshocton, on the head 
waters of the Muskingum river, and woidd en- 
gage hini at the same wages to go with him. 
This proposition was accepted. 

Some time the following fall Leeth accompa- 
nied the Indians to Fort Pitt, leaving his wife 
and children at New Coshocton. After matters 
were settled and articles of peace signed, he en- 
tered into partnership with two others, in a trad- 
ing association: and in a short time he started 
west with thirty-four horses loaded with several 
hundred dollars' worth of goods. Leeth went to 
the Indian town (present site of Coshocton) and 
remained about nine months, in which time he 
sold out nearly all their goods. About three 
months after his arrival at Tuscarawas (now Co- 
shocton), Captain Hamilton, an .Vmerican oflieer, 
came there with another store, and ojjencd clot5e 
by him, and about the same time Leeth's wife 
and children came from New Coshocton. While 
Captain Hamilton was absent at Fort Pitt after 
goods several Wyandot Indians came to his store ; 
two of them killed his clerk and carried away all 
the goods. This event alarmed Leeth very much, 
as he e.xi)ected the sa?ne fate, but a Delaware In- 
dian, one of his old acquaintances, came to him 
at this time and said, " I will die by you." Pre- 
parations for a lia.sty departure were made, and 
Leeth and his familv st;trted with the Delaware 
Indian for Fort Pitt. They were captured, how- 



346 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ever, before they had proceeded far, and taken to 
the Indian towns on 'Mad river. The goods and 
■otlier property left at Tuscarawas were talcen 
away and secreted by the Indians After some 
time he was again released from captivity, and 
proceeding to Fort Pitt, he purchased horses and 
went in search of his hidden goods. He found 
them all and took them to Fort Pitt, where he 
left them, and returned to his family on Mad 
river. After remaining with them some time 
lie returned to Fort Pitt with the intention of 
dissolving partnership. He told his partners 
that the times were very dangerous, and trade 
imcertain, and if they were willing he would re- 
tire from the concern, and quit business, at least 
for the present. His partners had just purchased 
a large assortment of goods, and were not willing 
to dissolve. They told him " if he would venture 
his body, they would venture the goods." He 
yielded, and on the fifteenth of January started 
out with a stock of goods and opened another 
store in the woods, where Coshocton now stands. 
In a short time he collecttd about fourteen horse 
loads of skins and furs, and the hand he had with 
him started with them for Fort Pitt. After get- 
about two-thirds of the way, the Mingo and Wy- 
andot Indians overtook the caravan, killed the 
man, and took the horses and all the goods off 
with them. Leeth continued at Coshocton with 
his fainily and seven horses until about the 
first of Ajiril, under great apprehensions for his 
life. 

He then moved to Tapacon, twenty-tlve miles 
from Coshocton, where he left his family and 
went on horseback to Fort Pitt, to consult with 
liis partners about quitting business, as they had 
ftlready lost all their profits. But they thought 
best to continue the business until all their goods 
were sold. He then returned to his family at 
Tapacon ; but just before his arrival there two 
Indians had visited his wife and told her they 
had better move to Fort Pitt; they said the Min- 
goes had killed the two traders they had left at 
Coshocton and carried ofl' all their property. 
Leeth left his goods with the two Indians, and 
■went with his family to Fort Pitt. Soon after he 
returned to Tapacon with five men, and foiuid 
the skins where the Indians had hidden them ; 
but they had taken the horses and goods with 
them. He returned to Fort Pitt with the skins, 
and soon after set out for the Shawanee towns, 
where he found his lK)rses and goods. On his 
route back to Fort Pitt he jiassed through Knox, 
Licking and Muskingum counties, trading his 
goods for furs and ])eltry, dis))osing of all of them 
by the way. He was acconii)anied by an Indian 
hunting party of seventeen warriors. Shortly 
after his arrival at Fort Pitt he settled up with 
his ]"iartners and gave up the horses. He then 
left Pittsburgh with his family and settled on the 



' Huron river, northern Ohio, in a Moravian town, 

j W'here he remained some years. 

The Moravians, however, were continually be- 
tween two fires, and were all the time in danger 

I of being murdered by one party or the other, 
and were therefore frequently on the move. 
Leeth was compelled to take his family and flee 
for safety to Fort Pitt; where he arrived after 
a hazardous journey through the wilderness. 
From Fort Pitt, he proceeded with his famdy to 
Bird's ferry, where his wife's relatives resided, 
and who received the wanderers with great 
kindness iMr. Leeth settled among them as a 
farmer. 

Mr. Leeth died about 1850, in the ninety-fifth 
year of his age. His father was born in the city 
of Leeth, Scotland, and his mother in Virginia. 

Li the white occupation of this county, Brod- 
head's expedition in 1780, follows in chronolog- 
ical order. The details of this expedition will be 
found in another chapter. In the following year, 
1781, among the many captives taken by the In- 
dians across this territory was John Stilley, an 
account of whose captivity appears in the Knox 
county history, as follows: 

In the year 1781 there was a small settlement 
on Raccoon creek, some sixty miles above Wheel- 
ing, in what are now Beaver and ^^'ashington 
counties, in Pennsylvania. Some thirty miles 
southeast was another settlement on Peter's 
creek, in what is now Alieghenv county, same 
State. The latter settlement was much larger 
than the former, and possessed a good stockade 
and block-house, to which the pioneers could re- 
sort in times of danger or invasion by the savages 
of the territory of Ohio. 

In the year 1777, the settlers on Raccoon creek 
were compelled by Indian invasion to abandon 
that region and seek refuge in the block-house 
on Peter's creek, where most of them remained 
several months. About this time, John Stilley, 
sr., who had located in the settlement in 1773, ac- 
companied an expedition against the Indians on 
Beaver creek, where ho was killed by the acci- 
dental discharge of a gun in the hands of a com- 
rade. Mrs. Stilley and several children were left 
helpless by the unfortunate circumstance. 

Among those who fled from Raccoon creek 
was a young man by the name of Kennedy. 
When the others returned to the settlement he 
remained at the block-house on Peter's creek. 
In the meantime he had married Rachel Stilley, 
the oldest daughter of Sirs. John Stilley. In 
the spring of 1781, Mr. Kennedy concluded to 
return to the Raccoon settlement. He took 
along a good team of horses, and his family, con- 
sisting of his wife, a small child, Sarah, and John 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



247 



'Stilley, ST., youngest brother and sister of Mrs. 
Kciinody. Some days after liis arrival his luirses 
disa]ii)earod. Up searched the bottoms in tlie 
vicinity of his cabin for them, but without ed'ect. 
As wo-s the custom among the jiioncers, he had 
placed a small bell on one (if tlie horses before 
■turning them out, that they might be traced by 
its sound. 

Early one morning some six weeks after the 
disappearance of his horses, just before rising, he 
lieard a horse-bell approaching his cabin, and re- 
marked to his wife : " There they are." He 
dressed, and on opening his door, was confronted 
by ten savage warriors of the Wyandot nation, 
who had used the horse-bell as a decoy to draw 
him out. These Indians had been skulking about 
the neighbcirhood for some time, and had now 
stealthily a}>proached the home of Kennedy to 
secure new prizes in the way of prisoners and 
scalps. The horses were Kennedy's, and they 
had now returned with new owners. 

Resistance was useless. The whole family sur- 
rendered at once. The Indians then ]ihmdered 
the house of such articles as they desired. and set 
it on tire. They then started for the Oliio river 
with their prisoners and their iilunder. Fearing 
pursuit, they prepared to cross without delay. 
At the river they were joined by two other Indi- 
ans who had separated from the rest to plunder a 
neighb<:)r of Mr. Kennedy, by the name of Wilson. 
They had crept upon Mr. Wilscjn just as he had 
hitched his horses to the ]ilow. They tired at 
and wounded liim, and he fled to his cabin, one 
of the Indians following him with rapidity, as the 
other one was engaged in cutting the harness 
from the horses. 

On reaching the door of the cabin Wilson fell 
from exhaustion, and would have been killed by 
the pursuing savage but for the providential ap- 
pearance of Captain John Slack, a noted Indian 
fighter and scout, who rode up and fired at the 
Indian and hit him on the back of the head just 
as he leaped the fence, making an ugly ga.sh The 
Indians instantly mounted the horses and rode 
rapidly in the direction of the Ohio river where 
they were joined by the ten who had captured 
Kennedy and liis family. 

Captain Slack, Wilson, and a number of others 
gave pursuit and arrived at the Ohio just as the 
Indians and their prisoners, who were mounted 
on horseback, reached the opposite shore. They 
saw the Indians enter the forest and disap|iear 
with their heli>less captives. Further fiursuit i 
was abandoned. It was fortunate for the terrified 
prisoners that Captain Slack and his party failed 
to overtake the Indians before they reached the 
river; otherwise the jirisoncrs would have been 
instantly tomahawked and scaljied. As it was 
they passed on without being maltreated in any 
way. John Stilley was then about eight years of 



age, and S.irah, his little sister, between five and 
six. After the Indians Ivid conducted their pris- 
oners some distance into the forest thev checked 
the rapidity of their flight and halted some two 
hours. They killed a few wild turkeys and 
roasted them after the ln<lian manner, sharing 
them equally among tlieir captives. Although 
much depressed in feeling, Mr. and Mrs. Ken- 
nedy put on an air of cheerfulness, and assumed 
a willingness to accompany the savages. This 
seemed to please them, and led to a relaxation of 
their vigilance. The captives were treated kindly 
and suflereil liut little. It was then about the 
first of June and the weatlier was delightful. The 
forests abounded in a luxuriant growth of pea 
vines, wild flowers, and ll(_)wering shrubs. The 
jiarty crossed the river not a great ways from the 
mouth of Yellow creek, and ])assed through what 
are now Jeflerson, Carroll, and Tuscarawas coun- 
ties, north of the Moravian villages, thence near 
the present village of Coshocton, and from thence 
up the Walhonding to the mouth of the Kokos- • 
ing, or what is known as the Vernon river, thence 
up that stream to where Fredericktuwn now 
stands, thence uj) the west branch and across the 
counties of Marion to the Olcntangy, an<l thence 
to Ui)])er Sandusky, the principal seat of the 
Wyandots. 

Mr. Kennedy and his little family were kindly 
treated all the way, and they were permitted to 
ride most of the time. .Vt night they slejit on the 
leaves. They had plenty of wild meat, which, by 
the aid of Jlrs. Kennedy, was roasted to suit their 
taste. They were greatly jileased with the scen- 
ery along the AValhonding and the beautiful Ko- 
kosing. They encamped one night on the pres- 
ent site of Mount Vernon. At that ])eriod, and 
for many subsequent years, the Kokosing was a 
favorite resort for the Wyandot and Delaware 
hunter.?. They cleared a few small fields, which 
they cultivated in corn, and the hills, made by 
hoeing, were to be seen as late as 18(16. 

They traveled up the banks of the Walhonding, 
which Mr. Stilley states was the finest region he 
ever saw. It alioundcd in wonderful growth of 
timber and exhibited a soil imsurpassed for rich- 
ness. The undrgrowth was very rank; wild 
game existed in great abundance. As the lonely 
captives attempted to slumber on a cot of dry 
leaves they wcrc^ often serenaded by wolves and 
owl.s. Their mingled voices made night hideous. 

When the Indians arrived at I^pjier "Sandusky 
tliny divided their prisoners. They were jiar- 
celed out according to the fancy of the Indians 
and separated. Mr. Kennedy, wife and child 
were taken in the direction of Detroit. Sarah 
was adopted by another family and removed to 
the same neighborhood : John Stilley was adopted 
by an old Indian and his squaw, who treated him 
with much lenity, and taught him the Wyandot 



248 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



language, which he acquired very riipidly. He 
was very apt and sjiry, and made an impression 
upon his new parents that grew into a very warm 
attachment. The old Indian was very grave, and 
evinced a disposition to make his adopted son 
contented and happy. He reciprocated these at- 
tentions by being obedient and prompt. The 
first care of this mild old Indian fatln'r was to 
teach him the first iirinci])les of hunting. The 
Indian bcjys erected a sort of bower of fresh cut 
brush and leaves in an'open space in the forest, 
and procuring a wild pigeon, tied it to the top of 
the bower, and concealing themselves within, 
with bow and arrow, occassionally alarming it; 
and those flying over, jierceiving the iluttering, 
alighted so that the boys could easily shoot them 
with their arrows. In this way they secured a 
great many. The sport furnished them much 
amusement. The pigeons, at the proper season, 
were fat, and in such abundance as to be easily 
taken. The flesh was very palatable. 

One morning the grave old father left the wig- 
wam, and after walking a few hundred yards re- 
turned. Befoi'e leaving the wigwam to hunt, he 
told young Stilley there was a rabbit within the 
circle and he might catch it while he was absent. 
After the old hunter had departed young Stilley 
proceeded to search for the rabbit. He finally 
found the track, and soon traced it to a hollow log. 
Eeturning to the wigwam he procured a toma- 
hawk with which he soon cut a hole large enough 
to extricate the cony. Being certain that the ani- 
mal would not bite, he thrust his hand in and 
seized it by the head and neck and dragged it 
from the hole. As soon as its hind legs were re- 
leased it commenced a series of struggles to ex- 
tricate its head from his grasp, during which his 
hands were severely torn by its hind feet. Being 
too plucky to give uj.) the contest, he held on un- 
til finally he succeeded in killing it. When the 
old hunter came in young Stilley informed him 
with much pride that he had found and captured 
the rabbit. The old father asked the young 
hunter to show him his hands. Upon doing so 
the old fellow laughed heartily, saying: "Bad 
hunt; take him by hind leg next time, and he no 
scratch." This was his first lesson in hunting 
rabbits, and he remembered it as long as he 
lived. 

His next lesson was on trapjiing raccoon. 
These animals in the wet season are said to be 
remarkaiily fond of live frogs, and haunt the 
ponds where they are to be found. They walk 
on the fallen timber, and cai>ture the croaking 
frogs that leap upon the logs to sing%heir pecu- 
liar songs. The trap was made by cutting a small 
sapling, eight or ten feet long, which was placed 
on the log, and stakes driven on each side to keep 
it from rolling off. One end was then elevated 
fifteen or eighteen inches, and held up by a short 



treadle, to wjiich a piece of frog or dear meat was 
fastened. When the raccoon ap}>roached the 
bait and attempted to remove it, the sappling fell 
and killed it. In this way large numbers of rac- 
coons were caught. They were generally quite 
fat, and when roasted, made desirable food. 

Young Stilley often accompanied the Indian 
boys on their fishing excursions along the San- 
dusky and other streams. He soon learned this 
art; and when the fish came up from the bay, 
made him.<elf quite useful to his Indian father 
and mother, by aiding them in supplying food. 
They always flattered and caressed him in his 
successful excursions; and soothed and sympa- 
thized with him when he failed. For these acts 
of kindness he always felt grateful, and redoubled 
his exertions to win their esteem and confidence. 
In his lonely hours — for he often thought of his 
little sister, and of Mrs. Kennedy, the cheering 
words and counsel of his Indian parents revived 
his drooping spirits. 

He entered freely into the sports of the Indian 
hoys. Their princii)al amusements were wrest- 
ling, foot-racing and playing ball. He was strong 
and active for one of his age, and was equal in 
strength and courage to Indian boys much older 
than himself. In a general way, he got on 
smoothly, but occasionally was compelled to use 
his strength and fists in self-defence. These little 
ciuarrels were soon reconciled, and all went on 
merrily again. The most exciting amusement 
was their game of ball. It resembled very much 
the game known among boys of modern times, as 
" Shinny.'' They used a crooked stick to strike 
the ball, which was generally made of wood two 
or three inches in diameter. The stick had a 
head or curve at the lower end, with which the 
ball was hit. The alley was generally two or 
three hundred yards long, and ^\•as perfectly 
smooth and clear of obstructions. The parties 
divided, and the ball being cast up was struck by 
one of the players near the center of the alley, 
and the trick consisted in driving it in the di- 
rection of the opposite ends of the alley. In do- 
ing so, the boys ofted became badly huddled, and 
their shins, and sometimes their heads, suflered 
from the misdirected blows of the players. 
Whenever the ball was carried by either party, to 
a given point, the game was won. The young 
mt'ii had a game of ball resembling that of the 
smaller boys, with the exception that there was 
a sort of hoop and net fm the bat, and the party 
getting it in his net, attempited to carry it to his 
end of the alley, while the rest used their etlbrts 
to prevent him from accomplishing this difficult 
feat. 

The wigwam in which young Stilley s Indian 
parents resided the first and second winters of his 
captivity, was a jilain afiiiir, and was constructed 
of poles, after the Wyandot plan. The poles for 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



249 



the sirlos were cut ten or twelve feet long. The 
st:<kes were driven into the ground about four 
inches apart at each end of the proposed wall. 
They were about six feet high, and tied at the top 
with elm bark or thongs of elk or buflalo hide. 
The jioles being straight and neat, were laid one 
upon another until a wall of sutlicient height wa.s 
raised. About nine or ten feet from this wall 
another .similar one was constructed. They then 
dug a sort of trench at each end, and set jioles, 
ui)right, so as to make the end walls, leaving a 
space large enough for a door. A ridge pole was 
placed over the center of the building, and elm 
bark over it to form the roof. The cracks were 
jilugged with dry moss A small space was left 
in the roof for the smoke to escape. A fire was 
built near the center of the wigwams, and a bear 
skin generally served for a door. , Their beds 
were made of deer and bear skins spread around 
the fire. Upon these they slept. All in all, these 
rude huts were quite comfortable in the winter 
seiison. 

Their winter food consisted of such wild game 
as they could capture in the forest. Deer, bear 
and turkeys, were moderately plenty at some 
distance from the Indian villages. In the fall 
season, for two or three years, the band to which 
young Stilley belonged, hunted along the Koko- 
sing and Walhonding, and generally brought in 
a good deal of game. When their wild meat was 
scarce, they used hominy, and a sort of soup 
niat'e of beans, corn, and a little bear or deer 
flesh. Young Stilley accompanied his old Indian 
father on his hunting excursions down their 
favorite Kokosing two or three times. Their 
encampments on these occasions were not a great 
distance from the jiresent site nf Mount Vernon 
At that period there was not a white man, except 
the Canadian traders and a few captives, within 
the present limits of the State The valley of the 
Kokosing existed in all its original grandeur. 
Its luxuriant forests towered almost to the 
heavens, while wild game ranged in native free- 
dom among the undergrowth. 

Young Slilley occasionally met Mr. and Mrs. 
Kennedy, and- his little sister, as they traveled 
with the bands to which they belonged. These 
tribes hunted mostly within the present limits of 
the State of Michigan, and traded at Dt^troit. The 
furs and jieUry secured by the Wyandots of Up- 
per Sandusky were mostly purchased by French 
and Canadian traders in exchange for ammuni- 
tion, blankets, tobacco, trinkets, and that bane of 
the Indian and white man. " fire-water," or b.ad 
whiskey. The route from Sandusky to D.'troit 
was difficult, and the Wyandots preferred to trade 
at home. When war was threatened, their chiefs 
and leading men made freq\ient visits lo Detroit 
to talk with their " Knglish F.ither." Though 
often in the neighborhood of the river Raisin, 



young Stilley was not iiermitted to see Detroit 
until his relea.se from In<tian caj)livity. 

In the summer of 1782, the noted Wyandot 
chief, Big Foot, with his four brothers, and four 
or five warriors, left Snidusky for a raid on the 
settlements opposite the mouih of Yellow creek, 
along Raccoon and Peter's creek. They killed an 
old man in liis cabin, and jieriietrated other 
crimes in the settlements, and with their plunder 
and scalps crossed the Ohio. They were followed 
by the famous Indian fighters and spies, Adam 
and Andrew Poe, and some six others, and over- 
taken on Yellow creek, where a fight ensued, and 
the Indians were all killed but one. When the 
surviving Indian reached the village of Upper 
Sandusky he raised a dismal howl. The solitary 
and grief-stricken savage remained in the f(jrest 
one day and a night, howling like a wolf. He then 
approached the camps and related the contest be- 
tween Big Foot and the " Long Knives." The 
Wyandots lamented the death of Big Foot and 
his brothers by much groaning and many tears. 

Big Foot was a brave warrior and a cunning 
enemy, and was regarded by the Wyandots as 
invulnerable. Part of the Indians who accompa- 
nied Big Foot, had been present at the capture of 
Kennedy and young Stilley. Their raids were 
now closed forever. 

Young Stilley knew the Poes very well, and 
says the strength and size of Big Foot was greatly 
exaggerated. He and his brothers were above the 
ordinary size of Indians — were very fine looking, 
courageous and active. Both the Poes were much 
larger than Big Foot He thinks the reason why 
Big Foot held his own. arose from the fact that 
he was nearly nude, and Poe could not grip him, 
while Poe's clothing furuLshed Big Foot an advan- 
tage. 

At the close of the Revolutionary war in 17S3, 
an arrangement was made with the British and 
Indians to bring the white captives to Detroit, to 
be delivered to their fr'ends. Detroit was a 
small village, and h id a fort and stockade. The 
Wyandots soon brought in Mr. Kennedy, his 
faiirily, and little Sirah; but retiiined ,fiihn Stil- 
ley, who was then regularly adopted in liis tribe. 
He had become so much attached to his Indian 
j)arents, and the wild roving life of the Wyandots, 
that he had no desire to return home. He wivs 
then dressed in the Wyandot manner, his hair all 
plucked out save a small scalp-lock, which w;us or- 
namented with gay colored feathers. They had 
pierced his ears and the cartilage of his nose, and 
inserted rings and a brooch therein. When 
]>ainted he. resembled the true Indian. He was 
then something over twelve years of age, full of 
life and adventure. 

When the prisoners were all brought in there 
were over 9(1. They remained .several months 
at Detroit awaitng" an opportunity to return 



250 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



home. In the spring of 17^*4, after the Iniiians 
had l)ec(:pme jmcitied, and iniilerstood the terms of 
the treaty between the ITnited States and Great 
Britain. Jlr. and Mrs Kennedy determined not to 
retnrn home without John. Mr. Kennedy and a 
few friends, learning that he and his tribe were 
eneamped near wliere Maiden now stands, deter- 
mined to visit, and if possible, rescue him from 
his Indian allurements. On reaching the camp, 
they foutid him more an Indian than a white boy, 
painted, dressed in deer skin, hair worn in true In- 
dian style, rings in his ears, with bow and arrow, 
and deejily fascinated with his present condition. 
He loved his grave old Indian father and mother, 
and had nearly forgotten his own language. It 
was difficult to persuade him to return. After 
many interviews, he hnally accompanied Mr. 
Kennedy to Uetroit. 

The prisoners were shipped to Sandusky bay, 
and npon landing employed two Indian guides to 
conduct them to the settlement east of the Ohio. 
They all — ninety-two or three — passed up the. 
Sandusky river, across the Olentangy, tlirough 
what are now Marion and Morrow comities, to the 
west branch of the Kokosing, and thence down 
said stream through the present site of Mount 
Vernon ; down the Walhonding near where 
Coshocton stands, thence b}' Indian paths across 
Tuscarawas and Jefl'erson comities, to the Ohio 
river. Before reaching the Ohio river, by com- 
paring destinations, they learned that nearly all 
their fellow captives belonged to Kentucky,"Vir- 
ginia anil Pennsylvania. Very few crossed the 
river with Kennedy and young Stilley. Most of 
the captives never met again. At this time they 
found no improvements between Upper Sandusky 
and the Ohio. 

Young Stilley remained on Peter's creek, with 
his mother, some five years. Learning something 
of the wilds of the territory of Kentucky, from 
returning adventurers, he <letermined to abandon 
his home and visit the hardy pioneers and hun- 
ters of the " dark and bloody ground." He and a 
friend built a large pirogue which they launched, 
and placing therein such provisions, clothing and 
animunitioii as they might need, and taking their 
rifles, they descended the Ohio, and landed, in 
1780, without accident, at Limestone, near where 
Maysville now stands. They found a small settle- 
ment at Wheeling. Marietta' and (4allipolis. The 
forests on the banks of the Ohio were dense and 
in full leaf, an<l .seemed to press upon the shore 
like a mighty wall. Althnugh the Shawnees had 
often crosseit the beautiful (ihio to harrass the set- 
tlements of Kentcky, they met no hostile bands on 
their trip down the river. 

Mr. Stilley remained at Limestone a short time, 
and u]ioii learning that there was a settlement on 
the Elklnn-n. he determined to visit it. In com- 
pany with several hunters, he passed through the 



forest to tliat region. He had been there but a 
short time, when he became acquainted w'ith the 
brave hunter and Indian spy, Simon Kenton. 
Kenton, at that time, had command of a small 
company of spies and scouts, who patroled the 
Elkhorn for a distance of lifty miles to guard the 
settlements against surprise by hostile bands of 
Shawnees and Mianiis, who refused to be pacified 
or submit to a recent treaty. He joined Kenton's 
company, and became an active minute man. 
During his stay on the Elkhorn, some three years, 
owing to the vigilance of Kenton and others, the 
settlements remained nearly undisturbed by the 
savages. Elk and bullido were yet quite plenty, 
and Stilley often joined jiartieson huntingexcur- 
sions. He passed down Licking river on one of 
his hunting trips, to where Covington now stands, 
and thinks he shot a panther within its present 
corporate limits The animal had treed, and had 
a peculiar white spot on its breast, at which he 
aimed and struck, killing the ferocious be;ist al- 
most without a struggle. While in the Elkhorn 
settlement, he also became acquainted with a 
noted hunter named Neal Washliurn, and a Mr. 
Robinet, who kept a pack of tine hunting dogs. 

After the repulse of General Harmer in 1790, 
and the disastrous defeat of General St. Clair in 
1791, and General Wayne was ordered to the 
west, John Stilley determined to become a sol- 
dier. He volunteered in a company commanded 
by Captain Rollins, raised near Paris. Kentucky, 
for a term of four months; and passed with the 
Kentucky troops, by Fort Washington, (Cincin- 
nati) and up the trail of St. Clair to Fort Re- 
covery. iVt the expiration of his service, he re- 
turned with his comrades to the Elkhorn settle- 
ment, where he remained but a short time, and 
re-enlisted for a tour of live months. The Ken- 
tucky troops were hurried forward, and partici- 
pated in the noted battle of "Fallen Timbers," 
where the Indian army was overtlirown and 
comjielled to submit to a humiliating treaty,. 
1 which deprived them of a vast amount of tcrri- 
I tory, and crushed their military prestige. Mr. 
Stilley regarded General Wayne as a courages 
and far-seeing commander: and just the man to 
strike terror into the heart of the blood-thirsty 
savages led by Little Turtle, Captain- Pipe, and 
other wily chiefs. 

At the expiration of his second term of service, 
he again returned to the Elkhorn settlement. 
He remained there hunting and farming until 
about 1797. He describes the hunters and pio- 
neers of that time as being the most courteous, 
hospitable, whole-souled and brave people he ever 
knew. Their cabins, to use the old phrase, "had 
their latch-strings always out.'' They traversed 
the forest for miles to aid each other in juitting 
up cabins, rolling loijs, i)lantingcorn and clearing 
fields. They divided their surplus grain for seed. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



251 



and thus contributed to the enlargement of the 
settlements, luul the general prosperity and hap- 
piness of all. 

In ISOO he married Rebecca Tliompson, of 
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, anil remember- 
ing the beautiful coimtry along the Kokosing, 
determined to lind a home there. In l.S(l,>0 th(>. 
lands along that stream, within the present limits 
of Kno.'!: county, were being surveyed into tracts 
of eiglity and one himdred and si.xty acres. In 
1805, Moses Craig, a relative, settled about one 
mile west of the site of Mount Vernon. Mr. 
Stilley, in the spring of ISOG, visited Mr. Craig, 
and located a military tract adjoining him, and 
clearing a Held, planted it in corn, and reniained 
through the summer months ctiltivating it. In 
the meantime he cut logs, and by the aid of the 
neighborhood settlers, erected a cabin. In tiie 
fall he returned to Peter's creek. 

In the sjiring of l.'^O", a company consisting of 
Robert Thompson and wife, John Stilley, three 
children and his mother, John Still(\v, (a nejihew 
late of Morrow county), and a colorcul boy by the 
name of Benjamin Trusscr (who died in Janes- 
ville a few years since, well advanced in fears), 
with teams and covered wagons, li jaded with such 
household articles as were needeil, started for the 
wilds of Ohio. Their route was from Peter's 
creek to Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, thence to 
Wellsburgh, Virginia, thence to Steubenville and 
Cadiz, thence to Cambridge, thence along Zanc's 
old trace to Zanesville an<l Newark, and thence to 
the present site of Jlount Vernon. They were 
detained several days at Will's creek in conse- 
quence of high water, and had to camp out be- 
tween Zanesville and Newark. Tlie trip took 
thirteen days, and they were nuuh wearied. 

As soon as John Stilley had fully rested from 
the trip, he took two horses and retin-ned to 
Peter's creek for his wife and small child (now 
the wife of Benjamin F.Smith), who were unalile 
to come with the former comjiany. He pro- 
ceeded down the Kokosing and Walhonding to 
where Coshocton now stands, tlience to New 
Philadelphia, thence to Steubenville and thence 
to Peter's creek. He had most of tlic way but 
an Indian trail to lead him; but this being the 
route he had traveled to and from his captivity, 
it was somewhat familiar. On arriving at his 
old home, Mrs. Stilley mounted one of the horses 
and undertook the journey. They traveled the 
same route and came through with but :v single 
accident. When they were crt)ssing the Wal- 
honding, the horst' of Mrs. Stilley being a poor 
swinuner, became alarmed and turned down 
stream, and was about to reach a steep l)ank, 
when Mr.s. Stilley would have been thrown and 
probably drowned. Fifteen or twenty Greentown 
Indians were encamjied near the bank, and Billy 
Montour, seeing tiie danger, mounted a pony and 



rushed into tlie stream, pursuing, overtaking, and 
safely conducting tlie liorse of Mrs. Stilley out. 
-Vs long as Billy Montour, Tom Lyon and the 
Greentown Indians visited the Kokosing to hunt, 
they were kindly regarded for this generous act. 

Jolm Stilley served creditably in the war of 
1812, as adjutant of Colonel Kratzer's regiment, 
and as a volunteer in defence of Fort Meigs. He 
was a brave, active, and able soldier. 

After the close of the war, Mr. Stilley, like his 
thriving neighbors, entered actively 'ujion the 
task of clearing up his farm, which was hand- 
somely located, anil is now one of the mo.st de- 
sireable homesteads in Kno.x coimty ; and, like a 
true pioneer, always had his latch-string out. As 
the population increased, his good judgment, 
business qualities, and integrity, gave him weight 
with his fellow-citizens. The records of Knox 
county show that John Stilley was more fre- 
quently, perhaps, than any other pioneer of the 
county, selected upon the juries drawn to deal 
out justice between man and man. In the spring 
of 1824, he was elected justice of the peace, and 
in the fall of the same year county commissioner. 
These trusts were faithfully executed. 

In 1852, he was attacked with jiaralysis, with 
which he lingered a short time, and died March 
10. He sleeps by the side of his faithful wife, 
(who survived him a short time), near his loved 
Kokosing, where he had so many .adventures iu 
his youth. 

Probabh- the next white men to pass across 
this territory were the Moravians, who, as prison- 
ers, were taken from Moravian towns on the 
Tuscarawas river to Upper Sandusky, by British 
emissaries. These peaceable Christian Indians 
were charged with being spies, and with holding 
treasonable correspondence with the Americans 
at Pittsburgh and jierhaps other point.*, and of 
harboring other Indians friendly to the .Vmcrican 
cause. Upon these charges they were arrested 
by Captain Matthew Elliott, of the British army, 
who had under his command about three hun- 
dred hostile Indians. Making no resistance, they 
were made captives, September 11, 1781, and by 
this overpowering force compelled to leave their 
much-loved homes and t^ikc up their line of 
march for the Sandusky river. Upon this march 
they followed the Indian trail down the Tuscara- 
was to the mouth of the Walhomling, in Coshoc- 
ton county; thence up that stream to the mouth 
of the Kokosing; thence up the Kokosing, and 
on to the Wyandot town, near the present site of 
Upper Sandusky. The missionaries thus forcibly 



252 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



removed were Revs. Zeisberger, Senseman, and 
Jungnian, of New Schonbrunn ; Revs. John 
Heekewelder, and Jung, of Salem, and Rev. Wil- 
liam Edwards, of Gnadenhutten. 

The pomt at which they were left to take care 
of themselves, their wives, children and Indian 
captives, was on the banks of the Sandusky river, 
not far from where the Broken Sword creek emp- 
ties into it, about ten miles from Upper Sandusky. 
Here they selected a location, and, without delay, 
built a village of small huts to protect themselves 
from the inclemency of the weather. This village 
soon took the name of " Captive's Town," and was 
situated on the right bank of the Sandusky river, 
about a mile above the mouth of the Broken 
Sword, in the present township of Antrim, Wyan- 
dot county. 

During the jirogress of the Indian war from 
1788 to 1795, the noted scout and Indian lighter, 
Captain Samuel Brady, on several occasions passed 
through what is now Coshocton county. His 
operations are detailed elsewhere, as are also those 
of Lewis Wetzel, another noted scout, and a 
coteniporary of Brady's. 

The notorious Girty bo_vs and their white as- 
sociates. Colonel McKee and Matthew Elliott of 
the British army, were frequent visitors to the 
Indian towns on the Muskingum. The two lat- 
ter were notorious as British agents, and were 
continually inciting the Indians to engage in war 
ujjon Americans, furni.shing them with arms 
and ammunition for that purpose. They were 
continually passing and repassing through the 
Indian country, were personally acquainted with 
nearly all the chiefs of the various tribes, and 
were always personally welcome in the wigw'ams 
of the savages, as they always came loaded with 
presents for the red men. Their operations ex- 
tended through the Revolutionary war and the 
Indian war of 1788-1795. In this latter war they 
were central figures, and were often personally 
on the battle field encouraging the Indians. 
They always found an efficient and able coadjutor 
in the Delaware chief. Captain Pipe, who with his 
band, for some years occupied the valley of the 
Walhonding. 

The operations of the Girty boys were among 
all the various tribes occupying what is now the 



State of Ohio, and their deeds of daring and 
cruelty will be found in all the annals of the 
northwest territory. Anj-thing in the v/ixy of 
history written about the Indians of Ohio, re- 
garding their operations between the years 1760 
and 1800, would be incomplete without some 
mention of the Girtys. 

This notorious family was first heard of in 
Western Pennsylvania, living on what was known 
as Girty's Run. Here Simon, the most noted of 
the brothers, was bora about the year 1745. The 
father wa.s an Irishman and a drunkard, and was 
killed by a man with whom the mother pre- 
ferred to live. The family was morally rotten 
from the beginning, and having thus a fair start 
in the world, the boj^s maintained their parents' 
reputation to the end. The sons were Thomas, 
Simon, George and James. The three latter were 
made prisoners early in life by the Indians. 
George, was the one adopted by the Delawares, 
and taken to their towns on the Muskingum. 
He remained with this tribe until his death, and 
is said to have been a fearless, cunning, desperate 
fellow — a perfect savage — and engaged in many 
battles against the whites. Later in life, like his 
father, he gave himself up to drink, which finally 
killed him. His death is said to have occurred 
on the Maumee river, about 1820. 

James Girty was adopted by the Shawanees. 
As he grew to manhood he became dextrous in 
all the arts of savage life. He e:isily added to an 
uncontrollable disposition all the vices of the de- 
praved frontiersmen and Indians with whom 
he associated. He was a frequent visitor to the 
soil of Kentucky during the raids of the Indians 
in that direction, and many of the inhabitants 
became victims of his cruelty. Neither age nor 
sex found mercy at his hand ; he delighted in 
carnage and bloodshed. If it were possible, he 
was probably more savage in his nature than either 
of the three brothers, and in this respect suited 
well the bloodthirsty Shawanees from whom he 
took his lessons. When unable to stand on his feet 
he murdered with his hatchet captive women and 
children who came within his reach. He was a 
monster of cruelty, many of his most barbarous 
acts being charged upon his brother Simon, on 
account of the latter's greater conspicuity and ac- 
tivity. His death does not appear on record. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



253 



Witliout doubt he was a frequent visitor to the 
Indian towns on the Muskingum. 

Simon was adopted by the Senecas, and be- 
came a very expert hunter. He was possibly a 
little higher up in the scale of humanity than his 
brothers, thougli a perfect savage. He e.xercised 
some influence over the Indians, was entrusted by 
them with the conduct of many expeditions 
against the whites; associated much with McKee, 
Elliott and Proctor, and was much more cele- 
brated than George or James. His name was 
associated with everything cruel and fiend-like; 
to women and children especially nothing was 
more terrifying than the name of Simon Girty. 

He deserted the Indians at one time and re- 
turned to his relatives near Fort Pitt. When 
the Indian war began in 1788, he sought a com- 
mission to fight against them, but being refused 
this, on account of his known bad character, he 
became exasperated and rejoined the Indians, 
ever after remaining a bitter foe to the whites. 
A review of his life would require a volume. It 
is intimately connected with the Indian history 
of that exciting jieriod. He many times visited 
the Indian villages on the Muskingum and 
passed through this I'egion often on raiding ex- 
peditions into Virginia and Western Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a man of extraordinary physical 
strength and powers of endurance. He was 
about live feet ten inches in height ; hair coarse, 
black and generally uncombed; forehead low, eye- 
brows heav3' and shaggy and meeting across his 
short, flat nose ; eyes gray, sunken and averting, 
lips thin and compressed, and wearing, aa he did 
continually, a dark, forbidding, sinister expres- 
sion of countenance, he was the jjcrfect picture 
of a villain. 

He usually wore the Indian costume, without 
ornament, and often, in later years, a dirty silk 
hankerchief, supplying the place of a hat, cov- 
ered an ugly scar on his forehead given him by 
the chief of the Five nations. Brant, at one time, 
in a drunken brawl. 

After the war he lived much of the time in a 
cabin located on the Maumee river, about five 
miles above Napoleon, Ohio, at what is yet known 
as Girty's Point. 

Regarding his death, one account says he was 
cut down by Johnston's cavalry in the battle of 



the Thames; another that he died in Canada 
soon after the war of 1812; but the following ex- 
tract from a letter written by Daniel M. Work- 
man, a pioneer of Logan county, Ohio, seems to 
be conclusive on this point: " In 1813 I went to 
JIalden and put up at a hotel kept liy a French- 
man. I noticed in the bar-room a gray-headed 
and blind old man. The landlady, his daughter, 
a woman about thirty, said to me : ' Do you know 
who that is ? ' pointing to the old man. I replied 
in the negative, and she saiil: 'That is Simon 
Girty.' He had been blind about four years. 

" In 181.5 I returned to Maiden, and a,scertained 
that Girty had died a short time previous." 

The following is taken from De Sjhweinitz's 
"Life and Times of Zeisberger,"and refers to the 
efTort of Girty and others, by lying, to incite the 
Delaware nation to war against the Americans: 

"There came to Goschachgunk, in the spring 
of 1778, some disaffected persons from Pittsburgh, 
with Alexander McKee, Matthew Elliot, and 
Simon Girty — an ignoble trio of go-betweens and 
desperadoes. 

" Soon after the arrival of this party, a second 
appeared, consisting of a sergeant and twenty 
privates, deserters from the fort, who joined the 
British Indians. These men all vied one with 
another in spreading falsehoods among the Dela- 
wares. The Americans, they said, had been 
totally defeated in the Atlantic States; driven 
westward, they were now about to wage an indis- 
criminate war against the Indians. Such reports 
))roduced a general excitement in the nation. 
Captain Pipe, who had been eagerly watching for 
an ojiportunity to supplant White Eyes, and over- 
throw the j)()licy of the council, h.astened to the 
capital, called upon his countrymen to seize the 
hatchet, and defend their homes. Who would 
venture to prate of treaties now? White Eyes 
barely succeeded in having the declaration of war 
postponed for ten days, that time might be given 
to iiscertain whether the reports were true or 
false. But this did not hinder preparations for 
the conflict. Goschachgunk rang with the war- 
■song ; rifles were cleaned and tomahawks sharp- 
ened In order to i)revent the rising of this 
nation and its numerous grandchildren, peace- 
messagcr must at once be sent to Goschachgunk. 
Such messages were prepared, but not a runner 
could be induced to take them. General Hand's 
ofters of the most liberal rewards were all in 
vain ; the risk was too great. 

" In this emergency, Heckewelder and Sche- 
bosh vokmteered their services. Riding three 
days and two nights without stopping, except to 
feed their horses, in constant danger from the 



254 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



war-parties that lurked in the forest*, they reached 
Gnaddenliutten an hour before midnight of the 
fifth of April. The next day was the ninth of 
the stipulated term. No contradiction of the 
reports spread bj' Girty and his confederates had 
been received. War was accepted as a necessity 
even by White Eyes. Of that crisis John liecke- 
weldcr was the illustrious hero. Although 
scarcely able any longer to sit upon his horse, and 
although it was at the risk of his life, he pressed 
on after but a brief rest, accompanied by John 
Martin, a native assistant, and got to Goschach- 
gunk at ten o'clock in the niorking. The whole 
population turned out to meet him, but their 
faces were dark and sinister. There was no 
welcome given. Not a single Delaware recipro- 
cated his greetings. He extended his hand to 
White Eyes, but even White Eyes stepi^ed back. 
" Holding al(jft the written speeches of which 
he was the bearer, Heckewelder atldressed the 
Indians from his horse. He told them that the\' 
had been deceived ; that the Americans, instead 
of being defeated in the Atlantic States, had 
gained a great victory, and forced Burgoyne and 
his whole army to surrender ; and that, so far 
from making war upon the Delawares, they were 
their friends, and hail sent him to establish a new 
alliance. Such news brought about a sudden 
change in the aspect of affairs A council was 
called ; the missives of General Hand were deliv- 
ered and accepted in due form; the warlike 
preparations cea.sed ; and, while Captain Pipe and 
his adherents left the town in great chagrin, the 
instigators of this whole plot tied to more conge- 
nial tribes.'' 

Doubtless many other white men passed into 
and through this territory during the Indian war 
of 17S8-?7Vt5; many are known to have done so; 
among them the scouts Brady, Wetzel, McCul- 
loch and others in the employ of the govern- 
ment. 

The treaty of peace at Greenville, which con- 
cluded that great war, opened Ohio to settlement 
by the whites, and the great wave of emigration 
began, and did not cease until the territory now 
embraced in the State was overrun and settled by 
the white race. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

SCRAPS OF HISTORY. 

Name— Forniiitioti— First SetlkTs anrl .Settlements— Popula- 
tion— Flora Hn<l Fauna— Karly Roads anil Transportation— 
A Picineer.Srhool House — Prioos f<ir ProiUiee — Early Taverns 
— Starting a Town — Character of the Pioneers — Soeial c:ath- 
eriugs — Trapjjing— Wild Pigeons. 



THE name Coshocton is unquestionably a mod- 
ification of the name of the old Indian town 
at the forks of tiie Muskingum — Gvschachgunk — 
somewhat variously spelled by the old chroniclers 
in different languages. Different and quite con- 
tradictory definitions of the name ha\e been 
given. 

As originally constituted, Coshocton county 
embraced a considerable part of what is now 
Holmes, extending to the Greenville treaty line, 
six miles north of Millersburg; but that county 
having been orgtmized in 1824, the limits of Cos- 
hocton county were fixed as they now are. Prior 
to the adoption of the jsresent State Constitution, 
in 1851, there was considerable agit<ation about a 
new county to be formed out of parts of Guernsey, 
Tuscarawas and Coshocton, with New Comerstown 
as the county seat. There was also a movement 
contemplating a county with Walhonding as the 
county seat. But that instrument rendered such 
movements hopeless. The territory embraced 
in Coshocton county is part of that designated as 
United States Military Land District — so called 
from the fact that Congress, ia 1798, appropriated 
it to satisfy certain claims of the officers and 
soldiers of the Eevolutionary war. These lands 
were surveyed into townships five miles square, 
and these again into quarter townships, contain- 
ing 4,000 acres, and subsequently some of these 
into forty lots, of one hundred acres each, for the 
accommodation of soldiers or others holding war- 
rants for that number of acres, ^^'hat land was 
not required for the satisfaction of the military 
warrants was subsequently sold by act of Con- 
gress, under the designation of Congress land. 
Twenty-two and a fraction of these original town- 
ships were embraced within the limits of Coshoc- 
ton county as finally li.xed in 1824. 

The military expeditions mentioned elsewheie, 
besides accomplishing the immediate object for 
which they were undertaken, drew attention to 
the exeleneies of the country. Wonderful sto- 
ries about " the forks of the Muskingum " were 
told by the returning soldiers. The father of 
Geo. Beaver, of Keen township, was in Bcni- 
quet's expedition. John Williams (brother of 
Charles), who afterwards settled in Mill Creek 
township, was in the Coshocton campaign ; and 
among the earlier settlers were several whose 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



255 



relatives hiwl been in Brodhead's forces. Tlie 
first white man Icnown to have come into tlie ter- 
ritory now embraced in Coshocton county, witli 
the purpose of abiding in it, was Charles Wil- 
liams. In the spring of the year ISOO, having 
come up tlie Muskingum in a canoe, he passed 
on up the Walhonding to what is now known as 
the Dennian land, long called " the Pararie " (four 
miles above ,Cosh(^cton), and there raised that 
season a patch of corn, besides fishing, hunting 
and prospecting. The next year he tixod upon 
the site of Coshocton as his. home, and w'iis there 
joined by his brothers-in-law, the Carpenters, and 
William and Samuel IMorrison, who, after stay- 
ing with him for the season, went up into what 
is now Holmes county, in the Killbuck valley. 
The same year, 1801, a settlement was made in 
Oxford township by Isaac Evans and others, who 
are reputed as having raised some corn and se- 
lected their land the preceding ^-ear. The Rob- 
inson and Miller settlement in Franklin township 
was made about the same time. The Hardestys 
are reputed as having been in Washington town- 
ship the same year. A little later the Millers 
and Thomas Wiggins located in Lafayette town- 
ship. Nicholas ]Miller, James Oglesby, Geo. ilc- 
Cullough, Andrew Craig, Isaac Hoagland, Benja- 
min Fry and Barney Carr, are reported as on the 
Lower Walhonding in 1805. In 180G, Philip 
Waggoner, Geo. Loose, John Wolf and Geo. 
Leighninger, settled in Oxford township, and the 
McLains were in Lafayette. In the same year 
the Darlings, the Butlers, John Bantham, and 
John Elder went to the Upper Walhonding val- 
ley. Li 1807, Francis McGuire, who had been 
living above New Comerstown, moved down to 
the locality known as the McGuire settlement, 
above Canal Lewisville. Then came Moore, 
Workman, Nell', Lyl)arger, Thompson, the Ba- 
kers, Cantwell and Whittcm io Coshocton; and 
Meskimens, Johnston and Harger to the Wills 
Creek region; and Mitchell, Marklcy and Wil- i 
liams to the north of Coshocton; and Pigman, ' 
Chalfant, Norris, Slaughter, Woolford, Wright, , 
Stafford, Meredith, John and Severns into the 
western part of the county. No regular census 
of the county was taken until 1&20. In 1810, 
Mu.skingum county, embracing the present Mus- 
kingimi, Morgan, Coshocton and part of Holmes, 



had only ten thousand population. A Scotch 
traveler, who spent the night at Coshocton in 
ISOG, wrote of it as having a population of one 
hundred and forty; but it was doubtless nut un- 
derstated by him. Dr. S. Lee, who came to the 
place in 1811, found it a hamlet with a score or 
so of rude structures. Fifteen hundred would 
probably be a large statenient as to population at 
the time the county was organized in April, 1811. 
Immediately after the organization, immigration 
was large. The war of 1812, while temporarily 
checking the growth of the coimty, and espe- 
cially the inflow- of population, was yet an advan- 
tage, particularly in making the region known to 
the people to the east and south. Just at the 
close of the war there were in the county one 
hundred and thirty-eight resident landholders, 
owning tracts of land varying in size from thirty- 
five acres to four thousand and live acres. The 
list of these, and the townshijjs as now named in 
which they resided, is as follows: 

Tuscarawas — John D. Moore, Nicholas Miller, 
Henry Miller, John Noble, Isaac Workman and 
Charles Williams. 

New Castle — David John, Thomas John, Obed 
Meredith, T. Hankins, John Wolf, Matthew Dun- 
can, David and Martin Cox, and Robert Giffin. 

Washington — Payne Clark, Mordecai Chalfant, 
Isaac Holloway, Peter Lash, Geo. Smith, and 
Frederick Woolford. 

FninkUn — O. Davidson, Valentine Jolmston, 
Catharine Johnston, Michael Miller, sr., William 
Robinson, James Robinson, Benjamin Robin,>«)n, 
Joseph Scott, James Tanner, William Taylor, 
Abraham Thompson, John Walnisly and Jacob 
Jackson. 

Oxford — Jacob Reed, David Douglas, Henry 
Evans, Istuic Evans, John Junki;is, George Looze, 
John M'lls, William Mulvain, James Mulvain, 
John Mulvain, .Vndrew McFarlane, Ezekiel Mc- 
Farlane, Samuel McFarlane, Benjamin Norman, 
George Onspaugh, William Pierpont, George 
Stringer, Philip Wulf, Philip Waggoner's heirs 
and James \\'el(h. 

iidfcyJi. - Hugh -Vddy, William Addy, William 
Evans, James McCune, John McCune, James 
Meskimens, Joseph Scott, George McCune and 
Amos Stackhouse. 

P*c— Daniel Ashcraft. 



256 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Keene — George Armor}-, Elizabeth Armory and 
John Colver. 

Tivertim — Isaac Drajicr. 

Jefferson— 3 os.Q'ph Butler, Thomas Butler and 
Eobert Darling. 

Virginia — Beal Adams, Patrick Miller, Joseph 
McCoy, Richard Tilton and Joseph Wright. 

Adams — David Mast. 

Lafayette — Hugh Ballantine, Archibald Elson, 
William Johnston, George Miller, sr., Francis Mc- 
Guire, Thomas McLain, Elijah Nelson, Matthew 
Orr, Lewis Vail and Jane Wiggins. 

Bed/brd— James Craig, Ezra Horton and Thomas 
Horton. 

Bethlehem — Henry Crissman, Benjamin Fry, 
John Shafler, John Thomjjson, George Skinner 
and William Trimble. 

A number of these landholders were heads of 
quite considerable families, and upon some of the 
la.rge tracts were several tenants. It is known 
that, besides those whose names appear in this 
list, and their children, the following persons 
were resident of the county at that time, several 
of them having been so for a number of j-ears 
preceding: Richard Fowler, William Lockard, 
James Willis, Joseph Harris, C. P^ Van Kirk, 
Peter Casey, George Carpenter, Joseph Neft', 
William and Samuel Morrison, James Jeffries, 
Dr. Samuel Lee, Wright Warner, A. M. Church, 
Thomas L. Rue, William Whitten, Thomas Means, 
Thomas Foster, Barney Carr, James Oglesby, 
George Bible, John Bantham,William Bird, James 
Calder, William Mitchell, Lewis Vail, Asher Hart, 
John Williams, Adam Johnston, John Dillon, 
Abel Cain, Joseph Vail, Rezin Baker, Israel Ba- 
ker, John Baker, James Buckalew, Benjamin 
Burrell, Joseph Burrell, James Cantwell, Barney 
Cantwell, J. G. Pigman, J. W. Pigman, John El- 
der, Archibald EUson, Samuel £;iark, Ezekiel 
Parker, Andrew Lybarger, John Hershman, 
Peter Moore, the McLains, William Biggs, George 
and Levi Jlagness, Richard Hawk, Isaac Sham- 
baugh and Elijah Newcum. 

At the October election, in 1814, there were 
one hundred and three electors in Tuscarawas 
township, which, however, embraced at that time 
not only the township proper on both sides of the 
river, but also all the territory north of the Tus- 
carawas, and east of the Walhonding rivers. 



After the war the accession to the population 
was large, running through several years. In 
those years — 1815-1820— came the progenitors of 
the since well-known Burns, Crowley, Ricketts, 
Sells, Mossman, Heslip, Renfrew, Boj'd, Gault, 
Thompson, Roderick, Squires, James, Tipton, 
Powelson, Luke, Borden, Neldon, Ravenscraft, 
Norris, Winklespleck, McNabb, Slaughter, Mul- 
ford, Stafiford, Cresap, and Lemert families. In 
1818 there were 2S5 resident landholders. 

The personal and family records of the period 
running from 1814 to 1820 (especially the earlier 
part of it), are full of stories of laborious efforts 
and wearying hardships in clearing and planting 
and building. The large inflow of population in- 
volved a great deal of exposure. The conven- 
iences of life, even with those best supplied, were 
scarce. Sickness, incident to all new countries, 
abounded. Especially was a form of congestive 
chills, known as the " cold plague," very preva- 
lent, carrying ofT many of the settlers and dis- 
couraging immigration. Milling facilities were 
still poor and remote. Corn meal and bacon af- 
forded, in many cases, almost the whole support, 
whisky, the p.anacea of those days, was not plenty. 
Yet, despite all drawbacks, children were born 
and settlers came in, and, in 1820, the census- 
taker found 7,0,% inhabitants in Coshocton county. 

From 1820 to 18.30 there was apparently an in- 
crease of only a few over four thousand, making 
the population in the latter year 11,162. It must, 
however, be borne in mind that in that period, 
by the formation of Holmes county, a number of 
people, hitherto counted as of Coshocton county, 
were set over, and the limits of the county de- 
creased. Still the immigration was not heavy, 
especially in the earlier part of the period. Re- 
ports of the sickliness of the river region and the 
rough ways of the settlers had gone abroad. It 
maybe stated in this connection that the advance- 
ment of the county in both population and wealth 
has been regarded by many as having been hin- 
dered in all its earlier stages by the fact of there 
having been a large number (thirty-three) of'four- 
thousand-acre tracts taken up by military land 
warrants, and held mainly by non-residents, cul- 
tivated only by a few cabin tenants, if at all. 

From 1830 to 1840 the population of the county 
was nearly doubled, there being in the latter 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



257 



year 21,590 inhabitants. This large increase was 
largely owing to the opening of the Ohio canal. 

The immigration of that period was of a much 
more miscellaneous sort, and having almost noth- 
ing of the old Virginian and jMarylaJider ele- 
ment, so prominent in the first settlement of the 
county. New York, Western Pennsylvania, East- 
ern Ohio, Germany and Ireland were largely rep- 
resented. 

The population of the county in 1850 was 
25,674; in 1860, 2.3,032; in 1870, 23,647, and in 
1880, 26,763. It will be seen by these figures that 
there was a decrease within the twenty years 
from 1850 to 1870, but a material increase since 
that time. 

The same condition of things has been noted 
in many other counties in Ohio, especially such 
as have hitherto been most largely agricultural. 
It is observed in this connection that the cities 
and larger towns of the State show the chief gains 
attributed to it. Thus, while Coshocton county 
lost during the time above noted, the town of 
Coshocton more than doubled its population, 
which in 1840 was 845, and in 1870, 1,757. In 
1880, its population was 3,044. The disposition 
to forsake the farm for the shop and store and 
office, the "go-west" fever, the readiness of fore- 
handed farmers to purchase at good prices the 
small tracts adjoining their larger ones, the en- 
largement of the stock interests, the develop- 
ment of manufacturing interest, and even the cas- 
ualties of war, have all hiul to do with diminish- 
ing the population, especially in the rural dis- 
tricts, and the filling up of the cities and towns. 

Appeniled will be found the population, iis 
enumerated by the Federal census-takers, of the 
several townships for the years indicated : 

1840. 18,W. 1S70. 1880. 

Adams s:iS 1,419 1,113 1,'.>46 

Bedford, . , 1,141 1,-J21 918 929 

Betblehein 827 822 •S.'iO &SG 

Clarke 70.! SXi 867 l.ftU 

Crawford l.Wt 1,.t.'j2 1,245 l.t^l 

Friinklill 670 906 972 1,053 

Jackson, 1,896 2,037 1,707 1,909 

Jeflcrson 771 929 1,059 1,113 

Keene 1,043 1,078 7,s7 839 

I.afayt'Uo MS 1,040 920 1,081 

Linton 1,196 1,592 1,600 1,918 

Mill Crci'k, ...... 907 872 5,S6 G20 

Monroe 5.57 760 832 1,003 

Newcastle 905 1,229 1,005 85S 



1840. 1850. 1870. 1880. 

Oxford 760 1,112 1,140 1,201 

Perry 1.339 1,340 932 901 

Pike 1,115 ' 1,080 773 720 

Tiverton 665 fH2 80-1 940 

Tuscarawas 1,144 1.593 2,725 4,082 

Virginia, 1,005 1,226 1,014 ],18l> 

Washingtou 1,029 998 768 729 

White Eyes 997 1.132 923 960 

The territory of this county, in its wilderness 
state, presented landscapes of a greatly diversified 
character. 

When, eighty years or more ago, Charles Wil- 
liams, the earliest settler, occupied the Mus- 
kingum valley, he must have been surprised at 
the variety and beauty of its vegetable produc- 
tions. The silence of the primeval woods had 
until then been unbroken by the axe of the white 
man; the forest was here in all its native majesty 
and beauty; the gigantic size and venerable an- 
tiquity of the trees, the rankness of the weeds, 
grasses and trailing vines which formed a thick 
covering for the ground, the luxuriance and 
variety of the untlerbrush, the long vines that 
reached to the tops of the tallest trees, the para- 
sites that hung in clusters from the loftiest boughs, 
the brilliancy of the autumnal foliage, the splendor 
and variety of the vernal flowers, the snowy 
whiteness of the dog-wood blossoms of early spring 
and the exhuberance of the fruits that were ma- 
turing during the summer and autumn, were 
undoubted manifestations of the most vigorous 
vegetable life, and an encouraging proof of the 
quality of the soil. The yield of nuts, berries, 
grapes, plums and other wild fruits, Wiis immense, 
and these foi* years, perhaps centuries, had been 
dropping and wasting, save, only, the few gathered 
by the red man. 

The surface of the country was beautifully di- 
versified by hill and valley, with here and there 
a small swamp, pond, prairie, lakelet, spring or 
running stream — almost every variety of natural 
scenery appeared to the eye of the pioneer. 

Along the streams, on the bottom land, and also 
on the more level or second bottom lands, grew 
the walnut, buttercup, sycamore, hickory, sugar, 
maple, hackberry, white, black and blue Jish, 
linden, white and red elm, and the beech, box- 
elder, red and yellow plum, black-haw, crab- 
apple, red-bud, dog-wood, iron-wood, .Vmerican 
multi-llora, arrow-wood, kinnakinnick, Juneber- 



238 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ry, and a few others. These were found in vari- 
ous jilaces on the above described lands. 

The gum, cucumber and sassafras trees were 
found on the clay formation, while in the hills, 
the different varieties of oak abounded, with a 
small sprinlding of the tulip or yellow poplar, 
and, in limited numbers, most of the above are 
mentioned as abounding in the level lands. 

Many of the grape-vines on the bottom lands 
were of enormeus size, approximating in thick- 
ness a man's body. These sometimes spread 
themselves through the branches of half a score 
or more of the largest trees, completely shutting 
out the sundight, and bearing immense quanti- 
ties of fruit. The huckleberry, coafined princi- 
pally to the hills, yielded fruit bountifully. Some 
other berries grew .spontaneously, as the straw- 
berry, raspberry, blackberry, dewberry, and, in 
a few localities, the cranberry. The latter were, 
in an early day, an article of traffic, for the 
Indians as well as the pioneers. Tlie early set- 
tlers laid up for use during the winter months, 
large quantities of these wild fruits, and also 
chestnuts, hazlenuts, walnuts, butternuts and 
hickorynuts. Paw-paws and Mayapples were 
plenty, and were used to a considerable extent. 

The ginseng plant abounded in most localities, 
in early times, and was an article of extensive 
traffic, both by whites and Indians, for many 
years after the first settement of the county. 
Every merchant bought it. Beeswax, tallow, 
furs, hides, feathers, coon-skins and whisky were 
not more general articles of trade and barter 
than ginseng. It disappeared as 'an article of 
commerce in the county about 1835, and has not 
since been known. The plant is exhausted. It 
was wholly of spontaneous growth and never an 
article of culture. It was a jointed taper root, as 
large as as man's finger, and wlien dry was of a 
yellowish white color, with a mucilaginous sweet- 
ness of taste, somewhat resembling licorice, ac- 
companied with a very slight bitterness. It was 
exported to china, where it was in demand for 
its real or supposed medicinal virtues. 

Occasionally a beautiful grove of wild cherry 
trees were found. They were thick, tall, of wide- 
spreading branches, tolerably clear of knots, and 
generally sound, except those that gave indica- 
tions of great' age. The woodman's ax had been 



laid ii])on but few of these, even as late as 1825 ; 
but not long after, their commercial value be- 
came known, and when the Ohio canal opened, 
in 1833, they gradually dLsapjioared, being 
shipped to Cincinnati and converted into lumber 
for furniture. The concentric circles of many 
of them indicated that they were centuries old, 
fixing the date of their origin in the pre-historic 
age of the country. 

When the wave of white settlers first touched 
the borders of this county, a great variety of wild 
animals contended with the Indian for "suprem- 
acy. Some of the native animals of this primeval 
forest had gradually given way to the general 
westward movement of the white race. The buf- 
falo was gone, probably never to return, at least 
in any number. A few years after the first set- 
tlement, probably about 1803, a small herd, six or 
eight in number, strayed from their usual haunts 
further west, and reached a point a short distance 
east of where Wills creek empties into the Mus- 
kingum. Here for a day or two they were pur- 
sued by the late John Channel, of Licking county, 
a famous hunter and pioneer, and perh.aps by 
others, but without success so far as Mr. Channel 
was concerned. This information is given on the 
authority of Adam Seymour, who was here at 
that time, and Mr. E. S. Woods, who obtained the 
information from Mr. Channel himself. This 
was probably the last sight of wild buffaloes east 
of the Scioto. 

The elk, too, was gone when the pioneers came, 
but the numerous wide-spreading antlers he once 
carried, were found profusely scattered in the 
forest, showing conclusively that he had once been 
here in considerable numbers, and at no remote 
period ; but jirobably no living wild elk Wiis ever 
discovered here by the pioneers. 

Panthers were not numerous, but occasionally 
one was seen or heard, and a few were killed 
during the first ten or fifteen years after the first 
settlement. They disappeared from this section 
about 1812. 

Bears were more numerous and remained 
longer; an occasional straggler being seen at 
intervals of many years, until 1846, or later. 
Bruin was hard on young domestic animals, pigs 
particularly, he had a good appetite for, and it 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



259 



■was with great difficulty that the pioneers were 
able to raise their own pork 

Wolves were found in great abundance, and 
long continued to be a great annoyance to the 
settlers. The legislature encouraged their exter- 
mination by laws which authorized the i)ayinent 
ot liberal sums for wolf scalps, both old and 
young. The records of the county commissioners 
show that large sums were paid the pioneers ot 
the county for wolf scalps; four dollars being the 
price for full grown and two dollars for those 
less than full size. They have long since disap- 
peared. 

Deer were very abundant, and for many years 
after the first settlement, supplied the pioneers 
with most of their animal food. The jiioneers 
were mostly hunters, and the cliase yielded them 
much jirotlt as well as amusement. So numerous 
were the deer in early times that an hour's hunt 
was generally sufficient for securing a fine buck 
or the more palitable doe or fawn. So plenty 
and tiime were they that they were killed fre- 
quently with a shot gun charged only with squir- 
rel shot. 

Gray foxes, raccoons and ground-hogs were 
plenty, and hunting them afforded fine sport. 
Tlie two latter of these are yet found in limited 
numbers, but the first has, probably, entirely dis- 
appeared. 

Red foxes, catamoimts, wild-cats and porcu- 
pines, were found in large numbers, but they 
early disappeared, except the first named, which 
may, perhaps, even yet be occasionally found. 

Rabbits and squirrels, if not here before the 
settlement of the county, came soon after in great 
numbers, and still remain. They seem to follow 
rather than j)rece(le the settlements. 

The beaver and otter were here in considerable 
numbers, and were much sought after by the 
tra]>per for their valuable furs. The former has 
long since disapjicared, and the latter is exceed- 
ingly scarce, if indeed, any remain. 

Muskrats are very nmncrous and have con- 
tinued so, afibrding nuich profit to the hunter 
and triipper. 

Wild turkeys were also very abundant in pio- 
neer days, and so continued for many years, af- 
fording no inconsiderable jiortion of the food of 
the early settlers. They were so numerous and 



tame that they could be procured by the hunter 
on very short notice. They are yet occasionally 
found in the woods. 

Pheasants were not so numerous as the turkey, 
and have almost wholly disappeared. 

Wild geese and ducks were jilenty around the 
little lakes and swamps, and along the streams. 
These are rarely seen at present. 

Quails are not natives of the wilderness; nei- 
ther are crows, blackbirds, bluebirds nor turtle 
doves, but they all became plenty after the settle- 
ment of the county, and still remain in moderate 
quantities. 

Bees were plenty, and the tables of the pioneers 
were generally supplied with honey. 

Cranes, woodcocks, woodpeckers and pigeons 
were plenty, and yet remain, with the exception 
of the first vamed. 

Birds of prey, such as turkey buzzards or vul- 
tures, hawks, ravens, owls and eagles, were very 
numerous, but have been slowly disappearing, 
particularly the eagle, which is now seldom seen. 

Singing birds of various kinds became plenty 
soon after the settlement of the county, and yet 
remain. 

The streams abounded in fish of large size. 
The pike were from two to five feet in length. 
It has almost, if not entirely, disappeared from 
the waters of the county. 

The catfish were plenty and of large size, but 
there were no eels. The white perch and sucker 
were numerous and of large size ; the black jack 
and clear jack were here and grew large, but have 
long since disappeared. The streams, no less 
than the forests, contributed to the support of the 
early settlers. Indeed, so plenty were game, fish, 
fur animals and the fruits and other spontan(!ous 
productions, that it was hardly necessary to till 
the ground to procure subsistence. 

Serpents were of many varieties and in great 
abundance. Esjjccially nunterous were the rat- 
tlesnake, the copjierhead, the viper, blacksnake, 
the garter and watersnake. They were often 
found in the cabins of the settlers, and even in 
their beds. It was not imusual for the settlers to 
be bitten by them, but few, if any deaths oc- 
curred from this cause, as the settlers understood 
the treatment of snake bites. 

For many years the people were troubled with 



260 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



snakes, but the venomous ones have long since 
disappeared. 

Scorpions and lizards abounded, and were not 
in high favor with the pioneers. 

Insects of various kinds were numerous and 
troublesome. Spiders, particularly, were plenty 
and of large size. Gnats, hornets, yellow jackets, 
musquitoes and horseflies were in great abund- 
ance and e.xceedingly annoying to man and bea.st. 

The wolf and the more venomous serpents 
were the most formidable and annoying enemies 
of the early settlers. Panthers were much 
dreaded, but fortunately were not numerous. 
The fox, mink and polecat frequently made raids 
on the hen roost. 

Most of these animals, especially the more 
troublesome ones, have long since disapiseared. 

The distinct classes known in pioneer times as 
hunters and fishermen, have almost disappeared. 
People change and conform their lives to the 
times in which they live. 

Some of the earliest settlers of Coshocton county 
came into it by the route taken by Brodhead's 
military expedition, and others by that taken by 
Bouquet's expedition — the former from Wheeling, 
and the latter from Pittsburg to the Tuscarawas 
valley. The roads were of course Indian trails 
and bridle paths. Others of the pioneers used 
canoes or other water conveyances, floating or 
poling up or down, ixs the case miglit be, the riv- 
ers and creeks. 

While yet a part of Muskingum county, the 
road through Coshocton from Marietta to Cleve- 
land had been made. 

In 1812, the legislature provided for roads from 
Cambridge to Coshocton ; from the head of White 
Eyes plains to Cadiz, and froui Coshocton west- 
wardly. Congress appropriated three per cent 
of moneys derived from the sale of land to the 
making of roads. For the making of State roads, 
or the principal ones, commissioners were desig- 
nated by the legislature. Many roads laid out in 
early times have in more recent years been some- 
what altered, but the chief ones are in alignment 
wonderfully near the old Indian trails. An im- 
mense proportion of the time occupied in the 
sessions of the commissioners has been from the 



beginning, even to this writing, taken up with 
road matters. 

The first settlers were largely engaged in hunt- 
ing, trapping and fishing in the Muskingum and 
its beautiful tributaries. 

As soon as half a dozen or more pioneers had 
settled in close proximity to each other, a liut 
was erected and used for all public meetings, and 
for school and religious purjioses. They were a 
rough, hardy people, but believed in giving every 
body " fair-play," and whenever a preacher ap- 
peared among them he was invited to preach, 
and all the settlers, big, little, old and young 
came to hear him, paying little regard to relig- 
ious creed. 

The following description of one of the school 
houses, or places for public meetings, was clip- 
ped from the Coshocton Age, of February, 1881, 
and as it is a faithful picture, is worthy of pres- 
ervation : 

The one I can more particularly describe was 
situated in the southwest quarter of White Eyes 
township. The house was built of round logs, 
not hewed on either side. The openings be- 
tween the logs were filled with chunks and 
daubed with mud. The Hoor was made of punch- 
eons, split out of a tree and partially hewed. The 
roof was made of clapboards, laid on poles, and 
poles laid on the boards to keep them on. The 
loft was made of the same kind of material as 
the floor, and daubed along the joints with mud 
to keep the cold out. Tlie door was made of 
rough boards, with a wooden latch for a fastening, 
with a buck-skin latch string, the end of which 
hung through a hole in the door, to raise the 
latch. There was no stove in it, but it had a fire- 
place in one end of the building; a back-wall 
was built from the ground to the loft, about 
eight feet long, without jambs ; the flue was 
started at the loft, built of mud and sticks, and 
run up through the roof, to let the smoke escape. 
In this fire-iilace the teacher would build a large 
wood fire around which the boys and girls would 
stand to warm themselves before the school hours 
in the morning. A substitute for windows w'as 
made by cutting out a log on each side, with 
paper pasted over the openings, and greased with 
lard or tallow, to admit the light: The paper 
used w^as the Coshocton Spij (now the Age). 
Around the Avails were rough lioards fixed on 
pins in the walls for desks; along these desks 
were long benches with four or five legs in each 
one, made by boring holes in a slab and insert- 
ing the legs in these holes. The desks and 
benches were occupied by those learning to 




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a 

o 

w 



c 
t- 





)n I 






HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



261 



•write, and those studying arithmetic. There 
were three other benches, shorter in the legs, 
placed in front of the fire, for smaller children 
to occupy. The benches were all without back.«i. 
The teacher made all the jiens for liis scholars of 
goose quills, with a small knife. The paper used 
to write on then was not ruled like the paper 
now; the scholars had rulers, to rule their pajier 
with, and pencils made of lead, hammered out 
in the shape of a horse-shoe nail, and wiuikl rule 
their paper with this. The te.xt books used at 
that time, were the United States Spelling-book, 
English Reader, New Testament and Western 
Calculator. No English (xrammar or Geography 
were taught. Tho.se reading in the English 
Reader w-ould all stand up in a class, in some 
unoccupied sjjace in the house ; the whole cla.ss 
would bow to the teacher. The one standing at 
the head of the class would then read a para- 
graph, the one next to him the same, .and so on 
till all had read. Those reading in the Testament 
the same. All the teacher done during the 
reading was, when the scholars came to a word 
they could not pronounce, the teacher would 
pronounce it for him or her. After the class j 
had read two paragrajihs each, they would return 
to their seats, without any further instructions 
on the subject of reading. Then the teacher 
would call up the smaller scholars, one or two 
at a time, and point to the letter or word to 
be spelled, with his penknife; in a general way 
the scholar repeating the lesson after the teacher. 
Those who had studied arithmetic solved the ex- 
amples at their seats, except when they come to 
one they could not in any way solve; they 
would then go to the teacher, he would solve it 
on the slate and pass it back to the scholar. There 
was no blackboard, consequently there was very 
little instruction in the matter. These were the 
days of corporal punishment, and in a conven- 
inent place to the teacher stood one or two 
hickory gads, large enough to drive a yoke of 
oxen. School continued from between eight 
and nine o'clock in the morning to four o'clock 
p. M., except one hour at noon ; no recess. Young 
folks, compare your advantages and comforts 
with tliose of forty-five years ago. 

Closely following the pioneer hunter and trap- 
per came the pioneer merchant and trader. To 
get goods into and produce out of this county 
was easy as compared with counties further west 
and those away from the larger streams. The 
ISIuskingum river formed a very good outlet, and 
was for many years the highway for the tran- 
portation of goods both out of and into Coshocton 
fiounty, and other counties north and west. The 
pioneers of Knox, Richland and Ashland counties 



did a great deal of boating on the Muskingum. 
After a few years, when roads were constructed, 
came the great freight wagons; Tlie National 
road especially became a great outlet for the pro- 
duce of this and other counties of the State. 
Great covered freight wagons, with tires seven or 
eight inches broad and an inch thick, drawn by 
six horses or mules, made regular trips from 
Baltimore and Philadelphia over the National 
road to Zanesville, to which place much of the 
produce of this county was taken to be shipped 
by these wagons, and from which place goods 
were received by the merchants of Coshocton. 
The wagons left the National road at various 
points and traveled over the " mud " road to dis- 
tant settlements and villages for the convenience 
of the settlers. They not only carried goods and 
produce, but carried the mail also, and did the 
express business in parts of the country not 
touched by .the stages. Many of the teamsters 
w'ere men of high character, standing and credit, 
and, in transacting their business, would require 
persons who shipped goods by their wagons to 
make out three bills of lading, all properly signed 
with as much regularity as a .ship at sea or the 
freight trains of to-day; one bill to accompany 
the goods, one to be retained by the shipper, and 
one to go by mail to the consignee. One of those 
teams and wagons would to-day be a greater 
curiosity than a steamer or a train of cars. They 
are yet to be found on the great prairies of the 
west, transporting freight to jioints not yet reached 
by the iron-horse. These wagons did the larger 
part oi the carrying trade of the country for 
many years. The merchant who wished to pur- 
chase goods in the eastern cities sent his order 
and received his goods by these wagons, and, in 
order to pay for the goods, often intrusted large 
sums of money to the teamsters. 

The products of the country recived by the 
merchants in exchange for goods, consisting 
mostly of wheat, whisky, furs, etc., were also 
shipped by those wagons, being taken by boat to 
Zanesville, then loaded into the wagfjus and 
either taken east or north to the lakes ; often, how- 
ever, it was taken on down the Ohio and Mississ- 
ippi rivers to New Orleans. Often months would 
elapse before the merdiant could receive his re- 
turns for jiroduce thus disposed of. 



262 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The water courses were, in very early days, 
untramiiieled by mills or bridges, and by reason 
of the swampy condition of the country, and the 
abundance of water, a number of the smaller 
streams were navigable for small boats to points 
which would seem incredible at this tiniie. Flat- 
boats were built carrying from twenty to fifty 
tons, these were loaded with pork, flour, whisky, 
and the products of the chase, and taken to New 
Orleans, where the boat and cargo were disposed 
of for Spanish gold, and the pioneer with his 
money in his pocket would often set out for home 
on foot, walking, perhaps, the entire distance, or 
may be purchasing a mule or horse by the way or 
taking the stage occasionally for short distances. 

In these primitive ways the pioneers of Coshoc- 
ton county communicated with the outside world. 
About half a century elapsed from the time of 
the first settlement of the county, before these 
were superceded by the railroad. 

The products of the county, for want of trans- 
portation and a market, brought very low prices 
at home; the price of wheat being generally 
from twenty-five to fifty cents per bushel; oats, 
twelve cents per bushel; corn, twenty cents per 
bushel; whisky, fifteen cents per gallon ; pork, 
one dollar and fifty cents per hundred weight; 
cows, eight to ten dollars each, and horses from 
thirty to forty dollars each. Coffee brought from 
seventy-five cents to one dollar per pound ; salt, 
from four to six d(jllar3 per barrel ; calicoes from 
fifty cents to one dollar per yard. Money was 
the exceijtion, traflic and trade the rule. 

In trading with the Indians it was customary 
for the pioneer merchant to place a bottle of 
whisky on each end of the counter that the pur- 
chivsers might help themselves gratuitously, and 
thus facilitate business. Tiiese cabins for the 
purposes of trade and traffic sprang up all along 
the new roads, and were occupied by some hardy 
pioneer family, who procured a living partly by 
hunting, partly by trading whisky, tobacco, blank- 
ets, knives, tomahawks and trinkets with the In- 
dians and settlers; and, as travel on the roads in- 
creased, by keeping travelers over night, finally 
converting his cabin into a " tavern," by swinging 
on creaking iron hinges the great painted sign — 
the most conspicuous and important thing about 
the premises. Frequently these taverns were the 



means of starting a town, which grew and pros- 
pered, or became e.xtinct, according to circum- 
stances. Establishing a town was like investing 
in a lottery ticket, which might draw a prize or a 
blank. Nothing now remains to mark the site 
of many early towns platted on the soil of Coshoc- 
ton county ; others are marked by small clusters 
of partially deserted houses. 

The early settlers were generallj' a rough, hardy 
set, and their social gatherings were often marred 
by ring-fights, much whisky drinking and ca- 
rousal. They seldom or never visited each other 
simply for the purpose of a social call as is the 
practice of to-day, but the women took with them 
their knitting and sewing, or went with the ex- 
pectation of quilting or cutting apples, or in some 
way helping a neighbor through the great mass 
of work, and at the same time cultivate social and 
friendly relations; and the social parties on the 
masculine side of the house, were cabin-raisings, 
corn-huskings, log-rollings, various gymnastic 
exercises, such as jumping, wrestling, shooting at 
a mark, etc. Thus but little time was lost in so- 
ciability. 

If they were always ready for a fight, they 
were also always ready to help each other or a 
stranger on any and all occasions, and for this 
purpose would put themselves to great inconven- 
ience and travel great distances. Did one of them 
want a cabin raised he had only to let his neigh- 
bors know (and all were considered neighbors 
within a circle of five or ten miles) and they 
would be there promptly, the only compensation 
expected being a generous supply of whisky. 

Log-rollings were a weekly occurrence ; every 
settler would have one or more of these gather- 
ings every year until his lands were well cleared. 
Settlers for miles around would come with their 
axes, oxen and hand spikes; the logs were cut, 
hauled together and piled in great heaps to be 
set on fire after drying. The younger members 
of the community, girls and boys, piled the brush 
and smaller sticks in immense heaps; and boys 
not yet old can remember when these heaps were 
set on fire at night, and how all the young peo- 
ple for miles around gathered and played " goal " 
and " round-town " by the light of the crackling 
brush. 

Corn-huskings are even yet occasionally in- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



263 



dulged in by the f.irming rdinnmnity, though 
rarely, and will soon be entirely unknown. A 
night was selected for the corn-husking when the 
moon was full. Sometimes the corn was husked 
as it stood in the held, and large fields were thus 
cleared of corn in a single evening. At other 
times the owner of a corn-field would go through 
it a day or two before the husking was to take 
place, jerk the ears from the stalk and haul them 
to some dry spot in the meadow, where they were 
piled in a huge circle. About this circle, on the 
outside, the men would gather in the evening, 
and amid the rattle of husks and the general hi- 
larity the yellow ears would flow toward the cen- 
ter of the circle in a continual stream, while the 
buskers buried themselves deeper and deeper in 
the husks, until they emerged and stood ujion 
the inner line of tlie circle, with a great pile of 
corn in front and a pile of husks in the rear. 

Occasionally the corn was as nearly as possible 
divided into two heaps; captains or leaders were 
chosen by the men, who in turn choosing their 
men arranged themselves in opposition. Each 
of the opposing parties endeavored to get 
through first, the bottle being p.assed frequently, 
each one helping himself to as much of the con- 
tents as he desired. The successful captain was 
elevated upon the shoulders of his men and car- 
ried around the pile amid prolonged cheers. 
Sometimes the beaten party was aggravated un- 
til knock-downs ensued, after which all would 
repair to the house of the host and partake of 
the good things prepared for the occasion. 

The settlers exercised a good deal of ingenuity 
in making traps to secure the wild animals of the 
forest. This was one of the principal occupations 
and sources of pleasure for the boys. In certain 
localities it seemed almost impossible for the 
pioneers to raise sheep or hogs on account of the 
depredations of wolves and bears ; the latter inva- 
riably preferred jiork to mutton, but the wolves 
always attacked the sheep in preference. The 
State offered six dollars each for wolf scalps; this 
and other considerations stimulatid the efforts of 
the settlers to destroy them. Many of the young 
men devoted their time almost exclusively to this 
business. For the purpose of catching them, a 
wolf pen was constructed of small logs, si.x feet 
long, four feet wide and three feet high. It was 



formed lil>e a large box, with puncheon floor, the 
lid was made of heavy puncheons, and was re- 
moved bj' an axle at one end made of a small 
round stick. The trap was set by the ordinary 
figure 4 combination, and baited with anj- kind of 
meat except wolf meat, the animal preferring any 
other to his own. Upon gnawing the meat the 
lid fell, enclosing the unwary native for the bene- 
fit of the trapper. 

Steel traps were generally used for the mink 
and muskrat, but for the coon the figure 4 ar- 
rangement was often used. The habits of this 
animal (as well as of all others) were taken into 
consideration. It is well known that the coon 
frequents swails, swamps and stagnant pools in 
search of frogs, of which he is verj' fond, and 
upon which he subsists largely when roasting- 
ears are not at hand. In his search for frogs he 
will traverse the logs that are alwa3's to be found 
in the swamp. The trajiper understands this, 
and places his trap upon the log upon which the 
unwary animal must enter the swamp or make 
his exit therefrom. The trap is simply a small 
log, placed lengthwise of the log which the coon 
must walk, and held up by the figure 4, to the 
treadle of which three or more strings are at- 
tached and stretched along between the two logs 
in such a way that the coon must come in con- 
tact with them in his jiassage, and thus spring the 
trap, letting the small log fall upon him. This 
small log must be made sufficiently heavy by 
weights to crush him. 

Wild pigeons were once very numerous, and 
were caught in large numbers in traps. During 
the season when the ma.st was ripe and plenty, 
millions of these birds frequented the country. 
The flocks were so great that they would some- 
times be hours in pi^ssing over a given spot, and 
it is said that they would occasionally obscure the 
sunlight, and bring on twilight in midday by 
their immense numbers. For the last twenty 
years these birds have been gradually disappear- 
ing until at present only small flocks are occa- 
sionally seen. Probably the clearing up of the 
country and the gradual disappearance of the 
mast-bearing trees has caused them to seek other 
feeding grounds. They were here slaughtered 
in great numbers, both by gun and trap, and 
were considered a great table delicacy. 



264 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

JOHN CHAPMAN. 

Give fools their gold, and knaves their power : 

Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall ; 
Who sows a field, or trains a flower. 

Or plants a tree, is more than all. 

— Whittiee. 

A HISTORY of Ohio, and especially of Coshoc- 
-^-J^ ton county, would be incomplete without 
some accoimt of this very eccentric individual, 
well known among the pioneers of Ohio as 
Johnny Appleseed, from the fact that he was the 
pioneer nurseryman. 

He seems to deserve a place in history among 
the heroes and martyrs, for he was both in his 
peculiar calling. His whole life was devoted to 
what he believed the public good, without regard 
to personal feeling or hope of pecuniary reward. 
Not once in a century is such a life of self-sacri- 
fice for the good of others known. There has 
been but one Johnny Appleseed, and he lived a 
life so peculiar, so isolated, and withal so worthy, 
that his name should be perpetuated. 

He was a native of Massachusetts. His father, 
Nathaniel Chapman, emigrated from the vicinity 
of Springfield, Massachusetts, to Marietta, Ohio, 
ill very early times, probably about the beginning 
of the present century. He had a large family, 
and they all came with him except John. His 
children were John, Nathaniel, Perley, Abner, 
Jonathan, Davis, Lucy, Patty, Persis, Mary and 
Sally. The family once published a book, con- 
taining their genealogy, which, although rare, 
may yet be found among the descendants of the 
family, who are scattered over Ohio and Indiana. 

The date of John Chapman's birth is not cer- 
tainly known at present. Mr. C. S. CofRnberry, 
of Constantine, Michigan, who was well acquainted 
with him, writes that "as early as 1780, he was 
seen in the autumn, for two or three successive 
years, along the banks of the Potomac, in eastern 
Virginia." He must have been quite a young 
man at that time, and was no doubt following the 
same calling that so distinguished him in after 
life. He did not accompany his father when he 
came West, but had, without doubt, preceded 
him, and was then planting apjile seeds in western 
Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. 



Why he left his native State, and devoted his 
life to the planting of apple seeds in the West, is 
known only to himself. People have been 
inclined to consider him insane, and he may 
have been so to a certain degree. He was cer- 
tainly eccentric, as many people are who are not 
considered insane; it is hard to trace eccentricity 
to the point where insanity begins. He was cer- 
tainly smart enough to keep his own counsel. 
Without doubt his was a very[aftectionate nature ; 
every act of his life reveals this prominent char- 
acteristic. From this fact alone writers have 
reasoned, and with good ground, that he was 
crossed in love in his native State, and thus they 
account for his eccentricity. This is only sup- 
position, however, as he was very reticent on the 
subject of his earl}- life. 

He wixs conscientious in every act and thought, 
and a man of deep religious convictions; being a 
rigid Swedenborgian, and maintaining the doc- 
trine that spiritual intercourse could be held 
with departed spirits; indeed, was in frequent 
intercourse himself with two of these spirits of 
the female gender, who consoled him with the 
news that they were to be his wives in the future 
state, should he keep himself from all entangling 
alliances in this. 

So kind and simple was his heart that he was 
equally welcome with the Indians or pioneers, 
and even the wild animals of the woods seemed 
to have an understanding with Johnny, and never 
molested him. He has been variously described, 
but all agree that he was rather below the medium 
height, wiry, quick in action and conversation, 
nervous and restless in his motions; ej'es dark 
and sparkling; hair and beard generally long, 
but occasionall)' cut short; dress scanty, and gen- 
erally ragged and patched ; generally barefooted 
and bareheaded, occasionally, however, wearing 
some old shoes, sandals, or moccasins in very 
cold weather, and an old hat some one had cast 
off. It is said he was occasionally seen with a tin 
pan or pot on his head, that served the double 
purpose^of hat and mush-pot; at other times 
with a cap, made by himself, of pasteboard, with 
a very broad visor to protect his eyes from the 
sun. 

His diet was very simple, consisting of milk 
when he could get it, of which he was very fond; 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



265 



potatoes and other vegetables, fruits and meats; 
but no veal, as he said this should be a land flow- 
ing with milk and honey, and the calves should 



He thought himself a messenger sent into the 
wilderness to prepare the way for the people, as 
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for 




JOIIKNY APPLESEED. 



be spared. He would not touch tea, coffee, or 
tobacco, as he felt that these were luxuries in 
which it was wicked and injurious to indulge. 
He was averse to taking the life of any animal 
or insect, and never indulged in hunting with 
a gun. 



the coming of tlie Savior, hence he made it a part 
of his duty to keep in advance of civilization. 
He gathered his apple seeds little by little from 
the cider-presses of Western Pennsylvania, and 
putting thcni careftdly in leathern bags, he trans- 
ported them, sometimes on his back, and some- 



266 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



times on the back of a broken-down horse or 
mule, to the Ohio river, where he usually secured 
a boat, and brought them to the mouth of the 
Muskingum, and up that river, planting them in 
wild, secluded spots all along its numerous tribu- 
taries. Later in life he continued his operations 
further west. When his trees were ready, for 
sale he usuallj' left them in charge of some 
pioneer to sell for him. The i)rice was low — a 
" fippeny-bit " apiece, rarely paid in money, and 
if people were too poor to purchase, the trees 
were given them. 

One or two of his nurseries were located in the 
Walhonding valley, and many of his orchards 
were scattered over Coshocton, Knox, Richland, 
Ashland, and other counties further east. One 
of his nurseries was located in what was known 
as " Indian Field," on the north bank of Owl 
creek, in Knox county. Some of his trees are 
yet standing and bearing fruit. His residence in 
this vicinity covered the period of the war of 
1812, and several years prior to it. He would 
occasionally make trips further west, and return 
after an absence of two or three months. On 
these occasions he probably visited his sister 
Persis, who married a man named Broom, or 
Brown, and lived in Indiana. Persis lived in 
Richland county before she moved to Indiana, 
and Johnny must have made his home with her, 
as he was considered a resident of that county by 
the pioneers, so far as they looked upon him as a 
resident of any particular spot. 

His operations in the Muskingum valley were 
quite extensive, and continued a number of years 
even after he had penetrated further west. It 
was his highway of travel to and from the Penn- 
sylvania cider-presses, and while he continually 
extended his nur.series further westward, he yet 
kept up those he had establislied in this valley, 
and visited them frequently on his journeys back 
and forth. The sj)ot occupied by one of his nur- 
series is pointed out in New Castle tov^nship,and 
an immense apple tree of his jilanting is referred 
to in the history of that town.ship. 

During the war of 1H12, Johnny was very active 
in warning the settlers of danger, and considered 
himself a kind of scout and general guardian of 
the frontier. He never shrank from danger or 
hardship when he thought the lives of the settlers 



were in danger. He happened to be in Mansfield, 
Richland county, when Jones was killed, and 
immediately volunteered to go to Fredericktown 
and Mount Vernon for help, as it was supposed a 
large body of Indians were lurking around the 
block-hou.se, and abotit to make an attack upon 
it; and that they had probabh* committed other 
murders in the neighborhood. An early settler 
says, regarding this trip of John Chapman's, 
which was made in the night: 

Although I was but a child, I can remember as 
if it were but yesterday, the warning cry of 
Johnny Appleseeil, as he stood before my father's 
log cabin door on that night. I remember the 
preci.se language, the clear, loud voice, the delib- 
erate exclamations, and the fearful thrill it awoke 
in my bosom. "Fly! fly! for your lives! the 
Indians are murdering and scalping at Manslield!" 
These were his words. M\' father sprang to the 
door, but the messenger was gone, and midnight 
silence reigned without. 

Johnny Appleseed created some consternation 
among the settlers on this trip, by his peculiar 
manner of announcing his business. He was 
barefooted and bareheaded, and ran all the way, 
stopping at every cabin as he passed, giving a 
warning cry similar to the above. It must be 
remembered that after Hull's surrender the pio- 
neers were fearful of an Indian raid, and went to 
bed every uight with the thought that they might 
lose their scalps before morning; thus their 
imaginations were already highly excited, and 
Johnny's hurried rap at the cabin door and his 
fearful midnight cry merely confirmed their ex- 
pectations and created a panic. Manj' ludicrous 
things happened in consequence. Families left 
their cabins and flew to the block-houses for 
safetj'. 

Mr. Coffinberry says : 

John Chaj)man was a regularly constituted 
minister of the Church of the New Jerusalem, 
according to the revelations of Emanuel Sweden- 
borg. He was also constituted a missionary of 
that faith under the authority of the regular asso- 
ciation in the city of Boston. The writer has 
seen and examined his credentials as to the latter 
of these. 

He always carried in his pocket, books and 
tracts relating to his religion, and took great de- 
light in reading them to others and scattering 
them about. When he did not liave enough with 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



207 



him to go around, he would take the books apart 
and distribute them in pieces. 

Johnny was very closely identified with the 
early history of Mount Vernon, as the following 
documont, which appears on the records in the 
Recorder's oilicc of that county, will show : 

John Chapman, ] Know all men by these 
to V presents, that I, Jolin Chap- 

Jesse B. Thomas. ) man (by occupation a sath- 
ercr and jilanter of ai)iile seeds), residing in Rich- 
land county, for the sum of thirty dollars, honest 
money, do hereby grant to said Jesse B. Tliomas, 
late Senator from Illinois, his heirs and assigns 
forever, lot No. \4o, in the corporation limit.s of 
the village of Mount Vernon, St;ite of Ohio. 

The deed was given in 1828. The lot is proba- 
bly the one upon which now stands the Philo 
house, on Main street, and is a valual)le one. It 
is pleasant to know that .Johnny once had a spot 
of ground he could call his own. 

This was not, however, the extent of his posses- 
sions in Mount Vernon. The last time he is re- 
membered to have been in this neighborhood, he 
pointed out to Joseph Mahaft'ey two lots of land 
at the lower end of Main street, west side, about 
where Moray's soap factory once stood, saying 
that he owned them and would some day come 
back to them. Steven's warehouse, formerly the 
Mount Vernon woollen mills, erected by N. N. 
Hill, now stands upon a portion of the ground. 

Besides the cultivation of apple trees John 
■Chapman was extensively engaged in scattering 
the seeds of many wild vegetables, which he sup- 
posed possessed medicinal qualities, such as dog- 
fennel, ))ennyroyal, may-apple, hoarhound, cat- 
nip, wintergreen, etc. His object was to equalize 
the distribution so that every locality would have 
a variety. His operations in Indiana began in 
18.36, and was continued for ten years or more. 
In the spring of 1847, being within fifteen miles 
of one of his nurseries on the St. Joseph river, 
word was brought to him that cattle had broken 
into his nursery and were destroying his trees, 
and he started immediately for the jilace. When 
he arrived he was very much fatigued; being 
quite advanced in years, the journey performed 
without intermission, exhausted his strength. 
He lay down that night never to rise again. A 
fever settled upon him and in a day or two after 



taking sick he passed away. "We buried him," 
says Mr. Worth, " in David Archer's graveyard, 
two and a half miles north of Fort Wayne." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

PIO.NEER TIMES. 

Where tile Pinnocrs Came From— Their Coinliliim uiul char- 
acter— What They Lived On— The " Truek Pateh"— Ilnminy 
Blocks— Mills— ("ookiiig— Cultivation o{ Domestic Animals 
— Willi Turkeys— Whisky— Superstitions— Dress of the Men— 
The I-'lax Wheel and Loom— More .Wiout (Uothiug— " Kick- 
ing Frolics"— Dress of the Women— White Kid .Slipiiers— 
Dyeinpc— Fourth of .Inly and Militia Musters— Cabins and 
Their Construction — Furniture of the Cabins — Tloosier 
Poem--Early Laud Laws— Tomahawk Rights— Hunting- 
Early Weddings— Dancing and " House Warming," .School- 
ing, School Teachers, etc.— Spelling Schools— Conclusion. 

PIONEER days for Coshocton county and the 
State of Ohio are gone forever ; the wolf, 
bear, deer, Indian, and all associations and rem- 
iniscences of those " good old days " have long 
since faded from sigh*, if not from memory, and 
the pioneers, most of them, are gone, too — 

" How few, all weak and withered of their force, 
Wait on the verge of dark -eternity. " 

It remains to write their history, and the history 
of the times in which they lived, as of another 
race of beings; and, if jiossible, to impress the 
best of it upon the character of the present and 
future generations; for it is a history worthy of 
imitation and preservation. A study of the char- 
acteristics of the pioneer fathers and mothers is 
calculated to ennoble the mind and strengthen 
the hand f(.ir the battle of life. 

It would require a volume to tell of their habits 
and customs; of their trapping and hunting; of 
their solitary lives in the great woods, surrounded 
by wild animals and wilder men; of their dress, 
manners, and peculiar ways; of their cabins and 
furniture ; of the long winter evenings by the log- 
heap fire u])on which — 

" \\'e piletl. with care, onr nightly stack 

of wood against the chimney-back — 

The oaken log. green, huge, and thick. 
■.\nil on its top the siotit back-stick; 

Tile knotty fore-slick laid ai)art. 

And tilled between with curio\is art 

The ragged brush : then hovering near 

We watch the tirst red blaze ai)pear. 

Heard the sharp craekle. caught the gleam 

On Whitewashed wall and sagging beam, 

Tntil the old rurlc-furnishcd room 

Uvirst Ilower-like into rosy bloom." 



268 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



It was a free, happy, independent life ; full of 
hardships, indeed, but sweetened with innocence 
and peace; with alternations of labor, pleasure 
and rest. 

The pioneers of Coshocton were largely from 
New England, Virginia, Pennsylvania and ^lary- 
land, who sought to better their condition by 
making permanent homes in the wilderness west 
of the Ohio river They came largely on foot 
over the Allegheny mountiiins, man}' of them 
having a single horse and wagon, or a two-horse 
wagon, in which their worldly possessions were 
carried, and in which the very old or very young, 
only, were allowed to ride. Many of them were 
poor, and, like Jack in the story, " came to seek 
their fortunes." A few came with ox teams; 
some with horses, two, three or four of them ; 
some in two-wheeled carts, whileothers packed 
all their worldly possessions on a couple of old 
" critters." Instances are related of a bag on top, 
or snugged down in among the bundles, made 
somewhat after tlie fashion of a double knapsack, 
and a couple of babies poked their little bronzed 
faces out of the slits in this novel conveyance, and 
rode along like little "possums." 

From fifteen to lifty-tive days were required in 
making the toilsome journey to the far West, by 
the first pioneers. Streams had to be forded fre- 
quently. It was not unusual for a team to give 
out on the way and cause a delay of a fortnight 
or a month to one of the families. The joy was 
very great when the team hove in sight and the 
family rejoined the party who had found " the end 
of the road," or stopped until the men looked for 
a suitable location. 

When once settled and the cabin erected, it 
was not only a home and shelter for the pioneer 
and his family, but for every stranger who jiassed 
that way, " without money and without jirice." 
The latch string was always out, for these pio- 
neers were great hearted people, and no man, be 
he white, black or red, was turned away empty. 
Their cabins, often not more than fifteen or 
twenty feet square, made of rougli beech logs, 
with the bark still adhering to them, were fre- 
quently occupied by a dozen, or even a score, of 
people for the night, and no complaints made for 
want of room; genuine hospitality always finds 
room enough, and never apologizes for lack of 



more; and when breakfast time came, there 
was no apology for the scarcity of knives, 
forks and spoons, for " fingers were made before 
any of these." The fare was homely, but gener- 
ally abundant. What to eat, drink and wear, 
were questions not, perhaps, difficult of solution 
in those days. The first was the easiest to solve. 
The deer, the bear, the wild turkey, the rabbit, 
the squirrel, all stiirted up and said, or seemed to 
say,i-" eat me." These had been prepared for the 
red men of the forest,and were equally abundant 
for the pioneer. The forest was full of game, 
the streams full of fish, and wild fruits were 
abundant. To get bread required both patience 
and labor; the staff of life was one of the articles 
that must be earned " by the sweat of the brow ; " 
it could not be gathered from the bushes, fislied 
from the streams, or brought down with the 
rifle. Every backwoodsman once a year added 
to his clearing, at least, a - truck patch." This 
was the hope and stay of the family; the recep- 
tacle of corn, beans, melons, potatoes, squashes, 
pumpkins, turnips, etc., each variety more per- 
fectly developed and delicious, because it grew 
in virgin soil. The corn and beans planted in 
May brought roasting ears and succotash in 
August. Potatoes came with corn, and the cellar, 
built in the side of a convenient hill, and tilled 
with the contents of the truck patch, secured 
the family against want. When the corn grew 
too hard for roasting ears, and was yet too soft 
to grind in the mill, it was reduced to meal by a 
grater, and whether stirred into mush or baked 
into johnnycake, it made, for peo])le with keen 
appetites and good stomachs, excellent food. Place 
before one of those brawny backwoodsmen a 
square foot of johnnycake and a venison steak 
broiled on hickory coals, and no art of civiliza- 
tion could produce a more saisfactory meal. 

Ne.xt to the grater comes the hominy block, an 
article in common use among the pioneers. It 
consisted simply of a block of wood — a section of 
a tree, perhaps— with a hole burned, or dug, into 
it a foot deep, in which corn was pulverized with 
a pestle. Sometimes this block was inside the 
cabin, where it served as a seat for the bashful 
young buckskinned backwoodsman while " spark- 
ing" his girl; sometimes a convenient stump in 
front of the cabin door was prepared for, and 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



269 



made one of the best of hominy blocks. When 
pigs began to be raised, tlie natural relation be- 
tween pork and beaten corn suggested the grand 
old idea of "hog and hominy." 

Hominy blocks did not last long, for mills came 
quite early and superseded them, yet these mills 
were often so far apart that in stormy weather, or 
for want of transportation, the pioneer was com- 
pelled to resort to his hominy block, or go without 
bread. In winter, the mills were frozen up near- 
ly all the time, and when a thaw came and the ice 
broke, if the mill was not swept away entirely by 
the floods, it was so thronged with pioneers, each 
with his sack of corn, that some of them were 
often compelled to camp out near the mill and 
wait several days for their turn. When the grist 
was ground, if they were so fortunate as to possess 
an ox, a horse, or mule, for the purpose of trans- 
portation, they were happy. It was not unusual 
to go from ten to twenty miles to mill, through 
tlie pathless, unbroken forest, and to be benighted 
on the journey, and chased, or treed by wolves. 
A majority of the pioneers, however, settled in the 
vicinity of a stream, upon which mills were rap- 
idly erected. These mills were very primitive 
afifairs — mere "corn crackers" — but they were an 
improvement on the hominy block. They mere- 
ly ground the corn, the pioneer must do his own 
bolting. A wire sieve was then one of the most 
important articles of household furniture. It 
always hung in its place, on a wooden peg, just 
under the ladder that reached to the loft. The 
meal was sifted and the finest used for bread. 
How delicious was that "Indian pone," baked in 
a large deep skillet, which was placed upon coals 
raked from the fire-place to the hearth. Fresh 
coals were continually placed under it and upon 
the iron lid imtil the loaf, five or six incnes thick, 
was done through. This was a different thing 
from johnnycake ; it was better, and coukl not 
always be had, for to make it good, a little wheat 
flour was needed, arnl wheat flour was a precious 
thing in those very early days. 

A road cut through the forest to the mill, and 
a wagon for hauling the grist, were great advan- 
tages, the latter especially was often a seven days' 
wonder to the children of a neighborhood, and 
the happy owner of one often did, for years, the 
milling for a whole neighborhood. About once 



a month this good neighbor, who was in excep- 
tionally good circumstances, because able to own 
a wagon, would go about through the neighbor- 
hood, gather up the grists and take them to mill, 
often spending several days in the operation, and 
never thinking of charging for his time and 
trouble. 

Cooking, in pioneer times, was an interesting 
operation. 

The trammel and hooks were found among the 
well-to-do families, as time progressed. Previous 
to this, the lug-pole, across the inside of the chim- 
ney,about even with the chamber floor, answered 
for a trammel. A chain w;is suspended from it, 
and hooks were attached, and from this hung the 
mush-pot or tea-kettle. If a chain wsis not availa- 
ble, a wooden hook was in reach of the humblest 
and poorest. When a meal was not in preparation, 
and the hook was endmigered by tire, it was 
shoved ixside to one end of the lug-pole for safety. 
Iron ware was very scarce in those days. In- 
stances are relateil where the one pot served at a 
meal to boil water for mint tea or crust coffee, to 
bake the bread, boil the potatoes, and fry the 
meat. By fine management this was accom- 
plished. Frequently the kettle had no lid, and a 
flat stone, heated, and handled with the tongs, 
was used instead of one, when a loaf or pone or 
pumpkin pie was baked. A shortcake could be 
baked by heating the kettle moderately, putting 
in the cake, and tipping it uf) sidewise before the 
glowing fire. Bannock, or boardcake, was made 
by mixing the corn-meal up with warm water, a 
pinch of salt and a trifle of lard, into a thick 
dough, spreading it on a clean, sweet-smelling 
clapboard, patting it with the cleanest of hands, 
and standing it slanting before the fire, propi)ed 
into the right position by a flat-iron behind it. 
Baked hastily, this made a delicious cake, sweet 
and nutty and fresh, and the pretty stamii of the 
mother's dear, unselfish, loving fingers was plainly 
detected in the crisp crust. 

The cultivation of domestic animals, both 
beasts and fowls, for the purpose of food, began 
early. Cows for nnlk, butter, beef, and leather, 
and swine for pork, were bred, ear marked and 
turned into the woods to browse. "Root hog or 
die," was the law for man and beast, but the 
woods were prolific and tlie hogs grew fat. The 



270 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



young pigs were exceptionally a sweet morsel for 
the bear. Bruin always singled out these young 
animals in preference to any other meat; but the 
pigs were often successfully defended by the older 
hogs, who, upon the least signs of distress from 
one of their number, would go boldly to the res- 
cue, and fiercely attack the foe, however formida- 
ble; often the pig was released and bruin, or the 
panther, compelled to ascend a tree for safety. 

The boys often found wild turkeys' nests in the 
woods, and would bring home the eggs, and place 
them, to be hatched, under a trusty old hen, in an 
outside chimney corner, where they could assist 
the hen in defending the eggs and brood from 
the opossum or hawk. A iiock of turkej's some- 
times originated in this way, but more often, as 
they grew to maturity, they would fly away into 
the woods and never reappear. This grandest of 
birds is identical in civilized and savage life, and 
is the peculiar production of America. The wild 
ones were always a dark brown, like the leaves of 
their native woods, but when tamed, or "civil- 
ized," the diversity of color becomes endless. 

When cornbread and milk were eaten for break- 
fast, hog and hominy for dinner and mush and 
milk for supjior, there was little roomrfor tea and 
coffee; and at a time when one bushel of wheat 
for a pound of coffee and four bushels for a pound 
of tea, where considered a fair exchange, but lit- 
tle of these very expensive articles was used. 

Next to water, the drink of the pioneers was 
whisky — copper-still rye whisky. Everybody 
drank it. It was sujjposed to be indispensable to 
health, to strength and endurance during the la- 
bors of the day, and to sleep at night. It was sup- 
posed to be absolutely indispensable to warmth 
and animation in cold, chilly winter weather. It 
was the sacrament of friendship and hospitality; 
it was in universal use; yet there was probably 
less drunkenness in those days than at present. 
The whisky was absolutely pure; it was not 
drugged, doctored and poisoned as it is to-day, 
and, although enough of it would bring drunken- 
ness, it did not bring delirium tremens, or leave 
the system prostrated, and the victim with a head- 
ache upon "sobering up " It was the first thing 
in demand as an article of commerce. Stills for 
its manufacture sprang up everywhere, all along 
the streams. Pioneers soon found a market at 



these stills for their corn, hence corn became the 
great crop, and whisky the great article of com- 
merce. It was the only thing that would bring 
money, and money they must have to pay taxes. 
Whisky could be purchiised for twelve or fifteen 
cents per gallon and paid for in corn, and the 
barrel of whisky in the cellar, was as com- 
mon as the barrel of cider was later. The 
whisky that was not consumed at liome was 
shipped on flat-boats or pirogues on the Musk- 
ingum, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Or- 
leans and sold for Spanish gold. One of the first 
rebellions against the Government of the United 
States, commonly called the whisky insurrection, 
had its growth out of the hardships of the Scotch- 
Irish of Western Pennsylvania, who in the mother 
country had learned to love whisky and hate 
gaugers; and this isopulation gave tone and char- 
acter to the first settlers of Eastern Ohio. There 
was this apology for the production of whisky 
that it was the only means of disposing of surplus 
crops, or bringing money into the country. 

The hardy pioneers, after disposing of their 
cargo of whisky in New Orleans, would often set 
out on foot for home, a distance of say fifteen 
hundred miles. Think of it, ye who ride in pal- 
ace coaches at the rate of forty miles an hour 
"while reclining in cushioned seats, smoking your 
cigar, and reading in your morning paper of the 
happenings of yesterday in Europe and America. 
While apologizing somewhat for those whisky 
days, it may be well to say that whisky was not 
probably of any special benefit, was not to be 
compared to the pure water of their sjirings, and 
that too many of the pioneers drank too much of 
it, and that too often it made their eyes and noses 
red, their children ragged and their wives 
wretched, as it does to-day. 

In every neighborhood there were a few fami- 
lies who had brought with Ihcm the superstitions 
of their forefathers, and the result was that some 
poor man or woman was i;pputed to be a witch. 
Not nruch proof was required. If a woman had 
very black eyes, or stejjped stealthily, or spoke in 
a low tone of voice, and the gossips said she was 
in league with the prince of the black art, it did 
not take long to fasten the rejiutation ujion her, 
and the ignorant looked with awe and fear u])on 
the poor hunted, watched creature. And so they 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



271 



greased their broom handles, and laid dead snakes 
head foremost in the paths, and hung horseshoes 
ever the cabin doors, and were careful to spit in 
the fire, anil not to look over thoir left shoulders 
when they passed the abode of the doomed one. 
But sometimes her wrath fell ujion them, and the 
oxen would lie down in the furrow, and no power 
could move them, not even hot coals, nor boiling 
soapsuds when poured upon them. One time, 
when the family of a poor man rose early in the 
morning, one of the oxen lay still and slept heav- 
ily and breatheil noisily. On examination it was 
discovered tlmt he had been witch-ridden; his 
sides were black and blue from the kicking heels 
that had urged him on to his best paces, and the 
corners of his mouth were torn from cruel bits 
guided by jerking hands. People who were ob- 
jects of the witch's spite found a brood of downy 
young chicl« in their chests, and piles of sprawl- 
ing kittens under the half bushel ; and they over- 
heard deep, cavernous voices, and fine piping 
ones, in conclave at midnight up in the air and 
the tree-tops, and under the dead leaves and be- 
side the chimney ; and tracks, with a cloven foot 
among them, were discernible. Think of the 
misery of a poor creature reputed to be a witch, 
met in her own lowly cabin by a weeping mother 
beseeching her to remove the .spell of incantation 
that her sick child might recover! No denial of 
the absurd charge could avail her ; no sympathy 
ofTered was accepted; and the foolish mother 
could do no more than return home, burn some 
woolen rags to impregnate the out-door air, stand 
the child on its head while she could count fifty 
backwards, grease its spine with the oil of some 
wild animal, cut the tip hairs off' the tail of a black 
cat and bind them on the forehead of the perse- 
cuted one, while she repeated a certain sentence 
in the Lord's Prayer. Then, in her own lan- 
guage, " If the child died, why, it jes' died ; and if 
it lived, it lived." 

A superstitious old man was often foimd who 
could divine secrets, tell fortunes, fortell events, 
find the places where money was buried, cure 
wens by words, blow the fire out of burns, mum- 
ble over felons and catarrhs, romove warts, and, 
with his mineral ball search out where stolen 
goods were hidden. The " mineral ball " to which 
the superstitious ascribed such marvelous power, 



was no less than one of those hairy calculi found 
in the stomachs of cattle, a ball formed com- 
pactly of the hair which collects on the tongue 
of the animal while licking itself. This man, 
one of the class whose ,taint infects every neigh- 
borhood, could not from any consideration be 
prevailed upon to leave a graveyard first of all, 
" Why, drat it ! " he would say, " it's sure and sar- 
tin death; never knowed a fellow to leave the 
graveyard fust, but what he'd be the next 'un 
planted there!" When an old neighbor of his 
died suddenly, this man said, with Jiis thumbs 
hooked in his trousers' pockets restfully : " \\liy, 
drat him, he might a know'd more'n to leave the 
graveyard fust man! As soon as I seed him do 
it, I says to myself, says I, 'Dan you're a goner; 
you're done for ; they'll tuck you unter next 
time, an' nobody but your booby of a self to 
blame for it!'" 

On the frontier, and particularly among those 
who were much in the habit of hunting and go- 
ing on scouts and campaigns, the dress of the 
men was partly. Indian and partly that of civil- 
ized nations. The hunting shirt was universally 
worn. This was a kind of a loose frock reaching 
half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, 
open at the front, and so large as to lap over a 
foot or more when belted. The cape was large and 
sometimes fringed with a raveled piece of cloth of 
a different color from that of the hunting shirt 
itself. The bosom of the hunting shirt served as 
a pocket to hold bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wip- 
ing the gun-barrel, or any other necessary article 
for the hunter or warrior. The belt, which was 
always tied behind, answered several purposes 
besides that of holding the dress together. In 
cold weather the mittens and sometimes the bul- 
let-bag occupied the front part of it. To the 
right side was suspended the tomahawk, and to 
the left the scalping-knife in its leathern sheath. 

The hunting shirt w-as generally made of lin- 
sey, sometimes of coarse linen or deer skins. 
These last were very cold and uncomfortable in 
wet weather. A pair of drawers, or breeches, 
and leggins were the dress for the thighs, a pair 
of moccasins answered for the feet. These were 
made of dressed deer skin, and were mostly of a 
single piece, with a gathering scam on the top of 
the foot and another from the bottom of the heel, 



272 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



without gathers, as high or a little higher than 
the ankle joint. Flaps were left on each side to 
reach some distance up the legs. These were 
nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the 
leg by thongs of deer skin, so that no dust, gravel 
or snow could get within the moccasins. In cold 
weather the moccasins were stuffed with deer's 
hair or dry leaves to keep the feet warm, but in 
wet weather it was usually said that wearing 
them was " a decent way of going barefooted ; " 
and such was the fact, owing to the spongy text- 
ure of the leather of which thej' were made 
Owing to this defective covering for the feet 
more than to any other circumstance, the greater 
number of the hunters and warriors were often 
afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs. Of 
this disease they were all apprehensive in cold 
and wet weather, and therefore always slept with 
their feet to the fire to prevent or cure it as well 
as they could. This practice, unquestionably, 
had a very salutary effect, and prevented many 
of them from becoming confirmed cripples in 
early life. 

In the latter years of the Indian war the young 
men became more enamored of the Indian dress. 
Tiie drawers were laid aside and the leggins made 
longer, so as to reach the upper part of the thigh. 
The Indian breech-cloth was adopted. This was 
a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard long and 
eight or nine inches broad; it passed under the 
belt before and behind, leaving the end for flaps 
hanging before and behind over the belt. The 
flaps were sometimes ornamented with some 
coarse kind of embroidery work. To the belt 
were also secured the strings to which the leggins 
were attached when this belt, as was often the 
case, piissed over the hunting shirt, the upper 
part of the thighs and part of the hips were 
naked. 

Sometimes, in winter, a waistcoat of the skin of 
a panther, wildcat or spotted fawn was worn. In 
summer, when it could be had, linen was made 
up intfi wearing apparel. The fli.x was grown in 
the summer, scutched in the fall, and during the 
long winter evenings was heard the buzz of the 
little fla.x-wheel, which had a place in every cabin. 
Even those who are not pioneers can remember 
this flax-wheel, for it was in use as late as 1850, or 
later. It stood in a corner, generally ready for 



use by having a large bundle of flax wrapped 
around its forked stick, a thread reaching to the 
spindle, and a little gourd filled with water hang- 
ing conveniently at the bottom ot the flax-stick, 
and whenever the good pioneer mother had a lit- 
tle spare tinxe from cooking for a dozen work 
hands, caring for a dozen children, milking a 
dozen cows, and taking care of the milk and but- 
ter, besides doing all the housework and keeping 
everything clean and neat as a pin, she would sit 
down to this wheel and with foot on the treadle, 
and nimble fingers, pile thread upon thread on 
the spindle, to be reeled oft" on a wooden reel that 
counted every yard with a snap, and then it was 
ready for the great loom that occupied the loft. 
This loom was a wonder— it would be a wonder 
to-day, with its great beams, larger than any 
beams they put in the houses of to-day — its 
treadles, its shuttles, etc. Day after day could be 
heard, the pounding of that loom, the treadles 
went up and down, the shuttles flew swiftly from 
one hand to another through the labyrinth of 
warji, and yard after yard of cloth rolled upon the 
great roller. And then this cloth was to be cut 
into little and big clothes and made up with the 
needle; and, remember, this and a great deal 
more than any one can think of was to be gone 
through with every year. Wool went through 
about the same operation, only it was spun on the 
large wheel, colored with butternut bark and 
other things, but woven on the loom and made up 
for winter clothing. 

Judge William Johnson, in an address at a 
pioneer meeting, says regarding this matter of 
clothing: 

But innovations were soon made. My father 
had brought out a huge trunk full of coarse 
broadcloth, and this tempted the young men to 
have coats to be married in. They would bargain 
with my father for the cloth and trimmings, and 
with my mother for making the coat, and pay 
both bills by grubbing, making rails or clearing 
land. It may seem odd at this day that a woman 
of small stature, besiiles doing her own house- 
work, should make 1200 rails a day witli lier 
needle and shears, and find time for reading and 
mental culture every day. I never think of my 
mother's tailoring skill, without being reminded 
of one instance. A young man had purchased 
the cloth for his wedding coat, and, as a measure 
of economy, employed one Nancy Clark to make 
it up. Nancy was an expert on hunting-shirts, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



273 



buckskin breeches and " sich," but had never cut 
a coat, so my mother cut out the coat. Nancy 
made it up, but on the eve of the wedding, wlien 
tried on, instead of allowing his arms to hang 
gracefully by his side, as became a bride-groom, 
it turned him into a spread eagle with arms ex- 
tended ujiward. The wedding da\' was at hand, 
and, in his perplexity, he brought the coat to my 
mother to diagnose its disorder, and, if possible, 
administer tlie proper remedies. She found there 
was nothing more serious tlian that Nancy had 
sewed the right sleeve in the left side, and the 
left sleeve in th(> right, and put them upside down. 
As luxury and extravagance in dress increased, 
an old tailor, with shears, goose and sleeve-board, 
began to "whip the cat" around the neighbor- 
hood, and my mother's occupation except in her 
own family, was gone. The custom of whipping 
the cat, both for tailors and shoemakers, was in 
vogue man}' years after, and, like the school- 
master boarding around, had this advantage, that 
if they received jioor jiay for their wcjrk, they 
were fed and lodged while they were about it. 

But the material for winter clothing was hard 
to get. As the woolen goods wore out, my father 
bought six sheep to commence with, and within 
the first week the wolves chased the old dog under 
the cabin floor, and killed two of them within a 
few yards of the cabin door. On account of the 
scarcity of wool, many a night I sat up until 
midnight, with a pair of hand-cards, mixing wool 
with rabbit's fur, and carding them together, 
while my mother spun and knit them into mittens 
and stockings for her children to wear to school. 

" Kicking frolics " were in vogue in those early 
times. This was after wool was more plenty, and 
it WJ1.S carded, spun and wove into cli5th. Half a 
dozen young men, and an equal number of young 
women (for the " fun of the thing " it was always 
necessary to preserve a balance of this kind), were 
invited to the kicking frolic. The cabin floor 
was cleared for action and half a dozen chairs, or 
stools, placed in a circle in the centre and con- 
nected by a cord to prevent recoil. On these the 
six young men seated themselves with boots and 
stocking ofl', and pants rolled up above the knee. 
Just think of making love in that shape! The 
cloth was placed in the center, wet with soap suds, 
and then the kicking commenced by measured 
st<^ps, driving the bimdle of cloth round and 
round, the elderly lady with gourd in hand iiour- 
ing on more soap suds, and every now and then, 
with spectacles on nose and yard-stick in hand, 
measuring the goods until they were shrunk to 
the desired width, and then calling the lads to a 



dead halt. Then, while the lads put on hose and 
boots, the lasses, with sleeves rolled up above the 
elbow, rung out the cloth and put it on the garden 
fence to dry. When this was done, the cabin 
floor was again cleared and the sujjper spread, 
after which, with their numbers increased some- 
what, perhaps, they danced the happy hours of 
the night away until midnight, to the music of a 
violin and the commands of some amateur cotil- 
lion caller, and were ready to attend anoUier such 
frolic the following night. 

The costume of the woman deserves a passing 
notice. The pioneers proper, of course, brought 
with them something to wear like that in use 
where they came from ; but this could not last 
always, and new apparal, such as the new coun- 
try afforded, had to be provided. Besides, the 
little girls sprang up into womanhood with the 
rapidity of the native butterweed, and they nuist 
be made both decent and attractive, and what is 
more, they were willing to aid in making them- 
selves so. The flax patch, therefore, became 
a thing of as prime necessity as the truck patch. 
On the side next to the woods the flax grew tall, 
slender and delicate, and was carefully pulled by 
the girls, and kept by itself, to make finery of. 
The stronger growth did well enough for cloth- 
ing for the men, and warp for the linsey-wolsey, 
and everyday dresses for the women, but for 
Sundays, when everbody went to " meeting," the 
girls, especially, wanted something nice, just as 
they do to-day. This fine flax, therefore, was 
carefidly pulled ,Varefidly rotted, carefully broken, 
carefully scutched, carefully hackled, carefully 
spun, carefully dyed in divers colors, and care- 
fully woven in cross-barred figures, tastefully di- 
versified, straining a point to get turkey-red 
enough to put a single thread between the duller 
colors, to mark their outline like the circle 
around a dove's eye. Of such goods the rustic 
beauty made her Sunday gown,' and then with 
her Vandyke of snow-white homesj)un linen, her 
snow-white home-knit stockings, and possibly 
white kidVlipjjers, she was a sight for sore eyes 
and often for sore hearts. No paint or arsenic 
was needed, for active exercise in the open air, 
under a sun-bonnet, or a broad-brimmed hat, 
made by her mother out of rye straw, gave her 
cheek an honest, healthful glow, and to her eyes 



274 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the brightness and the beauty of the fawn's. 
Possibly those white kid shppers have caused a 
nod of skepticism. This is the way it was done : 
Her brother, or lover, shot six fine squirrels ; she 
tanned the skins herself in a sugar-trough, and 
had them done up, at a considerable expense and 
trouble, to wear on Sundays and state occasions. 
Possibly it may be wondered how the slippers 
would look after walking five or ten miles through 
the mud to church, as was frequently done. There 
were ways of doing these things that were only 
whispered among the girls, but have leaked out — 
and the same process was indulged in more or less 
by young men, who were fortunate enoiigh to own 
a pair of fine boots — and that was to wear the every- 
day shoes or boots, or go barefoot tawfthin a 
few rods of the "meeting-house," and then step 
into the woods and take the wraps from the 
precious shoes and put them on. 

Linen for Sunday clothes was made of copper- 
as and was white, checked or striped, and wdien 
bleached was very pretty and soft. For very 
choice wear it was all flax ; for every day or second 
best, the warp was flax and the filling tow. Lin- 
sey-woolsey, or linsey, was wool and cotton, very 
much the same as water-proof or repellant is now, 
only that it was harsh and not finished. Dye- 
sfuft's in early times were in reach of all — butter- 
nut or walnut hulls colored brown ; oak bark 
with copperas dyed black; hickory bark or the 
blossoms of the goldenrod made yellow ; madder, 
red ; and indigo, blue ; green was obtained by first 
coloring yellow, and then dipping into blue dye. 
Stocking yarn was dyed black, brown or blue ; 
and, for very choice stockings, strips of corn 
husks were lapped tightly in two or three places 
around a skein of 5'arn, and dyed blue. When 
the husks were removed, whitish spots were 
found, and the rare "clouded" yarn was the re- 
sult. The little tub of blue dye, with its close- 
fitting cover, stood in the warm corner in every 
well regulated household, and it made a very con- 
venient seat, and the cover was always worn 
smooth. Many a lad inclined to matrimony has 
sneaked slyly along and seated himself on the 
dye-tub as soon as the old folks retired. When 
carding machines came and lessened the labor of 
the toiling women, one of the first indications of 
anything as fine as " store clothes " was the soft, 



pressed flannel, grand enough for any uncommon 
occasion, called "London brown." The folds lay 
in it, and it shone to eyes accustomed to look 
upon nothing finer than home-made barred flan- 
nel, like lustrous .satin. It smelt of the shop, 
however ; the odor of dye-stutf and grease and 
gummy machinery clung to it for a long while 
About this time a better quality of men's wear- 
ing apparel appeared in the same wonderful 
color of London brown ; and, to young men com- 
ing of age, who had been indentured boys, the 
beautiful "freedom suit " was valued higher than 
the horse, saddle and bridle. 

It is just barely possible there is a lady in to- 
day's society, who, with five pound of colored 
hemp on the back of her head and thirty-five 
yards of silk velvet in her train, would be unchar- 
itable enough to laugh at these pioneer mothers 
and daughters; if so, those whose opinions are 
worth anything fully understand that there was 
more work and worth, more value to the world 
and the conununity in which she lived, in the 
little finger of one of these pioneers than in the 
whole body, train, hair and all, of the aforesaid 
" lady." By the testimony of all history, luxury 
tends to degeneracy. If the clothes of the pion- 
eers were poor, they made up in brain and heart. 
The tables are turned — the vacuum of brain and 
heart is filled with fine clothes. Let it be remem- 
bered that the solidity and value of this beautiful 
structure called society, lies in the foundation — 
in the pioneer fathers and mothers, and it is only 
because of this solid foundation that the structure 
is able to stand at all. 

The great days among the pioneers were the 
Fourth of July and those upon which the militia 
assembled for muster. ' These were the holidays, 
when the people ceased from labor and turned 
out en viasse, and when plenty of fun and '^vhisky 
were expected. The place of assembling was 
generality in some clearing near some " tavern," 
the landlady of which had the reputation of be- 
ing a good cook. There was plenty of drum- 
ming, fifing and noise, and somebody was always 
found who could readily perform the duties of 
l^resident of the meeting; somebody who could 
read the toasts, and somebody who had been un- 
der Harrison or Van Rensselaer as orderly ser- 
geant, to act as marshal. Plenty of men were 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



275 



ready to read that wonderful document, the 
" Declaration," for among the settlers were not 
only many excellent scholars and gentlemen, but 
liero and there could be found a veritable graduate 
of Yale college. When no minister was present 
to act !»s chaplain, a good j>ious man was called to 
that post. If the meeting did not end with a 
grand ring light, tlie people went home disap- 
pointed. 

The houses or huts, in which these pioneers 
lived have been often described; their form and 
proportions, and general apjiearance have been 
repeatedly imjjressed upon the mind of the stu- 
dent of history. They were built of round logs 
with the bark on, and side chimneys of mud and 
sticks, puncheon floors, clapboard roof, with and 
without a loft or second floor, and all put together 
without a nail or particle of iron from top to bot- 
tom. These buildings stood many a year after 
the original inhabitiuits moved into better quar- 
ters. They served for stables, sheep-pens, hay- 
houses, pig-pens, smith-shojis, hen-houses, loom- 
shojis, school-houses, etc. Some of them are yet 
standing in this county, and occuped, to some 
extent, in some portions of the county as dwell- 
ings. A specimen of one of these appears in the 
upper right hand corner of the accompanying 
cut. 

A second grade of log cabin, built later, was 
quite an improvement on the first, being made 
of hewn logs, with sawed lumber for door and 
window frames and floors. Glass also took the 
place of paper windows of the old cabin ; nails 
were also sparingly used in these better cabins. 
It was sometimes built near the old one and con- 
nected with it by a covered porch, as shown in 
the cut. When nails were first used, for a few 
years a pound of them was exchanged for a bushel 
of wheat. They were a precious article, and were 
made by hand on a blacksmith's anvil, out of odds 
and ends of old worn-out sickles, scythes, broken 
clevis-pins, links of chains, broken horseshoes, 
etc., all welded together to eke out the nail-rods 
from which they were forged. The first cabins 
were often erected, ready for occupation, in a 
single day. Li an emergency, the pioneers col- 
lected together, often going eight or ten miles to 
a cabin-raising, and, in the "great woods where 
not a tree had been felled or a stone turned, begin 



with dawn the erection of a cabin. Three or four 
wise builders would set the corner-stones, lay 
with the square and level the first round of logs ; 
two men with axes would cut the trees and logs; 
one with his team of oxen, a " lizzard " and a log- 
chain would " snake " them in ; two more, with 
axes, cross-cut saw and frow, would make the 
clapboards; two more, with axes, cross-cut saw 
and broad-axe would hew out the puncheons and 
flatten the upper side of the sleepers and joists. 
Four skillful axemen would carry up the cor- 
ners, and the remainder, with skids and forks 
or handspikes, would roll up the logs. As soon 
as the joists were laid on, the cross-cut saw was 
brought from the woods, and the two men went 
to work cutting out the door and chimney place : 
and while the corner men were building up the 
attic and putting on the roof, tlie carpenters and 
masons of the day were putting down the lumch- 
eons, laying the hearth and building the chim- 
ney high enough to keep out the beasts, wild or 
tame. In one corner, at a distance of six feet 
from one wall and four from the otlier, the bed- 
post was placed — only one being needed. A hole 
was bored in the puncheon floor for the purpose 
of setting this post in, which was usually a stick 
with a crotch or fork in the upper end ; or, if an 
augur is not at hand, a hole is cut in the punch- 
eon floor, and the fork sharpened and driven into 
the ground beneath ; rails were laid from this 
fork to the wall, and, usually, nice, straight, hick- 
ory poles formed the bottom, upon which straw 
or leaves were placed and the blanket put on. 
This made a comfortable spring bed, and was 
easily changed and kept clean. Often the chink- 
ing and daubing of the walls, putting in windows 
and hanging the door were left until fall or some 
leisure time after the ci)rn crop and the contents 
of the truck patch were secured. Often the pio- 
neers did not erect a cabin at all until a crop was 
secured — living, meanwhile, in tiieir covered 
wagons, and cooking beside a log in the open air, 
or erecting a "pole cabin," or "brush cabin," 
mere temporary affairs, to shelter the family un- 
til time could be had for erecting a permanent 
one. The saving of the crop was of more imjiort- 
ance during the summer season than shelter; 
but when the first frost came, a sure indication 
of approaching winter, active preparations were 



:276 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



made for the permanent cabin, and the work was 
pushc'd forward until a snug cabin stood in the 
midst of the forest, with a clearing around it, 
made principally by cutting down the trees for 
the building. Every crack was chinked and 
daubed with ordinary clay mixed with water, 
and when completed, and a tire of hickory logs 
in the great fire-place, no amount of cold could 
seriously disturb the inmates. The heavy door 
was hung on wooden hinges, and all that was 
necessary to lock it at night was to pull the latch- 
string inside, and the strong wooden latch held it 
fast against wild animals and storms. Thieves 
there were none, and even had there been, there 
was nothing in the hut of a settler to tempt their 
cupidity. Many of these cabins had no loft or 
:second floor, but when this was added it was used 
as a sleeping room for the younger members of 
the family, and a general store-room for the 
household goods, and often for the corn crop and 
contents of the truck patch. 

Eegarding the future of these cabins. Judge 
Johnson says: 

The furniture of the backwoods matched the 
iirchiteeturc well. There were a few quaint 
specimens of cabinet work dragged into the wil 
derness, but these w'ere sporadic and not com- 
mon. I can best describe it by what I saw in my 
father's house. First of all a table had to be im- 
provised, and there was no cabinet-maker to 
make it, and no lumber to make it of. Our floor 
was laid with broad chestnut jumcheons, well and 
smoothly hewn, for the obsolete art of hewing 
timber was then in its prime. Father took one 
of these puncheons, two feet and a half broad, 
putting two narrow ones in its place, bored four 
large augur holes and put in four legs, or round 
poles with the bark on. On this liospitable board 
many a wholesome meal was spread, and many 
an honest man, and many a wayworn stranger, 
ate his till and was grateful. 

On great occasions, when an extension table 
was needed, the door was lifted ott'its hinges and 
added to the puncheon. What we sat upon first 
I cannot conjecture; but I remember well when 
my father loaded his horses down with wheat 
and corn anil crossed the country a distance of 
eight or ten miles, and brought home, in ex- 
change, a set of oak splint-bottomed chairs, some 
of which are intact to this day. Huge band- 
boxes, made of blue ash bark, supiilied the place 
of bureaus and wardrobes; and a large tea chest 
cut in two, and hung by strings in the corners, 
with the hollow sides outward, constituted the 
book-cases. A respectable old bedstead, still in the 



family, was lugged across from Red Stone. An 
old turner and wheelwright added a trundle-bed, 
and the rest were hewn and whittled out accord- 
ing to the fashion of the times, to serve their day 
and be supplanted by others as the civilization of 
the country advanced. 

Bat the grand flourish of furniture was the 
dresser. Here were spread out in grand display 
pewter dishes, pewter plates, pewter basins and 
pewter spoons, scoured as bright as silver. 

Money was scarce, but our fathers learned to 
live without it. All was liarter. The preacher's 
stipend, the lawyer's fee, the schoolmaster's sal- 
ary, the workman's wages, the shoemakers ac- 
count, the tailor's bill, were all paid in barter. 

I have seen my father, when he had a surplus 
of grain and a deficit of pigs, fill two sacks of 
corn, and on the backs of two horses carry it to a 
distant part of the neighborhood and exchange it 
for four shoats, and in each sack thrust one shoat 
tail foremost and another head foremost, tie up 
the mouths of the sack, mount them on horse- 
back, rip a liole in the seam of the sack for each 
snout to stick out, and bring them home to bo 
fattened for next year's jiork. Here was a cur- 
rency — a denomination of greenbacks which 
neither required the pen of the chancelor of the 
exchequer to make it legal tender, nor the judg- 
ment of the chief justice to declare it constitu- 
tional. The law of necessity governs in every 
case, and wise men may fret every hair oflt' their 
heads without changing the results. 

The following poem, originally published in 
the Cincinnati Chronicle in 1833, portrays so 
graphically life in a log cabin that it is eminently 
worthy of preservation. Although written by a 
" Hoosier," and intended to portray Hoosier life, 
it applies equally well to log cabin life every- 
where : 

Suppose, in riilins through the West, 

A stranger found a " Uoosier's nest," 

In other words a Ijuckoye cabin 

Ju.st big enougli to hold Queen Mab in ; 

Its situation low but airy, 

Was on the borders of a prairie. 

And fearing he might be benighted, 

He hailed the house and then alighted. 

The " Hoosier" met him at the door. 

Their salutations soon were o'er; 

He took the stranger's horse aside 

And to a sturdy sapling tied, 

Then having stripped the saddle off. 

He fed him in a sugar-trough. 

The stranger stooped lo enter in, 

The entrance closing with a pin, 

And manifests a strong desire 

To seat himself by the log-heap fire, 

Where half a dozen Hoosieroons, 



miim if'^''WW^^ 




HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



279 



With mush and luilk, titi-oups and spoons, 

White heads, bare feet, and dirty faces. 

Seemed mueh iuelined to Iceep tlieir jilaces, 

But madam anxious to display 

Her rough and undisputed sway, 

Her oftspring to the ladder led 

And cuffed the youngsters up to heci. 

Invited shortly, to partake 

0£ venison, milk and johnuycake. 

The stranger made a hearty meal. 

And glances round the room would steal. 

One side was lined with divers garments. 

The other spread with skins of ' varments;' 

Dried pumpkins overhead were strung. 



drcd acres of land, and no more, as a "settlement 
right;" and as the first settlers of this and ad- 
joining counties were largely from those States, 
they were, of course, governed largely by the 
habits, customs and laws of those States in the ab- 
sence of any of these on this side of the river ; 
therefore many of the first settlers seemed to re- 
gard this amount of the surface of the earth as al- 
lotted by Divine Providence for one family, and 
believed that any attempt to get more would be 
sinful. Most of them, therefore, contented them- 




A PIONEER HOME. 



Where venison hams in plenty hung; 
Two rifles were placed above the door. 
Three dogs lay stretched upon the floor- 
In short, the domicil was rife 
With specimens of Hoosier life. 
The host, who centeretl his allectious 
On game, and range and quarter sections. 
Discoursed his weary guest for hours. 
Till Somnus' ever potent powers 
Of sublunary cares bereft 'em. 

No matter how the story ended— 
The application I intended 
Is from the famous .Scottish poet. 
Who seemed to feel as well as know it. 
That "buirdly ehiels and clever hizzies 
Are bred in sic a way as this is." 

The early land laws Tif Western Pennsylvania 
and Virginia allowed to each settler four hun- 



sclves with that amount — although they might 
have evaded the law, which alk)\ved but one set- 
tlement right to any one individual, by taking 
out title papers in other than their own names, 
to be afterward transferred to them as if by pur- 
chase. Some few indeed, pursued this course, 
but it was generally held in detestation. 

Owing to the equal distribution of real prop- 
erty divided by the land laws, and the sterling 
integrity of the forefathers in the observance of 
them, there were few, if any, districts of " sold 
land," as it was called, that is large tracts of land 
in the hands of individuals or companies, who 
neither sold nor improved them, as was the case 
in Lower Canada and some jiarts of Pennsyl- 



280 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



vania. True, large tracts of land were purchased 
by companies, but tliis -was done almost always 
for the purpose of establishing a settlement. 

The earliest settlers had become so accustomed 
to " getting land for tivking it up," that for a long 
time it was believed that the lands on the west 
side of the Ohio would ultimately be disposed of 
in this way; hence almost the wliole tract of 
country between the Ohio and Muskingum rivers 
was parcelled out in what was familiarly known 
as "tomahawk rights;" that is, the pioneer, upon 
finding a suitable location, would cut his name 
with his hatchet or knife upon the trunk of a 
large tree, and thus lay claim to four hundred 
acres of land about that spot. Some of them 
were not satisfied with a single four hundred- 
acre tract, but laid claim in this way to a number 
of tracts of the best land, and thus, in imagina- 
tion, were as "wealthy as a South Sea dream." 
Some of these land jobbers did not content them- 
selves with marking trees at the usual height, but 
climbed the large beech trees and cut their names 
in the bark from twenty to forty feet from the 
ground. To enable them to identify those trees 
at a future period, they made marks on other 
trees around for references 

Nor was it an easy matter to dispossess these 
squatters; their claim was generally respected by 
the settlers, and these rights werg often bought 
and sold, those who subsequently desired these 
lands for permanent settlement preferred to pur- 
chase the " tomaliawk right '" rather than enter 
into quarrels with those who made them. 

Hunting occupied a large portion of the time 
of the pioneers. Nearly all were good hunters, 
and not a few lived almost entirely for many 
years on the results of the chase. The woods 
supplied them with the greater amount of their 
subsistence, and often the whole of it ; it was no 
uncommon thing for families to live several 
months without a mouthful of bread of any kind. 
It frequently happened that the family went with- 
out breakfast until it could be obtained from the 
woods. 

The fall and early part of winter was the sea- 
son for hunting deer, and the whole of the winter, 
including part of the spring, for bears and fur- 
bearing animals. It was a customary saying that 



fur was good during every month in the name of 
which the letter r occurred. 

As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, 
and the weather became rainy, accompanied with 
light snow, the pioneer hunter, who had probably 
worked pretty faithfully on his clearing during 
•the summer, began to feel uneasy about his cabin 
home ; he longed to be ofl' hunting in the great 
woods. His cabin was too warm ; his feather-bed 
too soft ; his mind was wholly occupied with the 
camp and the chase. Hunting was not a mere 
ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was 
nothing of skill and calculation ; on the contrary, 
the hunter, before setting out in the morning, 
was informed by the state of the weather in what 
situation he might reasonably expect to find his 
game ; whether on the bottoms, on the hillsides 
or hilltop^. In stormy weather the deer always 
seek the most sheltered places, and the leeward 
sides of the hills; in rainy weather, when there 
was not much wind, they kept in the open woods, 
on high ground. In the early morning, if pleas- 
ant, they were abroad, feeding in edges of the 
prairie or swamp ; at noon they were hiding in 
the thickets. In every situation, it was requisite 
for the hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, 
so as to get to leeward of the game ; this he often 
ascertained by placing his finger in his mouth, 
holding it there until it became warm, then hold- 
ing it above his head, and the side that first 
cooled indicated the direction of the w^ind. 

These hunters needed no compass; the trees, 
the sun and stixrs took its place. The bark of an 
aged tree is much thicker and rougher on the 
north side than on the south; and the same 
may be said of the moss; it is much thicker and 
stronger on the north than the south side of the 
tree ; hence he could walk freely and carelessly 
through the woods and always strike the exact 
point intended, while any but a woodsman would 
become bewildered and lost. 

The whole business of the hunter consisted of 
a succession of intrigues. From morning till 
night he was on the alert to gain the wind of his 
game and make his approach without being dis- 
covered. If he succeeded in killing a deer, he 
skinned it, hung it up out of reach of wolves, and 
immediately resumed the chase until evening, 
when he bent his course toward the camp, where 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



281 



he cooked and ate his supper with a keen relish 
with his fellow-hunters, after which came the 
pipe and the rehearsal of the adventures of the 
day. The spike buck, the two and three jtronged 
buck, tiie doe and barren doe, fijiurcd through 
their anecdotes with great advantage. 

A wedding among the pioneers was a most 
wonderful event, not only to the parties immedi- 
ately intere.«ted, but to the whole neighborhood. 
People generally married young in those days. 
Tliere was no distinction of rank and very little 
of fortune. A family establishTuent cost little 
labor and nothing else. A wedding was about 
the only gathering at which the guest was not 
Tequired to assist in reaping, log-rolling, building 
a cabin or some other manual labor. 

On th'^ morning of the wedding day the groom 
and his attendants assembled at the house of his 
father, for the purpose of reaching the house of 
liis bride by noon, the usual time for celebrating 
the nuptuals.and which, for certain reasons, must 
take place before dinner. The people assembled 
from great distances, on foot and on horseback, 
and all dressed in the somewhat fantastic toggery 
of the backwoods. The dinner was generally a 
substantial one of beef, pork, fowl, venison and 
bear meat, roiisted and boiled, with plenty of 
potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables. 

After dinner the dancing commenced and gen- 
erally lasted until the next morning. The figures 
of the dances were three or four-handed reels, or 
square sets and jigs. The commencement Wiis 
always a square four, followed by what was called 
"jigging it off; "that is, two of the four would 
begin a jig, followed by the other couple. The 
jig was often accompanied by what was called 
"cutting out;" that is, when either of the par- 
ties became tired of the dance, on intimation the 
place was supplied by some one of the company 
without any interruption to the dance ; in this 
way the dance was often continued until the mu- 
sician was heartily tired of the situation. Toward 
the latter part of the night, if any of the com- 
pany, through weariness, attempted to conceal 
themselves for the purpose of sleeping, they were 
brought out, paraded on the floor, and the fiddler 
ordered to play, " We'll all hang out till morning." 

About nine o'clock a deputation of young 
ladies stole oflf the bride, and put her to bed, after 



which a deputation of young men, in like man- 
ner, stole off the groom and placed him snugly 
beside his bride. If the couple were not sub.se- 
qucntly disturbed during the night it was a mira- 
cle. Generally, in the small hours of the night, 
" Black Betty" (the bottle) was sent up to them, 
or carried up by an interested delegation, to- 
gether with as much bread, beef, pork, cabbage, 
etc., as would suffice a dozen hungry men, and 
they were compelled to eat and drink until they 
would hold no more. 

In later years, if there was an older unmarried 
brother of the bride present, he was certain to 
be compelled " to dance in the hog-trough." This 
somewhat humiliating operation was inflicted 
upon him as a lesson to bachelors. Sometimes 
he would submit quietly, cheerfully, and grace- 
fully, marching to the pig-pen and dancing his 
jig in the trough from which the swine devoured 
the off-fallings of the cabin table; at other times 
he would escape from his assailants and seek 
safety in flight, and if fleet on foot, sometimes 
escaped; but if overtaken, he would not unfre- 
quently fight with great desperation, and it often 
required considerable force to accomplish the 
desired object. 

The feasting and dancing often lasted several 
days, during which there was much drinking, ca- 
rousing, and not unfrequently, fighting. 

After the wedding the next dutj' of the neigh- 
bors was to erect a cabin for the young conple, 
and dedicate it by a "house warming" before 
they were allowed to move into it. This house 
warming consisted of a twenty-four hours' dance 
and carousal in the new cabin. This ended the 
ceremony, except that not half of it has been 
told, and thereafter the couple were considered 
married, according to the laws and usages of 
society. 

At a little later time, say from 1820 to 1840, the 
the pioneers were living a little easier. Their 
farms were partially cleared, many of them 
were living in hewed log houses and many in 
frame, and even brick houses. Most of them 
had barns and innumerable out-houses. They 
generally had cattle, horses, shcej), hogs and 
poultry, and were living in comparative comfort. 
Their neighbors were near, and always dear. 
Their schools and churches had improved some- 



282 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



what, yet even at this late day there were hun- 
dreds of log school-houses and churches. Atout 
three months ni a year was all the schooling a 
farmer's boy could get. He was sadly needed at 
home from the age of five years, to do all sorts of 
chores and work on the farm. He was wanted 
to drive the cows to water and to pasture ; to feed 
the pigs and chickens and gather the eggs. His 
duties in the summer were multifarious; the 
men were at work in the field harvesting, and 
generally worked from early morning until late 
at night, and the boys were dejiended on to "do 
the chores;" hence it was impossible to spare 
them to attend school in summer. There was 
no school in spring and fall. In winter they 
were given three months' schooling — a very poor 
article of schooling, too, generally. Their books 
were generally anything they hapened to have 
about the house, and even as late as 1850, there 
was no system in the purchase of school books. 
Mr. Smucker, of Newark, Ohio, says his first read- 
ing books at school were Patrick Gass' Journal of 
the Lewis and Clark expedition to the mouth of the 
Columbia river in 1801 5-6 ; and Weem's Life of 
Washington. Parents purchased for their chil- 
dren whatever book pleased their fancy, or what- 
ever the children desired them to purchase. A 
geography was a geography, and a grammar a 
grammar, regardless of who was the author. 
This great confusion in school books made trouble 
for the teacher, but that was of small moment. 
He was hired and paid to teach whatever 
branches, out of whatever books the parents 
thought were best. The branches generally 
taught in the early schools, however, were read- 
ing, writing, spelling and arithmetic, and, later, 
geography and grammar. Boys attending school 
but three months in a year made but little pro- 
gress. They began at the beginning of their 
books every winter, and went as far as they could 
in three months; then forgot it all during the 
nine months out of school, commencing again 
the next winter just where they commenced the 
previous one. In this way they went over and 
over the same lessons every year under differ- 
ent teachers (for many of the teachers only t;iught 
one term in a place), often getting no farther 
in arithmetic than '' vulgar fractions " or the " rule 
of three," and in their old Webster's spelling 



books the first class probably got as far as "anti- 
scorbutic" and maybe through; while the sec- 
ond class would get as far as " cessation," and the 
the third class probably not through "baker,'' 
certainly not beyond "amity." There were al- 
ways three or four classes in spelling, and this ex- 
ercise was the last before school was dismissed in 
the evening. Their old books were conned over 
year after year, until they were worn out and the 
children grew up to manhood and womanhood, 
and never knew, and perhaps do not know to this 
day, what was in the back part of them. This 
was the kind of a start many a great man had. 
These scdools can not be despised when it is re- 
membered that the greatestand best of the nation,, 
including such men as Abraham Lincoln, Edwin 
M. Stanton and Stephen A. Douglass, were among 
the boys who attended them. 

There was always much competition in the 
spelling classes as to who should get the '• head 
mark." In the later scliools it Wiis the custom 
that the best speller might stand at the head until 
he missed, when the one who spelled the word 
correctly should take his place, and he then stood 
next to the head; but they did things diflerently 
in the earlier schools ; the head of the class once 
gained and held until the last spelling at night, 
the head mark was received and the lucky scholar 
then took his place at the foot of the class, to 
again work his way gradually to the head. These- 
classes sometimes contained thirty or forty 
scholars, and it was something^of an undertaking 
to get from the foot to the head. Spelling-schools 
were the beauty and glory of school-days. The 
scholars were always coaxing the teai her to ap- 
point a night for a spelling-school, and were 
usually gratified one or two nights in a month or 
oftener. A night was chosen when the moon 
shone, and the sleighing was good, and then the 
entire neighborhood and perhajis the adjoining 
neighborhood would turn out to tlie spelling- 
school ; whole families came on the great two- 
horse sleil, including the old lady and gentleman, 
all the children, little and big ; even the baby and 
the dogs came. Schools in adjoining districts sent 
their best spellers to try and carry off the honors. 
The old log school house was crowded, and the 
great box stove, cast at the Mary Ann furnace, 
in Mary Ann township. Licking county, and 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



283 



which stood in the center of the room on a box 
of bricks, was red hot, :inil kept so during the en- 
" tiro evenin;/. Two good spellers were designated 
by the teacher to choose sides, and everybody 
was chosen in one class or the other ; then the 
spelling began, the words being given out by the 
teacher, first to one class and then to the other, 
beginning at the head. A tally sheet was care- 
fully kept to see who missed the most words. 
After recess the "spelling down "was indulged 
in ; the two cla-sses stood up, and whenever a word 
was missed the speller sat down, and the one who 
stood up after all had been spelled down, was the 
hero or heroine of the hour, and alw.iys chosen 
iirst in future contests. 

A year means a hundred-fold more now than 
formerly. History is made rapidly in these days. 
The red men's trail across the valley, and over 
the hills, and along the river's bank, could be 
traced by the fewest number in this day ; their 
favorite haunts and play grounds are shorn of 
their primal charms in the sweeping aside of ths 
grand old woodland. The cattle ui)on a thou- 
sand hills roam over the land that they loved, and 
quench their thirst in the brooks and pools, that 
long time ago mirrored their dusky features. 
The plowman with stolid face upturns in the 
brown furrow the relic that their fingers deftly 
f.ishioned, and the mattock and scraper bring 
forth to the glare of day and the gaze of the cu- 
rious, the crumbling brown bones of the chief- 
tain and his squaw; and the contents of the In- 
dian's grave, the moldcring clay, will live anew 
in a pavement to be trodden under the foot of 
men. 

"Trough the land where we f<ir njies «. 

T.iiin our Imivest, dearest dearj. 
Grinds the savage white man's plowshare. 

Grinding sire's bones for hread." 

Ah, these old Indian graves on breezy knolls 
and reedy river banks— who knows but the site 
was selected by the sleepers therein ; who knows 
but they dreamed in their moody moments that 
the tide of civili-z.ation wa.« slowly coming nearer 
and nearer, to crowd aside their people and in- 
trude upon, and linally j)Os,sess their vast and 
beautiful hunting grounds'? 

It is hard to be reconciled to this natural order 
of things; to see the pioneers pixssing away; to 



see them stand l(>aning on their staves, dim-eyed, 
and with white locks to.ssed in the winds, dazed 
at the change that has stamped its seal upon the 
wilderness whose winding paths they once knew 
so. well They beheld it slowly laying off its 
primeval wildness and beauty, and grandeur of 
woods and waters, until now it blooms like unto 
the garden of the gods. How beautiful the labors 
of their hands! How much we owe them! But 
the olden time is pa.«sing away and bearing on its 
bosom the dear old men and women whose "like 
we ne'er shall see again." The glory of one age 
is not dimmed in the golden glory of the age suc- 
ceeding it; and none more than the pioneers of 
Co-shoction county can comprehend its growth 
and its change, or more fully appreciate the s;id 
words of the poet when he sang in mournful 
strain — 

.\nd city lots are staked for sale, 
Above old Indian graves. 



CHAPTER XXVHI. 

THE CANALS. 

A Great Work— Celebration of the Opening of the Ohio Canal 
at Licking Summit — Work on the Canal — First Boat — Wal- 
honding Canal — Length. Capacity and Business of the Ca- 
nals. 

"We make of Nature's giant powers 
The slaves of human art." 

— WHrrriEB. 

A LARGE majority of the people of Ohio 
know but little at present about the great 
Ohio canal, and the interest taken in it at the 
commencement of the work. It was considered 
one of the greatest undertakings of the age, and, 
indeed, was the beginning of that grand series of 
internal improvements which has greatly as- 
sisted in placing Ohio among the foremost States 
of th(^ Union. The following history of this great 
work is taken mostly froiu the writings of Col. 
John Noble, one of the contractors in the work, 
and from those of William Wing, Esq., deceased. 
Mr. Wing was also a contractor on the canal, and 
died in Columbus. Ohio. February 13, 1878, in 
in his seventy-ninth year. He Wiis well versed 
in the pioneer history of Central Ohio, and has 
left behind him writings of much historical value. 
Before the building of the canal this county 
had no outlet for produce, excejit by wagons to 



284 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the lake, or by boat down the Muskingum river, 
and thence to New Orleans. The country was 
full of produce for which there was no market. 
Ham was worth three cents per pound ; eggs, 
four cents per dozen ; fiour, one dollar per hun- 
dred ; whisky, twelve and a half cents per gal- 
lon, and other things proportionately cheap. 

The commissioners appointeil by the legisla- 
ture to carry on the work appointed Judge D. S. 
Bates, an experienced engineer of the State of 
New York, and in their wisdom, made "Licking 
Summit," in Licking county, the pJace of begin- 
ning. Thoy then gave notice to all concerned 
throughout Ohio and the adjoining States, that a 
commencement of the excavation would be made 
on the fourth of July, 1825. 

Samuel Forrer, of Dayton, was appointed prin- 
cipal acting engineer ; John Forrer, local engi- 
neer on the Summit, and the latter immediately 
prepared a few rods of ground, where the line of 
the canal would pass through a field, for the 
public demonstration. 

The invited guests included many of the nota- 
bles of the State and nation, among whom were 
Governor De Witt Clinton, of New York; Messrs. 
Rathburn and Lord; General Edward King, of 
Chillicothe; General Sanderson, of Lancaster; 
Governor Morrow, of this State ; Ex-Governor 
Worthington ; Hon. Thomas Ewing, who was the 
orator of the day, and many others. Governor 
Clinton was expected to throw out the first spade- 
ful of earth. This gentleman had proven himself 
the great friend of internal improvements, having 
been the principal promoter in the building of 
the Erie canal in his own State. 

A correspondence between the leading friends 
of the enterprise resulted in the appointment of 
a committee to carry out the wishes of the com- 
missioners. This committee consisted of Judge 
Wilson and Alexander Holmes, of Licking, and 
Judge Elanthan Schofield, one of the earliest sur- 
veyors in this section, and John Noble, of Fair- 
field county. This committee, at their first meet- 
ing, engaged Gottleib Steinman,a hotel keeper of 
Lancaster, to furnish a dinner, upon the ground, 
for the invited guests ; and as many more as would 
pay for a dinner ticket, at one dollar and fifty 
cents a ticket. This proved to be a losing busi- 
ness for Steinman. It happened to be wet two or 



three daj's before the fourth, and as there were 
no houses near the site of the entertainment, 
rough booths w^ere constructed in the woods; 
tables and seats were made of plank, hauled from 
saw-mills at a considerable dist;ince from the 
place. All the fancy part of the dinner, including 
pastry, etc., was prepared at Lancaster, eighteen 
miles south. The entire preparation was made 
under the most unfavorable circumstiinces. Th& 
roasts and broils were prepared on the ground. 
The fourth opened fine and clear; the din- 
ner was good, and enjoyed by all that partook ;. 
but of the thousands who attended, many pre- 
pared for the emergency by bringing a hamper 
of provisions wiOi them. 

The ceremonies began according to pro- 
gramme. Governor Clinton received the spade^ 
thrust it into the soil, and raised the first spade- 
ful of earth, amid the most enthusiastic cheers of 
the assembled thousands. 

This earth was placed in what they called a 
canal wheelbarrow, and the spade was passed to 
Governor Morrow, a statesman and a farmer. He 
sank it to its full depth, and raised the second 
spadeful. Then commenced a strife as to who- 
should raise the next. Captain Ned King, com- 
manding the infantry company present from 
Chillicothe, raised the third ; then some of the 
guests of Governor Clinton's company threw in 
some dirt, and the wheelbarrow being full. Cap- 
tain King wheeled it to the bank. It is impossi- 
ble to describe the scene of excitement and con- 
fusion that accomjjanied this ceremony. The 
people 'Shouted themselves hoarse. The feeling 
was so great that tears fell from many eyes. 

The stand- for the speaking was in the woods. 
The crowd wa,s so great that one company of 
cavalr\- was formed in a hollow square around 
the back and sides of the stand. The flies, after 
three days' rain, were so troublesome that the 
horses kept up a constant stamping, much to the 
annoyance of the crowd. Caleb Atwater, the- 
noted geologist, was present, and made the fol- 
lowing remark afterward at Lancaster: "I sup- 
pose it was all right to have the horses in front of 
the speaker's stand, for they cannot read, and we 
can." 

Governor Clinton and friends, Governor Mor- 
row, Messrs. Kathburn and Lord, with many 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



285 



others, were invited to Lancaster, where they 
were handsomely entert;iined by the citizens. 
Rathburn and Lord were the men who negoti- 
ated tlie loan of four hundred thousand dollars 
for Ohio; and the Lancaster bank was the first to 
make terms with the fund commissioners to re- 
ceive and disburse the money. 

The wages for work on the canal were eight 
dollars for twenty-six working days, or thirty and 
three-fourth cents per day, from sunrise to sun- 
set. The hands were fed well, lodged in shanties, 
and received their regular "jiggers" of whisky the 
first four months. 

Micajah T. Williams and Alfred Kelley were 
the acting commissioners, and provetl themselves 
faithful public servants. They were often pass- 
ing up and down the line, and saw the evil eliects 
of the "jigger" of whisky. They left notice at 
each contract station that they would not pay 
estimates monthly if the contractors furnished 
whisky on the work— an order that caused much 
grumbling among a certain class of the men, but 
it was promptly obeyed by the contractors. A 
jigger was small, not a jill in measure, but fifty or 
sixty meii taking four of these per day — at sun- 
rise, at ten o'clock, at noon, at four o'clock, and be- 
fore supper — would e.xhaust a barrel of whisky 
in four or five days. Men from Fairlield, Hock- 
ing, Gallia and Meigs counties, and all the coun- 
try around, came to work on the canal. P"armers 
and their sons wanted to earn this amount of 
wages, as it was cash — a very scarce article— and 
they must luive it to pay taxes and other cash ex- 
penses. 

Before the canal was finished south of the Sum- 
mit, the iiortli end from Dresden to Cleveland 
wsis in operation ; and wheat sold on the canal at 
seventy-five cents per bushel. Corn rose in pro- 
portion, and the enemies of the canal, all of whom 
were large land holders, or large tax payers, began 
to open their eyes. One of these, a Mr. Shoe- 
maker, of Pickaway county, below Farlton, was a 
rich land owner, and had opposed the building of 
the canal, as it would increase his tax and then 
be a failure. This gentleman, for such he was, 
said that his boys, with one yoke of o.\cn and a 
farm cart, hauled potatoes to Circleville and sold 
them for forty ccnt.s per bushel until they had 
more money than sufficed to pay all his taxes for 



a year. This w^as an article for which, before this, 
there was no market, anil he was now a convert 
to improvement. Wheat raised from twenty-iive 
cents to one dollar per bushel before the canal 
was finished. 

The contracts for building the canal were made 
soon after breaking the ground at Licking Sum- 
mit. The first embraced all the section from the 
point of breaking ground, south, including the 
embankment of the Licking Summit reservoir to 
the deep cut, so called, and there was one section 
at the south end of the cut let about this time to 
Colonel Noble. At these lettings, statements 
were posted up for the information of bidders, of 
the qu.antity and different kinds of work in each 
section, and also their estimates of the value of 
doing the same. Bidders from New York were 
present, and obtained some of the heaviest jobs — 
as the reservoir job, and some others. The price 
of excavation and embankment was from nine to 
thirteen cents per cubic yard ; grubbing and 
clearing, per chain, two to ten dollars, according 
to circumstances. But little masonry was let in 
this division; and the work here was let about 
ten per cent below the engineer's estimates. 
Colonel Noble probably took his contract on the 
engineer's estimates, as it was deemed necessary 
that that section should be finished, in order to 
afford drainage when the dceii cut should be pnt 
under contract. It is said that the colonel was at 
considerable expense in procuring machinery to 
pull down the large elm trees, of which there 
were many on the section, and that the attempt 
to get them out that way was not a success. His 
contract, therefore, did not prove a profitable one. 

The next letting at Newark included the deep 
cut, so called, and the South Fork feeder. The 
length of this cut was about three miles. At the 
deepest jilace it was abcjut thirty-four feet, de- 
.scending gradually in either direction to about 
eight feet at either end, so that it would average 
abcut twenty-four feet the whole length. It was 
divided into two sections, and the whole was let 
at fifteen cents per cubic yard ; the north half to 
Scoville, Hathaway <fe Co , of New York, and the 
south half to Osborn, Rathburn & Co., of Colum- 
bus The first named party sub-let their joli to 
Hampson it Parkinson, of Muskingum county, 
who carried it on for a time and abandoned it at 



286 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



very considerable loss, it is said. The other party, 
under the firm name of Osborn, Williams tt Co., 
prosecuted their -n-ork to linal completion, and 
undertook the unfinished part of the north sec- 
tion ; but they obtained, at different times, of the 
commissioner.?, an advance on the price originall_v 
agreed upon, so that at the close they were paid 
about thirty cents a yard for the work. Probably 
the average was twenty-five cents per yard cost 
to the State. 

It is somewhat singular, that on the highest 
part of the cut there was a swamp of a few acres, 
where the water stood in the spring of the year, 
and as it was raised by heavy rains, the w'aters 
flowed from the swamp north to the waters of 
the Licking, and south to the tributaries of the 
Scioto. 

The next work was also let at Newark. It com- 
menced at the north end of Licking Summit, 
thence northward to Nashport, including all the 
heavy work, and the dam at the lower end of the 
Licking Narniws. Tlie letting embraced some 
twelve to fifteen locks, two aqueducts and cul- 
verts, with the usual excavation and embank- 
ment. The masonry of the locks was bid in at 
from two dollars to two dollars and fifty cents 
per jierch of sixteen and one-half cubic feet, 
which included a lock finished, e,\cej)t the exca- 
vation of the pit and embankment around the 
lock. The other masonry was let at proportion- 
ate rates, and the other work went very low. 
There was great competition. 
■ The next letting was at Irville, in Muskingum 
county ; commencing at the north end of the 
above described work, extending north to Eoscoe, 
upon W'hich there was considerable heavy work 
let at about the same rates as above, competition 
being no less. 

The next work was let at Lancaster, commenc- 
ing at the south end of Col<_)nel Noble's joli, thence 
southward to CircleviUe. This included some 
heavy work, also. There were some twenty or 
twenty-five locks, a few culverts and aqueducts, a 
dam at Bloomfield, and about the usual amount 
of earth wT)rk. All were let at low prices ; the 
first si.x locks south of Licking Summit at three 
dollars and fifteen cents per perch ; the face stone 
was hauled from the neighborhood of Lancaster, 
an average distance of eight miles. Lower down, 



about Carrol. Lockport and Winchester, the locks 
were about two dollars and fifty cents a perch. 
The light locks, just above the junction of the 
m.ain canal with the Columbus feeder, were let at 
three dollars and twenty-five cents a perch. 

At these prices it required the closest economy 
to do the W'Ork without loss. Some of the jobs 
awarded were abandoned and afterwards re-let at 
better prices. The price of labor was very low. 
Wages did not rise above ten dollars per month 
for four or five years. There was no " eight hour 
system ; " the men worked all day. Very few Irish 
or other foreigners had arrived at that time, and 
the work was mostly done by native Americans. 

It was a great undertaking for the State to 
build the canal , and although its working has 
never paid the interest on its cost, yet, it has, 
without doubt, paid for itself many times over by 
the increased wealth it brought to the State, and 
the great increase in values of every marketable 
thing, covering a large extent of coimtry. 

That part of the canal l.ying in Coshocton county 
was built in 1827-30. Among the chief contractors 
were the following citizens of the county, viz: 
Thomas Johnson, William Renfrew, Matthew 
Stewart, Solomon Vail, A. Ferguson, Ephraim 
Thayer and A. G. Wood. 

A sad incident in the construction of the canal 
was the death of Judge Brown, a citizen of Co- 
shocton, who had a contract, and was killed while 
superintending his work by a falling rock. An 
amusing incident was the exploit of one of the 
M — e girls, who was emjiloyed as cook for a gang 
of hands. Picking up the rifle of one of the boys 
who was preparing for a Sunday hunt, she de- 
clared she would shoot a man on the other side 
of the river, who was only an old bachelor, and, 
therefore, as she alleged, of very little use, and so 
saying she fired, and actually hit the crown of 
the man's hat. 

The first boat— the " Monticello " — arrived from 
Cleveland August 21, 1830. She remained several 
days at the point of the hill above the aqueduct, 
attracting wonder-stricken visitors in multitudes 
from this and even adjoining counties. 

The Walhonding canal was commenced in 1836, 
and finished in 1842. In the engineering corps 
were William H. Price, Charles J. Ward, John 
Waddle, Jacob Blickensderfer, Henry Fields and 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



287 



Sylvester Medbery. Several of the gentlemen 
named above as contractors on the Oliio Canal 
were also connected with this. In addition to 
these were John Frew, S. Moffit, Isaac Means, 
Joiin Crowley, W. K. Johnson and others. This 
canal lies wholly within the county, extending 
from Eoscoe to Rochester, twenty-five miles. It 
cost S607,26S.99, or an average of 824,290.76 per 
mile. 

The first superintendent of the~Ohio"'canal, re- 
siding at Koscoe, was S. R. Hosmer, now of Zanes- 
ville. Alonzo Ransom, James Hay, John Mirise, 
James Carnes and William E. Mead also held 
this office. The first collector was Jacob Welsh, 
from Boston, Massachusetts, who (and also John 
M. Sweeny) had been in the engineering corps 
under Leander Ransom. At his death, E. Bennett 
was appointed. The following persons have held 
that po.sition, viz : John D. Patton (now of Wash- 
ington City), Houston Hay (of Coshocton), Chaun- 
cey Bassett (now in Illinois), William M. Green 
(e.v-iiostmaster of Dayton), C .H. Johnson (of Cos- 
hocton), James Gamble (deceased, of Walhond- 
ing), and Foght Burt (now in Illinois). 

The Superintendents of the Walhonding canal 
were Langdon Hogle, John Perry, William E. 
Mead and Charles H. Johnson. 

The iirst canal-boat launched in the county 
was called the "Renfrew," in honor of James 
Renfrew, a merchant of Coshocton. It was built 
by Thomas Butler Lewis, an old Ohio keel-boat- 
man. 

It was intended to have the Walhonding canal 
extended to the northwestern part of the State, 
but there was already (1842) much talk of a 
speedier mode of conveyance. The work had 
been very expansive, and the members of the 
legislature from districts where canals were not 
regarded as practicable, were indi.sposed to con- 
tinue the approjiriations. 

The " Grand Canal," as it was first called, jiasses 
entirely across the State, connecting the waters of 
Lake' Erie with those of the Ohio river. It is 
three hundred and six miles long, exclusive of 
the lateral canal to Columbus, eleven miles, and 
the Dresden side cut, together with slack-water 
navigation to Zanesville, seventeen miles more, 
making in all three hundred and thirty-four 
miles, including its various windings. It com- 



mences at Cleveland and pa.s,ses up the Cuyahoga 
river to the Old Port^ige, between it and the Tus- 
carawas river ; by the city of Akron, and over to 
the Tuscarawas, down whose valley it follows to 
MassiUon, Dover, New Philadelphia, Newcomers- 
town, Caldersburgh, Coshocton and Dresden, 
where it leaves the Tuscarawas, or rather the 
Muskingum, as the river is called below Coshoc- 
ton, and takes a southwesterly direction, passing 
Nashport, and striking the Licking river just be- 
yond the eastern line of Licking county, jjassing 
up that river to Newark; thence up the south 
fork to Hebron, Deep Cut, Baltimore, and Carrol, 
reaching the Scioto river just within the limits of 
Pickaway county, eleven miles south of Colum- 
bus, From this point it follows the Scioto valley 
to the Ohio river, pa.ssing the towns of Bloom- 
field, Circleville,Westfall,Chillicothe and Piketon 
to Portsmouth, It is owned and controlled by 
the State, and is under the immediate supervision 
of the board of public works, who appoint all its 
officers, and h.ive entire charge of all it.s affiiirs. 
It is divided into three divisions, each of which 
is in charge of a chief engineer, who looks after 
repairs and other matters, and makes a yearly 
report to the board. Collectors are stationed at 
various places along the c'anal, whose business is 
to collect tolls and water rent. A specified 
amount of toll is paid by those who run the 
boats, both upon the boat and cargo, the rate de- 
pending upon the value or quality of the cargo. 
It varies from two or three mills to two or three 
cents per mile. The boats are owned by private 
individuals, who have the use of the canal by 
paying the tolls. Before the days of railroads, 
these boats did a through business, and some of 
them were "passenger packets," which were 
lightly and neatly built, and arranged for carrying 
passengers, and made much quicker time than 
the freight boats. Since the advent of railroads, 
however, this class of boats has, of course, disap- 
peared, and those carrying freight now do only a 
local business, the railroads doing all through 
business. The boats will carry from fifty to 
eighty tons, and draw from two to three feet of 
water. Their principal business now is to trans- 
port coal, wheat, building stone, and any freight 
that does not require quick transportation. 
In 1801 the canal wiis leased to a company for 



288 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ten years, and at the end of that time the lease 
was renewed for ten years, but the company 
abandoned the leiise in 1878, the State talcing pos- 
session again in May, 1879. For several years 
prior to leasing it, the canal had been a heavy 
yearly expense to the State, the receipts falling 
much below the expenditures; since taking pos- 
session again in 1879, however, the receipts have 
largely exceeded the expenditures, and the State, 
probably for the first time in the history of this 
enterprise, is now making money out of it. 



They have not, however, on that part within 
Coshocton county, been much disturbed by 
" prows " for many years. 

In 1875, a little steamboat was built at Jacobs- 
port by Mr. Parker, proprietor of the mill, and 
was running as a pleasure and burden boat for 
short distances on Wills creek. 

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis rail- 
road is the only railroad now in complete run- 
ning order through the county. It is familiarly 
known as the " Pan Handle route " — so called 




THE KEW PASSENGER DEPOT, NEWARK, OHIO. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



RAILROADS. 



River Transportation — Tlie Pan Handle — Extracts from 
Hunt's History and the Zancsville Conricr. 

FOLLOWING the canal came that great civ- 
ilizer, the railroad, as a means of transpor- 
tation. Prior to either canal or railroad, steam- 
boats and small boats and scows were used in 
business operations on the river. Steamboats 
occasionally came up to Coshocton. The orig- 
inal proprietors of the town designated certain 
lots on the river bank as " warehouse lots," look- 
ing to shipments by river. By act of the legisla- 
ture, the MuskingiHu. Walhonding, and Tuscara- 
was rivers, and Killbuck, Mohican, and Wills 
creeks, within Coshocton county, have been de- 
clared "navigable streams." 



from the narrow neck, or section, of West Vir- 
ginia extending up and along the Ohio river, 
across which the Pittsburgh and Stutienville road 
(being a part of this line) passes. The road runs 
in an eastwardly direction from Columbus to 
Pittsburgh, one hundred and ninety-three miles, 
ai\d is the shortest and most direct line between 
these two cities. That part of the road lying in 
Ohio is one himdred and fifty miles long,- from 
Stubenville. 

The Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Com- 
pany was chartered February 24, 1848, and under 
its charter and amendments thereto, commeilced 
work in November, 1851, on, the eastern division, 
opening the road for traffic from Steubenville to 
Newark, via Co.-<hocton, in April, 1855. This 
line, with a branch from the main line to Cadiz, 
eight miles in length, constituted the road of the 
Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Company. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



289- 



The delay in building the road from Steubenville 
to Pittsburah, the want of proper connections 
east or west, and the unfinished and poorly 
equipped condition of the road, gave insuflicicnt 
earniogs to pay interest and current expenses; 
the company became greatly embarrassed and 
fell in arrears to laborers, and for supplies, and 
was annoyed and perplexed with suits and judg- 
ments which it was unable to fund or pay, and 
fmally proceedings were commenced in the 
Court of Common Pleas, of Harrison county, 
Ohio, for the foreclosure of mortgages and 
sale of the road, and Thomas L. Jewett was ap- 
pointed receiver, on the second day of Septem- 
ber, 1859. On the ilrst day of October, 1864, the 
receiver, on behalf of the company, purchased 
an undivided half of that part of the Central 
Ohio between Newark and Columbus, for seven 
hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, thus 
giving the company an independent outlet and 
direct communication with railroads running 
west from Columbus. 

Meantime the work on the Steubenville and 
Pittsburgh road was rapidly pushed forward to 
completion, and on the first of October, 1866, 
the receiver concluded an arrangement with 
the lessees of that road for opening the whole 
line from Columbus to Pittsburgh. The road 
received the name of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and 
St. Loui.S; and December 2S, 1807, it was reorgan- 
ized under the name of Pan Handle. Upon 
completion, it was leased to the Pennsylvania 
Kailroad Company, by which it is now operated. 
The construction and equipment of this road 
cost, in round numbers, twenty million dollars. 

The following regarding this road is from Mr. 
Hunt's history of this county : 

" The road was originally planned to go from 
Coshocton up the Walhonding valley, taking 
much the same ilirection as was once jiroposed 
for the Walhonding canal, and striking for North- 
ern Indiana and Chieagii; but the movement of 
another cdnipuny anticipated part of this plan, 
and the mad was built to Newark. \ few indi- 
vidual subscriptions of stock were made, but 
most of the stock, afterward in the possession of 
individuals, came through the contractors to 
whom it had been given fur work, or was given 
to the holders of it for the rigiit of wav, etc. 

"The county, in 18,10, took .«;l()(i,(WH> of the 
stock of the company, and the townships along 



the line of the road (excejit Oxford), |8I),000- 
m-re, viz: Lafayette, $20,(IIKl; Tuscarawas, !?.'30,- 
00(1; Franklin, * 1.5,000, and Virginia, |1.5,()(I0, for 
all of wliich bonds were issued. Sab.-^equently, 
in the jiroccsses of consolidation and extension, 
nearly one-half of this stock was relinqui.shcd, 
leaving the remainder in possession of the county 
and townships. No diviilend hiis ever been paid 
on it, and it is all regarded as practically lost. 
The road jiaid into the county treasury, as taxes 
for 187"), the sum of .f5,r)78.68." 

The citizens now readily recallcil as having 
contracts for building the road are Samuel Brown 
(since removed to Illinois), .John Few, J. W. Rue, 
John Ninian and George Ross. Neither these nor 
any other citizens specially connected with the 
buililing of the road, reaped much benclit from 
it, but many have gained immensely, ami the 
gei^eral advancement of the county through it, 
has in amount exceeded many times overall that; 
was ever invested in it. Until comparatively re- 
cent years, one of the board of direcors was taken 
from Coshocton county. Wm. K. Johnson served 
in that capacity from the inception of the road 
until his death, and was succeeded by his brother, 
■Toseph K. Johnson, now of New York city. 

In 1872, a railroad was located (as a branch of 
the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon and Columbus Rail- 
road) through Clark, Bethlehem, Jetl'crson, Bed- 
ford and Washington townships, and some work 
was done on it. But "the panic " of 1S73 pi'e- 
vented any further ju-ogress for some three years. 
At this writing fresh efforts are being made to 
complete the work 

The Massillonand Coshocton Railroad, branch- 
ing from the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley and 
Wheeling Railroad near Massillon (Beach city), 
and running to Coshocton, was located in 1875, 
anil by the hearty assistence of parties along the 
line, under the direction of R. B. DiMuiis, W. L. 
Holden, and others interested in the C , 'S>. V. & 
W. R. R., and also in coal-lields near Coshocton, 
is at this writing being rapidly cijustructcd. A, 
n. Slayton, J. C. Fisher, E. T. Spangler and J. C. 
Pomrene, of Coshocton, have been actively and 
olliciallv connected with this enterprise. Several 
other railroads have been projected, notal)ly one 
from Liberty, in Guernsey ciamty to Coshoctt.n, 
and thence uj) the Walh<iuiling valley (a part 
substantially of T. S. llnnirickhouse's projected 
"Lake Michigan ami Tidewater" Railroad); but 
up to this writing no elirctivc measures have been 
taken in relation to them. 

The lirst agent of the S. & I. Railroad at Cosh- 
octon was John Frew." 

None of the above mentioned roads have been 
finished. 

The branch of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon 
and Columbus road was graded as far as Tunnel 



290 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Hill, where it ended and remains unfinished. The 
immense coal fields of the county require, and 
will idtimately have, additional transportation. 

The following regarding prospective railroads 
in this county is clipped from the ZaywafUle 
Courier of a recent date : 

Messrs. R. B. Dennis and W. L. Holden, (if the 
Cleveland, Canton, Coshocton and Straitsville Kail- 
way (Connotton Valley), and Messrs. D. B. Linn 
and J. P. Egan, returned to the city Thursday 
from a tour of observation to Otsego and Co.shoc- 
ton, in the interests of the above named rail' 
way company. The party passed over the en- 
tire route and minutely examined the country, 
with a view to determining the feasiliility of ex- 
tending the railroad from Otsego to Zanesville. 

It sliould be observed that Mr. Dennis came 
here by direction of the directors of the Cleve- 
land, Canton, Coshocton and Straitsville Railway 
Company, to examine the route personally, and 
to report his observation to the board at their 
next meeting, to be held in Canton next week. 
Both of the visiting gentlemen are now satisfied, 
as we are informed, that the route is not only 
feasible, but that the territory lying between the 
Pan Handle on the north, and the B. et O. Rail- 
way on the south, can bo divided about the center 
by the proposed new narrow gauge, and that the 
country through which the road would pass will 
furnish a large amount of local trathc. 

The gap between the head waters of Salt creek 
and the White Eyes branch of Wills creek is not 
a. formidable obstacle, and can easily l)e traversed. 
It is fair to infer from all the circumstances con- 
nected with the ins]iection, that the report of 
Messrs. Dennis and Holden will be favorable to 
the construction of the road. 

The line is already vmder contract as far south 
as Co.-;hocton, and gentlemen who have oppor- 
tunities of knowing whereof they alfirm, seem 
to be confident that the extension to ZanesviUe 
will be made this summer. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

AGRICULTURE.* 

Ajiritniltura] Features of the County — Present Coinlitiou — 
Crops — Corn, Wheat, ete. — Fniit Culture — Stoek Raising — 
Sheep — Cattle — Hogs — Horses — County .\grieultnral So- 
ciety. 

THE topographical features of Coshocton coun- 
ty are so diversified by hill and valley as to af- 
ford a pleasing variance in agricultural pursuits 

^'Corai»iled chietly from Hunt's Historieal Colleetions and 
the Agrieultural Report. 



throughiiut the county. By the junction of the 
Walhoniling and Tuscarawas rivers, forming the 
Muskingum, three broad and beautiful valleys 
are formed, radiating in difTerent directions 
from the county seat. The valleys of Wills 
creek and the Killbuck are scarcely less marked, 
and these five, together with many others, of 
greater or less scope, threading the county in all 
directions, present an abundance of rich, sandy, 
fertile bottom lands, well adapted to the growing 
of corn, wheat, potatoes and kindred crops. The 
rolling or hill lands are more adapted to growing 
wheat and grass. The western part of the coun- 
ty is composed chiefly of limestone lands; the 
eastern part is more of a sandy nature. The 
northern part of the county, between the Tusca- 
rawas and Walhonding rivers, is rolling and well 
adapted for grass and growing of sheep. Water 
is abundant throughout the entire county. It is 
often asserted that the soils are becoming ex- 
hausted, but this is only partially true. The bot- 
tom lands, owing to the false notion that they 
need no return for the generous crops annually 
removed, arc, as a general thing, less productive 
than when first brought under cultivation, but 
the rich clay lands are constantly improving. For 
this there are two reasons. In the first place, all 
good farmers understand that these lands will not 
l^roduce grain from year to year without some 
return being made for the crops removed. The 
general practice here is a rotation of products, 
such as corn, oats, wheat and clover, followed 
sometimes with meadow or pasture. Besides the 
direct benefit from the clover and grass as fertili- 
zers, the condition (.)f tliose clay soils is greatly 
ameliorated by this thorough cultivation. Deep 
plowing and exposure of the subsoil to the frosts 
of winter, the cultivation of corn in the summer 
and the thorough preparation of the soil by the 
network of clover roots will accomplish a great 
work in the improvement of these stiflf clays. The 
"plain" lands, which were regarded as valueless by 
the early settlers, under careful cultivation have 
been made to yield constant and abundant har- 
vests. 

The material prosperity of the farmers is am- 
ply attested by the erection of handsome brick 
and frame dwellings and large and commodious 
barns throughout the county. Particularlv has 



HISTOIIY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



291 



this been noticeable within tlio last few years. 
The lojr cabin in many localities is rapidly be- 
coniin;; a thiivj; of the past. The maxinium num- 
ber of cultivators of the soil was probably reached 
in 1850. From that year to 1S70 there was a de- 
crease in the population of the county, owing to 
the fact that many of the well-to-do farmers of 
small tracts sold their possessions to more 
wealthy neighbors and moved away. These 
wealthy farmers, in a niuiiber of cases, own from 
five hundred to a thousand or more acres, and by 
their successive purchiises have partially depopu- 
lated some districts. The most extensive land- 
holder at present is Lloyd Nichols, of Newcastle 
township, who has in his possession ,3,212 acres in 
that townshii). It is a gratifying fact that, from 
1870 to 1880, there was an increase of population 
in eighteen of the twenty-two townships in this 
county. This increase is due chiefly to the 
growth of the agricultural regions, as only in one 
or two instances can it be ascribed to villages. 

The land appraisers for 1880 returned a total 
acreage in the county of 3.52,249, valui'd at 17,670,- 
Gi)4, an acreage value of $21.77 per acre. The 
buildings were rated at i'709,981. Of the land, 
166,229 acres are reported arable, 89,438 in 
meadow or pasture, and 90,582 as uncultivated or 
wild land. The principal timber of practical use 
is white oak — the most useful for all purposes 
where large lumber is needed. Besides, there 
are black and red oak, poplar, walnut, hickory, 
ash and chestnut — all in sufficient quantities to 
supply the wants of the people. The timber in 
this county is being rapidly exhausted, there be- 
ing portable saw-mills used in localities where 
timber is abundant, manufacturing our best tim- 
ber into lumber, which is used in building post 
and rail fences in place of decaying rail fences. 
The eflfects of the rapid exhaustion of timber is 
shown by a wise action of the farmers in planting 
hedge fences. There is a large growth of young 
chestnut trees on the hill-sides and on the uncul- 
tivated portions of the farms, which are very 
thrifty and produce fine crops of chestnuts. It 
is estimated that this county produced, in 1879, 
twenty thousand bushels of chestnuts, which 
were sold as low as one dollar per bushel. The 
farms areas yet generally enclosed by rail fences. 
Many of the farmers, howevcr,are renewing their 



fences with posts and boards. The osjige hedge 
fence and the barbed wire fence have both been 
introduced and are meeting with some favor. 

Corn has always been regarded as the princijial 
crop. More acres of it have been planted and 
more bushels gathered than of any other. In 
1857 when the cultivation of this crop reached its 
maximum, when there was much discourage- 
ment in relation to the growing of wheat in con- 
.sequence of the pests to which it had been for a 
succession of years subjected, and when the sheep 
interest had not yet become so great, there were 
more than a million and a half busliels of corn 
raised. The principal kind is the yellow gord 
seed. , In 1878 there were 35,6,55 acres planted, 
and 1,242,284 bushels produced; in 1.S79, 33,.373 
acres planted, and 9,37 ,546 bu.^hels raised. White 
corn is grown in small quantities. Scarcely 
enough pop or sweet corn is raised to supply 
homo demand. 

The wheat crop in Coshocton county has al- 
ways ranked next to corn in aminmt and value. 
The period of its most successful cultivation may 
be set down at from 1835 to 1.850. The largest 
crop ever secured was in 1846. The roads to the 
canal warehouses and mills were often studded 
thickly for many rods with wagons wafting their 
turn to imload. In 1S.H) there was a larger acreage 
than in l.S4t'i, but the yield was not ,so great. In 
1.802 a half million bushels was reported as the 
yield. About 1850 the Hessian fly miulo its ap- 
pem-ance; it was succeeded by the weevil; then 
there wjis serious trouble about winter freezing, 
and for twenty years this interest was much de- 
presstil. .Vbout 1870 farmers began to take gotxl 
he.'U't again, and, in 1>H74, there was a magnificant 
crop. The crop of 1875 was very seriously ef- 
fected by an umisually rainy season just at the 
harvest time. The last three harvests have been 
unusually large, tliat of 1879 surpassing corn in 
acreage and value. In 1878 there were 28,533 
acres sown, and 440,376 busliels prothiced ; in 
1879, 41,395 acres sown, and 517,937 bushels pro- 
duced. There is a diversity of i)i)inion as t<3 the 
variety best adapted to this soil. The principal 
varieties grown are the Mediterranean, Fultz, 
Clawson and White ^^'lleat. The Clawson wheat 
is sown by many of the farmers and gives a good 
yield, and seems to be a hardy winter wheat. 



■292 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



In earlier days the average yield was quite iij) to 
eighteen or twenty bushels per acre, but of late 
years thirteen to fifteen is regarded as good. At 
the county fair for 1878, there was one entry of 
field crop of wheat — eighteen and one half acres — 
which produced forty-five and one-third bushel 
l^er acre, by weight. In the days of high i>riecs 
during the war, three dollars and twenty-live 
cents per bushel was paid for good wheat; the 
lowest price within the memory of early settlers 
was twenty-five cents. 

Eye h;is never been cultivated to any great e.x- 
tent, but much more was raised in earlier days 
than now. In 1867 the largest acreage for a num- 
ber of years was put in — 4,700 acres. It js now 
almost wholly abandoned, being neither very pro- 
ductive or very profitable. In 1878, 604 acres 
were sown and 6,634 bushels gathered ; the next 
year there were 109 acres sown and 1,816 bushels 
produced. 

In 1862 the barley crop was reported at 3,000, 
and has never been much above that. It has now 
■practically ceased, there being, in 1879, only four 
acres returned with a yield of fifty bushels. 

Oats is produced in considerable quantities. 
The principal variety grown is known as side 
oats. It is of good quality and yields an average 
crop. In 1878, 11,009 acres were sown, yielding 
.333,480 bushels ; in 1879 the acreage fpU to 8,770 
acres with a yield of 236,095 bushels. 

Three hundred and thirty-nine acres of buck- 
wheat were raised in 1878, yielding 2,377 bushels; 
in 1879, 460 acres produced 4,855 bushels. 

The principal varieties of potatoes grown are 
the White and Red Peachblow and Eaply and 
Late Rose. The best for early use in quality and 
■quantity is the Early Rose. For late use the 
White Peachblow seems to lead. The Colorado 
beetle has been its principal enemy for a few 
years, but, in spite of its ravages, good crops are 
produced. In 1878, 806 acres yielded 57,110 
bushels, and in 1879, 920 acres produced 73,160 
•bushels. 

Flax, in early days, received considerable at- 
tention. During the war, when cotton goods rose 
so in value, renewed interest was manifested in 
this crop. In 1862, sixty acres were planted. It 
may be said that none is now grown. For 1879 
a solitarv one-half acre was returned as the ex- 



tent of its production in this county. .The opinion 
prevails among the farmers that it imjioverishes 
the land and renders it worthless for growing 
other crops. 

Broom corn has never been much cultivated 
in the count)'. Sorghum was a considerable item 
in war times. Three hundred and eighty-five 
acres of it were grown in 1862, and more still 
later. It is confined to small lots, chiefly for homo 
use. In 1878, 186 acres were planted, which pro- 
duced 1,397, pounds of sugar and 11,282 gallons 
of syrup. In 1879,.the acreage fell to 99 acres, 
producing 62 pounds of sugar and 6,481 gallons of 
syrup. 

In early times all, or nearly all, the sugar con- 
sumed in the county was of home manufacture 
— maple sugar. For many years it continued to 
be a leading product. As late as 1865 there were 
reported as produced in the county 4,000 pounds 
of sugar and 3,(!)00 gallons of syrup. In 1879, 
1,037 jiounds of sugar and 926 gallons of syrup 
were reported. This amount was greatly dimin- 
ished in 1880, then reaching only 408 jjounds of 
sugar and 322 gallons of syrup. 

A considerable amount of tobacco has been 
raised in Coshocton county. More than forty 
years ago there was the " tobacco fever." The 
farmers all went to raising it; the supply ex- 
ceeded the demand, and there was considerable 
disgust. In 1858 there were only two and one- 
half acres raised. During the war there was a 
temporary extension of this interest, but not a 
very wide one. It is now grown only in small 
lots for home use. In 1879, 5| acres were raised. 

There have been several efforts in the manu- 
facture of cheese, but they have not been long 
persisted in, nor very satisfactory. The most 
notable cheese factory was one set up about 1866, 
in Clark township. The farmers became tired of 
the constant and regular efl'ort in the matter of 
furnishing milk, competition was heavy, and the 
factory, after running seven or eight years, was 
closed. There were, in 1878, 1,325 pounds of 
cheese produced in this county and in 1879, 790 
pounds. The aggregate amount of butter annually 
made, for the last twenty-five years, has some- 
what exceeded half a million pounds. In 1879, 
665,990 pounds were produced. 

Coshocton is among the best bee counties in the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



293 



State. In 1878 it contained 4,114 hives, which 
produced 49,791 pounds of honey. 

In 18C8, an average year, 30,000 tons of hay were 
produced. During the last several years, owing 
to dry weather, etc., this crop has been short. In 
1879, 20,950 acres of meadow produced but 22,684 
tons of hay. The average and yield was about 
the same for 1878. In this latter year, 3,409 acres 
of clover were sown; from it 3,129 tons of .hay 
were produced, 2,621 bushels of seed, and 144 
acres were plowed under for manure. The acre- 
age was somewhat larger, but the yield consider- 
ably smaller in 1879. 

The first nurseryman in Coshocton county was 
doubtless the excentric, self-denying "Johnny 
Appleseed," an account of whom is given in an- 
other chapter of this work. The first orchards 
were for the most part, if not entirely, from seed- 
ling trees. Top grafting upon these was after- 
ward resorted to in a small degree, but without 
materially changing the general character of the 
fruit, except in a few instances. Some of the 
early settlers, coming in from Maryland and Vir- 
ginia, brought with them sprouts from the orch- 
ards of their home regions, and these, of course, 
contained those varieties. Some of those still 
have a place in the orchards of the descendants of 
those who brought them. 

In 1832, Joshua B. Hart, of Tiverton township, 
had a bearing orchard of grafted fruit, consist- 
ing of the kinds brought out by the Ohio Com- 
pany when they settled at Marietta. Mr. Hart 
propogated some by grafting, but could not sell 
his trees and quit in a short time. 

Joseph F. Munro had a large orchard planted 
for him by old John Mathews, also of the Mari- 
etta sorts. The Robinsons had a few trees of the 
same. 

William Miskimen, on Wills creek, practiced 
grafting in a small way, and had bearing apple 
trees of the kinds common in western Pennsyl- 
vania. 

George Henderson had a bearing orchard of 
apples and practiced grafting in a small way. 
His orchard was on White Eyes, and consisted of 
Western Pennsylvania fruit. " 

Old Mr. McFertridge had jilanted an orchard, 
not yet then in bearing. He brought his trees 



from Steubenville, and they were of the kind 
grown in the Kneisley nurseries. 

A nurseryman of Fairfield county, about 1830- 
31, brought by canal a large lot of grafted apple 
trees, but found no sale for them for orchard 
planting, and traded or in some way disposed of 
them to Nathan Spencer of Bethlehem township, 
who planted them in a kind of nursery, and sold 
them to John Frew. Eighty of them were 
planted by T. S. Humrickhouse in an orchard on 
Mill creek in the fall of 1833. 

John Elliott planted an orchard of the same 
kind on his farm in Bethlehem township. Ev- 
ery tree of this lot was true to name and the 
whole selection proved most admirable. 

Richard Wood, of Bedford towshii),'i>rac<iced 
grafting to a small extent and had an orchard. 

Wishing to plant two or three apple orchards, 
and not being able to find all the kinds he wanted 
in any one nursery, T. S. Humrickhouse, about 
1835, commenced making a collection and graft- 
ing in nursery. He took from all the orchards 
above mentioned all the varieties they contiiined, 
and added from a distance all the kinds he could 
hear of that gave promise of being valuable, and 
has continued that sort of work to this day. His 
nursery, the only one in this county, is situated 
on the south outlots of Coshocton. \\'hen James 
Matthews was in congress he procured most of 
the native and many foreign varieties, and they 
were thorougiily tried. Most of the foreign and 
many of the native were discarded. Both Mr. 
Matthews and Mr. Humrickhouse about 1840 
gave considerable attention to pears, peaches, 
plums and grapes, introducing many fine varie- 
ties. 

About 1838, Robert Seevers started a nursery 
at West Carlisle, and many of the orchards in the 
western townships were stocked by him. 

Kellis Hord started one near Bakersvillc. Oth- 
ers in difl'erent parts of the county tried the busi- 
ness, but few of them continued long in it. 

Traveling grafters, between 1840 and 1850, 
abounded in the county, but have not left very 
distinct traces. 

For the last twentwfive years very heavy im- 
portations of fruit trees have been made. In one 
year the sales of tree peddlers reached nearly 
$8,000. A large proportion of the trees died, and 



2ti4 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



many of the varieties which were most highly 
cummended, proved really very inferior. Not- 
withstanding, however, large and prolific or- 
chards may now be found in all parts of the 
comity. The total acreage of orchards in 1878 
was 6,344, yielding that year 446,918 bushels of 
apples. 

Probably the largest peach orchard ever set out 
in the county was planted by Joseph K. Johnson, 
on his place about a mile east of Coshocton. It 
consisted of eighty some acres. The growing of 
peaches is extensively cultivated, which is most 
marked, perhaps, in Washington township, where 
large, fine orchards of this fruit may be seen on 
almost every farm. In 1878 there were produced 
in tills county 09,800 bushels of peaches. Tliis 
yield w;is excelled by only two counties in the 
State, Muskingum and Columbiana. In the same 
year 373 bushels of pears were produced. 

Grajie culture has never been very considerable 
in this county. In 1855 J. K. Johnson planted 
quite a large vineyard on his place, one mile east 
of Coshocton, and for a few years thereafter a 
considerable quantity of wine was made under 
his direction. The most of this was used by sick 
friends, of whom there proved to be a good 
many, and for church purposes. Some years sub- 
sequently, J. B. Elliott and F. Seward established 
a vineyard in Keene township, but the operation 
was not accounted a large success. In 1878 there 
were twenty-five acres in vineyard reported, pro- 
ducing 9,148 pounds of grapes and 177 gallons of 
wine. Several years ago the manufacture of wine 
for home consumption was begun by a few of the 
German farmers in Franklin, Linton, Crawford 
and other townships. It has since been steadily 
increasing among them, and bids fair to develop 
into a quite noticeable production. 

There is a gratifying increase in the interest 
taken in the raising of live stock of all kinds. 
The choicest blood and most carefully bred 
horses and cattle are to be found, while hogs and 
sheep of the finest stock are in abundance. 

The first Merino sheep of thorough blood 
brought into this county were bought by Major 
Eobinson and Major Sijimons from old Seth 
Adams, who, as partner or agent of General 
Humphries, brought to the Muskingum valley 
some of General Humphries' importation from 



Spain, and had them in Muskingum county, near 
Dresden, as early as 1812. They were not cared 
for, and no trace of them is left. Fine-wooled 
sheep of uncertain and mixed blood were gradu- 
ally introduced by farmers from eastern counties 
and Western Pennsylvania, between 1830 and 
1836 or 1837, when Beaver and Bowman brought 
out from Washington county, Pennsylvania,, 
about 2,000, and placed them on Bowman's sec- . 
tion, adjoining Coshocton. This movement 
proved a failure, most of the sheep dying the 
next spring, and the remainder being disposed of 
and scattered so as to leave no trace. 

About 1842, S. T. Thompson and one or two of 
his neighbors brought from Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, a few sheep and founded flocks. 
These were the first really good Merinos that have 
left their mark and still exist. 

William Renfrew, sr., soon after brought out 
from the same county a few good black-tops and 
a few lighter colored, which he bred separately, 
and the descendants of which still remain. In 1846, 
or thereabouts, William Batchelor and George 
Wolf brought out a few sheep obtained from Gen. 
Harmon in the SUite of New York; they were 
selected by Mr. Batchelor, and, compared with 
what were here before, w'ere heavier-wooled and 
stronger sheep. Tliey did well. 

In 1850, Howe and Batchelor brought out from 
Vermonta French ram, of thorough Merino blood, 
which had been imported from France by S. W. 
Je wett, from the government flock at Rambouillet. 
After trial, they rejected him and disposed of his 
increase. They then, in connection with T. S. 
Humrickhouse, brought out some thirt}' head of 
Humphries' Atwood sheep, obtained from Edwin 
Hammond, of Addison county, Vermont. These 
are the kind now recognized on all hands as the 
best, and an improvement over other fine-wooled 
sheep. They have been added to from time to- 
time by Mr. Batchelor and others. 

In 1834, Isaac Maynard emigrated from Eng- 
land and settled in this county. He brought 
with him a small flock of Southdowns and a few 
Lincolnshires. The Lincolnshires were entirely 
lost, and most of the Southdowns. In 1842, or 
thereabouts, William Henderson, Dr. Edmund 
Cone and James Miskimen furnished old Mr. 
Baclie with money to go to England and bring 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



295 



back with him some sheep. He brought back 
•quite a number of Ellman Southdowns and a few 
Leicestershires, or, as sometimes called, Dishleys 
or Bakewells, which were divided among the 
owners. The Leicestershires soon disapj)eared, 
but the Southdowns are the source of most of the 
Southdowns now in the county. They have been 
added to by Bluck and others, who purchased 
rams at different times from various sources. 
Tlie Cotswolds have been of late tried by various 
parties— those of Judge Thornhill, William Han- 
Ion, Robert Moore and J. W. Dwyor having at- 
tracted much attention and commendation. 

In the times of high prices during the war, one 
dollar and five cents per pound was paid for a few 
choice fleeces. Many were sold at one dollar per 
pound— one fleece bringing twenty-two dollars 
and fifty cents. When prices foil after th? war, 
and the condition of things was unsatisfactory 
otherwise as to the profitableness of sheep rais- 
ing, thousands of the poorest sheep'were killed 
and fed to hogs, the pelts selling for about as 
much as the live sheep. 

A Coshocton County Wool-growers' Associa- 
tion was organized about 1864. In February, 
1876, the National Merino Sheep Breeders' Asso- 
ciation was organized at Coshocton, in a meeting 
attended by delegates from Pennsylvania, W^est 
Virginia, Missouri and other States. 

Coshocton is one of the forenaost sheep coun- 
ties in the State. In the value of its sheep, in 
1879, it stood sixth on the list, and in point of 
number, 126,000, was tenth. In 1878, 490,076 
pounds of wool were shorn. 

In comparatively early times, John Miskimen, 
Judge Robinson and Daniel Miller brought some 
fine cattle into the county. More than thirty 
years ago, Frank McGuire and George Wolf 
bought some superior stock in this line from E. 
P. Prentice, of Albany, New York, and afterward 
some from D. D. Campbell, of Schenectady, New 
York. About 18.51, Arnold Medberry and Sam- 
uel Rrown made purchase of some very fine cat- 
tle from Dr. Watts, of Chillicothe. In 1855, 
Thomas Darling imported a lot from Kentucky, 
and not long thereafter Samuel Moore, Frank 
McGuire and T. S. Humrickhouse became prom- 
inently connected with the same line of work. 
John G. Stewart, a few years ago, exhibited a very 
9 



superior herd. J. W. Dwyer has, of late, also in- 
terested himself greatly, especially in the Jerseys 
and Alderneys. The number of cattle in the 
county in 1879 was 21,737, valued atS299.141. 

The hogs of the earlier day in Coshocton 
county were all that could be made by an 
abundance of corn and little care; but the orig- 
inal stock not being very good, and little effort 
being made to improve it, long snouts and blue 
skins were the rule. The McGuires and the 
Wolfs were about the first to give attention to 
improved breeds. Afterward the Lennons, the 
Burrells, and Matthew Johnson interested them- 
selves in the same line. G. W. Silliman, after his 
visit to Europe, took an interest in the Berk- 
shires, and brought into the county some of that 
breed. The Chester Whites beame and contin- 
ued great favorites. The Leicestershires have 
found many approvers, and are favorites with 
many. The Poland Chinas, too, of late have been 
introduced, and are being well received. 

There were in the county in 1879, 23,265 hogs, 
having a valuation of $48,612. 

"Blooded " horses have, from the first, received 
a good deal of attention in Coshocton county. 
Old Colonel Williams and his compeers had the 
Virginia notions about these things. The race 
course was not then, as now, circular and level 
and rolled, but they had one, from the earliest 
days down. There was one on the Butler place, 
up the Walhonding. The road to Lewisville had 
been used. But the favorite track for years was 
on what is now Fifth street, in Coshocton, alon^ 
which two parallel, narrow tracks were cleared. 
Tests of speed were there made, not witnessed 
by elegantly-dressed ladies and gentlemen, such 
as now-a-days throng the county fair grounds, 
but the "homespun" crowd. It is claimed that 
if the associations of the place were less refined, 
the honesty was not less than now. They meant 
square business or simple fun in those days, and 
were severe on " jockejnng." Neither did they 
then sell pools. 

Among those actively interested in this line, 
the following may be named : One of the But- 
lers in New Castle township had charge of two 
horses, brought in before 1812, belonging to Peter 
Casey, one of the first associate judges of the 
county. They were called " Whistle Jacket " and 



296 



HISTORY OF COSHOCfoN COUNTY. 



"High-flyer." Colonel Williams of Coshocton, 
brought ill from Virginia a horse, long famed in 
this region, called "Medley." Robert Farwell 
brought from New England to Keene township, 
" Sir Archie." Joseph W. Rue, about 1830, intro- 
duced "John of Jersey " and " Patrick Richards," 
colts by a horse entered for a race against 
" Eclipse," the famous trotter on Long Island 
course, but withdrawn on account of lameness. 
Matthew Stewart is remembered in connection 
with " Hickory." Lewis Rice and John Johnson 
had a horse called " Premium," and A. G. Wood, 
one called " Sir Charles." Samuel Baker's horse 
was "Snow Ball." In 1866, D. L. Triplett and 
William Bachelor brought from Kentucky "Ab- 
dallah," who met the sad fate of being burned to 
death in a stable, consumed m the fall of 18G9. 
The County Horse Fair Association was organ- 
ized in 1866. In 1879, there were 7,609 horses re- 
ported in this county, valued at f 382,836. 

As early as 1835, the County Commissioners, 
under provisions of law, directed a call to be 
issued for a meeting, looking to the formation of 
a County Agricultural Society. But nothing ef- 
fective was done under that call, or in any other 
way, for many years. About 1850 the matter 
was taken up by some of the progressive farmers, 
chiefly in the eastern part of the county, among 
whom were Colonel C. F. Sangster, Dr. Heslip 
Williams, Dr. E. Cone, Judge James M. Burt, 
John Davis and others, and determined efforts 
accomplished the organization. 

The first fair under the ausjjices of the society 
was held at Jacobsport, in 1860. Then, for sev- 
eral years thereafter, they -were held in the public 
square at Coshocton. Temporary stalls and 
sheds were enclosed each year, for the stock on 
exhibition, and the race course was just east 
of Fifth street and south of Main. From the 
first, there was a choice selection of stock and a 
gradual increase in other lines. The Elliotts 
and John Davis soon had good displays of agri- 
cultural implements. The farmers' wives and 
daughters also interested themselves in the fair 
and materially assisted in its success. 

The fair of 1856 was not remarkable for dis- 
play, but the talk among farmers and stock- 
breeders had its eflfect in awakening interest, and 
then settled the matter of continuing these 



annual gatherings. That year an arrangement 
was made with John Burt for leasing, for a term, 
of years, his land (since laid off" in lots) extending 
east from Seventh street to the foot of the bluft', 
and from Main street to the south side of Hiram 
Beall's property. This tract contained about nine- 
acres. It was properly fenced, buildings and 
stalls were erected on it, and the fair of 1857 
held there. By 1865 these grounds became in- 
sufficient, and in that year the society purchased 
from Mr. S. H. Lee twenty acres, about four hun- 
dred yards east of the Burt tract and north of 
Main street, and proceeded to fit up more Exten- 
sive and, as was supposed, more permanent build- 
ings. The amount paid for the grounds was 
$3,200. To assist the society in purchasing 
these grounds, the county commissioner agreed 
to donate $500, and to loan the society $500 more, 
to be repaid out of tha receipts, whenever the 
commissioners should require. It is understood 
that this was repaid when the grounds were sold 
by the society. In November, 1872, the present 
grounds, lying a quarter of a mile south of the 
Burt fair grounds, were purchased from J. W. 
Dwyer. The old fairground.?, in December, 1872, 
were subdivided into lots and most of them 
sold, but a number of them, steadily increasing 
in value, remain in the possession of the society. 
The new grounds contain thirty-four and fifty- 
eight one-hundredtlis acres, and the cost of them 
was $10,488. For improvements on the new 
grounds, about $6,000 have been expended. A 
large grove was a chief attraction in the pur- 
chase, and access to water was made more con- 
venient, the grounds lying on a lower level than 
the old ones. About $4,000 of the cost of the 
grounds had been paid by 1876, and the debt has 
since been considerably reduced. In 1879, the 
cash value of the real estate of the society, and 
improvements, was $22,000. The amount re- 
ceived that year, for gate and entrance fees, was 
$3,448.70; from other sources, $300. The amount 
paid in premiums was $1,575; for real estate, 
buildings and permanent improvements, .$431.65; 
for current expenses, other than improvments,. 
$1,157.18. The amount in the treasury, at the 
preceding report, was $2,147.31 ; at this report,. 
$2,732.18. As this showing indicates, the finan- 
cial condition of the society is excellent. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



297 



For a number of years the expenses of the so- 
ciety, including the premiums, were defrayed by 
annual fees paid by the members. Under the 
present constitution anyone may become a mem- 
ber by the payment of an annual fee of one dol- 
lar. About 300 members are now enrolled. The 
officers consist of a president, vice president, and 
board of twelve directors, elected by the mem- 
bers, and a secretary and treasurer, elected by the 
directors. The society has of late years experi- 
mented in the cultivation of wheat on the 
grounds, which has created quite an interest 
among the farmers. 

There has been a diversity of opinion among 
the people, as well as members of tlie societj' and 
directors, as to the propriety of continuing pre- 
miums for speed horses, but the prevailing senti- 
ment appears to be in favor of their continuance. 

The presidents of the society have been, C. F. 
Sangster, E. Cone, William P. Wheeler, Thomas 
S. Humrickhouse, James M. Burt, Heslip Wil- 
liams, John Miskimen, William Hanlon, J. S. El- 
liott, J. C. Campbell and Lewis Demoss. 

The present vice president is J. P. Burt, suc- 
ceeding H. McFadden. 

The secretaries have been, James M. Burt, 
Samuel Ketchum, John Humrickhouse, Thomas 
Campbell, C. H. Johnson, W. R. Forker, L. L. 
Cantwell, David Lanning, George Miller and 
Lloyd Pocock. 

Treasurers, William K. Johnson, Matthew John- 
ston, John A. Hanlon and Joseph L. Rue. 

In the board of managers, or directors, as it 
now is, besides the above, the following have 
served : A. D. Denman, Thomas Darling, Fran- 
cis McGuire, William Renfrew, Samuel Moore, 
James E. Robinson, D. L Triplett, Frank Staf- 
ford, J. M. Smith, E L. Robinson, Joseph Dick- 
enson, Francis Wolf, Adam PifTer, John Mulli- 
gan, George Factor, Peter Stevenson, J. M. Den- 
man, William McCoy, B. C. Blackburn, Seth 
Christy, William Hesket, Hugh McFadden, 
Saul Miller, S. C. Burrell, Jcihn Hogle, Philip 
Moore, G. W. Wolf, Marion Darling, Alexander 
Dinsmore, Thomas MeConnell, Wellington Dar- 
ling. E. J. Pocock, T. H. Burrell, John M. Adams, 
John Waggoner, Samuel Gardiner, J. H. Carr, 
Joseph W. Dwyer, Calvin Boyd, Josojih Love, M. 
L. Norris, Henry King, William Porteus, G. G. 



Andrews, William H. McGiflTen, William Morri- 
son, W. W. Bostwick, John Rieheson, Thomas M. 
Wiggins, Thomas Marshall, B. F. Ricketts, John 
A. McClure, John Lcnnon, Josej)!! H. Hay, R. A. 
Given, A. J. Randies, Joseph Burrell and C. C. 
Eckert. 

The last named twelve constitute the present 
board. 



CHAPTER XXXL 

COUNTY BUILDINGS AND OFFICERS. 

First Jail— First Court House— The Present Court House- 
Other Public Buildings— List of County Oflicers— Commis- 
sioners — Auili tors— Clerks— Treasurers — Recorders — Sher- 
iffs—Prosecuting Attorneys— Surveyors—Coroners—Infirm- 
ary Directors— Representatives— Congressmen, etc. 

THE first measure taken by the county com- 
missioners, looking toward the erection of 
county buildings was to procure the construction 
of a suitable place of confinement for criminals. 
County offices might be kept at the residences or 
business places of the office holders, and courts 
could be temporarily held in any manner of 
structure, but strong bars and massive doors were 
absolutely necessary to retain the unwilling pres- 
ence of the border law-breakers of 1811, and these 
did not exist in the little hamlet, which then con- 
stituted Coshocton. The contract for building a 
county jail was sold to Adam Johnson, as the low- 
est bidder, June 4, 1811, for $1,397, and the build- 
ing was by him speedily erected. It was thirty- , 
six feet long by sixteen feet wide and built of 
sound, oak logs, well hewn. The conunissioners 
had been authorized by the legislature to sell the 
public square, lying just soulh of the present 
square, and the proceeds arising from the sale 
amounting to $957.15, were used in paying for 
the jail. It stood on the site of the present court 
house. 

Tlie first courts of Coshocton county were held 
in the second story of Colonel Charles Williams' 
old tavern stand, on the northeast corner of Chest- 
nut and Water streets. It is said that Colonel 
Williams received thirty dollars a year rent for 
the court-room and two iloUars per term for the 
room occupied by the jury. Ashur Hart also 
furnished a jury room occasionally on Second 



298 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



street. When Alexander McGowan became clerk 
to the commissioners in 1821, they entered into 
a contract with Wilson lIcGowan for a court- 
room in the building occupied by William Whit- 
ten, standing near the corner of Second and Main 
streets, the site of part of the present Central 
house, and the courts were held there for some 
four years. 

In July, 1819, the contract for clearing the pub- 
he square was sold to Charles Williams for nine- 
teen dollars and fifty cents, and at the same time 
Adam Johnson received the contract for building 
a " post and rail " fence around the square. 

At a meeting of the Commissioners, June 6, 

1821, it was determined to take measures for 
building a court house. It was agreed to send 
letters, under the hands of the Commissioners, to 
the ditferent townships, as an address to the feel- 
ings of the people. The Auditor was instructed 
to draw up a subscription paper for the purpose 
of receiving donations. According to the terms, 
the donations were payable in lumber, labor, pork, 
wheat, rye, corn or oats, at the marketable price. 
The County Auditor was further ordered to 
"cause to be published in twentj'-eight hand-bills, 
and then distributed proportionately through the 
county an address," in which was set forth the 
need of a court house, and the lack of county 
funds, and appealing to public patriotism for 
liberal donations. Several months later it was 
deemed proper to receive money only in sub- 
scriptions. At a meeting in June, 1822, a plan 
for the building was settled upon. It was to be 
thirty-two by forty feet in size, built of brick, one 
story in height, and to contain a court room and 
two small jury rooms. Notices of the sale of 
contract were ordered to be inserted in the Mus- 
kingum Messenger and the Tuscarawas Chronicle 

, for three weeks, July 9 being fixed upon as the 
day of sale. During the same month, however, 
it was resolved to defer the sale until after the 
December meeting. Subscriptions mast have 
been made very slowly, if at all, for in August, 

1822, the Commissioners resolved that without 
the aid of the citizens in donating towards its 
erection, the same could not be effected, and sub- 
scriptions were again made payable in materials 
and produce, as v^eW as ca.sh. ISIarch 5, 1S23, the 
Auditor was ordered to procure the appraisement 



of all improvements on town-lots and houses for 
the purpose of collecting a tax therefrom to assist 
in the erection of the court house. April 18, 
1823, was the day appointed for the sale, and 
shortly before it w:is effected the plan of the 
building was changed to one forty feet square, 
two stories high, with square roof. On the day of 
sale Peter Dames w;is the lowest bidder, at 
$2,185. The Commissioners were unwilling to 
award at this bid, and adjourned to the next day, 
April 19, when the contract was given to Charles 
Williams, for $1,984 ; the Commissioners agreeing 
that he associate with him, as joint-contractors, 
Peter H. Darnes, Abraham Richards and Andrew 
Daugherty. An allowance of several hundred 
dollars was afterwards made for extra work. 
The building was finished in the spring of 1824. 
The belfry was completed in 1830, under the 
supervision of John Elliott. The bell, still in use 
in the new court house, was purchased, at the 
request of the Commissioners, by William K. 
Johnson, in 1834. 

This court house remained the seat of justice 
for more than half a century, and, during a great 
part of this time, particularly in its earlier years, 
was used for many purposes other than those of 
justice. Before it was finished a grand ball was 
given in it. The pedagogue tjiught the future 
sovereigns here for a number of years. On the 
Sabbath the expounders of the various Christian 
creeds preached their doctrinal tenets to the as- 
sembled audiences, and several revivals were con- 
ducted here. Political orators harangued their 
partisan friends in heated campaigns, and, in fact, 
meetings of all kinds touching the public interest 
were held within its walls. The court house 
stood on the west side of the square, facing Third 
street. 

In 1834 two one-story brick buildings, about 
thirty b)' forty in size, were erected as county of- 
fices, one on either side of the court house, and 
in a line with it, fronting on Third street. The 
otter of William G. Blodget was accepted for their 
building, the bid being 81,360.75. In 1849 an ad- 
ditional story was built on the nortli building by 
William McFarland for $1,3.34. In 18.54 the south 
building also received an additional story, W. H. 
Robinson and William Welch being the contrac- 
tors. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



308 



The old log jail was replaced by another upon 
the same site in 1836. It was of brick, and with 
the sheriff's house adjoining was built by El- 
dridge <fe McGowan, for $2,300. The present sub- 
stantial stone jail, located on Third street, and the 
sheriff's house of biick, were built in 1873. The 
entire cost of these buildings wa.s about 830,000. 
The plan was furnished by Carpenter & Williams, 
of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who were consulting 
superintendents, John Dodd, of Roscoe, being act- 
ing superintendent. The contractors were M. 
Johnson and A. Wimmer. 

In the fall of 1872, the question of building a 
new court house was submitted to a vote of the 
people of the county, and decided in the negative 
by a large majority, but during the ensuing win- 
ter the State Legislature passed a special enabling 
act, and measures were taken for the erection of 
the building. Plans were prepared and the work 
superintended by Carpenter & Williams, of Mead- 
ville, Pennsylvania. The contract for the new 
building was let to S. Harold & Co., of Beaver 
Falls, Pennsylvania. The structure was turned 
over to the commissioners in July, 1875, the 
county officers moving in the latter part of that 
month, and the District Court sitting therein the 
following month. Additions, extra work, furni- 
ture and appliances added greatly to the cost of 
the building, making the sum total almost $100,000. 

A farm of two hundred acres, situated two 
miles east of Coshocton, was purchased by the 
county commissioners in 1846 from W. K. John- 
son & Co., at fifteen dollars per acre, for the pur- 
pose of erecting thereon a county infirmary. Two 
years later, the proposal of Davis, Richardson, 
Chamberlain & Richardson to build the infirmary 
was accepted at .$3,885, a previous proposal by E. 
Davis having failed from non-compliance of con- 
. ditions. The building is a two-story brick, and 
has recently received extensive additions. An 
adjoining tract of land was purchased from 
Henry Wheeler, for $2,500, and tlie whole farm 
now amounts to nearly four hundred acres. 

A complete list of the county commissioners 
from the organization of the county to the pres- 
ent year, together with their several terms of 
service, is as follows: 

Charles Williams, 1811-13; Mordecai Chalfant, 
1811-18; James Miskimen, 1811-21; .Tames Cal- 



der, 1813-17; Squire Humphrey, 1817-19; Sam- 
uel Clark, 1818-29; Robert Darling, 1819-25; 
Robert Boyd, 1821-24; John G. Pigman, 1824-26; 
Benjamin Ricketts, 1825-28; Gabriel Evans. 1826- 
33: Richard Moore, 1828-31; John Mitchell, 
1829-32; Samuel Clark, 1831-33; John Quigley, 
1832-34; Andrew Ferguson, 1833-38; Joseph 
Neft', 1833-36 ; Daniel Forker, 1834-48; Eli Fox, 
18.36-39; Arnold Medberry, 1838-44; Samuel 
Winklepleck, 18:39-42; J. d" Workman, 1842-45; 
Isaac Darling, 1843-49; James Ravenscraft, 1844- 
47; Samuel Lamberson, 1845-48; Alexander 
Matthews, 1847-50 ; George Wolf, 1.848-51; Fran- 
cis Buxton, 1849-52; Henry Schmueser, 1850-56; 
Thomas Darling, 1851-54 ; Lewis Swigert, 1852- 
55; Owen Evans, 1854-57; Abraham Shaffer, 
185.5-58; James E. Robinson, 1856-59; William 
Doak, 1857-63; William Hanlon, 1858-64; James 
M. Smith, 1859-65; Thomixs Darling, 1863-69 
Joseph Keim, 1864-70; Thomas McKee, 1865-71 
Joseph S. McVey, 1869-75; John Taylor, 1870-76 
Samuel Moore, 1871-77; William Forney, 1875- 
78; John C. McBane, 1876-82; William Berry, 
1877-83; S. M. Dougherty, 1878-81. 

Countij Auditors. — The first auditor (or clerk of 
the commissioners, as the office was then called), 
was Thomas L. Rue, wlio after a few meetings 
ceased to attend, and in consequence the appoint- 
ment was transferred to Adam Johnson, who re- 
tained the office until 1821. The salary at that 
time was forty dollars per annum. Subsequently 
the auditors have been : Alexander McGowan, 
1821-25; Joseph Burns, 1825-38 (resigned); J. 
W. Rue, 1838-48; (in 1843 Wilson McGowan and 
J. W. Rue each temporarily served in this capac- 
ity); H. Cantwell, 1848-50; B. F. Sells, 1850-52; 
William Himebaugh, 1854-58; Samuel Forker, 
1858-62; C. H. Johnson, 1862-66; W. R. Forker, 
1866-71; William Walker, 1871-75; William 
Wolf, 187.5-80; John W. Cassingham, present 
incumbent. 

CiMntji Clerks— At the first session of the court 
of common pleas, in April, 1811, Adam Johnson 
was appointed clerk, pm trni. At the second 
term in September, Thomas L. Rue was ap- 
pointed temporarily to this office, but in Decem- 
ber, 1811, Adam Johnson received the appoint- 
ment for seven years. He was re-appointed and 



304 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



served till his death in 1829. His successors have 
been John Frew, 1829-38 ; Alexander McGowan, 
1837-43; Joseph Burns, 184.3-51; B. R. Shaw, 
1851-54; A. M. Williams, 18.54-57; Lemuel Kin- 
sey, 1857-63; Charles K. Remick, 18C3-G9; G. H. 
Barger, 1869-75; Israel Dillon, 1875-81. 

County Treasurer.^ — William Whitten was treas- 
urer from 1811 to 1817 ; Dr. Samuel Lee, from 
1817 to 1825. The emoluments of the office were 
at first five per cent of the monej^s received, 
afterward reduced to three per cent, and 
amounted to from forty to sixty dollars per year 
prior to 1818. Dr. Lee wa.s succeeded by James 
Renfrew, who agreed to serve for three per cent, 
and obligated himself " not to speculate on the 
county's money." For many years it was cus- 
tomary for the county to loan money to respon- 
sible citizens. John B. Turner served for 1827 
and 1828, Alexander McGowan for 1829 and 1830. 
Samuel Rea became treasurer in 1831. He was 
removed in December, 18.32 and Robert Hay ap- 
pointed in his stead, holding the office until 1834. 
William G. Williams served from 1834 to 1846, 
and was succeeded by Benjamin Bonnett, who 
resigned in 1849. J. W. Rue was appointed for 
the unexpired terni ending 1850. William P. 
Wheeler held the office, 1850-52, and Lewis De- 
moss, 1852-56. Samuel Ketchum, elected in 
1856, resigned in 1859, and Samuel Lamberson 
finished his term and served until 1864. Then 
followed, Samuel Burrell, 1864-68; Thomas Jones, 
1868-72; Richard W. McLain, 1872-76; John 
Waggoner, 1876-80; John Beaver 1880—. 

Count 1/ licmnlffs — Adam Johnson, 1811-29; 
Joseph Burns, 1829-36; George W. Price. 1836-40; 
Russell C. Bryan, 1840-46 ; G. F. Cassingham, 1846- 
55; John F. Williams, 185.5-57 (resigned); R. M. 
Hackenson, 1857-58; A. McNeal, 1858-61; C. W. 
Stanford, 1861-64; L. L. Root, 1864-70; M. W. 
Wimmer, 1870-76; John M. Crawford, 1876-82. 

Pnihrdr Judges — The jirobate court, instituted 
by the present constitution, has had the following 
judges: Thomas Campbell, 1S52-.55; C. S. Barnes, 
1855-58; John T. Simmons, 1858-64; M. C. Mc- 
Farland, 18G4-70; Joseph Burns, 1870-75 (died 
in office); W. F. Thornliill, 1875-76 (unexpired 
term); Alexander Hanlon, 1876-82. 



CounUi SIteriffs—C. Van Kirk, 1811-15; Charles 
Williams, 1815-19 (compensation, fifty dollars a 
year); Charles Miller, 1819-21; John Smeltzer, 
1821-23; John Crowley, 182.3-27 ; T. Butler Lewis, 
1827-29; John Crowley,1829-33; J.H. Hutchinson, 
1833-.37; Samuel Morrison, 18.37-41; Joseph C. 
Maginity, 1841-45; Samuel Morrison, 1845-49; 
Samuel B. Crowley, 1849-53; Richard Lanning, 
18.5:3-55; W. H. H. Price, 1S.5.5-.57; David Roda- 
haver, 1857-61; John Hesket, 1861-65; James 
Sells, 186.5-68; Thomas Piatt, 1868-69; Joshua 
H. Carr, 1869-73 ; John Lennon, 1873-77; Jacob 
Severns, 1877-81. 

Prosecuting Atfimieys — Wright Warner was ap- 
pointed prosecuting attorney in September, 1811, 
for seven years. The court allowed him at first 
twenty-five dollars per term of court for his ser- 
vices. He resigned before the expiration of his 
term, and was succeeded by Alexander Harper, 
who served until 1.S23, when he resigned, having 
been elected judge. Charles B. Goddard then 
served till 1827. W. Silliman, David Spangler 
and Richard Stilwell each served during terms 
of court until March, 1830, when Noah H. Swayne 
was appointed for a full term. But in 1833, 
Josephus Ricketts, having been elected, came 
into office. He resigned in 1834 and G. W. Silli- 
man was appointed and afterward elected in 1835, 
but, his health failing in 1841, the latter' part of 
his term was filled by T. S. Humrickhouse, by 
appointment. Thomas Campbell was elected in 
1843 and in 184.5. Then succeeded William Sam- 
ple, 1849-51; John T. Simmons, 1821-55; John 
D. Nicholas, 1855-57; Charles Hoy, 1857-60 (re- 
signed); Thomas Campbell, 1860. In 1860, Richard 
Lanning was elected, but in the second year of 
his term, he resigned the office, having been com- 
missioned major of the Eightieth Regiment of 
the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Thomas Camp- 
bell finished his term. Asa G. Dimmock served 
from l.%2 to 1.868. He resigned shortly before 
the expiration of his third term, owing to ill health, 
and the remainder of the term, by appointment, 
was filled by R. M. Voorhees, who continued in 
the office by election and re-election until 1872. 
ThenfollowedWilliamS.Crowell, 1872-76; A. H. 
Stilwell, 1876-78 ; T. H. Ricketts, 1878-80; Albinus 
H. Stilwell, 1.880-. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



305 



Count;/ Sunri/ors—WUUiim Lopkarcl, 1812-17; 
James Eaveiiscraft, 1817-19; William Coulter, 
lSl'<:l-24; William G. Williams, 1824-;!0: James 
Ravensoraft, 1S.S0-3(J. Then came John M. Sweney 
and John M. Fulks. The latter was succeeded 
by Henry Seevers, who served until 1852. Lemuel 
Kinsey served 1852-0.5; C. W. McMorris, 1855- 
58; R. L. Baker, 1858-Gl; T. P. Latham, 1861-64; 
Levi Gamble, 1864-71; John A. Hanlon, 1871-74; 
George IMoore, 1874-80 (a vacancy existing part 
of this time); Samuel M. Moore, present surveyor, 
1880-. 

Coroners. — The following list of coroners is in- 
complete as to the earlier ones : David Bookless, 
George Leighninger, James Ravenscraft, Abra- 
ham Sells, Benjamin Coe, Thomas McAnally, Ad- 
dison Syjihert, James T. McCleary, Joseph Hitch- 
ens, William Jeflries, Thomas Piatt, Nicholas 
Schott, John Eicheson, Joseph Burns. 

Infirmary Directirrs. — The following have served 
the county as infirmary directors : Lewis Row, 
James Jone.s, Henry Wheeler, Isaac W. Miller, 
John M. Johnson, Stephen D. Sayer, Thomas 
Dwyer, D. E. Langhlin, George McCune, J. C. 
Frederick, William Simons, James McBriar, John 
Chambers, Nathan Buckalew, John Hawley, Wil- 
liam McCoy, C. F. Sangster, Samuel Gardiner, 
Thomas Wiggins, R. C. Warren and Daniel Frey. 

From 1811 to 1820 Coshocton and Tuscarawas 
counties were represented in the State house of 
rejiresentatives by a single member. Until the 
adoption of the present constitution in 1851, the 
representatives were elected annually, and where 
two counties were combined into. one district, 
they would usually alternate in presenting the 
mejnber. Probably the first representative from 
Coshocton county was Robert GifTen, who served 
a. single term about 1812, v.-hen the legislature 
met at Chillicothe. In 1814 Charles Williams 
was elected. This election was contested, and a 
new election ordered by the legislature. It was 
held in January, 1815, and the people ratified 
their first choice. In 1816, 1818-20, and 1823 
Jo.«eph W. Pigman was chosen, and in 1817 'Squire 
Humphrey. In 1820 Coshocton county itself be- 
came a representative district, and James Robin- 
eon was the representative for 1820-21, also for 
■r 



1824; Charles Williams, 1825; John Smeltzer, 
1827-28; N. H. Swayne, 1829; James Robinson, 
1830; Charles W. Simmons, 1831; James Mat- 
thews, 1832; John Crowley, 183;3-34-5; Samuel 
Whitmore, 1836; James Matthews and F. W. 
Thornhill, 1837; Joseph Burns, 1838-40; Jesse 
Meredith, lS41-i2; George A. McCleary, 1813; 
Je.s.se Meredith, \>^^^\ Heslip Williams, 1845 ;■ 
Joseph Williams, 1846-47; James :M. Burt, 1848- 
50; Timothy C. Condit, 1851; George McKec, 
1852-54; John Pierson, 18.W-56; Patrick Thomp- 
son, 1856-58; C.F. Sangster, 1858-60; James Gam- 
ble and J. N. Fellows, 1860-62 ; Andrew J. Wilkin, 
1862-64; W. F. Thornhill, 18(^70 (Speaker of 
the House, session of l.%S-69) ; John Baker, 1870- 
72; B. C. Blackburn, 1872-74; John Baker, 1874- 
76; E. L. Lybarger, 187(5-78; John Hardy, 1878-82. 

For some years after' its organization, Coshoc- 
ton county was combined witli Guernsey .and 
Tuscarawas in a State senatorial district. From 
1820 to 1830 the district was made up of Coshoc- 
ton and Tuscarawas ; and after 1824, Holmes, 
which was in that year organized. Still later, 
Coshocton and Knox made the district. Since 
1850, Coshocton and Tuscarawas have formed the 
district. The first citizen of Coshocton elected 
State senator was Wilson McGowan, serving 
1821-22. Samuel Lee was senator, 1826-27; 
Charles Miller, 1828-29; James Ravenscraft, 1834- 
36; James Matthews, 1838-;39; John Johnson, 
1842-43; W. F. Tiiornhill, 1815-46; Andrew Fer- 
guson, 1850-51; Heslip Williams, 1854-55; A. L. 
Ciiss, 1858-50 ; William Stanton, 1864-65; .Tames 
M.Burt, 186G-7, also, 1870-71; John C. Fisher, 
1873-74, and in 1878-79. 

Coshocton county has furnished four Congress- 
men. The first of these was David Spangler, 
who served two successive terms, from 1833 to 
1837. The congressional district, which he rep- 
resented, comprised Coshocton, Holmes, Knox 
and Tuscarawixs counties. James Matthews also 
served two terms, from 1841 to 184.5. John John- 
son in 1851-53, and Joseph Burns in 1857-59, 
were the other two national representatives. 

In the St.ate constitutional convention of 1851, 
this county was represented by Jolin Johnson, 
and in that of 1874 by William Samjile. James 
M. Burt represented the Coshocton and Tuscar 



806 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



rawas distrfct in the State Board of Equalization 
in ISGO. James Gamble was chosen a member 
of the board of public works in October, 18G2 — 
entering upon his duties in February, 1S63. He 
died in March, 1S64, and James Moore was ap- 
jiointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy in 
April, 1S64. He was elected in October, 1866, 
and held the office for a term of three years. 
John C. Fisher was appointed a member of the 
Fish Commission in 1875, by Governor Allen. 
J. W. Dwyer was, for some time — in Delano's ad- 
ministration of internal revenue affiiirs- super- 
visor of internal revenue for the northern dis- 
trict of Ohio, with office at Coshocton. He was, 
at a later date, pension agent, with office at Co- 
lumbus. W. A. Johnson served for several years 
as deputy United States internal revenue asses- 
sor; and John Flew, James Dryden and Dr. J. 
H. Lee as deputy collectors. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



BENCH AND BAK. 



riret C'ciurtf— Early Judges— Associate Judges— Judge Sample 
— Early Bar — First Lawyers — David Spangler— Present 
Members. 

THE building in which the first court of com- 
mon pleas for Coshocton county was held is 
still standing. It is the desolate and dilapidated 
two-story frame structure near the northeast cor- 
ner of Water and Chestnut streets. Joining this 
building on the south was the log cabin, where 
Adam Johnson tended the store started by Hedge 
& Hammord. Another log cabin touched it on 
the north, and in it was Colonel Williams' tavern 
within eas}- access of the court. The family of 
Mr. Williams occupied the lower floor of the 
frame building, and an apartment on the upper 
floor, reached by an outdoor stairway, wasthe 
scene of the first forensic display in the county. 
This cluster of buildings was for j-ears the most 
important place in the county, forming as it did 
a private dwelling, jiublic house, store room, 
court house, meeting house, jail, fort, school 
house and ball room. 

By the legislature the county was placed in the 
judicial district over which Hon. William Wil- 



son of Licking county was president judge. Wil- 
liam Mitchell, Peter Casey and Isiuic Evans, three 
substiuitial citizens of the county, had been ap- 
pointed associate judges. The first term of court 
convened April 1, 1811. " Some choice hickory 
wood had been cut for the occasion, and 'mine 
host ' was doubtless in his best humor, feeling the 
importjmce of the occasion and his own import- 
ance as one of the head men in the new county 
and the host of the court. It is said new hunt- 
ing-shirts were plenty in town that day. It must,^ 
however, have somewhat dimin'shed the glory of 
the occasion that the president judge did not put 
in an appearance. The three associate judges 
were on hand and the court ' sat ' with becoming 
dignity." The term was of the briefest possible 
duration, as there was little or no court business 
to transact. The associate judges produced their 
commissions and legal qualifications and took 
their seats. Adam Johnson was appointed clerk 
pro tern, and recorder for a term of seven years, 
the election of a justice of the peace in each of the 
townships of Tuscarawas, Washington and New 
Castle and of two in Franklin township was or- 
dered, and the court adjourned sine die. 

The second term was opened September 2, 
1811, with a full court prescnt^ Thomas L. Rue 
was appointed clerk pru tern. The first grand 
jury was impaneled at this term of court, and 
consisted of the following members: James 
Tanner, foreman, James Craig, Benjamin Fry, 
Samuel Clark, Samuel Hardest}', John Hansonr 
Isaac Workmau, Charles Miller, Michael jNIiller, 
Philip Wagoner, Windle Miller, Francis McGuire, 
Henry Miller, and John Mills. The jury reported 
"no business," The docket shows three cases. 
Two of these were dismissed and the third con- 
tinued. William Lockard was ajipointcd county 
surveyor, and the court adjourned. 

At the third term, in December, the judges 
were again all present, and business began to 
increase. One jury case was tried at this term. 
The jury, the iirst petit jury in the county con- 
sisted of John D. Moore, Fr(xleriek Woolford, 
William Beard, John Hanson, John G. Pigman, 
Huch Ballentine, Philip Wolfe, George Smith, 
John Bantham, Windle Miller, John McKearn 
and Elijah Moore. The rase was that of Charles 
Williams against Adam Markley, an appeal from 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



307 



the judgniont of William Whittcn, justico of the 
jicacc. The suit was to recover nine dollars and 
fifty-six eents, alleged to he due plaintifl'. The 
verdict was for the plainttT. Lewis Cass was his 
attorney. Wright Warner was appointed prose- 
cuting attorney, and his compensation fixed at 
twenty-five dollars per term of court. Letters of 
administration were granted to Jesse and John 
Fulton on the estate of Willijim Fulton, deceased. 
The grand jury returned one hill at this term, 
against George Arnold, for assault and battery 
committed upon the body of one Thomas Beck- 
worth. The defendant pleaded guilty to the cliarge 
and was fined by the court four dollars and costs. 
Arnold terminatc<l his career in this county five 
years later, by fatally stabbing John Markley, on 
election day, and escaping to parts unknown. 

The legislature had provided that no term of 
the court should extend beyond five " working 
days." For the first few years only from one to 
five days were required to complete the business. 
The cases were largely criminal, and the charges 
most prevalent on the docket were for assault and 
battery, slander and "fighting at fisticuffs," or 
"by agreement." A mode of punishment not 
very connnon, even in those days, was that to 
which one Zeba French was subjected. He had 
been convicted at the December term of 181-1 of 
"uttering and putting off" counterfeit money, 
and the sentence passed upon him was that he 
should be taken to the public whipping-post of 
the county and receive upon his naked back thir- 
ty-nine lashes. He was also fined twenty dollars 
and costs — a heavy fine at that time— and impris- 
oned in the county jail thirty days. The sentence 
was duly executed. Several other countefeiters, 
equally guilty, had been arrested and incarcerated 
with French, but had made good their escape 
from the county before they were called upon to 
expiate their much detested crime. Counterfeit- 
ing and horse stealing, in the minds of the early 
settlers, were two most abominable crimes anil 
were rarely allowed to go unpunished to the full 
extent of the law. 

Judge Wilson continued to be president judge 
until 1822, when he w^;xs succeeded by Alexander 
Harper of Zaiiesville. Judge Harper had fre- 
quently visited Coshocton as a lawyer, and for 
several years had acted as prosecuting attorney 



for Coshocton county, though anon resident. He 
Wiis exceedingly popular with the bar and also 
with the citizens. He served two terms and w^as 
succeeded in April, 1836, by Corrington W. 
Searle, also of Zanesville. He served one term 
only and in 1843, Richard Stilwell, also of Zanes- 
ville, came into the ollicc. About the close of his 
official term Coshocton county was placed in an- 
other district and James Stewart, of Mansfield, 
became president judge. He presided at only a 
few terms of court before the change in the State 
judiciary, wrought by the new constitution, came 
into e fleet. 

Un^er the old constitution, three citizens of 
the county were commissioned by the governor 
of the State to occupy the bench as associate 
judges. The names of the first judges have been 
mentioned. Of these, Peter Casey lived beyond 
Millersburg, in what is now Holmes county ; 
Isaac Evans lived at Evansburg, Oxford town- 
ship, and William Mitchell, close to Coshocton. 
The term of office was seven years and the fol- 
lowing is a complete list of those who filled this 
position, together with their several terms of 
service: William Mitchell, 1811-13; Isaac Evans, 
1811-lG; Peter Ciusey, 1811-24; Lewis Vail, 
1813-15; Benjamin Robinson, 1815-21 ; David T. 
Finney, 1816-17; Joseph W. Pigman, 1817-10; 
Mordecai Chalfant, 1819-33; Thomas Johnson, 
1821-41; Henry Grim, 1824-31; James Robinson, 
1831-35; John Crawford, 1833-47; James Le 
Retilley, 1835-42; Robert Crawford, 1841-46; 
Benjamin R. Shaw, 1842-51; Samuel Elliott, 
1840-.52; James LeRetilley,1847-50; Josiah Harris, 
1850-52; James M. Burt, 1851-52. As will be 
seen, these are the names of citizens who, in 
their day, were well known for their enterprise 
and public spirit. "There was little claim by or 
for these associate judges of any special knowl- 
edge of the law, and the system under which 
they served came in time to be regarded much 
the same as would be a wagon with five wheels; 
a third esl^ite between the judge proper and the 
jury, and not demanded in settling either the 
law or the facts. One of the conunonest 
jokes of their day was the declaration of a cul- 
prit, who thought it hard to be brought before a 
court of a thousand men— tlie president judge 
being one (1) and the three associates, the three 



308 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ciphers (000)." However, "it has been insisted 
by some of the ablest lawyers that the associate 
judge courts oftentimes correctly accomplished 
an amount of business not always attained under 
the pre.sent sy tern." 

The first judge to sit at Coshocton under the 
present constitution, was Martin Welker, then of 
Wayne county, now Judge of the United States 
District Court for the northern district of Ohio. 
He was succeeded at the e.xpiration of one term 
in 1857, by William Sample of Coshocton. He 
served two terms and was succeeded in 1867 by 
William Reed of Holmes county, who also re- 
mained on the bench for two terms. Charles C. 
Parsons of Wooster was elected his successor, 
entering upon his judicial duties in 1877. Owing 
to an accumulation of business, the election of 
an additional judge was ordered by the legisla- 
ture, and C. F. Vorhees was elected in 1877, en- 
tering upon his duties the following year, Co- 
shocton county is a part of the third subdivision 
of the si.xth judicial district of Ohio, comprising 
Coshocton, Holmes and Wayne counties. 

As will be seen, William Sample has been the 
only common pleas judge from this county. 
He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, 
February 24, 1811. When he was but two years 
old his father died, and soon after the family 
removed to a farm in Jefferson county, Ohio. 
While still a lad, the charge of the farm and the 
care of the family devolved entirely upon him. 
During the winters he taught school, and worked 
on the farm in summer. His educational advan- 
tages were only such as rural districts, remote 
from towns, afforded in that early day, and the 
the mastery of the education he acquired was 
the result of his own persevering efforts. He 
studied law at Stcubcnville with Oliver C. Gray, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1843. In Novem- 
ber, 1845, he came to Coshocton and engaged 
actively in the practice of his profession. He 
served one term as prosecuting attorney. His 
labors upon the bench were performed to the 
■entire satisfaction of the people and won golden 
opinions from the members of the bar. At the 
expiration of his career as judge, he removed to 
Wooster and resumed pr.actice in partnership 
with J. P. Jeffries. In 1808 he changed his resi- 
dence to Newark, and was engaged in practice 



four and one-half years with Hon, Gibson Ather- 
ton. Then in 1873 he returned to Coshocton 
and continued his professional labors until his 
death, which occurred July 22, 1877. His last 
jHiblic service was a delegate to the State consti- 
tutional convention in 1873. In personal appear- 
ance he was tall, towering head and shoulders 
above his fellow men. In character he was posi- 
tive and determined. His faculties remained 
active and vigorous to the end. He possessed a 
logical, judicial mind, and was known as an lion- 
est, virtuous and religious man. 

The early history of the bar in Coshocton may 
be summed up in a few sentences. Times then 
in court matters, as in all other affairs and rela- 
tions, were essentially different from what they 
are now. The courts then were ''on wheels," the 
judges traveling from county to county, remain- 
ing only a few days in a place and pjissing on to 
the ne.xt seat of justice in his large district. The 
lawyers would accompany the judge in his route 
and attend to the business that was found neces- 
sary to transact. The " foreign " lawyers, who at- 
tended to the Coshocton county legal affairs, were 
principally from Zanesville, and among those 
whose names recur with frequency upon the ear- 
ly court dockets as attorneys, may be noted Lewis 
Cass, Alexander Harper, Wyllys Silliman, E. B. 
Monroe, Ebenezer Granger, Charles B. Goddard 
and S. W. Culbertson. 

Wright Warner was the first resident lawyer 
in Coshocton, coming in the spring of 1811. 
At the September term of the court in that 
year he was was appointed prosecuting attorney 
for the county but retained it only a few years. 
He became involved in a quarrel with Colonel 
Williams, which resulted in several lawsuits for 
assault and battery, slander, etc. He did not fol- 
low the practice at the bar exclusively, but was 
one of the early tavern keepers of Coshocton and 
continued in this occupation after he removed to 
Steubenville, in 1814 or 1815. 

Aaron M. Church located at Coshocton in the 
fall of 1811. He has been mentioned among the 
early settlers of Coshocton. His education, both 
legal and general, had been carefully attended to 
and his talents fitted him for a high rank in the 
legal profession. He opened his office here under 
the most favorable circumstances, but dissipation 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



309 



and neglect of business reduced him to ii needy 
condition, and in tlie spring of ISIG he died of 
cold pliigue. 

The olfice of prosecuting attorney was then 
obliged to go begging and for a number of years 
was tilled by non-resident lawyers, there being 
none at all in Coshocton. One lawyer, whose 
name is unknown, is said to have "hinig out a 
shingle " in 1S19, but, not meeting with any great 
success, soon removed to other j'arts. The next 
resident lawyer seems to have been William G. 
Carhart, who began to practice about 1821. He 
did not devote his entire time to the profession, 
and soon relinquished it for other and more con- 
genial employment. About 182.5 Samuel Rea be- 
gan practice. His business was chiedy office 
work, having few if any cases in court. 

Probably the first lawyer of well-marked ability, 
that won and kept a practice here, was Noah 
Swayne, who has recently resigned a seat in the 
highest tribunal of this nation. He came to Cosh- 
octon in 1827 from Belmont comity, was prose- 
cuting attorney for several years and in 1832»re- 
nioved to Columbus in consequence of having 
been appointed United States district attorney for 
Ohio. 

James Matthews, who wa-s born in Coknnbiana 
county and read law with Hon. H. H. Leavitt, of 
Steubenville, came to Coshgcton in 1829. He 
was twice a member of the State legislature from 
this county and served two terms in congress. 
In 185.3 he removed to Knoxville, Iowa. He was 
a good lawyer, and possessed considerable Spree 
of character. In stature he was quite tall, thin- 
visaged and eagle-nosed, and popular with the 
masses. Deeply interested in politics he never 
tailed to be elected to a position for which he was 
a candidate. 

George ^V'yllys Silliman came to Coshocton 
about 1830. He was a native of Muskingum 
county, the son of Wyllys Silliman, a lawyer of 
Zanesville, and nephew of Lewis Cass. His edu- 
cation was received at Ohio University and after- 
wards at the military academy at West Point. 
He read law with his fatlier in Zanesville, and 
soon after he settled in Coshocton was sent as 
bearer of dispatches to C. P. Van Ness, United 
States Minister to Spain. He returned to Co- 
shocton in 1833, and was soon after elected pros- 



ecuting attorney, and by re-election continued 
the office ten years. In 1843 he went on a voyage 
to Europe for his health, but was not greatly 
benefited, and on his return voyage grew rapidly 
worse, and died at sea. His remains were brought 
to New York and interred in' Greenwood Ceme- 
tery. In 18,34 he married Miss Ann Jolmson, 
who survived him many years, dying in 1862. 
There was one child, Wyllys Ciiss Silliman, who 
survived his father only about two years. Mr. 
Silliman's reput;ition is th.at of a genial, scholarly 
gentleman. 

In 1832, David Spangler became a resident law- 
yer at Coshocton. He was born at Sharpsburg, 
Maryland, December 24, 1796, the eldest son of 
Christian and Ann Spangler. In 1802, the fam- 
ily moved to Zanesville, where the father estab- 
lished hiuLself in trade as a blacksmith. The 
youth of David was spent in his father's shop at 
the forge and anvil. Subsequently the father en- 
gaged in mercantile business, and here, too, David 
proved his chief assistant. Study, however, was 
not neglected, and David profited by the limited 
educational opportunities open to him. At the 
age of twenty-five he commenced the study of 
law with Alexander Harper, and in 1825 was ad- 
mitted to practice in the supreme court of Ohio, 
in Cleveland. He commenced practice in Zanes- 
ville. In 1830, he was nominated by the Whig 
party as State representative for Muskingum 
county, and polled far more than his party vote, 
though not enough to elect him. He was in- 
duced to remove to Coshocton in 1832, in conse- 
quence of the removal of Noah H. Swayne from 
Coshocton to Columbus. This change of resi- 
dence was well-timed and never regretted. Pro- 
fessional business poured in from the start, and 
he was called upon to take a leading position in 
the political arena. In the fall of 1S32 he was 
placed in nomination as the Whig candidate for 
national representative in the Thirteenth Con- 
gressional District, then comprising Co.shocton, 
Holmes, Knox and Tuscarawa.s counties, and, 
owing to the fact that there were two candidates 
of the opjjosite party in the field, although the 
Whigs were in the minority, their candidate was 
elected by a good majority. He was re-elected 
in 1834 by a still more decisive vote. Mr. Spang- 
ler was satisfied with the political experience 



310 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



thus obtained, and proclaimed his determination 
to give his undivided attention thereafter to pro- 
fessional practice. In 1844 he wjis nominated for 
Governor by this party, then in the ascendancy 
in the State, but he firmly declined the nomina- 
tion, insisting upon his tastes for private life, the 
pressure of professional business and the claims 
of his family, especially those of his two sons, 
then in course of education. While at Washing- 
ton, in January, 1834, he was admitted to prac- 
tice in the United States Supreme Court, and 
orall)' and successfully argued a case, carried up 
from Ohio, before that court, over which the ven- 
erable Chief Justice Marshall yet presided. Mr. 
Spapgler died October 18, 1856. His parents were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and he was carefully nurtured in its teachings, 
and ever cherished an ardent attachment for it, 
though never identified with it as a member. 
He always gave active aid in the Sabbath-school, 
and in the musical department of the church. 
He became a member of the Masonic fraternity 
when a young man, and held the position of 
Worshipful INIaster and representative to the 
Grand Lodge, of which he was S. G. Deacon. 
Grand Orator and Deputy Grand ftfaster. 

He received no college education, but by his 
own self-directed effort became a good belles- 
lettres scholar, a profound lawyer and an eloquent 
advocate. By iiature he possessed both talent and 
genius, a vigorous mind, and a physical constitu- 
tion capable of sustaining him throughout the 
most arduous preparation of a cause, and the 
most exhausting forensic effort in the trial of it 
Unbending from these in his hours of social 
converse, his friends were enlivened by his humor 
and delighted by his wit. His sympathy and 
readiness to associate freel_y with the masses, his 
great industry and energy, and his keen insight 
of human nature and ready wit, were qualities 
giving him his place and p(jwer in public life. 
He used to joke with liis friends about his growth 
in popularity when a candidate, stating that in 
one township he doubled his vote; the fact sub- 
sequently coming from him that the first time he 
ran he got in that township — a Democratic 
stronghold — one vote, and the second time two. 

From about 1835, the number of attorneys in 
Coshocton has steadily increased. For many 
j-ears after that date lawyers from Zanesville con- 
tinued to transact much of the legal business in 
this county, but the amount gradually dimin- 



ished with the growth of the Coshocton bar, and 
has long since become unnoticable. At this 
writing, April, 1881, the following attornej-s are 
actively engaged in practice in Coshocton : 
Thomas Campbell, E. T. Spangler, J. C. Ponie- 
rene, R. M. Voorhees, James Irvine, J. T. Sim- 
mons, John D. Nicholas, E. W. James, G. H. Bar- 
ger, J. M. Compton, A. H. Stilwell, W. R. Gault, 
J. P. Forbes, E. J. Stickle, and J. M. Williams. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



WAR OF 1812. 



Companies Raiserl in Coshocton county— Hull's Surrender — 
Muster Roll of Johnston's Riflemen— March of Colonel Wil- 
liams' Command— Their .Services on the Frontier— Defense 
of Fort Meigs— Rev. H. Calhoun's Communication. 

AFTER the declaration of war against Great 
Britain, in June, 1812, Return J. Meigs, at 
that time Governor of Ohio, raised several regi- 
ments, among the commanders of which was 
Colonel Lewis Cass of Muskingum county. Col. 
Cass in raising his regiment, enlisted an entire 
company from Coshocton county, chiefly from 
the south and west parts. Early in June, this 
company, with its regiment, marched to Urbana, 
where they were joined by the full force under 
the command of General William Hull, about the 
middle of June. The entire army numbered 
twent3'-five hundred men, and began its north- 
ern»march from this point; and b\' the end of 
June had reached the Maumee. General Hull's 
campaign ended in disaster; the surrender of all 
his forces and effects to the British; and the Co- 
shocton company returned home on parole. 

The surrender of Hull's forces, August 16, 1812, 
was a great shock to the people, who had up to 
that time complete confidence in the army for 
their defense. They had not built block-houses 
or engaged the militia to any great e.xtent. Gov- 
ernor Meigs, on the receipt of the news of Hull's 
surrender, made a requisition for volunteers; 
and in response thereto. Judge Isaac Evans raised 
a company in Coshocton county, immediately 
marched to Franklinton (across Scioto from 
Columbus); was mustered into service and furn- 
ished with uniforms and United States muskets. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOISr COUNTY. 



3U 



General Harrison was appointed and took com- 
mand of the arm_v, about the time of Hull's sur- 
render and upon receipt of that news, came im- 
mediately to Ohio; reaching Cincinnati on the 
27th of August, and the army at Dayton, or 
thereabouts, on the 31st of the month. The 
<'ompany of Captain Evans joined General Har- 
rison's forces at Piqua about September 3. A 
regular campaign was laid out for the recapture 
of Michigan, but for the time being the troops 
were employed in keeping open the communica- 
tions between the upper Miami and the Maumee. 
General Winchester was given command of the 
troops at the Michigan frontier, and established 
himself in winter quarters by January, 1813, 
on the northern banks of the Maumee river. 
While here an arrangement was made to defend 
the inhabitants of Frenchtown from threatened 
British and Indian invasion, but for want of due 
precaution, the defense was a lamentable failure, 
resulting in the defeat and surrender of the en- 
tire force, including General Winchester. The 
result of this defeat, added to that of Hull's sur- 
render, was a general alarm of the country ; block- 
houses were built all along, from the front to the 
interior of Ohio. Demands were made for all 
able-bodied nien, and several companies were 
raised in Coshocton county, that were engaged at 
the Mansfield frontier outside of General Harri- 
son's regular army. 

One of these companies was raised by Captain 
Isaac Meredith, in the northwestern section of 
the County, of which company one James ( )glevie 
of Keene township is still living. Captain Tanner 
is also reported to have raised a company in the 
southern part of the county ; and mention is 
made of one Captain Beard having raised a part 
of a company. These companies, with a rifle 
company commanded by Cajjtain Adam John- 
ston, and one or two other companies, all being 
armed and equipped by themselves, were placed 
under the command of Colonel Charles W^illiams, 
and ordered by Governor Meigs to the frontier. 

The muster roll of "Johnston's Riflemen," as 
they were termed, is the only complete roll ex- 
tant, and is as follows : 

Captain, Adam Johnson; Lieutenant, William 
Morrison; Ensign, Abraham Miller; First Ser- 
geant, Thomas Foster; Second Sergeant, John 



M.Miller; Third Sergeant, Frederick Morkley; 
Fourth Sergeant, Robert Culbertson ; First Cor- 
poral, John H. Miller; Second Corporal, Zebedee 
Baker; Third Corporal, John M.Bartman; Fourth 
Corporal, John D. Moore; Privates: Samuel Mor- 
rison, Edward Miller, Isaac M. Miller, Michael 
Miller, IsiUic Hoagland, George Arnold, James 
Buckalew, John Baker, Jlatthow Bonar, Joseph 
Neff, Allen Moore, Benjamin Workman, James 
Winders, John McKean, Windle Miller, John G. 
Miller, Isiiac G. Miller, George McCullough, Dan- 
iel Miller, Joseph McFarland, Andrew Lyberger, 
Henry Carr, Nathan Williams and John Steir- 
man. To these names may be added the follow- 
ing names of citizens of Coshocton county, who 
were engaged in the war of 1812, but with what 
companies is not on record, viz.: Joseph Severns 
(who is still living in New Castle township), Peter 
Moore, Charles Miller, John G. Pigman, Thomas 
Johnson, Richard Johnson, Andrew McLain, 
Samuel Elson, Francis Smith, W. R. Cloud, 
James Williams, Levi Magness, George Magness, 
Richard Fowler, Rezin Baker, Richard Hawk, 
Isaac Sliambaugh, James Oglesby, James Wilev, 
Elijah Newcum, James Butler, Robert Corbet and 
Thomas Butler. The various companies under 
Colonel Charles Williams reached Mansfield the 
latter part of August, and erected a block-house 
on the public square. Here they were at the 
time of the massacre of the Zimmers, Martin 
RufTner and Jam(>s Copus. The particulars of 
the Zimmer and Copus massacre develop the 
fact that the massacre, in both instaiices, was the 
result of the removal of the Greentown Indians, 
who were part Delawares and part Mohawks, and 
were so called because of their camp having been 
located at Greentown, on Black Fork. 

The Indians were thrown into a violent stflte 
of excitement upon the apperance of the soldiers 
for their removal. Mr. James Copus was con- 
sulted in regard to allaying this excitement. He 
was a man much respected by the Greentown In- 
dians, who had learned to believe in his honesty 
and fidelity and to trust him. Mr. Copus was 
opposed to the removal of the Indians, believing 
it to be unjust, but finding orders for removal to be 
peremptory, finally made the efTort to persuade 
the Indians to consent. Upon representations 
that their property should be safe and their lives 



312 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



respected, they departed with the soldiers, who, 
•in violation of their pledges, immediately burnt 
the cabins and property of the Indians. The 
smoke and flames of their burning homes were 
seen by the departing savages, and they vowed a 
fearful vengeance. Two weeks after the removal 
of the Greentown Indians Martin Eull'ner and 
the Zimmer family were murdered ; they were 
living about five miles north of the burned vil- 
lage. After this massacre of the Zimmer family, 
Mr. James Copus and family went to the block 
house at Beam's mill, and remained there five 
days; after which they returned home, believing 
the Indians would not molest them because of 
the friendly relations that hitherto existed be- 
tween them. Nine soldiers, from Adam John- 
son's rifle company, of Coshocton county, were 
detailed to accompany Mr. Copus to his home. 
They took quarters in the barn while the family 
remained in the house. In the morning the sol- 
diers went a short distance to a spring, leaving 
their guns behind. They were immediately at- 
tacked by the Indians, and five of the soldiers and 
Mr. Copus were killed in a short time. The re- 
mainder of the soldiers kept up the fight from 
daylight until t«n o'clock, and finally repulsed 
the savages. This engagement was the only one 
in which Coshocton men are known to have lost 
their lives in the struggle of 1812. Some of the 
powder used in this war was made from saltpeter 
collected a few miles south of Eoscoe. 

While these events were transpiring at the 
Mansfield frontier, the company of Captain Evans 
was engaged with the forces of General Harrison, 
who were constructing Fort Meigs. On the 28th 
of February, 1813, a large force of British and 
Indians under command of Proctor, Tecumseh, 
Walk-in-the-water, and other Indian chiefs, ap- 
peared on the Mauniee in boats, and prepared 
for the attack. The effort to capture the fort, 
from the determined character of the defense, 
developed into a seige ; which was prolonged ten 
weeks, and resulted in the final defeat of the 
British. The continued campaign in this section 
consisted in like attacks upon the various forts 
that had been erected along the frontier, with a 
result in all cases of victory for the forces of Gen- 
eral Harrison. The naval victories for Ameri- 
cans on the lakes and one or two victories on 



land, finally terminated the struggle, and the 
Ohio troops returned to their homes; in which 
triumphant return Coshocton county had her 
share of rejoicings. 

During the war, when our forces were defeated 
at the Michigan frontier, it was rumored that the 
Indians were coming to this section of country 
to massacre and burn. Word was sent all along 
the line of the Walhonding and Muskingum 
rivers to the homes of the scattered settlers ; 
most of whom were left unprotected, the hus- 
bands and sons being at the frontier. 

The alarm thus sounded caused great conster- 
nation and there was a hasty gathering of friends 
and families into the various block-houses that 
were scattered through the country, awaiting the 
approach of the enemy. The feeling that pre- 
vailed at that time, and the sensations of terror 
experienced, are better portrayed in the language 
of one of the ministers of that day, whose mission . 
it was to comfort and console the terror-stricken 
in the day of trouble, than by the pen of the his- 
torian of to-day. Rev. H. Calhoun writes of that 
period in a short historical sketch as follows: 

The war of 1812 was severely felt upon our bor- 
der settlements in the west. Small and feeble vil- 
lages were deprived of nearly all their male 
inhabitiints, and thus a few trembling wives and 
daughters and lielpless boys, with here and there 
some decrepid and intirm old man, incapable of 
enduring the hardshipa of the camp, were exposed 
to all the cruelties of the merciless savages, mad- 
dened by British bounties and presents. In this 
situation, with many others, was Coshocton. At 
the cry of danger nearly every man, capable of 
bearing arms, volunteered for the army, bade 
farewell to home and hurried away to the north- 
west, the scene of the greatest danger and expos- 
ure. There was, however, no general engage- 
ment in which the soldiers' valor could be tested. 

As they lay encamped and inactive, perhaps 
dreaming of the dear ones left at home, and little 
knowing what might betide them, a scene occur- 
red of no little interest at this place, which we 
shall try to describe : 

People left in such a defenseless state in a time 
of general danger, are alive to every alarm and 
susceptible of a thousand fears. Mothers start 
at every strange sound which disturbs their 
slumbers and hug their children closely in their 
embraces, and manj- a familiar object, at twilight, 
by an excited imagination, is transformed into 
the dark outline of a murderous savage, waiting 
to spring upon his unsuspecting victim. In the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



313 



midst of this prevalent stjite of suspense, the vil- 
lage was one day thrown into consternation by 
the arrival of a messenger, with terror marked 
in his countenance, and impatient to communi- 
cate the intelligence that the wilderness to the 
northwest, between the Tuscarawas and Wal- 
honding, was infested with Indians, whose mur- 
derous design could be nothing better than to 
pillage and burn. In turning attention to another 
jiart of this scene, enter a cabin and observe what 
IS passing there. It stands far back from the 
river, among the thick hazel bushes which cov- 
ered the most of what is now the town. There 
might be seen the young mother, with her babe, 
born and bred annid the comfort.s of an Eastern 
home, now the lonely occupant of a rude cabin, 
her husband in a ilistant town, and no one to 
cheer her lonely hours but a poor invalid, the 
son of a clergyman in an eastern city, with a 
broken-down constitution, and he him.self now 
sutiering with the prevailing sickness of the 
country. Amid the general confusion and con- 
sternation they were forgotten, and neither heard 
the alarm, nor as.'^embled with the rest at Colonel 
Charles Williams' at night, but slej)t as sweetly 
and safely as though nothing had ciccurred. The 
next day they heard what had been done, but 
thinking their own cabin as safe as any other, 
spent the second night as they had the tirst. 

The day foUow-ing the tirst alarm which we 
have endeavored to describe, in the afternoon, a 
traveler, on horseback, faint and weary, might 
have been seen, a little to the east of where 
Newark now stands, making his way, in a road 
little better than an Indian trail, to Coshocton. 
He looked now at the declining sun, and now 
into the thick gloom of the forest before him, 
and seemed anxious to reach some fixed point 
ere nightfall. The time flew by, the way seemed 
long and the companion of his journey weary. 
It was late when he passed the place where 
Irville now stands, but he still pressed on, as 
though his point of destination was yet before 
liim. Night came on and lie felt he could go no 
farther, and alighted at a solitary cabin, in the 
midst of the wilderness. As he went in, a 
stranger, there for the night, recognized him and 
asked if he was not from Coshocton ? He re- 
j)lied that he was; upon which he told him the 
startling news; the alarms of Indians; the mo- 
mentary expectation of an attack, and that 
troops had been sent for, to Zanesvilie. The 
emotions of our traveler are better imagined 
than told. He thought no more of his own 
fatigue, or that of his hor.-ie; ordered him fed 
and, with as little delay ius po.<sible, was again on 
his way. It could not be exjjccted that a father 
and a husband would sleep there, while his 
family were in such peril. No ordinary feelings 
agitated his heart, as he rode on through thi- 
dark, dense forest, and thought of his wife and 



child as captives in the hands of the Indians, or 

the victims of the tomakawk. 

A briglit moon rode the heavens above him 
and enabled him to discern his wav. Suddenly 
be emerged from the wood into a small clearing, 
which had been deserted by some unfortunate 
settler, and to his utter consternation as he sup- 
posed, found himself in the midst of Indians 
encamped for the night. By the uncertain light 
of the moon, he could see one and another scat- 
tered thick over the clearing, startled from slum- 
ber by his unexpected ai)pearance among them. 
In a moment, for there was no time to lose, he 
resolved not to return, but press his way through 
them and trust to the fleetness of his" horse to 
make good his escape. To go back or forward 
seemed alike dangerous. Judge now of his sur- 
prise and joy, as he dashed into their midst, to 
tind what his excited imagination had worked up 
into an encampment and the figures of dark and 
nnirderous savages, was only a' herd of peaceful 
cattle that had been grazing in the woods, and 
had come out into the opening, as is their custom, 
to sleep at night. Recovering graduallv from his 
fright, he now rode along, only taking the pre- 
caution to provide himself with a good hickory 
club, his only means of defen.se in case of emerg- 
ency. As he thought over his own alarm and the 
ease with which in the excited state of the public 
mind false alarms might be raised, he could not 
but hojie that the Indians who had been reported 
as threatening ruin to his own home, might prove 
as harmless as those he had just encountered. 

By noon of night, he arrived at a well-known 
place of entertainment, on the banks of the Mus- 
kingum some five miles above where Dresden now 
stands. Here he founil his hopes more than re- 
alized. The kind host informed him that the 
alarm had all proved false; the troojis had re- 
turned to Zanesvilie after committing various 
depredations upon the iioultry and cattle bv the 
way, and the inhabitants had returned to their 
homes. He accordingly, having fought his own 
battle with his imaginary foes, and feeling dis- 
posed to let the women and children defend them- 
selves from theirs,- for the rest of the night at 
least, retired for the night. 

The settlers of Coshocton county mainly con- 
gregated, during this scare, in the house of Charles 
Williams, except those in the far northwestern 
section of the county, who generally flocked to a 
large block house that liad been built diu-ing the 
war at what ie now the village of New Castle in 
New Castle township. 

A small portion of the citizens of Coshocton 
county, among others, Levi and George Magness, 
were with the American army, on the Canadian 
side of the line, under Generals Scott and Brown. 



314 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



WAR WITH MEXICO. 



•Causesof the War— Muster Roll of Captain Meredith's Com- 
pany—The Third Ohio Regiment— Its Operations in the 
Field— The Fourth Ohio Regiment and its Services— Close 
of the War. 

TEXAS, when a province of Mexico, comprised 
all that section of country extending to the 
Indian Territory on the north, and from this line 
northwest to the line of Oregon Territory, on the 
Pacific coast, including what is now the States of 
■California and Nevada, with the adjacent country, 
■embraced in the territorial limits of Arizona, 
Utah, New Mexico, and part of Montana; also a 
portion of what is now the State of Colorado. 
Texas had been largely populated by Americans 
even as a Mexican province, and the question of 
what was the western boundary of Texas, was a 
subject upon which this country became agitated 
early in its history. 

The martial element that was de-veloped by the 
successful issue of the Revolutionary war, and to 
which was given a fresh impetus by the magnifi- 
cent victories of tlie War of 1812, bred a host of 
-adventurous spirits, who in times of peace rushed 
to the frontier borders of the country with such 
:sensitive conceptions of what was due to the 
national honor, that the conflict hung like an 
impending cloud o'er the border land long be- 
fore the agitation culminated in what is known 
as the Jlexican War. Texas had made herself an 
independent State bj' a successful rebellion 
against Mexico, as the United States had done 
against England. As a part of Mexico, those 
best versed in the merits of the case gave assur 
ances that the Rio Grande was the original west- 
ern boundary of Texas ; annexed to the United 
States in the year 1845 by virtue of her own pe- 
tition, the attempts of the Mexicati government 
to ignore this legitimate western boundary, led 
• to the conflict, declaration of war, and a call for 
50,000 volunteers. An ajipropriation by Con- 
gress of $10,000,000 was ])laced at the disposal of 
President James K. Polk to sustain the army and 
prosecute the war. 

Ohio furnished 5,536 volunteers, and 2,321 reg- 
ulars. In Coshocton county, as elsewhere in the 



State, tlie call aroused that dormant warlike 
spirit of a generation that had been reared upon 
a fireside love for the tales of battles their sires 
had fought, and, consequently, the numbers of 
volunteers were far in excess of the requirements 
of the call. 

The successful company from Coshocton county, 
over 110 strong, was officered as follows: 

Jesse Mereditli, Captain. 

J. M. Love, First Lieutenant (afterwards Cap- 
tain. 

S. B. Crowley, Second Lieutenant. 

J. B. Crowley, First Sergeant. 

Corbin Darne, Second Sergeant. 

Rolla Banks, Third Sergeant. 

B. F. Sells, First Corporal. 

Patterson, Second Corporal. 

It left the Roscoe side of the river aboard of two 
canal boats on the 5th day of June, 1846. 

Two days later it arrived at Zanesville and en- 
camped on Putnam Hill, and, on the 7th day of 
June, took steamboat via the Muskingum and 
Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, and encamped at Camp 
Washington, five miles west of Cincinnati on the 
10th of June. Here it remained until July 1 
when it was mustered into service and became a 
part of the Third Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was known as company " B." 

At the close of the first year of the war this reg- 
iment, with the First and Second Ohio, were 
mustered out of the service, as their term of en- 
listment had expired. On their return trip they 
mot the second Coshocton company, which was 
then on its way to the seat of war. This company 
was recruited and organized by James Irvine, of 
Coshocton, who is now residing in Coshocton 
county, and an active member of its bar. He was 
promoted to a colonelcy during the late war of 
the rebellion. Captain James Irvine eiilisted 
a portion only of his company in Coshocton 
county. He secured, by May, 1847, an organiza- 
tion, and marched his company to Zanesville, 
taking steamboat from thence to Cincinnati, 
where the}' were mustered into service, becom- 
ing part of the Fourth Ohio, commanded by 
Colonel Charles H. Brugh, and known as Com- 
pany "G." 

In "Camp Washington," at the first call for 
volunteers, were large numbers of men, from 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



817 



Cincinnati, determined to enlist, who, from the 
proximity of that city to this general rendez- 
vous for Ohio volunteers, were in camp and un- 
der drill a much longer period than many others ; 
when the discovery w;vs made that the number of 
volunteers far exceeded the requirements, these 
men mutinied, and for a time the unusual occur- 
rence was presented of men ready to fight for the 
privilege of being enrolled for the fatigues and 
dangers of war. 

The Third Ohio, in whose record Coshocton 
county was a sharer, was placed aboard a steam- 
boat bound for New Orleans, July 3, 1S46. Com- 
pany B suffered the first loss, by the death of one 
of their number, in the person of George Hitch- 
«us, who fell overboard and was drowned. On 
tlie 8th day of July a stop was made at Baton 
Rouge, where the regiment was equipped with 
arms and ammunition. Arriving at Camp Jack- 
son on the 10th, the troops encamped on the 
memorable battle-field of "Old Hickory," six 
miles below New Orleans. 

The regiment was finally shipped on two old 
merchant vessels for Brazos Santiago, being eight 
days making the voyage, encountering very 
stormy weather, arriving safely, however, and 
going into camp with 3,000 regular and volun- 
teer troops. At this camp Company B lost an- 
other member, John Darne, who died on the 29th 
day of July. On the 30th, the Third Oliio took 
up the line of march for the Rio Grande, and on 
the 2d day of August arrived at Camp Bareto. 
At this point Company B was again unfortunate 
in the death of Samuel Miller, he being the third 
citizen of Coshocton county who had fallen ere 
the breath of battle had crowned the company. 
On the 4th of August the regiment embarked 
for Matamoras, and on the 5th entered and took 
posse.s.sion of Camp " Paredes," on Mexican soil. 
On the 12th march was made to Camp McCook, 
from which point the regiment garrisoned the 
city of Matamoras until September 3. During 
the interval from the 6th of August to February 
2, 1847, Company B lost, by sickness and death, 
A. J. Darling. William Gardner, Henry Brown, 
Charles Wright and Joseph Parker. October 27, 
1846, Captain Jesse Meredith resigned and left 
for home, and Lieutenant J. M. Love was pro- 
moted to the captiiincy. 

10 



February 2, l,S47,the regiment was ordered for- 
ward, and on the 13th arrived at Camargo, situated 
on the bank of the San Joan river. At Fort Ca- 
margo the government kept and furnished sup- 
plies to General Taylor's army, having steamboat 
navigation from that point to the gulf. The regi- 
ment remained as gai:rison troops at this point 
until March 7, when they were relieved and or- 
dered to the front in the vicinity of Monterey. 
While on this march to Monterey, the Tliird Ohio 
had its first conflict with the enemy. The Mexi- 
cans, under General Urea, were skirmishing 
around them but not coming into close conflict 
until the 16th, when the regiment defeated and 
pursued them to Caderwda ; and on the 18lh, after 
a forced march of forty miles, reached the camp 
at Walnut Springs, just outside the city limits of 
Monterey. The regiment here spent three days 
gazing upon the heights over which General 
Worth's gallant troops had swept, and upon Bi.sh- 
op's Palace, which had been so heroically stormed 
when Monterey had been compelled to surrender 
to the valor of American soldiers. They were 
then ordered forward on the 2lst to S.iltillo, to 
join the forces of General Taylor. On the 24th 
the regiment joined General Taylor's forces and 
went into camp on the battle field of Buona Vis- 
ta. Here the regiment remained until May 18, 
when it was ordered to the gulf; while en route, 
Robert Harbison died and lies buried at a little 
town called Mear. On the' 9th of June, it em- 
barked for New Orleans, arriving there on the 
13th, and on the 20th w;is mustered out of service 
and arrived at home July 5, 1847. 

While this regiment, with its Coshocton com- 
pany, was returning from the field of action, the 
Fourth Ohio, with another Coshocton company, 
left Cincinnati on steamboat for New Orleans, 
and at that point shipped on sailing vessels over 
the Gulf to Point Isabel. Point Isabel was the 
base of supplies first established by General Tay- 
lor in March, 1846, and was strengthened again 
in April and made a permanent point of opera- 
tions during the entire war. It wa-s situated on 
Brazos Island, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. 
The regiment after debarkation marclied imme- 
diately to the Rio Grande and re-embarked on 
steamboats for Matamoras, twenty-live miles by 
land from Point Isabel, but following the winding 



318 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



course of the Eio Grande was ninety miles. The 
regiment was retained at Matamoras, doing gar- 
rison duty, until September 7. During this en- 
tire time they were clamorous for removal and 
orders to the front, but the citizens of jMatamo- 
ras were equally clamorous for the retention of 
the Ohio men, as they were fearful of being gar- 
risoned by Te.xan forcesj who, inlluenced by the 
hatred developed by the border struggles, were 
less careful of the interests of the Mexican citi- 
zens than their inore distant and Northern com- 
rades. September 7, orders were received to re- 
embark for Point Isabel, and on reaching there, 
to ship via the Gulf to Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz 
had been invested on the 9th of March, 1S47, by 
the army of General Scott. It was defended on 
the water side by the castle of San Juan d' Ulloa, 
but after four days bombardment capitulated, 
and on the 27th surrendered, and from that time 
became the seaport avenue to the capital city of 
Mexico. The Fourth Ohio, at this point, was as- 
signed to General Joe Lane's brigade in the di- 
vision under command of General Robert Pat- 
terson, of Philadelphia. General Patterson is 
still living in the Quaker city; and General Lane, 
commander of the brigade, was afterwards Sena- 
tor Joseph Lane, of Oregon. 

The brigade immediately took up the line of 
March for the City of Mexico. While en route, 
they came upon a small force of four hundred 
regulars, commanded by Major Lally, who were 
holding the National Bridge against a force of 
several thou.sand Mexicans. The Fourth Ohio 
received orders, as advance guard, to assist Major 
Lally and, attacking the Mexicans in the rear, de- 
feated them, after a severe skirmish. This engage- 
ment was the " baptism of fire " for the Coshoc- 
ton boys of this regiment, and quite a number 
were severely wounded. 

The march was resumed, and the next engage- 
ment was at Huamantla. In this conflict the 
Fourth Ohio was assigned the duty of rear 
guard, with control of prisoners. While in this 
position. Major Iturbide, the son of the old Em- 
peror of the Mexicans, with a large number of 
prisoners, was brought to the rear, and imme- 
diately inquired of Captain James Irvine, in 
whose hands they were placed, what forces had 
charge of the prisoners? When he answered, 



the Fourth Ohio, he remarked they were safe, 
and gave further explanation in the statement 
that Captain Walker, the celebrated Texan 
ranger, had been killed in the engagement, and 
the Texan soldiers were so beside themselves 
with rage, that they gave no quarter, and even 
the prisoners would not be safe in their hands. 
Colonel Samuel H. Walker was a representative 
of an element that was not so mucli American 
as Texan ; the commander of Texan rangers, he 
was at the head of a body of men who were 
noted for their absolute disregard of danger, and 
fully deserved his position as commandant, by 
virtue of deeds of daring and nerve that made 
even his brave comrades willing to follow him. 
It is written of him, by Lieutenant W. G. Moseley, 
Company G, Third United States Dragoons, that 
he performed the feat of clinibing to the top of 
an almost inaccessable peak, and planted thereon 
the American flag, as follows : 

On the right, in its silent and imposing gran- 
deur of repose, ever inaccessible by the frightful 
chasms and tottering glaciers which surround its 
summit, stands the eternal snow capped peak of 
Orizola, in its bleak and solitary pride, towering 
17,500 feet in the blue vault of heaven; its snowy 
head is the first object the mariner sees on ap- 
proaching; grateful, cool and refreshing it ever 
seems whether at sea or on land. And still to the 
right where the cyclopean demon of Mexican 
mythology writhes in his agony and wrath, belch- 
ing forth huge volumes of tire, stone and lava, 
stands the " Coftre de Perote." Though much 
more insignificant than his more august neigh- 
bor, yet the peak of Perote is more remarkable 
and interesting in history and romance. It '.vas 
there the gallant and lamented Captain Samuel 
H. Walker, the famous quondam Texan scout, in 
a spirit of chivalry equal to the adventurous 
Balboa, clambered to its highest accessible point, 
even to the " hole in the rock," and there planted 
the starry banner of his country. 

After the engagement at Huamantla, the 
brigade again took up the line of march for the 
capital city. Arriving at Jalapa, the brigade 
halted long enough to make a huge bonfire of 
all baggage that was not indispensable on the 
march from Jalapa to the capital city. A forced 
march was then made from this city to Pueblo, 
where Colonel Childs, with the small force of reg- 
ulars constituting the garrison, was defending 
the city and its hospitals, in which were 1,800 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



319 



sick and disabled soldiers, from a large besieging 
force of iSIexicans, under General Santa Anna. 

In order to fully comprehend the condition of 
affairs at this point, and to obtain the full meed of 
honor that crowned the Fourth Ohio and its Co- 
shocton county boys, it will be well to review the 
stirring events that had been transpiring during 
the march of General Lane's brigade from the 
Gulf to Pueblo, just in time to strike the closing 
blow of this brilliant struggle. To reach the 
capital of the Mexican Emjiire, a military force 
could ajjproach only by causeways which led over 
swampy marshes and across the beds of by-gone 
lakes. Each termination of a causeway was sur- 
mounted by a massive gateway strongly en- 
trenched and defended; of this nature were the 
positions of Contreras, San Antonio and Moliuo 
del Rey on one side of the city, while in front of 
the city were the powerful defenses of Churubusco 
and Chapultepec. These various positions, the' 
pride of the Mexican Empire, were not only thus 
strongly entrenched, but were held by a dis- 
tributed force of 30,CK)0 Mexicans, under the com- 
mand of General Santa Anna. On the 20th of 
August the forces under General Scott com- 
menced the attack upon these various positions, 
and one after another fell ; first, Contreras, from 
which, in seventeen minutes, G,000 Mexicans were 
routed; in a few hours later San Antonio fell, and 
then the heights of Churubusco, while finally 
the United States forces, under Generals Shields 
and Pierce, defeated Santa Anna's reserves. These 
victories were followed on the 8th of September 
by the storming and capture of Molino del Rey, 
Casa de Mata and the western defenses of Chapul- 
tepec, and on the loth the citadel itself was carried 
by storm, and the conquering forces swept into 
the citj'. General Santa Anna fled by night from 
the city, with defeat and disaster enfolding him 
as the clouds of night. The character of these 
victories may be illustrated by a brief summary 
of one assault, that of C]iapultci)cc, as set forth 
from portions of the official report of General 
John A. Quitman. 

At dawn on the morning of the 1.3th, the bat- 
teries opened an active and efi'ective tire upon 
the castle. During this cannonade active prepa- 
rations were made for the assault ujion the cas- 
tle. Ladders, pickaxes and crows were put in 



the hands of a pioneer storming party of select 
men, from the volunteer division, under com- 
mand of Cajitain Reynolds, of the Marine Corps, 
to accompany the storming party of one hun- 
dred and twenty men, which had been selected 
from all corps of the same division, under com- 
mand of Major Twiggs, of the Marines. These 
storming parties, led by the gallant officers who 
had volunteered for this desperate service, rushed 
forward like a resistless tide. 

The Mexicans, behind their batteries and 
breastworks, stood with more than usual firm- 
ness. For a short time the contest wa,s hand to 
hand; swords and bayonets were crossed, and 
rifles clubbed. Resist^mce, however, was vain 
against the desperate valor of our brave troops. 
The batteries and strong works were carried, 
and the ascent of Chapultepec on that side laid 
open to an easy conquest. In these works were 
taken seven pieces of artillery, one thousand 
muskets, and two hundred and fifty prisoners, of 
whom one hundred were officers— among them 
one general and ten colonels. 

It was after a succession of defeats like this, 
where fortification, artillery and number of 
forces were all on the side of the Mexicans, be- 
sides the fight with them being for their capital 
city and its treasures of wealth and beauty, that 
Santa Anna and many of his officers stole away 
in the middle of the night, gathered escaping 
forces that were scattered, and by a forced march 
besieged Colonel Childs and his garrison at 
Puebla, doubtless intending to wreak their ven- 
geance upon the 1,800 sick and wounded soldiers 
of the hosjiital. 

For several daj-s a gallant resistance was made 
by the garrison, and it was at this time and 
against this renmant of the Mexican army led in 
jierson liy Santa Anna that General Lane's brig- 
ade hurled its forces after their hurried march 
from Jalapa. General Lane's brigade was di- 
vided into three attacking columns, one of which 
was headed by the Fourth Ohio and connnanded 
by Colonel Charles H. Brugh. It furiously at- 
tacked the besieging forces of the Jlexicans, and 
fought its way up the streets of Puebla to the 
Quartet, and from thence to the grand Piazza in 
the center of the city. The street light was se- 
vere, and left quite a number of Coshocton 
county's citizens in the hospital wards of Puebla. 
This was the final blow to the struggling forces 
of the Jlexicans. The Fourth Ohio was detailed 
to remain as garrison at Puebla, and had no other 



320 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



engagement except to accompany two artillery 
expeditions, one at Atlixfo and the other at Plas- 
cala. These engagements did not. even involve a 
skirmish, consisting simply of a cannonade of 
guerilla forces of Mexicans at those two men- 
tioned points. The Fourth Ohio remained at 
Puebla during the balance of the time the United 
States forces occupied the Mexican territory, and 
shared in all the closing scenes of this brilliant 
camjiaign on the domain of the enemy. It would 
iiot be amiss to close this recital with a brief re- 
view of the closing incidents, as history and per- 
sonal reminiscences have recorded them. 

In the winter of 1847-48 American ambassa- 
dors met the Mexican congress at Guadaloupe- 
Hidalgo, and on the second of February a treaty 
was concluded. By the terms of this treaty the 
vexed question of boundary between Mexico and 
the United Stiites was established as running 
along the Rio Grande from its mouth to the 
southern limit of New Mexico; thence westward 
along the southern, and northward along the 
western boundary of that territory to the Gila; 
thence down that river to the Colorado and 
thence westward to the Pacific. 

Guadaloupe-Hidalgo, the village in which the 
above mentioned treaty was signed is worthy of 
the passing notice given by an actor in the scenes 
to the noted church within whose walls much of 
this business was transacted. Says the writer: 

The church of Nuestra Senora de Guadaloupe, 
is one amongst the most noted and memorable 
objects in this valley. A solidly paved road leads 
from the church into the village (at the foot of 
El Cerro de Tepayac). The building is vast, 
heavy and not at all beautiful, something of the 
mediaeval style of the lower empire, but still it is 
the most holy spot par excellence, in the whfile 
calendar of Mexican saints. It was here that the 
blessed virgin thrice appeared to the simple shep- 
herd in that miraculous vision which is now her 
stereoty])ed national picture, and to be found in 
every abode in the land. But the interior of the 
church surpasses all expression. It is fairly ablaze 
with barbai-ic splendor in precious metals, gold 
and silver balusters, railing, altar pieces, cloths of 
gold for the images, and all manner of glittering 
ornamentation. It was wonderful and strange to 
see the bullion lying around loose in this land 
of robbers pronuneiamentos and prcstimos. The 
most singular feature of all is the .tU.ne ahip, visi- 
ble a long distance, towering high above all build- 



ings, trees and other objects, cut in alto-relievo in 
the steep scarp of the rocky ridge is the exact re- 
semblance of a ship in full sail. The white, cal- 
careous nature of the stone is admirably suited 
to this nautical wonder on the slope of a rocky 
mountain, far away from old ocean's main. The 
legend has it, a ship in crossing the ocean was 
caught in a fierce tempest and threatened with 
total destruction to all on board. A Mexican pas- 
senger, in the extremity of his terror vowed to 
the blessed virgin, a temple to her honor and 
glory, if he ever set foot on solid ground again. 
The vessel weathered the storm and arrived safely 
in port, but in the place of a church for divine 
worship and saintly praise, the cunning fellow 
had this stone shii) carved upon the face of the 
hill and never trusted himself to the treacherous 
deep again. 

It was amidst such romantic surroundings and 
associations that the final treaty to a romantic and 
brilliant campaign was concluded, which was fol- 
lowed immediately by Ihe evacuation of the capi- 
tal and all points on Mexican soil held and occu- 
jDied by Anierican troojis. 

In the concluding sketch of this remarkable 
campaign, in which Coshocton county shared an 
honorable part, it will be interesting and appro- 
priate to view the closing act in the drama, the 
evacuation of the city of Slexico, as the com- 
mencement of the final march to the gulf. Em- 
ploying the language of the eloquent writer al- 
ready quoted : 

'Tis a festive, star-lit night, on the grand Piaz- 
za; the multitude is swayed to and fro in happy, 
eager expectancy of a grand demonstration. It is 
a pyrotechnic disjilay prepared bj' the ordnance 
department in commemoration of the long-sought 
event. Congratulations and compliments are 
wafted about between the late belligerents. 

'* A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when 
Music arose with its voluptuous swell, 

Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, 
And all went merry as a marriage bell." 

A signal rocket shoots up athwart the luminous 
sky and instantly the whole heavens are ablaze 
with flashing, darting, fizzing objects of firey 
light, flaming corruscations, blue and green me- 
teors darting hither and across, Roman candles, 
flying serpents and whirling wheels. Darkness 
then settles over the spell-bound throng. Pres- 
ently the facade of the national palace is seen to 
glow with returning light, and one by one, in 
sparkling brilliancy, the letters of the word 
" Peace " flashes out the glad tidings to the pro- 
longed acclamation of the dwellers on earth. The 
12th of June, 1848, is a rosy morn on the grand 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



321 



Piazza. Expectancy is again on tiii-toe. The last 
scene in the drama is to be enacteil. The drums 
roll a salute along the line, the guards present 
arms, the cannons lla.sh a salvo, down flatters the 
star spangled banner from the flagstatron the na- 
tional palace, uyi waves the rod, white and green 
tri-color of ^Me.xiro, the transfer of sovereignty is 
made, and the Mexican was given back his play- 
thing, with something of a stern lesson for future 
guidance. 

Just nine months before, we had entered this 
city bristling with hostility, and when resistance 
was at last subdued, scowling looks and defiant 
glances met us from both se.xes. The senoritas 
were especially shy and unapproachable. For 
a while it seemed that we were to be condemned 
to monastic isolation from the gentle beings that 
flower the pathway of life in whatever clime or 
country. 

On the march across the table-lands between 
Puebla and Perote, a thunder storm passed over 
the column of troops. The electric currents were 
strong; the musketjs were first rate conductors; 
the consequence was a stunning report, and a 
whole company of infantry was stricken to the 
ground, stunned, paralyzed and blinded ; some 
with lacerated wounds, others burnt and scorched ; 
happily, none killed. Jalapa, the enchanting, is 
reached ami passed. With reluctance we left thy 
beautiful vales and perfunled groves ; thy silvery 
ca.scades, where flowers and fruits of almost every 
clime bloom and ripen the livelong year. 

Vera Cruz was reached by the Fourth Ohio, in 
company with the returning victorious forces 
from the capital, where they took sailing vessels 
for New Orleans, and then steamboat via the ISIis- 
sissippi to Cincinnati, and at this point were 
mustered out in the latter part of July, 1848. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

WAR OF THE REnELLION. 

Preparations in Coshocton — Three Montlis' iten — Muster 
Rolls— Operations of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry. 

THE first gun fired npon Sumter, sent its re- 1 
verberations around the world. Hardly an 
inland hamlet in the United States existed free 
from its influence a few hours after it occurred. 
Telegraph wires flashed the news to all railroad 
towns ; expresses were sent on foot and on horse- 
back to all interior towns; neighbor hastened to 
tell it to neighbor; and thus almost before even- 



ing of the siime day, the people of the Union 
were aroused and prci)ared to act. April 14, 
ISGl, President Lincoln issued his proclamation 
for 75,000 troops to serve three months. The 
magnitude of the rebellion was not then compre- 
hended, else the call might have been very much 
larger, and for a longer term of service. Hunt's 
history says of that time: "The news of the 
fall of Sumter caused in Coshocton county, as 
elsewhere, a thrill that passed and repassed along 
the nerves of the people. Many of the settlers 
were from south of Mason and Dixon's line, and 
had tender recollections of their old homes and 
the people therein. But the war spirit was not 
wanting among even these, and as promptly as 
in any county the people were up in arms." 

April 16, 1861, a meeting was held at the law 
office of Nicholas & Williams, prior to which 
A. M. Williams had been to Columbus and se- 
cured a commission to raise a company; thus 
receiving the honor of being the first citizen of 
Coshocton county to contribute to the sui)port of 
war measures. The A(/f, in the issue of April 
18, says : 

At a meeting held in the law office of Nicholas 
it M'illiams this evening, for the purjiose of 
making a call for a war meeting, R. JI. Vorhees 
was called to the chair, and A. L. Harris was ap- 
pointed secretary. On motion of Mr. S. Har- 
baugh, a committee consisting of K. M. Vorhees, 
R. A. Baker, A. M. Williams, Cajitain James Ir- 
vine and -V. L. Harris, was appointed to issue a 
call for a meeting; they to determine the time of 
meeting, etc. 

The meeting then adjourned, when the above 
named committee decided upon the following' 
which was placarded all over the town the next 
day : 

C.\LL FOR A rXIOX MEETING. 

Deeming it the duty of every patriotic Union 
loving citizen to gladly and speedily respond to 
the demands of the country as expressed in the 
])roclamation of the President of the United 
States, by either personally volunteering for ser- 
vice in the army, or aiding by counsel or encour- 
agement those who do volunteer to fight for the 
honor of the Union and maintenance of the con- 
stitution in the coming struggle with traitors and 
rebels, we, as a committee, apjiointed by our fel- 
low-citizens, do call a Union meeting of the citi- 
zens of Coshocton county to be held at the lourt 
house in Coshocton on Friday at two o'clock. 



322 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The meetinc; is failed without respect to party, 
this beins the time when every person should 
show his loyalty to his country. Volunteers will 
be enrolled at the meeting. 

E. M. VORHEES, 

K. F. Baker, 
A. M. Williams, 
J. Irvixe, 
A. L. Harris. 

Mr. Nicholas R. Tidball returned on Wednes- 
day, April 17, from Columbus, with a commission 
in his pocket to raise a company, and all arrange- 
ments were being made to enroll volunteers at 
the meeting to be held Friday afternoon. But 
the excitement was so intense that the Union lov- 
ing citizens could not wait until Friday after- 
noon to enroll their names, volunteering began 
immediately. The Afjf, in the same issue in 
which it published the above notice, says in a 
paragraph: "Enlisting for the war is briskly 
going on. The proper papers can be found at 
Baker's .shop, opposite the Tidball House." 

The meeting was held at the court house, and 
it was filled to overflowing. Immense delegations 
came in from every part of the county, and it 
beeame dangerous in a very short time to be 
known as a sympathizer with the rebels. One 
business establishment was surrounded by the 
e.Kcited and liberty loving Unionists, and because 
it had given utterance to sentiments of sympathy 
with secession and seceders, was compelled to 
hoist the stars and strips upon pain of being 
thrown, stock and all, into the river. The Age 
says of this meeting : 

The war meeting at the court house was a 
boomer, and the patriotic speeches of Messrs. 
Nicholas, Given and Lanning elicited great en- 
thusiasm. A band of martial music took up its 
position in the room and enlivened the scene 
with patriotic airs. John D. Nicholas was first 
called upon and made a soul-stirring speech, 
followed by .Joseph Given and Richard Lanning, 
in capital addres.ses to the patriotism and national 
feeling of the vast crowd assembled. The vol- 
unteer roll was opened and a company formed in 
a short time. A resolution was adopted that 
funds be raised to keep the volunteers without 
e.x])ense to themselves while waiting for orders. 
A. M. Williams headed a paper with $100, for 
the maintenance of the families of volunteers. 
S2,000 was raised in a short time. The ladies of 
the two towns (Coshocton and Roscoe), God bless 
them! are busy as bees preparing clothing for 



the volunteers. The Roscoe ladies gave each 
volunteer from that place a fine woolen blanket 
worth $5, and every jirovision is being made 
for the comfort of the brave volunteers. Six 
printers vohmteered with the company from this 
town, leaving the office so short for help that we 
have turned our devil into foreman, and are run- 
ning the office on primitive principles. 

The excitement kept at fever heat; everything 
was war, war, war! Men met to talk over who 
was going, and when and what the results would 
be; martial music sounded everywhere upon the 
ear. The first company was enlisted and took 
the train for Columbus on Wednesday morning 
at 8:.30 A. M., April 24, 1861. Of this departure 
the Agf, in its issue of April 25, says : " The Union 
Guards, first company, left Coshocton for Colum- 
bus Wednesday morning. The roll was called 
on the public square at S o'clock, and ever}' man 
was on hand. They marched to the depot, when 
John Nicholas, on behalf of the young ladies, pre- 
sented the company with a splendid silk flag. It 
was received by First Lieutenant Marshall, who, 
in the absence of Caiitain James Irvine, who was 
at the death-bed of his father in Wayne county, 
had command of the company. While the flag 
present<ation was going on, the train that was to 
bear the volunteers arrived, and, amidst the cheers 
of the immense crowd, the boys eiubarked for 
the big wars. There was a scene for old Coshoc- 
ton, the details of which are sacred from the re- 
porter's pencil. Tears coursed down manly cheeks, 
all unused to the melting mood, and among the 
ladies there was scarcely a dry eye. Although 
the flower of the youth of our county eagerly 
go to defend the flag of our country, still when 
we look upon their dcjiarture, almost certainly 
knowing that we will behold many of their faces 
no more, we feel a sadness even in sending them 
to glory." 

The following are the volunteers of this first 
company : 

James Irvine, Captain. 

David W. Marshall, First Lieutenant. 

J. M. McClintock, Second Lieutenant. 

N. R. Tidball, First Sergeant, 

Charles Donley, Second Sergeant, 

L. L. Cantwcll, Third Sergeant. 

William Torry, Fourth Sergeant. 

R. M. Vorhees, First Corporal. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



323 



J. Carhart, jr., Second Corporal. 
N. P. Einnierson, Third Corporal. 
William H. Coe, Fourth Corporal. 
Primtrs-S. B. Madden, W. H. H. Kiohards, H. 
Decker, Jonah Gaddcn, Williarii Doyle, AVilliam 
Darnes, J. L. Longshore, Asa Conistock, Charles 
Pike. J. H. Hav, Levi MciMichacl, J. B. Akeroyd, 
James Esten, James McClure, W. H. Kobinson, 
William Davis, William Hay, J. N. Winn, George 
Shatter. William Nicholas, T. J. Carnes, James 
Banford, T. C. Mosler. Charles McMichael, T. C. 
Hutchinson, Albert Lawbaugh, Samuel Compton, 
Harmon I\Iorris, D. W. Stallard, P. T. Dougherty, 
E. B. Beardslv, James vStonehocken, B. A. Steven- 
son, Adonis "McMath, Peter Miller, S. A. Davis 
James Cooper, Richard Cray, M. E. Cowee, D. W. 
■ Gather wood, Thomas Newell, John Porter, George 
E. Jack, James McMunn, Frederick Cullison, T. 
J. Edwards, James C. C'arnahan, John Whalen, 
R. S. Richardson, Joseph Coojier, Alexander 
Richards, George Sykes, Henry Hogleberger, W. 
Bixssett, William Patton, Joseph Tomiikms, 
Arthur Shorre;-, John North, G. W. Smailes, H. 
P. Dimmock, A. L. Barton, R. Hackinson, Ham. 
Eoneg, A. Evans. J. N. Balch, J.ihn ISIills, J. Mc- 
Phearson. Isaac Wiggins, George Moliatt, S. A. 
Ellis, T. J. Roneg, J. N. Smith, George W. Cox, 
John Patton, S, McNabb, George Vanhorn, J. W. 
Loder, John Simmons.-J. D. Ross, C. Humphrey, 
H. Brelsford. 

These names are given as published at the time, 
some few were not accepted or withdrew, but 
this list comprises the first company that left Co- 
shocton for Columbus. 

While this was making its record as the lirst 
company, another had already organized with a 
full quota, having elected Richard McLain cap- 
tain, and was waiting for orders from Columbus 
at the time the first left. 

Muster roll of Company D, Sixteenth Regi- 
ment, mustered into service April '27, 1861: 

OFFICERS. 

Richard W. McClain, Captain. 
Willis C. Workman, First Lieutenant. 
Albert Shaw, Second Lieutenant. 
William Moore, First Sergeant. 
John Humphry, Second Sergeant. 



Sampson McNeal, Tliird Sergeant. 
James R. Johnson, Fourth Sergeant. 
Thomas B. Ferren, First Corporal. 
William Ringwalt, Second Corporal. 
Thomas J Cook, Third Corporal. 
Henry Forest, Fourth Corporal. 
Benjamin F. Ingraham, Drummer. 

P,./,,,//ra— John Bonts, Frederick C. Barth, Wil- 
liam H. Bryan, Robert Brown, Frederick Blas- 
ser, Nicholas H. Bassett, Jesse Bassett, Harrison 
Bible, Henry Bird, Thomas B. Bird, George W. 
Baird, Edward Campbell, Nathan Carnaham, 
Joseph A. Cochran, Matthew D. Cochran, Wiish- 
ington L. Cochran, Charles Clark, Louis Crooks, 
Franklin Caterall, William H. Coy, Richard Cox, 
John Copeland, James M. Crooks, John Crooks, 
James M. Cockram, Thomas Dobson, James 
Davis, John Davis, William Derr, Jacob H.Evans, 
Abram Ely, Isaac Ely, Leroy Ellis, Simeon H. 
Ellis, John Foster, Thomas -GoU; Francis D. 
Haines, J. Nelson Henderson, William R. House, 
George K. Johnson, Benjamin Jones, Andrew J. 
Lamma, Jacob Lahr, John C. Milligan, James 
McCune, William T. Miller, Henry Matheny, 
John Myers, John H. Martin, Marcellus Morgan, 
John ISIiller, Reuben A. Mack, John McConnell, 
Joseph S. Miller, Simpson McFadden, Zachariah 
McElfresh, Franklin Newell, John Ogle, Allen M. 
Piatt, Joseph Phillips, Ezekiel Poland, Levi Por- 
ter, John Parish, John W. Plummer, Robert 
Pierce, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Richardson, 
Osborn Richardson, Jacob Sternberg. Dennison 
Sturts, James Sears, Anthony W. Shearer, Jacob 
Strieker, William Schuck, Basil Steele, Alfred 
Snyder, James W. Sipes, Samuel Stephens, Mor- 
gan Snvder. Michael Sucll, Eli W. Thomas, Pal- 
estine Thackcr, Charles W. Tumblin, John W. 
Wilson, James B. Wilson, Edward Wiggins, Al- 
exander Williams, James A. Zook, Harvey Zim- 
merman. 

The Coshocton boys went to Camp Jackson, at 
Columlnis, where, in common with all other com- 
panies, they were put upon drill of ciglit liours a 
day. At this camp the two companies were as- 
signed to the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and, with 
other companies, constituted the primary organi- 
zation of the regiment. As was customary at 
thai time, the bovs proceeded to elect their offi- 



324 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



cers, and Coshocton was favored in having elected 
to the colonelcy the captain of her first company, 
James Irvine, who received his commission as 
colonel of the Sixteenth O. V. I., May 3, 1861. 
John D Nicholas was elected captain of Company 
A, in his place. Richard McClain's company was 
known as Conipany D. The regiment remained 
at Camp Jackson a week or ten days, and then 
went by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Bel- 
laire, where it crossed the river to Benwood, in 
West Virginia, having been ordered to that de- 
partment. Colonel James Irvine received a tel- 
egraphic dispatch from GeneralMcClellan to go to 
Bellaire and camp. 

At Bellaire the citizens turned out en masse, 
headed by Seth Gardiner and wife, and gave the 
entire regiment a dinner as a compliment to the 
Coshocton element therein. Colonel Janies\ Ir- 
vine and some other officers were domiciled at 
the residence of Mr. Gardiner. The regiment was 
quartered in a large iron foundry at Bellaire, and 
remained there several days General McClellan 
telegraphed Colonel Irvine to make a topograph- 
ical survey of Wheeling, Bellaire and vicinity. 
While arrangements were going on for this pur- 
pose, a very amusing yet natural incident oc- 
curred. Colonel Irvine had thrown out scouts to 
keep an eye on all that was going on down the 
river from Bellaire. A party of the scouts came 
in early in the morning with the report that 
there was a large force of men with artillery and 
boats about to cross the Ohio. All was astir in a 
few moments. The colonel ordered two steam 
tugs, with a company on board of each, to steam 
down the river and reconnoiter. The boats soon 
returned and repojted that Dan *Rice's circus, 
which was coming into town the next day, was 
watering its elephants and cattle. 

Late one night toward the last of May, Colonel 
Irvine received a telegram to report to Colonel 
Kelley, at Wheeling, and co-operate with him ac- 
cording to orders. Colonel Kelley had raised a 
regiment of Virginians for home service. Colonel 
Irvine immediately departed to Wheeling and 
found Colonel Kelley going over a Confederate 
mail that had been forwarded to him, having 
been captured on a part of the Baltimore and 
Ohio railroad. The developments implicated a 
number of citizens in Wheeling and thereabouts, 



thoroughl)' exposing the condition of aflairs in 
that section. 

The two regiments of Colonels Kelley and Ir- 
vine, having received orders to advance, followed 
the railroad till they came to the vicinity of 
Glover's Gap, where they found the rebels had 
burned the bridges. 

Here the regiments were delayed until the 
bridges were rebuilt. While waiting at this 
point, the two Coshocton companies of the Si.x- 
teenth Ohio were detailed to drive off a rebel 
outpiost that had headquarters at a small town 
about eleven miles from the Gap. They had a 
sharp skirmish, and returned with three men 
wounded. The regiments reached Grafton on 
the 30th of May, finding on their arrival, the 
rebel forces had departed to Philippi, where they 
had made a stand, being 2,000 strong. The stars 
and stripes were flung out from almost every 
house in town, and ladies marched the streets, 
dressed in red, white and blue, hurrahing for the 
Union. 

While the Sixteenth Ohio and Colonel Kelley's 
regiment were on the march to Grafton, Colonel 
Wallace, commanding an Indiana regiment, had 
marched from Cumberland and attacked the 
rebels at Romney, surprising and completely 
routing them, capturing their camp equipage, 
provisions and arms, and jnarching on to Graf- 
ton, united his forces with those already under 
the command of Colonel Kelley. These three 
regiments marched upon the rebels at Philippi, 
on a very dark night, in the midst of a rag- 
ing storm, and took them by surprise, at four 
A. M. The enemy, alarmed by the fire of their 
pickets, had just time to form in line of battle, 
when the Union forces came rushing upon them, 
firing but one volley, and charging bayonets. 
The rebels discharged their pieces so wildly that 
but two of the Union troops were killed and 
twenty wounded, and breaking, from the bayonet 
charge of the Union forces, they fled in confusion 
to Leedsville, about ten miles further south, losing 
all their camp equipage and about SCO stand of 
arms. Colonel Kelley was severely wounded. 
After the engagement at Philippi, the Coshocton 
boys lay encamped at Rowelsburg for some days, 
when they received orders to march to Camp 
Donley, about four miles distant, and on Friday, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



325 



29th of June, were sent upon ii scouting expedi- 
tion. They struck tents, took twenty-four liours' 
rations, and marched twelve miles, to a small 
stream flowing into the Buffiilo river, and re- 
mained at that point until an alarm gun sounded, 
when thej' were started on a tluuble-quick down 
a hill to the place where the firing was heard 
One of the Coshocton boys, writing of this 
skirmish, says : 

We passed Adjutant Marshall on tlie way, and 
he, seeing his horse could not keep up and we 
would be in before him, exclaimed, "(lo it, you 
Ohio thieves! " Let me say here that the ladies 
of Coshocton made a good choice in the color 
bearer of our company. Bob bore our colors, 
and frequently dashed ahead amidst the shouts of 
the Ohio boys. Seeing Colonel Irvine at the head 
of a company, we marched on quicker time until 
we reached them. The enemy were called caval- 
ry, although they were mo.stly riding broken 
down mules. The boys hiid a sliort skirmish, 
killing and wounding several of the rebels and 
securing the balance as prisoners. It appears 
thi.s body of rebel guerillas had been camping 
there for some days, and had been hanging and 
shooting Union men in the vicinity. Corporal 
Youst, of Captain McClain's Coshocton company, 
distinguished himself in this skirmish. 

The Sixteenth Ohio was finally quartered in 
and about West Union, in what was termed 
"Camp Kelley," awaiting the consummation of 
General McClellan's plan of att^ick against the 
rebels who were stationed at Beverly. While at 
this point, Colonel Irvine sent the following let- 
ter to the ladies of Springfield, Ohio, who had 
presented the Sixteenth Ohio with a stand of 
colors for their gallantry at the Philippi engage- 
ment : 

He.id Quarters of Sixteenth Reoiment, O. V. M. 
CHE.iT liuiuc.E, July 3, 1861. 

At the time of the receipt of the splendid stand 
of colors which the ladies of Sjiringlield presented 
our regiment, I was on the sick list. I beg leave 
to assure the patriotic ladies whose kind regards 
were so well expressed in what is now the regi- 
mental banner of the Sixteenth, that the mem- 
bers of my regiment with one heart, and as with 
one voice, took an oath thnt the honor of that 
flag should never be sullied while a single arm re- 
mained to raise in its defense. I beg to assure 
you that the ladies of Springfield will be grate- 
fully remembered by many brave men while 
memory lasts, and by none more gratefully than 
by Your obedient servant, .1. luviNio. 

Colonel commanding Sixteenth Regiment, 



The Romncy skirmish, Philippi engagement, 
and the defeat and capture of Colonel I'egram's 
forces had the elleet of consolidating the rebels 
under General Garnett, north of Laurel Hill near 
Philippi. Upsn learning of Pegram's defeat and 
surrender. General tiarnett endeavored to escape 
to Richmond by plunging into the wild roads of 
the AUeghenies, and was rapidly descending the 
Cheat river when he was overtaken by the Union 
forces. Finding escape in vain without a battle. 
General Garnett looked anxiously for a com- 
manding position. He came to a ford in the 
river which was approachable over an extended 
meadow, smooth as a floor, and waving with 
young corn. On the opi)osite side of the river, 
and commanding the ford, there was an almost 
perpendicular blufl' eighty feet high, fringed with 
laurel, presenting a perfect screen for his batte- 
ries and his men to lie in ambush. Here he 
stationed his army. The Sixteenth Ohio, en- 
camped at West Union, was sitting down to its 
breakfast when the call to arms came, and the 
boys were forced to leave without a mouthful 
and make a hurried march to a point known as 
Red-house (so called from the position of a red 
house situated ata defile in the mountain ),at which 
they were placed as a guard in the event the 
enemy made an attempt to escape by this route. 
Colonel Steadman, with the Fourteentli Ohio, 
first charged upon General Garnett's position, 
followed immediately by the entire body of the 
Union troops. For some time the battle raged 
with no decisive results, until Colonel Dumont, 
with the Seventh Indiana, crept under the right 
flank of the foe, when they turned and fled only 
to meet the outlying Union jjosts at every defile 
of the mountains. General Garnett was killed 
and left unattended by his troops. 

On the call to march coming so unexpectedly 
to the Coshocton boys at West Union, they left so 
suddenly that a tall Irishman was contiinied on 
picket guard alone, with no troops in the vicinity 
except the corporal in charge of camp equipage. 
Ujwn being questioned afterward as to his cour- 
age, he remarked, " I felt as safe as if I was in 
God's vest pocket as long as the corperlcr was 
with me." The corpcn-al in charge was a mere 
boy. 

After this engagement the Sixteenth Ohio Wiis 



326 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ordered back to Oakland and was assigned the 
duty of guarding the hne of the Baltimore and 
Ohio railroad, until the time of its enlistment 
had expired when it was ordered to Columbus 
about the middle of August and returned home. 
Coshocton was changed from the time " the 
boys " had enlisted ; then they were the only sol- 
diers in the town, while at the time they returned 
soldiers and war matters absorbed every thought 
of the people. The Coshocton Age says of that 
time: 

Our quiet town has been in a continual round 
of excitement on account of the movement of 
troops. First, la.st week, came the Sixteenth In- 
diaiui Regiment on their way to Washington. Its 
cry was " Ho for Mana.s.sasl " Two days thereaf- 
ter came the Twelfth Indiana for the same city 
Sunday, Lew Wallace's Indiana Zouaves return- 
ing from Harper's Ferry, Monday the First and 
Second Ohio passed through. Captain Given's 
company has recently left; other companies are 
forming", and now the Coshoction companies of 
the Sixteenth Ohio have arrived at home. There 
was a big crowd at the depot and the welcome 
was warm and earnest as the gallant boys sprang 
from the cars. Bob Richardson gave the com- 
pany colors to the breeze to let it be known they 
liad" come back unsullied by any dishonorable 
act. 

As the war progressed, and its necessities be- 
came more apparent, Coshocton county did not 
fail to respond. A military committee was formed 
and issued the following circular : 

AN APFEAL TO PATRIOTIC CITIZENS FOR AID FOR 
OUR SOLDIERS. 

In accordance with the proclamation of the 
Governor of Ohio, the undersigned military com- 
mittee of Coshocton county would respectfully 
but earnestly call upon lier citizens to come to 
the relief of our sutl'ering soldiers. This is no 
idle call. If you liave but one blanket to spare, 
bring it along. The articles will be received and 
receipted for at the store of Rand H. Hay, in 
Coshocton, or Hiram Beall's store, in Keene. 

Henston Hay, 
Seth McClain, 
A. L. Cass, 
R. Lanning, 
Geo. W. Pepper. 
MiHtnri/ CdHiniiftir f,,r Cinilnn-tun Cutuitii. 

The issue of this circular called forth from the 
liberal citizens of Coshoi'ton such large ([uantities 
of all articles needed, that sub-committees were 



appointed in every township in the county. The 
ladies all over the county were enthus astic in 
their support of war measures The young ladies 
of the county organized a society for the jmrpose 
of insjiiring the enlistment of all able-bodied 
young men, and published the following resolu- 
tions in all the jiapers in the county : 

At a meeting of the young ladies of Coshocton 
county, held for the purpose of promoting war 
measures, in was unanimously resolved, 

That it is the duty of every young unmarried 
man to go to war; 

That all who are physically unable to go are 
physically unable to support a family; 

That we have no further need of home guards; 

Tliat young men have but iine reason for stay- 
ing at iionie — -they fear battle more than they 
love liberty ; 

That the young man who fails to do his duty 
in this hour of our utmost need is not worthy the 
smiles of the ladies of this vicinity; 

That we will marry no home guard ; 

That he who is not true to his country is not 
true to his God, nor would he be true to his wife. 

It is supposed that these jiatriotic resolutions 
had the desired efl'ect, as the young men of Co- 
shocton went promptly and rapidly to the front 
during all those dark vears. 



CHAPTER XXXYI. 

WAR OF THE KERELLION — CONTINrED. 

Organiziitiim of "Given's Rangers" — Their ,\ssignment to 
tlie Twenty-fourth Ohio.iuiii Departure to thePielii— Sl<eteli 
of Jo^iali (_iiven— Orj^aniziition — Captain W. M. Stanley's 
.\.ssi!;iinH'nl to the Thirty-seeond Ohio, and Departure for 
tlie Field— Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second at Cheat 
Mountain— -Twenty-fonnli in the Field and Mustered Out— 
Tliirty-seeond in the Field anil Mustered Out. 

\ ITHILE the two three-month companies of 
VV Coshocton boys were making their rec- 
ord, the martial element at home was growing 
more and more formidable. The first three 
years' company was recruited by Josiah Given. 
The Agi\ of date June 6, 1861, says : " Josiah 
Given established a camp at this place, and rai.sed 
a company of volunteers for three years service 
The camp is in the county fair grounds, named 
Camp Burt, and the company is a very tine one. 
The boys expect marching orders this week. 
This makes three full companies from Coshocton 
countv. Two of them are now in the heart of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



327 



Virginia, on the enemy's soil, and tliis one will 
give a good account of itself." 

Tlie following i,< the muster-roll of the com- 
pany : 

OEFICERS. 

Josiah Given, Captain. 

James L. Inskeep, First Lieutenant. 

Gabriel B. Stitt, Second Lieutenant. 

A. J. Garrison, First Sergeant. 

George McConnel, Second Sergeant. 

AVilliam Knowlden, Th'rd Sergeant. 

George Johnston, Fourth Sergeant. 

Andrew Davis. Fifth Sergeant. 

J. G. Butler, First Corporal. 

Edward Sterman, Second Corporal. 

A. D. Green, Third Corporal. 

E. U. Chapman, Fourth Cor]>(iral. 

A. Pocock. Fifth Corporal. 

E. A. Campliell, Sixth Corjjoral. 

David Horton, Seventh Corporal. 

J. C. Almack, Eighth Corporal. 

T. J. Cunning, First ^Musician. 

D. R. Norris, Second Musician. 

George Mahew, Wagoner. 

Pri rails — Michael Adams, J. P. Almack, Charles 
Baker, Daniel B. Barnes, John Babcock, Francis 
Bigelow, S. J. Boggs. Edward E. Bryan. George 
Carpenter. Josepli Carpenter. JIatthew Camp- 
bell. Albert B. Campbell, John Corbit, Jacob 
Cockran, P. L. Cooper, John Cox, Archibald 
Curtis, William M. Clute, George G. Clark, Wil- 
liam Darnes. William Douglass. Samuel Decamp, 
Jacob Evans. John Endermshley. Linneus Fes- 
senden, R. R Fox, Samuel Farquhar, Robert J. 
Ciardner, Conrad Ginther, Phillii) Ginther, Sam- 
uel House, David Hagans, Joseph H. Hagans, 
John H. Hooker, L. Johnston. William A. John- 
ston, R. L. Johnston, Charles Jolinston, John 
Johnston, John Jennings, Armstead Kitchen, 
John King, Francis Kiggins. Lewis Lent, Rezin 
Lovitt, Gideon Lovitt, Robinson Mardis, Amos 
Mardis, Francis Martin, Michael Mang, John 
Miller, Adoljihus Musgrove, Martin Neighbor, 
Joseph F, Powell, Griflith Plummer, Thomas 
B.Rose. William R. Richards, Hamilton Smith. 
Isaac Schoonover, William F .'^'•hoonover. Bain- 
hart Srliort, J. L. Strieker. William H. Sills, 
J. H. Shaw. Samuel M. Salyards. John N. Tliomp- 



son, Reuben G. Tumblin, James Trott, John 
Allen Trott, D.miel Trainer, Chauncy Trimble, 
Rolla Tinimons, John E. Wiggins, Andrew Van- 
sickle, John Vankirk, William A. White, Wil- 
liam Watson, Joseph Wackerby, Edward E. 
Wells, Joseph Wirr, John Wirr, John Zook. 

A short sketch of Josiah Given, the captain, 
will be appropriate in this jilace.in view of active 
service and rajjid promotion. He was commis- 
sioned June 12, 1861, as captain of Company K 
Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; August 
17, 18G1, ranked as lieutenant-colonel of the Eigh- 
teenth Ohio, commissioned November 2, 1801. 
Appointed colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio 
May IG, 1.863; commission issued June 2, l.'^03, 
Colonel Given commanded the Seventy-fourth 
Ohio from the time of its movement towards 
Chattanooga, June 23, 1863, participating in the 
battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24; Dug Gap, Georgia 
September 11, and Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20. 
arriving at Chattanooga, Sept. 22, 1863. He also 
commanded the Seventy-fourth in the Iiattles of 
Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Nov. 
23, 24 and 25, 1863. On the 7th of May, 1864, 
Colonel Given commanded his regimeirt as it 
started with the army on the Atlanta campaign. 
For one hundred days and over the regiment 
was under lire almost daily. At Buzzard's Roost 
and at Rcsaca the regiment, under Colonel Given, 
stormed those strongholds with heavy ' loss, and 
on the 27th of May received the following com- 
mendatory notice from the division commander : 

IlE.VLl(il'.lKTF,R.S I'"lIt.ST DlVI.'ilON ForiiTEENTH ARMY CoRPS, 

NE.4R D.tr.LA.s, Uemugia, May 28, 18&I. 

CoLOXEL Josiah Gives: — General Johnson de- 
sires to express to you his high appreciation of 
the gallantry exhibited by the noble troops of 
your regiment in the night, engagement of the 
27th inst. The admirable spirit displayed by the 
regiment on that oocasion is, above all things, 
desirable and commendable Soldiers animated 
by such courage and fortitude are capable of the 
very highest aehievement.s. 

[Signed,] E. T. Weli-S, A. A. 

The regiment, still under Colonel Given's com- 
mand, was engaged in the performance of the 
most i)erilous an<l arduous duties at Kenesaw 
Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree 
Creek, and in front of Atlantji. At the battle of 



328 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Jonesboro, Colonel Given led the regiment in 
three distinct charges, on the afternoon of Sep- 
tember 1, and shared in the general compliment- 
ary notice to all those engaged in that part of the 
fight, as follows : 

Headquartehs Fikst Division Fo^-rtf.enth Arihi' Corps, 
Jonesboro, September, 186-1. 

Circular — " The general commanding the di- 
vision congratulates ofReers and enlisted men of 
the Second and Third brigades on the success of 
their splendid assault on the enemy, September 
1, 1S64. They charged a strongly intrenched 
double line, passing over swamps and through 
thickets under a murderous tire of musketry, 
dragged the enemy out of his works at some 
points, and tlrove him out at othors. The troops 
opposed to them were the most celebrated for 
obstinate fighting of any division of the rebel 
army. The conduct of all was gratifying to our 
commanding general, and the day should be re- 
membered and celebrated by every soldier en- 
gaged in battle. 

" Bv order of Brigadier General W. P. Carlin. 
"(Signed) G. W. S.mith, A. A. G." 

The Atlanta compaign ending here, Colonel 
Given resigned, and returning to Coshocton, as- 
sisted this county so well in its management of 
its draft quotas that it had them filled with little 
or no trouble. Colonel Given is now a citizen of 
Iowa, and is engaged in the practice of the law. 

June 13, 1864, Captain Given's company left 
Camp Burt for Camp Jackson at Columbus. The 
Age of that date says: "Given's Eangers are 
gone. He has a spendid company and the boys 
will give a good account of themselves. Last 
week the Coshoctim ladies presented each soldier 
■with a neat needle book, fully equipped. S.itur- 
day the Roseoe ladies and gentlemen, preceded 
by a band, invaded the camp with five wagons 
loaded with provi-ions. On Saturday Parson 
Hickmans held divine service in the camp." 
The conijiany, after reaching Columbus, was as- 
signed til the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Ohio 
Volunteers Infantry; was know as Company K, 
and was quartered at Camp Chase. As illustra- 
tive of the character of the Coshocton citizens 
whose fortunes were cast with the Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, tlie following extract from the Age, dated 
June 27, will speak for itself: "The members of 
Company K, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Captain 
Given of Coshocton, have started a Sabbath-school 



in Camp Chase, and not satisfied witli the good 
start have organized a social circle, and are deter- 
mined to live temperate lives while battling for 
the maintenance of the stars and stripes." 

The Twenty-Fourth left Camp Chase on the 
26th day of July, 1861. They went first to Bel- 
laire, and then started to Washington, but, after 
getting si.xty-five miles east of Pittsburgh, received 
orders to return, came back and proceeded to 
Clarksburgh, and were compelled to shovel dirt 
for two days and a night, on account of a land 
slide about forty miles from Clarksburgh, finally 
reaching Cheat Mountain Summit August 14, 
1861. Here they joined the Fourteenth Indiana, 
which had been on duty at this mountain pass 
for some weeks. 

The Twenty-Fourth Ohio was thus finally in 
the field. Another company occupied Camp 
Burt as soon as Captain Given's company left. 
Wilson M. Stanley of Newcastle township, im- 
mediately commenced recruiting a ciniipany, 
and, at the date of the arrival of the Twenty- 
Fourth at Cheat Mountain Summit, the Age 
speaks of Captain Stanley's company as follows : 
" Captiiin M'ilson M. Stanley's company is in camp 
at the fair grounds or at Camp Burt. He has or- 
ders from the government to subsist his men her 
until the company marches to Colonel Ford's 
camp at Mansfield." The company, by this 
order, was assigned to the Thirty-Second Regi- 
ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was known 
as company I. 

The muster roll of the company which was 
mustered into the service August 31, 1861, is as 
follows : 

OFFICERS. 

Wilson M. Stanley, Captain. 
C. C. Nicholas, First Lieutenant. 
George T. Jack, Second Lieutenant. 
Adam Carnes, First Sergeant. 
John McDonald, Second Sergeant. 
Elias W. James, Third Sergeant. 
Henry Matheny, Fourth Sergeant. 
Adam ISIorgan, First Corporal. 
George W. Seward, Second Corporal. 
William CoggUis, Third Corporal, 
t^harles JMurray, Fourth Corporal. 
John Lynch, Drummer. 
Wm. McNabb, Fifer. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



329 



Privates. — John Arney, Cornelius Austin, Wil- 
liam W. Bassett, Joscpli K. Berry, John Beall, 
Henry G. Bassett, Alfred Baeby, R. L. Barrroft, 
Edward Barrett, Samuel Clark, Nelson C. Carr, 
Jefferson Carnes, John D. Cooper, Thomas G. 
Cochran, William Crago, M. D. Cochran, E. 
Campbell, R. Courtright, William Cox, Hiram 
Croft, E. U. Campbell, John W. Conley, J. V. 
Crago, Samuel Crawford, C. P. Crawford, S. 
Campbell, James Davis, William Dusenberry, 
W. C. Daringer, Alexander C. Ellis, Henry 
Fisher, Morgan Felver, D. A. Gonder, John C. 
Gonder, E. Hays, John T. Hays, Thomas K. 
Hess, Webster Hogle, Andrew Jack, W. H. 
Jennings, Benjamin James, Joseph Kitchen, 
Robert Levitt, J. B. Lindsey, J. W. McChris- 
tian, Jacob Matock, J. McComber, Joshua Mus- 
ser, William Mathias, L. McElfresh, S. H. Mc- 
Lain, Francis Norris, R. Marchman, Patrick 
O'Brien, James Porter, J. H. Pigman, John Por- ] 
ter, G W. Pierce, Levi Porter, John Baire, James 
Robison, Martin Shulty, T. C. Seward, Daniel 
Schoonover, John Sondells, A. B. Stricher, W. 
■Smith, H. Smith, J. H. Sobringer, J. W. Sipes, J. 
W. Stanton, \^''arren Shaw, J. Tompkins, John 
"Thomj^son, George Tuttle, James Tiilibs, David 
Tracy, William Ruter, C. P. Vankish, Wilson 
Wells, Edward Woods, William Wise, S. Wel- 
ling, P. Williamson, D. Welling. 

This company remained in Coshocton until 
the Thirty-second Ohio left their camp at Mans- 
field and went into Camp Dennison, where the 
regiment was completed and Company I with the 
others was equipped and sent to the field under 
the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford, for- 
merly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. On the 15th 
of September, 1861, the regiment left Camp Den- 
nison for West Virginia. As was the case with 
most, if not all, of the first regiments from Ohio, 
the men were poorly equipped, and were armed 
■with (3ie almost useless old smooth bore muskets 
of aby-goiie age. The regiment was moved by 
railroad, arrived at Grafton September IS, and 
marched the next day for Beverly, West Vir- 
ginia, where it arrived on the 22d. 

At this point Colonel Ford reported for orders 
■to Brigadier-General Reynolds then commanding 
the District of Cheat Mountain, with headquar- 
ters at Huttonsville, and was assigned the com- 



mand at Cheat Mountain Summit, with Colonel 
Nathan Kimball of the Fourteenth Indiana com- 
manding the post. Having followed the Thirty- 
second from its organization, so far as the Co- 
shocton part of the regiment is concerned, until 
it reached the same field in common with the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio, it would not bo amiss to 
inquire into the whereabouts and doings of that 
regiment in the interval. When the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio arrived at Cheat JMountain Summit 
on the 14th of August the rebels with a superior 
force lay in front about fifteen miles, and 
almost everyday attacked the pickets, giving fre- 
quent opportunities for skirmishing, requiring 
the regiment to be ready for battle day and night 
and making it necessarj' to strengthen the posi- 
tion by felling trees, preparing abattis and throw- 
ing out heavy pickets to prevent surprise and to 
be prepared for any emergency. The position 
being considered important and the enemy in 
front enterprising, the camp was reinforced by 
the Twenty-fifth Ohio. Tiie night of September 
11 was stormy, with heavy rain. The raw pick- 
ets, not yet taught the importance of special vigi- 
lance at such times, were careless ; and at break 
of day on the 12tli the camp was surrounded by 
a largely superior force of rebels. Fortunately 
the abattis on the left of the camp of the Twentj'- 
fourth Ohio proved efficient, caused delay in the 
movements of the enemy and gave time to form 
the troops for battle, which was done promptly. 
In this, their first engagement, the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio gave indications of that coolness 
and discipline for which the regiment at a later 
period was distinguished. After a combat of three 
hours the rebels abandoned the attack and tied, 
leaving on the field many blankets, arms, etc , 
losing some prisoners and some killed. The loss 
of the Twenty-fourth was only two wounded. 
In the next battle the Twenty-fourth and Thir- 
ty-second, with some other of the forces at Cheat 
Mountain Summit, were engaged. The Thirty- 
second had been hurried to the field without dis- 
cipline; in fact it was hardly organized. Herb, 
upon the rugged heights of Cheat Mountain, 
amid the wild scenery of the Alleghenies, the regi- 
ment received its first lesson in the art of war. 

On the 3d of October, ISGl, the Thirty-second, 
imder orders, m.ade a forward movement and led 



330 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the advance of the army against the enemy at 
Greenbrier, through the mountains and pines of 
that region, by midniglit, while the Twenty-fourth 
was exposed to a heavy fire of shell, grape and 
canister, but stood firm. The Age, of date October 
10, publishes a letter from one of the Coshocton 
participants, as follows: 

Cheat Mountain Summit, October 3. 

This morning, at 1 A. M.,a portion of the brigade 
of Brigadier-General J. J. Keynolds, consisting of 
three Ohio regiments, the Twenty-fourth, Twenty- 
tifth and Thirty-second and portions of six Indiana 
regiments— Seventh, Ninth, Thirteenth, Four- 
teenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, together with 
detachments of Bracken's Indiana, Robinson's 
Ohio and Greenfield's Pennsylvania Cavalry, and 
detachments of Howe's United States, Loomis' 
Michigan and Daum's Virginia Artillery, num- 
bering in all about .5,000 men, left Cheat Mountain 
Summit to make a reconnoissance in force in 
front of the enemy's position on Cireenbrier river, 
twelve milesdistaiit. Colonel Ford's Thirty-second 
Ohio was sent forward to hold an important road, 
the possession of which prevented the enemy 
from flanking our main column. The expedition 
arrived in front of the enemy's fortification at 
8 A. M., their pickets retreating after firing an in- 
effectual volley. Kimball's Fourteenth Indiana 
was immediately sent forward to secure a position 
for Loomis' battery. Colonel Animen's Twenty- 
fourth Ohio deployed as skirmishers on the south 
slope of the mountain. Loomis' battery, getting 
position, supported by the Seventeenth Indiana, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Wilder commanding, ojiened 
the battle. The shot was immediately responded 
to by a volley from the enemj', concealed in 
bushes, who were soon routed by the Fourteenth 
Indiana, with a loss of seven killed and a large 
number wounded and prisoners. Howe's battery, 
supported by the Thirteenth Indiana, then moved 
forward, taking a position 300 yards nearer the 
enemy's fortitlcations and opened a brisk fire. 
The firing on both sides was almost incessant 
for one hour, our artillery doing execution, judg- 
ing from the shrieks of the enemy's wounded. 
Their batteries did but comparatively little injury, 
being too much elevated. Our guns eflectually 
silenced three of theirs. While observations were 
being made of the enemy's fortifications, occupy- 
ing three more hours, an irregular artillery fire 
was kept up, occupying the enemy's attention. 
During this interval the Twenty-t't]urth Ohio and 
Fifteenth Indiana rendered very ettcctual service 
scouting the mountains. The reconnoissance 
proved entirely successful, allbrding information 
relative to the enemy's strength. 

The loss of the Twenty-fourth Ohio was two 



killed and three wounded. The Thirty-second 
Ohio remained at Greenbrier during the fall of 
1S61, engaged in watching the movements of the 
enemy, then commanded by the afterwards re- 
nowned rebel, General Robert E. Lee. 

The Twenty-fourth Ohio, on November 18, 
ISGl, marched from Cheat ilountain, under or- 
ders for Louisville. Kentucky; reported at that 
place on the 2Sth of the same month, and was 
assigned to duty in the Tenth Brigade. Fourth 
Division, Army of the Ohio. February 25, l.'-'62, 
it reached Nashville. Tennessee, and remained 
there, in camp, until JIarch 17. when the Fourth 
Division took up the line of march for Savannah 
and Pittsburgh Landing. The bridge over Duck 
river, at Columbia, Tennessee, having been 
burned by rebels, and the stream being very high, 
the army was detained some days, repairing the 
bridge. Before this was done (the river having 
fallen) the Fourth Division was ordered to ad- 
vance. It waded the river March 29, and hurried 
on to Savannah, on the Tennessee river, which 
place it reached on Saturday, April 5, and went 
into camp. As the swamp on the right bank of 
the Tennessee was deemed impassable, boats 
were to be sent to transport the troops to Pitts- 
burgh Landing, twelve miles up the river. On 
Sunday morning, April 6, the roar of the artillery 
at Pittsburgh Landing was heard at Savannah. 
The troops were immediately put in readiness 
to move. No boats arriving, to transport them, 
at one p. JI. the brigade to which the Twenty- 
fourth belonged started through a swamp on 
the march to the battlefield, the other brig- 
ades of the division following, and after a hard 
march, through mud and water, it reached the 
opposite bank of the river. The Federal army 
had gradually retired to the river. The last 
horrible tragedy of this day seemed about to 
be consummated. The rebels occupied all the 
camps of the Federal army. The latter were 
crowded in wild confusion around Pittsburgh 
Landing. The arrival of the gunboats and Buell's 
forces changed the face of atlairs. It was at this 
time, on Sunday evening, the brigade containing 
the Twenty-fourth Ohio came upon the scene 
and took part in the battle, on the extreme left. 
During the hours of that memorable night, 
while a furious tempest raged and a deluge of 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



331 



rain descended, the Federal eonmianders were 
but<y in making preparations for resuming the 
contest. Colonel Amnien, of the Twenty-fourth, 
commanding a brigade, was placed on the ex- 
treme left. 

A eonnnunieation, regarding the Twenty- 
fourth Ohio at this time, says : 

On April 7, the Twentj'-fourth Ohio was en- 
gaged all day in battle, and not only sustained its 
former reputation, but added " new laurels." A 
Coshocton boy, writing from the battlclield, re- 
ports : 

■■ It was terrible. On Sunday our army was 
jiushed from disaster todisaster, till we lost every 
thvision camp we had, and were driven within a 
half mile of the landing, when the approach of 
night, the timely aid of the gunboats, and the 
tremendous eilbrts of our artillery, with the 
timely arrival of Buell's forces, saved us. On 
Monday, after nine hours of hard figiitiiig, we re- 
gained the ground we had lost on Sunday. Not 
a division advanced a half mile beyond our old 
old camp except Lew V.'^allace's. An officer of the 
New Orleans Creole Battalion, taken pristnier, 
says: ' Beauregard made a speech on Saturday, 
before the battle, in which he told them the re- 
sult Wiis sure; they could not fail; they would 
cajiture Grant's army and whip Buell and then 
hoUl their railroads. If they lost the day they 
might lay down their arms and go home.' Our 
forces were thirty-five thousand strong. A rebel 
quartermaster, who was taken prisoner, says that 
rations for ninety thousand men were issued be- 
fore they left Corinth.'' 

The casualties to Company K, Twenty-fourth 
Ohio, as furni.-ihed from the report of Sergeant 
W. H. Knowlden, are as luUows: Slightly 
wotmded, Cajitain T. McGlure, William Douglass, 
Samuel Decamp, Corporal A. D. Garven, Jacob 
Strieker, Matthew Campbell, David L. Norris, 
Ciiauncey Trimble; missing, John E. Waggoner 
and Joseph Wackerly. It is believed that none 
of the wounils are mort;d, and the boys have 
every attention and comfort it is possible to be- 
stow. 

The results were so dependent upon the per- 
formance of the Ohio troops in the field that Gov- 
ernor Tod sent a congratulatory address to them, 
and, as tiie Twenty-fourth Ohio was entitled to 
her share, it is hereby appended, as follows : 

To the Ohio TnKqM rni/tiijed in the rivcnt Battle of 
Pittxhiiri/lt Landing , Trnwsnt'c : 

In behalf of the loyal citizens of the State you 
love so much, I tender their profound thiinks for 



the gallantry, courage and endurance you have 
displayed. Thank (Jod, from the best informa- 
tion in our possession, we are able to claim that 
Ohio soldiers all did their duty. Those yet in 
the field, we are sanguine, will avenge the deaths 
of their brave comrades who fell on the (ith 
and 7th. On, then, gallant volunteers of Ohio, 
and win new laurels for our State. With one 
heart the friends you left at home are caring, 
as Ohio mothers, wives, sisters, brothers and 
fathers, know how to care, for their sick and 
wcamded liusbanils, sons and brothers. 

The Twenty-fourth Ohio took part in most of 
the skirmishes between Pittsburgh Landing and 
Corinth, and was one of the first regiments that 
entered the latter place. It was with the ariuy 
in the pursuit of the enemy in North Missis- 
sippi and North Alabama, an<l in July was en- 
camped at McMinnville, Tennessee. It left that 
place September 3, 1862, and returned to Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, with the army, during General 
Bragg's invasion, having a long, dusty, and greatly 
dispiriting march. In October, 1SG2, it was 
assigned to the Fourth Division, Twenty-first 
Army Corps. It was at the battle of Perry ville, 
but, being on the extreme right, did not take part 
in the general engagement. It then moved in 
pursuit of the retreating rebels, and on the 
abandonment of the chase in the mountiiins of 
Southeastern Kentucky, it marched to Nasliville. 
When, in December, 1862, General Kosccrans ad- 
vanced from Nashville, the Twenty-fourth Ohio 
was reduced by sickness and desertion to thirteen 
oihcers and three hundred and forty men. Com- 
pany A, however, was on detached tluty. With 
this strength it went into the battle of Stone 
River. Its loss was heavy, the regiment having 
been assigned an importiint position, and having 
held it faithfully. Tuesday, December 30, the 
corps commanders met at the headquarters of 
General Eosecrans, who explained to them his 
plan of battle. General JlcCook (commanding 
the right, with the divisions of Johnson, Davis, 
and Sheridan.) was to hold his position firmly, if 
attacked ; if not, he was to threaten the rebel left 
sufficiently to hold all the rebel forces in his 
front. General Thomas (commanding the center, 
with Rousseau's and Negley's divisions,) was to 
open the battle with skirmishing, pu.shing for- 
ward his forces toward the river. General Crit- 



-332 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



tenden (commanding the left, with Van Cleve's, 
Woods' and Palmer's divisions,) was to cross at 
the ford, gain possession of the hill, and, followed 
up by General Thomas, with the center, push 
back the rebel right, gain their Hank, and then 
advance on Murfreesboro. The Twenty-fourth 
Ohio was in Palmer's division. 

General McCook's brigades failed to hold their 
position, and the brunt of the fight came upon 
the center and left, until General Eosecrans had 
formed a new line of battle. The Twenty-fourth 
Ohio lead the advance of Palmer's division, which 
fought with truly chivalrous courage. Palmer's 
position was on the Cedar Grove road. In front 
of him was an open field, in the center of which 
stood the remains of a brick house. This house 
■formed the center of one of the most sanguinary 
conflicts of the field. General Palmer ordered an 
advance on the burnt house to be lead by Briga- 
dier General Cruft. Issuing from the woods, he 
drove the rebel skirmishers before him, and 
gained possession of a fence, which served as 
some protection to his line. The enemy imme- 
diately charged upon him with desperate, but, 
unavailing ettbrt. Again and again they re- 
newed the charge. For half an hour these waves 
of battle swept the plain, each time checked by a 
volley which no flesh and blood could withstand. 
The rebels were finally repulsed. General Cruft 
followed up his success by charging in his turn 
and gaining possession of the brick house. Tliis 
final charge has been pronounced the most dar- 
'ing exploit of the day. The Twenty-fourth Ohio 
was in this entire struggle, losing one-fourth of 
the force of officers and men with \\hich it went 
into battle. 

Numerous promotions now occurred to fill the 
sad vacancies thus caused. The Twenty-fourth 
was next in the affair at Woodbury, Tennessee, 
January 24, 1S63, but its loss here was small. 
After a long rest through the spring and sum- 
mer, it advanced with the army on Tullahoma, 
and was on duty at Manchester, Tennessee, until 
the advance on Chattanooga. It was in the en- 
gagement at Lookout Mountain ; also, in the bat- 
tle of Chickamauga, with a loss of Captains Wads- 
worth and Dryden killed, together with a large 
number of men. The regiment was next in the 
liattle of Mission Ridge, and in the pursuit of the 



enemy in the affair at Taylor's Ridge, near Ring- 
gold. 

It was then assigned to the Second Division, 
Fourth Army Corps, and was in an engagement 
near Dalton, with a loss of two killed and eight 
wounded. In April, 1864, the Twenty-fourth was 
sent to Chattanooga to await orders for muster- 
ing out. June 15, it received orders to proceed 
to Columbus for that purpose ; and June 24 it 
was mustered out and discharged. 

Company D, of the Twenty-fourth, re-enlisted 
as veteran vohmteers, to serve during the war. 

The colors of the regiment were presented to 
the State, to be placed in the archives for preser- 
vation. Colonel A. T. M. Cockerill turning them 
over with a few pertinent remarks. In response, 
Governor Brough said : 

Colonel, officers and soldiers of Twenty-fourth, 
I thank you in behalf of the people of the State of 
Ohio, not only for the col(_)rs, but for having borne 
them so nobly and gallantly as you have through- 
out the three years' service. They come worn 
and tattered; but there is not a rent in them that 
!.■; not honorable, and an emblem of yoiu' bravery 
and gallantry. No regiment that has gone from 
Ohio has endured hardships with greater cheer- 
fulness or more nobly discharged its duties. I 
shall ijlace these banners in the archives of the 
State as historic mementoes worthy of any peo- 
ple. Again, soldiers, I thank you. 

These flags had been presented to the regiment 
— the regimental flag by General Jacob Ammen, 
then its colonel, and the national colors by the 
Sixth Ohio, better known as the " Guthrie Grays," 
of Cincinnati. The flag from the Sixth Ohio 
bears this inscrijition: "The Sixth Ohio to the 
Twenty-fourth Ohio; Shiloh, April 7, 1862," and 
was presented to the regiment during the siege 
of Corinth by the late lamented General William 
Nelson, then commmander of the Fourth Divi- 
sion Army of the Ohio (to which both regiments 
at that time belonged), in behalf of the officers 
and men of the Sixth. 

These flags have passed through the bloody 
fields of Pittsburgh Landing and Stone River, 
where Colonel Fred Jones, Lieutenant Colonel 
Terry, Major Weller and Captain Harmon sealed 
their devotion to their country with their hearts' 
blood. They were in the brilliant dash at Wood- 
bury ; inthe terrible strife at Chickamauga, where 



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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



335 



Wiidsworth and Dryden fell in the nation's 
cause. They waved through the lieree struggle 
for the possession of Lookout Mountain, and the 
gallant charge on Mission Ridge. They were 
borne in the murderous assault on Taylor's Ridge 
at Ringgold ; and last, but not least, in the bold 
reconnoissance of the gallant Palmer, so stub- 
bornly resisted by the enemy, at Buzzard's Roost 
Gap and Rocky Face Ridge. At Stone River, the 
battle-ax was shot from the stafi', and two balls 
passed through the staff. The holes made by 
twenty-three distinct bullets at Stone River may 
be seen in the flag itself. Three color sergeants 
of the regiment were killed and seven severely 
wounded while bravely carrying their standards 
in the front line of battle. Two of them were 
killed at Stone River within five minutes of each 
other, and one at Chickamauga. 

December 13, 1861, the Thirty-second, under 
command of Captain Hamilton, accompanied 
General Milroy in his advance on Camp Alle- 
gheny. In his report. General Milroy compli- 
mented the regiment very highly on its gallantry 
and good conduct in its charge into the camp of 
the enemy. They captured the provision depot 
of the rebel camp at Huntersville, which con- 
tained a large amount of provisions, and disposed 
of it in as speedy a manner as possible by burn- 
ing both provisions and town. The loss of the 
regiment in this affair was four killed and four- 
teen wounded, some severely. On the return 
from this expedition it was ordered to Beverly, 
where it remained the rest of that severe winter. 
The time was profitably'spent in still further dis- 
ciplining and organizing the regiment. Some 
changes took place in the official roster of the 
regiment, and also in the Coshocton company, K, 
from which Captain Stanley resigned, and First 
Lieutenant C. C. Nichols was promoted to the 
captaincy, while Adjutant Jack was made First 
Lieutenant. Still retained in General Milroy's 
command, the regiment tODk the advance of the 
expedition made about the 1st of May, 1S02, to 
near Butt'alo Gap, seven miles from Staunton, 
Virginia. The enemy was met at this point, and, 
after some severe fighting, the national forces 
fell back on the main army, camped at McDow- 
ell, in the Bull Pasture valley, where Generals 
Sehenck and Milroy had united their forces, 
11 



numbering about 7,000 men. The rebel general, 
Stonewall Jackson, advanced against the national 
forces on the Sth day of May, and was met on the 
side of the Bull Pasture mountain. A severe 
battle ensued, which lasted from 2 p. m. until 
dark, with varied success on either side. The 
national forces fell back on Franklin, West Vir- 
ginia, closely followed by the rebel ai-my. In this 
battle the Thirty-second Ohio lost six killed and 
fifty-three wounded, some mortally. It was the 
last regiment to leave the field. Lieutenant C. 
Fugate, of Comjiany E, a young officer of fine 
promise, was among the mortally wounded. He 
died at Franklin five days after the battle. 

On the 12th of May Major General Fremont, 
commanding the mountain deixirtment, effected 
a junction with Generals Sehenck and Milroy, 
bringing with him about twelve thousand men. 
Before this junction, however, the rebel General 
Jackson had retired from the national front. The 
combined national forces lay at Franklin inact- 
ive until the 2oth of May when they were ordered 
to the support of General Banks, then operating 
in the Shenandoah valley against the rebel army 
under Jackson. While the army was in camja at 
Franklin the Thirty-second was transferred from 
Milroy's to Schenck's brigade, composed of the 
Thirty-second, Fifty-fifth, Seventy-third, Seventy- 
fifth and Eighty-second Ohio volunteer infantry. 
In Fremont's pursuit of Jackson up the Shenan- 
doah valley the Thiity-second bore its part, and 
participated in the Ijattles of Cross Keys and Port 
Republic, on the 8th and "Jth days of June, 1862. 
The regiment returned to Strausburg about the 
last of June, was transferred to Piatt's brigade 
and moved to Winchester, Virginia, July 5, 1862. 
It remained at Winchester doing garrison duty 
until the 1st of September, the day the place was 
evacuated by General White, when the regiment 
moved with the brigade to Harper's Ferry and 
assisted in the defense of that place. After mak- 
ing a hard fight and losing one hundred and fifty 
of its numlier, the regiment, with 4)ie whole com- 
mand was surrendered by the commanding offi- 
cer of the post to the enemy as prisoners of war. 
The history of this unaccountable affair is yet to 
be written. Tlie Thirty-second was paroled and 
sent to Annapolis, Maryland, from whence it was 
transferred to Chicago, Illinois. In the defense of 



336 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Harpers Ferry the regiment lost some gallant 
officers and brave men. At Chicago the regiment 
became almost completely demoralized. 

It had not been paid for eight monthis, and 
many of the men took " French leave," and went 
home to look after their families. Captain B. F- 
Potta was sent to Columbus to ask Governor 
Tod to procure an order from the War Depart- 
ment transferring the regiment to Camp Taylor, 
near Cleveland. This application was successful, 
and the Thirty-second, or what was left of it, 
thirty-five men, arrived at Camp Tayl(5r Decem- 
ber 1, 1SG2. December 2, Captain B. F. Potts 
was appointed by Governor Tod, Lieutenant 
Colonel of the regiment, and that energetic offi- 
cer went immediately to work " reconstructing " 
the command. Within ten days, order pre- 
vailed, and eight hundred men had reported for 
duty, and Third Sergeant E. W. James was made 
captain of Company K. This happy result was 
not attained, however, without decisive action in 
the case of several officers who were charged 
with inciting dissaffection and revolt among the 
men. Secretary Stanton of the War Office, or- 
dered their instant dismissal, which was consu- 
mated on the 23d of December, 1862. The men 
were paid in full, and on the 12th of January, 
1803, declared to be exchanged. 

January 18, orders were received to proceed to 
Memphis and report to Major General U. S. 
Grant, then commanding the Department of the 
Tennessee. January 25 the regiment reached 
Memphis, and was assiged to Logan's Division, 
Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major 
General J. B. McPherson. 

February 20, the Thirty-second moved with 
the army to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and 
during the campaign against Vicksburg, took a 
prominent part in the gallant achievments of the 
Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. At 
the battle of Champion Hills, the Thirty-second 
made a bayonet charge and captured the First 
Mississippi rebfl battery — men, guns and horses 
—with a loss of twenty-four men. For this gal- 
lant achievement, the captured battery was 
turned over to the regiment and manned by 
Company F, during the entire siege of Vicskburg. 
The total loss of the regiment, during the cam- 
paign around Vicksburg, was two hundred and 



twenty-live, rank and file. It participated in the 
battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson. Cham- 
pion Hills; was in the extreme front of Logan's 
division, when Vicksburg surrendered, and was 
assigned to post duty under General Logan. 

In August, 1863, the regiment accompanied 
Stevenson's expedition to Monroe, Louisiana.and 
McPherson 's expedition to Brownsville, Missis- 
sippi, in October of the same year. It was also 
with Sherman, in February, 1864, at Meridian, 
and lost twenty-two men at Boher's creek, Mis- 
sissippi, February 5, 1864, in which last affair 
Captain W. A. McCallister was severely wounded, 
while gallantly leading the advance. 

Colonel Potts had been assigned to the com- 
mand of the Second Brigade, Third Division,, 
Seventeenth Army Corps, in the autumn of 1863, 
and was therefore but seldom in command of the 
regiment. In December and January, 1863-4, 
more than three-fourths of the regiment re- 
enlisted as veterans, and on the 4th of March^ 
1864, it was furloughed home. It rejoined the 
army at Cairo, Illinois, on the 21st of April, with 
its ranks largely augmented by recruits. April 
27 the regiment embarked at Cairo, with its di- 
vision and corps, on transports, landing at Clifton. 
From thence it marched to Acworth, Georgia, 
where it joined General Sherman, June 10. 1864. 
The Thirty-second was identified with the move- 
ments of the Seventeenth Army Corps in Sher- 
man's advance against Atlanta; participated in 
the assault on Kenesaw Mountjiin, June 27, 1864, 
and Nicojack Creek, near Howell's Ferry, on the 
Chattahoochee river, July 10, 1S64. 

In The Age, of July 23, the following letter 
from one of the Coshocton boys engaged in the 
above mentioned battles, is published : 

C.iMP Ne.vr Ch.itt.\hoochek River, Geokoi.i, 
July 13. ISIH. 

Editor Age : — I herewith transmit to you, for 
publication, the following copy of a highly com- 
]ilimentary order published to Third Division, 
Seventeenth Army Corps, on the occasion of the 
transfer of the Thirty-second Regiment O. V. I., 
to the Fourth Division of the same corps : 

IlEADiJU.^RTERS THIRD DIVISION SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, 

In the Field, Georoia, July 10, 1804. 

Special Field Order No. 44. — IV. The 
Thirty-second Veteran Volunteer Infantry, hav- 
ing been transferred from this command, the- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



337 



general commanding takes pleasure in exprq^ss- 
ing to them and the command, his high apprecia- 
tion of their gallant conduct on many a hard- 
fought field, and soldierly conduct on the march. 
With such courageous men and brave (itlicers it 
is only necessary to meet the enemy in order to 
add another to the long Hst of glorious victories 
for the Union. Obeying the order as a good sol- 
dier, the general commanding parts with the 
fighting Thirty -second with regret. 
By order of Brigadier-General Leggett. 

J. C. Douglas, A. A. G. 

The health of the regiment is good. Company 
K has not suflered very severely during this 
campaign, having lost but three men up to date. 
Yours, etc., J. II. P., 

Company K, Thirty-second 0. V. I. 

July 20, 21, 22 and 28, the Thirty-stcond was 
engaged before Atlanta, and lost more than half 
its number in killed and wounded. 

After the fall of Atlanta, the Thirty-second 
moved with the army in pursuit of Hood, after 
which it rejoined General Sherman, and accom- 
panied him on his "March to the Sea." 

December 10, 1864, the Thirty-second was in 
advance of the army, and contributed its share 
toward driving the enemy into his works at 
Savannah. In this expedition the Savannah and 
Charleston railroad was cut, thus destroying the 
enemy's coramimication with Charleston. Decem- 
ber 21, the regiment entered Savannah with the 
army, and went into camp near Fort Thunder- 
bolt. After the review, by General Sherman, of 
the whole army, the Seventeenth Army Corps 
went by transport to Beaufort, South Carolina; 
thence to Pocotaligo Station, on the Savannah 
and Charleston railroad. February 1, 1805, the 
regiment moved with the army through the Caro- 
linas, and, with the Thirteenth Iowa, was the first 
regiment to enter Columbia. Colonel Hibbetts, 
with a mounted detachment of the regiment, 
entered and captured Fayetteville, North Caro- 
lina, March 10, 1805, after a severe fight with 
Wade Hampton's Cavalry. 

JIarch 20 and 21, it was engaged with the 
enemy at Bentonville, North Carolina. Tiie regi- 
ment came out of the woods to see their friends 
at Goldsljoro, moved with the army to Raleigh, 
North Carolina, and was present at the surrender 
of Johnson's army, May 1, 1865. It marched 



with the army through Richmond, Virginia, to 
Washington City, where it participated in the 
grand review before President Johnson and Cabi- 
net. 

The regiment remained in camp, near Wash- 
ington, until June 8, 1805, when it took the cars 
for Louisville. It lay there until July 20, when 
it was mustered out of the service, and proceeded 
to Columbus, Ohio, at which place the men re- 
ceived their final discharge, July 20, 1805. 

The Thirty-second entered the field September 
15, 1861, 950 strong, and, during the war, received 
1,000 recruits. Only five hundred and sixty-five 
remained at its muster out. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

WAR OP THE REBELLION — CONTINUED. 

Fifty-first Regiment— Muster Rolls— Its Operations in the 
Field. 

THE return of the three months' men was the 
signal for an earnest canvass for three years 
troops, and many of the boys obtained commis- 
sions to raise companies. 

The Acfe says : 

Captain John D. Nicholas is now engaged in 
re-organizing Company A, Sixteenth regiment, 
for three years service. D. W. JIarshall, Adju- 
tant Sixteenth regiment, O. V. I., has been ap- 
pointed a captain, with power to raise a company 
for three years' service. He is now recruiting 
and can be found at the Tidball House, where his 
lieadquarters are located. 

Public meetings were held all over the county, 
to assist and encourage enlistment. 

The Age, August 22, 1861, .says: 

A rousing Union meeting was held at Chili 
on the 13th. There were nearly a thousand per- 
sons present. A large delegation of ladies, with 
their escorts, from Keene, was escorted into 
the village by Captain Joseph Shook's company. 
The ladies wore aprons representing our national 
colors, azure field and white stars covering the 
breast, and the graceful folds of the apron .show- 
ing the stripes of white and red. The crowd re- 
paired to a beautifid grove near the village, where 
a table and seats had been jireparcd. Scott R. 
Crawford was appointed chairman of the meet- 



338 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



ing, who introduced R. Lanniiig and A. J. Wil- 
kin, who made strong Union speeches and urged 
the boys to enhst. 

In the same edition, the Aye says: 

At Bedford, at the same time, an immense 
meeting was held. The ladies had prepared a 
free dinner for the volunteers and all present; 
over a thousand peo])le ate dinner upon the 
ground. Short sjieeches were nia<le by Sandford 
Me.Neal (a volunteer). John D. Nicholas and M. 
B. Wood. They all breathed words of earnest 
patriotism, and urged the support of war meas- 
ures by enlistment. 

The five comjianies that were raised in Coshoc- 
ton county by this general enthusiasm were all 
assigned to the Fifty-first Ohio. Their muster 
rolls are as follows : 

Muster roll of Company C, Fifty-first Ohio. 

OFFICERS. 

B. F. Heskett, Captain- 
Allen Gaskill, First Lieutenant. 
James Stonehocker, Second Lieutenant. 
John Q. Winklepleck, First Sergeant. 
Lester P. Emmerson, Second Sergeant. 
William H. Lyons, Third Sergeant. 
Thomas Rodgers, Fourth Sergeant. 
Philip Everhart, Fifth Sergeant. 
Robert B. Ford, First Corporal. 
William Hawk, Second Corporal. 
]Milton H. Holliday, Third Corporal. 
AMlliam Stonebrook, Fourth Corporal. 
William J. Norris, Fifth Corporal. 
Lewis M. Higbee, Sixth Corporal. 
Wesley Barge, Seventh Corjioral. 
Albert Dent, Eighth Corporal. 
James !M. Emerson and Chapman Burr, Mu- 
sicians. 
Isaac Norris, Wagoner. 

Privaka—T. Burk.shire, J. W. Bremer, C. W. 
Burch, A. Babcock, M. Burr, J. P. Carr, J. A. 
Carr, S. M. Chilils, D. Carnahan, J. Carruthers, E. 
Cutchall, W. Crogan, .\. H. Cosgrave, T. Cosgrave, 
W. Davis, R. Dewalt, P. Dickey, W. Engle, J. Fer- 
rell, H. Ford, J. Ginther, A. Graham, J. Gray, J. 
Goodhue, E. Grewell, D. Grewell, J. J. Honn, J. 
H. Honn, J. A. Honald, W. H. Hardy, J. Har- 
bold, B. Kevalow, G. Hursley, G. Huston, G. W. 



Long, N. Landers, J. Long, L. Mowder, W. Mc- 
Fee, S. Miller, J. Miller, M. Norris, M. V. Narg- 
rey, J. W. Neighbor, J. B. Norris, W. Norris, J. 
Norris, D. Olinger, H. Powers, J. G. Rounbaugh, 
J. H. Ripley, A. M. Robinson, T. Shimon, A. 
Scott, T.Siwiding,D. Souals,J. D. Stonehocker, F. 
Spalding, S. H. Spears, R. Stonehocker, M. Smith, 
W. Stonehocker, J. W. Sayers, G. W. Sells, J. T. 
Simmers, L J. Simmers, L. Stefly, C. Lonbry, C. 
Stewart, R. Scott, G. Snyder, W. H. Wolfe, F. 
Wolfe, D. L. C. Wood, 31." Whellemore, G. Wise, 
E. Williamson and J. Wolfe. 

Muster roll company D, Fifty-first Ohio. 

OFFICERS. 

William Patton, Captain. 
John North, First Lieutenant. 
Samuel Stephens, Second Lieutenant. 
Alonzo Barton, First Sergeant. 
E. C. Conn, Second Sergeant. 
Samuel Paycn, Third Sergeant. 
Thomas A. Reed, Fourth Sergeant. 
Peter L. Phillips, Fifth Sergeant. 
Thomas Dickerson, First Corporal. 
John Q. Ogan, Second Corporal. 
John E. Smith, Third Corporal. 
Clark M. Bell, Fourth Corporal. 
John W. Graves, Fifth Corporal. 
John Parrish, Si,\th Corporal. 
Jonathan Phillips, Seventh Corjioral. 
John Patton, Eighth Corporal. 

Privates.— J. W. Barkhurst, George W. Bell, 
William Briant, John T. Bonre, Sidney Bonre, 
Samuel Bagnoll, James Blackford, W. Blackford, 
Joseph Corder, Joseph N. Corder. J. T. Daugherty, 
J. Dusenbcrry, J. C. Dickerson, W. H. Dickerson, 
L. Dusenbcrry, John Demoss, David Evans, N. 
Everson, Jacob Fulks, Van Buren Fulks, Laban 
Guillians, Asa H. Giffin, Robert Gibson, William 
Griftee, W. H. Howell. William Irwin, William 
Jones, B. F. Jones, William Kimble, Gabriel Kin- 
caid, David L. Lash. Martin Latier, Stanton Mains, 
John McCoy, Samuel McCoy, Isaac Middleton, 
Daniel F. Mack, Jacob Mansfield, Arthur Mc- 
Civer, Phillip McGuinn, John C. Norris, John W. 
Norris, John Nixon, Laban Ogle, Evans Greens, 
William Ogle, Christopher Oft, James M. Peoples. 
William Phillips, A. Passmore, Josiah Passmore, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



339 



Madison Pomeroy. James Pierce, Martin Roberts, 
E. Randies, John Richcreolv, Eli Richards, Benja- 
min Rasan, Isaac Randies, John Reed, Gaton A. 
Settles, James Stephens, Josejih Stanford, Thomas 
Smailes, W. R. Smith, William Smith, W. C. 
Thomas, Thomas Titus, Martin Thacker, L. 
Thackcr, Levi Williams, David Weaver, Thomas 
W)-ight, J. W. Chalfant, Sanford Carter, John A. 
Young. 

Muster roll Company F, Fifty-lirst Ohio: 

OFFICERS. 

D. W. Marshall, Captain. 
J. M. McClintock, First Lieutenant. 
J. M. Frew, Second Lieutenant. 
Carl F. Mosher, First Sergeant. 
Charles McJIichael, Second Sergeant. 
Robert Hackinson, Third Sergeant. 
James H. Hay, Fourth Sergeant. 
Robert B. Beardsley, Fifth Sergeant. 
Sidney Harper, First Corporal. 
William Retilley, Second Corporal. 
Allan Piatt, Third Corporal. 
David Stollard, Fourth Corporal. 
John W. Wilson, Fifth Corporal. 
George V. Ferguson, Sixth Corporal. 
Nicholas H. Bassett, Seventh Corporal. 
William H. King, Eighth Corporal. 
Ralph McClintock, Musician. 
Levi McMichael, Wagoner. 

Primh's—Jixmes M. Agner, Jesse P. Arnold, 
James Banford, Samuel Barclay, Frederick Barth, 
William F. Batty, Rlwin W. Bell, Charles M. 
Bclknajj, Frederick Blaser, Franklin Bkxser, 
John Brown, Oliver Browning, William B. Bry- 
ant, William Carr, L. Cartright, Mathias Crater, 
James H. Davis, Presley Davis. Walter Davis, 
David Douling, Joab Douling, Sylvester A. Ellis, 
Charles Eckhart, John Foster, John G Fo.x, 
Isaiic B. Finney, John Flynn, Samuel Gertch. 
Martin Hart, Lucien Harlxiugh, Thomas Heslip, 
John Hilliker, Charles Hojip, David Hus.son, 
Peter Johnson, Albert Layton. Jacob Lahr, Jacob 
Lcnhart, George W. Long, E. Loringe, George M. 
Matson, Charles F. Meek, David Minnick, Ezra 
Minnick, George W. Miller, J. Montgomery, 
IsiuicMorri.son,John W. Mowry, George Murphy, 
James H. McMichael, Lloyd Rhineman, Martin 



Rositer, T. A. Southwell, William H. Starkey, 
George W. Sipes, William Smitli, X. H. Smith, 
Asa Sellers, John Smailes, J. D. Stonchocker, 
Samuel Stucker, Ryan Sibley, Eli W. Thomas, 
James Ury, Hiram J. Vance, George Vanhorn, 
William A. Wales, William Welch, A. M. Wil- 
liams, D. W. Wilson, Charles W. WiLson, John 
Wier, Robert Wier, Reuben D. Wright. 

Muster Roll of Company H, Fifty-iirst Ohioj 

OFFICERS. 

John D. Nicholas, Captain. 
Charles Donley, First Lieutenant. 
William Nicholas, Second Lieutenant. 
Robert Cunning, First Sergeant. 
Edgar J. Pocock, Second Sergeant. 
Benjamin D. Day, Third Sergeant. 
Henry F. Buck, Fourth Sergeant. 
David L. Barton, Fifth Sergeant. 
Samuel Holtishaum, First Corporal. 
Charles M. Pike, Second Corporal. 
Joseph H. Shuck, Third Corporal. 
Charles Craige, Fourth Corporal. 
Washington Cain, Fifth Corporal. 
Simpson McFadden, Sixth Corporal. 
Solomon Duncan, Seventh Corporal. 
Henry Bird, Eighth Corporal. 

Privates. — Aaron Albert, John Armstrong, Wil- 
liam Adams. Philip Bash, William C. Barnes, J. 
P. Cooper, A. C. Brink, Wilson Buck, Franklin 
Buck, Charles Pelser, C. Batenhead, James Bris- 
ter, Jack Cain, E. B. Crawford, (Jeorge Carnehan, 
James Crelly, Samuel Collins, N. C. Davis, J. G. 
Dougherty, P. Dougherty, J. B.Dewalt,M. Davidson, 
W.Davidson, John Darnes, John Davidson, George 
Edwards, T. J. Edwards, J. Flemming, David 
Gibson, Thomas Hogle.T. C. Hutchinson, S. Wot- 
terboum, Samuel Hoobler, W. B.Jennings, Jacob 
Jones, David Jones, N. Jones, R. E. Carr, L. Lock- 
lin, L. Larengood, John Larengood, J. D. Luke, 
John Leiinon, Joseph Liim, M. Kugler, Levi Joce, 
Samuel Luke, J. Martin, G. Morrow, J. Murphy, 
L. Miller, W. Miller, J. >roore, J. Nelson, D. Nach- 
douns, T, Phillips, R. Phillips, J. Perry, T. Reth- 
erford, C. Richardson, L. Row, S. K. Barger, N. 
Smith, K.M. Smith. E. Stippy, G. Shellinery, N. 
Shannon, W. B. Shannon, A. Sertt, R. V. Thomp- 
son, Henry Undine, Jacob Wolf, John G. Wolf, 



340 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



M. Wilson, John Wier, W.C. Workman, L. Wise, 
John Walker, R. B. Whitaker. 

Muster Roll of Company I, Fifty-first Ohio. 

OFFICERS. 

James M. Crooks, Cai>tain. 
William Moore, First Lieutenant. 
Louis Crooks, Second Lieutenant, 
riysses B. Kinsey, First Sergeant. 
William McCoy, Second Sei;,seant. 
Henry Hazlebarger, Third Sergeant. 
James McFarland, Fourth Sergeant. 
John A. Weatherwax, Fifth Sergeant. 
John Crooks, First Corporal. 
Andrew J. Stover, Second Corporal. 
Hysam Sapp, Third Corporal. 
Isaac McNeal, Fourth Corporal. 
John Willis, Fifth Corporal. 
Jackson A^'illiams, Sixth Corporal. 
Andrew J. Holmes, Seventh Corporal. , 
Lyman B. Church, Eighth Corporal. 
William Calkglesser, John M. ^A'hite, Musi- 
cians. 
John Cochran, Wagoner. 

Privates. — A. Amnions, John Amnions, S. An- 
derson, James G. Arnold, Charles W. Barr, John 
Barnes, William Barnes, Orin M. Baker, Harri- 
son Bible, Lewis Bible, W. Buckalew, L. D. 
Bricker, N. D. Carpenter, Henry Crooks, John 
Dewitte, Jacob Dahler, Lyman Dial, Lorenzo D. 
Dial, C. Comstock, ^^'illiam Evans, Thomas El- 
liott, David Firecoat, John Fox, Francis D. Hains, 
John Hunter, G. Hoglobarger, J. Hofstuttler, 
Isaac Hardsock, George W. Hess, Josiah Hoag- 
land, A. Hoagland, George Kline, John Kelsey, 
Leander Kinsey, John Livingstone, I. Livings- 
tone, F. M. Landers, R. McFarlin, S. McNeal, 
Samuel McCoy, William Mobler, L. Matticks, 
Jonathan Mullet, Samuel Mullet, William Miller, 
Peter M. Miller, Jacob Miller, John McConnell. 
Francis Oglevie, Joseph N. Rollins, O. Richeson, 
Johii Smith, William Sajip, James L. Stone, Cal- 
vin A. Stone, J. O. Sitteran, W. C. Sullivan, Joseph 
Sigman, Isaac Sickles, W. Teters, C. C. Thomp- 
son, Thomas Beefe, Daniel Trump, Albert Ulnian, 
I. Vanscootor, Harrison \\'alton, John Wilson. 

Mathias Denman, of this county, was a private 



in Company A, Fifty-second Ohio, enlisted May 
31, 1862. 

The Fifty-first Ohio went into camp near Canal 
Dover, in Tuscarawas county, at Camp Meigs. 
Colonel Fitzgerald, of the regular army, was at 
first appointed in command, but he resigned 
October, 1861, and his place was filled by Stanley 
Mathews, October 23, 1861. Major R." W. Mc- 
Clain, of Coshocton, was promoted to the Lieu- 
tenant-Colonelcy. 

The Ar/f, October 3, 1861, says : 

Camp Meigs is a most beautiful camp; hard, 
dry sod, just the thing for drilling jiurposes. 
Many of the companies have become very pro- 
ficient in their drill, and all are in good health 
and the best of spirits. Companies, under the 
followining captains, all from Coshocton and Tus- 
carawas counties, are now in camp : Captains 
J. D. Nicholas, D. W. Marshall, J. IM. Crooks, Wil- 
liam Patton, 51. H. Bortleson, C. H. Wood, David 
Chalfant, B. F. Heskitt, and J. T. Shanlon. All 
these companies are formed of fine, able men in 
muscle and intellect. Success to Camp Meigs 
and all in it! 

In the issue of September, 1861, it says : 
The Roscoe and Coshocton band has been en- 
gaged as the regimental band for the Fifty-first 
Ohio, now forming at Camp Meigs. Good for the 
boys, and good for the Fifty-tirst! 

The Coshocton complement was half the en- 
tire regiment, and great interest was manifested 
in its success. Large crowds were going frora 
Coshocton to Camp Meigs daily, for this regiment 
contained in her rank and file large numbers of 
Coshocton's best citizens and most successful 
business men. 

Whitelaw Reid, in his " Ohio in the War," says : 

The Fifty-first Ohio was organized October 3, 
18G1, at Camp Meigs, near Canal Dover, Tusca- 
rawas county. On November 3, it left Camp 
Bleigs and went by rail to Wellsville, on the Ohio 
river. It was there jilaced on transports and 
taken to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining by the 
way at Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, some ten 
miles from the city. It remained in this camp 
up to tlic lOtli of December, and then, under or- 
ders, reported to General Nelson, at Camp Wick- 
liffe, near New Haven. 

While the regiment lay at Camps Jenkins and 
Wicklifte, quite a number of letters from the 
"Coshocton boys" were sent home, portions of 
which we give below from the "Age :" 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



341 



Camp Jenkins, Loitsville, Kv.. December 3. 1861. 

Editor Age: We are at Cam)) Jenkins, three 
and a half niili>s from Lmiij^ville. Ky. A brigade 
is formin.n liore under the control of Brigadier 
General 6. M. Mitchell. About 1.3,000 men arc 
camped here, with several batteries of artillery 
patiently waiting the command to march south- 
ward. There has nothing unusual happened to 
the Fifty-tirst since our arrival here; quite a num- 
ber of tlie men have had the nieasels, but are re- 
covering. Joiix T. Buow.v, 

Company 1), Fifty-lirst Ohio. 

(.'AMP WicKUFFK. IvENTrcKV. December 2.1, 1861. 

Editor Age: We left Camp Jenkins on the 
10th inst. for j)arts unknown to us. I have often 
heard of the scene as presented by soldiers on a 
march, but the half had not been told. Blankets, 
pants, drawers, shirts, boots, shoes, stockings, etc., 
were scattered by the wayside. I never saw so 
many limping men before. The fifth day out we 
reached tliis camp, having traveled about seventy 
miles. This beautiful Cliristmas morning finds 
ns in a strange land, surrounded by scenes widely 
differing from those of a year ago. The health 
of the regiment has not been better at any time 
than it is at present, since we left Camp Meigs. 
We are in the Fourth Division, under General 
Nelson, and the Tenth Brigade, under General 
Am men. We are about 8,01)0 strong in this 
camp. , Yours truly, 

B. F." Heskitt, 
Captain Company C, Fifty-lirst Ohio. 

Camp Wiclifke, KENTecKY. December 29, 1861. 

Editor ,\ge: I desire, through your paper, to 
acknowledge the receipt of a large box, filled with 
a variety of the creature comforts for our boys 
here, the gift of some of tlie patriotic ladies and 
gentlemen of Koscoe. They were contributed by 
the following jiarties: Mrs. J. D. Nicholas, Mrs. 
S Fallas, Mrs. Lewis Carhai-t, Mrs. 11. Carhart, 
Mrs. .John Mirise, Miss P. Barton, Jliss Marv 
Carhart, Messrs. R W. Thomiison, T. Wilsoii, 
James Carnes, L. R. Miller, John \Miirl, J. C. 
Harrison, R. A. Wilinan and Henry Carhart. I 
may have omitted to mention some names, but 
it was not intentional. The Fifty-first regiment 
is in fine health and spirits, and an.xious for a 
forward movement. Your.s tridy, 

John Mirise, 
Brigade Wagon Master, Tenth Brigade. 

And from the same camp and jiarty the follow- 
ing : 

' .TANfAP.v24, 1862. 

I desire to again acknowledge the receipt of 
tour liiTge boxes, the gift of the following jmtri- 
otic ladies mid gentlemen of Keene and Bethle- 



hem townships, to the gallant soldiers coinpo.sing 
Captains Crooks' and Nicholas" eomi)anies in the 
Fifty-first: Robert I). Miller and wife, George 
W. Miller and wife, William Brillliart and wife, 
George Bible and wife, Mathew McConncll and 
wife, Thomas Ogilvie, James Ogilvie and wife, 
Adam Dunkeu and wife, Paul Duuken and wife 
Mr. Rutherford and wife. Tobias Dunken and 
wife, and i\Ii.ss Louisa Miller. Johx Mirise. 

Taking up the history of the Fifty-first: It re- 
mained in Camp Wickliff until February 6,1S02, 
when the regiment moved with its brigade to 
West Point, at tlie mouth of S.dt river, where 
transports were provided, on which the national 
army was conveyed to Nashville, Tennessee. It 
remained at Nashville on provost-guard duty 
until the 9th of July, when it marched, under 
orders, to TuUahoma, and there joined General 
Nelson's division of the .\rmy of the Ohio, then 
on its march from Pittsburgh Landing. With 
this division the regiment returned to Nashville, 
and there joined the combined movement toward 
Louisville, to checkmate General Bragg in his 
advance on that place. 

While at Nashville, the following letter was 
received from Captain B. F. Heskitt, Company C : 

Xa,shvii.le, March 10, 1862. 

Editor Age: Tuesday morning we reached 
Na,shville. ^lany citizens cheered us as we passed 
to the landing. Not a Union flag could be seen 
in the city. Our brigade was the first landed 
here, and the Fifty-first was.about the first in line 
on the streets of Nashville. The people were 
astonished at the good conduct of the soUliers. I 
was informed that ladies had not been on the 
streets for three weeks, bu'. we had been here but 
a short time when the streets were full of women 
and children, .\ftcr being in camp two or three 
days, about a mile or two from town, we were 
ordered into Nashville, General Nel,.*on declaring 
that the Fifty-lirst was the regiment he could 
most rely upon. Our colonel, Stanley Mathews, 
is provost-marshal, and the regiment is guarding 
the city. The Fifty-first occupies a very honor- 
able and trustworthy position, and we think the 
so-called band-box regiment will give a good 
account of itself. Of my couipany, two have 
j died, Everhart Caton and David Carnahan; two 
1 of my best soldiers, beloved and esteemed by all. 
j Jesse Arnold, of Comj)any F, was fired at last 
night, while on i)atrol duty, the ball pa.ssing 
through his cap. Yours truly, 

I B. F. Heskitt, 

i Captain Co. C, Fifty-first, 



342 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



While the Fifty-first la)' at Nashville it lost, 
besides the above mentioned soldiers, William 
Miller, Company H, and William Miles, Com- 
pany I. The Fifty-first was in all the marches, 
and most of the skirmishes, from Nashville to 
Louisville and return, but engaged in no battles, 
although it was held in reserve at Perryville ; it 
remained at Nashville inactive until late in the 
fall. Says the historian: November 9, 1S62, the 
regiment and brigade, under Colonel Stanley 
Mathews, were sent out on a foraging expedi- 
tion, and at Dobson's Ferry, Stone River, met and 
defeated Wheeler's rebel cavalry, which had by 
some means got in their rear. The fight was 
made by five companies of the Fifty-first Ohio and 
five companies of the Thirty-fifth Indiana. Of the 
five companies from the Fifty-first, three were the 
Coshocton companies, D, F and I. The Fifty- 
first lost thirteen men wounded, three of whom 
subsequently died ; and the Thirty-fifth Indiana 
lost its lieutenant colonel, severely wounded, its 
adjutant, killed, and a number of men. Colonel 
Mathews, while in the thickest of the fight, was 
thrown from his horse and severely injured, but 
kept the field and command until the troops ar- 
rived safely in camp, 

December 26, the regiment moved out on the 
Murfreesboro turnpike with Brigadier General 
VanCleve's division of the Twenty-first Army 
Corps. Marching toward Stone river on a recon- 
noissance, it found the enemy in force, and re- 
turned to its camp. January 1, l)<6o, it again 
crossed the river and took position, four compa- 
nies being thrown out as skirmishers, including 
companies C and H, of Coshocton. Captain B. F. 
Hcskitt, of Company C, was in command, and was 
mortally wounded. Advancing half a mile, they 
met the enemy and skirmished with him all that 
day and night, and part of the next day. The after- 
noon of January 2, Breckinridge's rebel division 
made a charge, and flanking the right swept it to 
the west side of Stone river. The Fifty-first left 
thirty-two of their number dead on the field, one 
hundred and five wounded, and forty-six cap- 
tured. It was at this juncture that General Rose- 
crans massed his artillery and settled the for- 
tunes of the day by almost literally blowing the 
rebel column of attack into and across Stone 
river. The enemy retreated during the night of 



the 2d, and on the morning of the 3d opened a 
furious cannonade; but reconnoissances being 
made, it was discovered that he was drawing his 
forces ofT toward Shelbyville. January 4, the en- 
emy having disappeared, the army marched into 
and took possession of Murfreesboro. The army 
lay at ^Murfreesboro until the 24th of June, when 
it moved on the Tullahoma campaign. The route 
of the Fifty-first and its division was by way of 
McMinnville, crossing the Cumberland Moun- 
tains into the Sequatchie valley; thence to Point 
Lookout, near Chattanooga, and from thence to 
Ringgold. At the latter place, on September 11, 
Wheeler's rebel cavalry was met, defeated and 
driven to Tunnel Hill. 

September 12, the regiment marched to Lee 
and Gordon's Slills; on the 13th, it made a recon- 
noissance to Shield's Gap, and on the 14th went 
into position at Crawfi.sh Springs. From that 
time until the opening of the battle of Chicka- 
mauga the members of the regiment feasted on 
roasting-ears and sweet potatoes. 

On the evening of the 18th of September, the 
Fifty-first being relieved by the Sixth Ohio, 
marched back to Lee and Gordon's mills, where 
it went into position and lay upon its arms all 
night. On the morning of the 19th it met the 
enemy and drove him back a quarter of a mile ; 
but in doing so, lost eight men killed, twenty-five 
wounded and as many captured. The enemy re- 
ceiving re-enforcements, in turn drove the regi- 
ment back to its former position, where it lay on 
its arms for the night. September 20. the regi- 
ment was marched to the left to re-enforce Gen- 
eral Thomas' column, and on arriving at its posi- 
tion it took part in the effort to stay the enemy 
in his attempt to get into the rear of the national 
forces, through a gap left in the lines. The regi- 
ment struck the rebel General Adams' division,. 
wounded and captured its commander, and then 
drove it pell mell. It was then brought back 
and again formed on the extreme left of General 
Thomas' command. In this battle the Fifty-first 
lost twelve men and one officer wounded, and 
thirty captured, including Colonel R. W. McClain 
and Lieutenant Retilley of Coshocton, and Lieu- 
•tenants McNeill, James Weatherbee and Assist- 
1 ant Surgeon Wing. 

A very interesting narrative is given by Colonel 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



343 



Edgar J. Poeock (who participated in the strug- 
gle), as follows: 

In the second ilay's battle at (/"hickamauga, the 
brigade to which the Fifty-first belonged was or- 
dered to report for duty to Major tieneral G. H. 
Thomas, it was ordered to take position on the 
left of General King's regulars. The enemy had 
broken the line, and was driving it back. The 
Fifty-tirst Ohio and Eitrhth Kentucky formed the 
front line, Colonel R. W. McClain commanding; 
the advance was made steadily, holding fire until 
the broken ranks in front hatl passed to the rear 
and the enemy were close upon the lines; Colo- 
nel McClain gave the command, " Steady boys, 
ready, fire." Which (after the volley), was fol- 
lowed immediately by, "charge," when, as never 
in the history of the Fifty-first, the boys with 
fi.xeil bayonets, sprang forward and drove the 
enemy back, completely routing them. 

Colonel E. J. Pocock enhsted in Company H, 
Fifty-first, and was appointed second sergeant, 
and carried his musket twenty-two months; was 
then appointed second lieutenant, assigned to 
Company F, and commanded from the battle of 
Chiekamauga though the battles of Lookout Moun- 
tain and Mission Ridge and until the regiment 
returned to camp. At Rcsaca, Colonel Pocock 
was wounded, and was appointed aid-de-camp on 
General Whitaker's staft' during the retrograde 
march from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nashville ; com- 
manded Company F during the battle of Nash- 
ville and pursuit of the enemy to Huntsville, Ala- 
bama; was commissioned first lieutenant and ap- 
pointed brigade quartermaster January, 180") 
Colonel Pocock is still a resident of Coshocton 
and in times of peace is not without a military 
record. He was elected captain of the Coshocton 
Light Guards when they were organized, Septem- 
ber, 1.S76; and lieutenant colonel of the Seven- 
teenth Regiment Ohio National Guards. October 
1877, and was elected colonel of the same regi- 
ment, January, 1881. 

The burial of one of the heroes of Chiekamauga 
is in fitting place at this point. The Age of No- 
vember 19 says: 

George Wilson's remains were brought home 
and buried with military lunors last Sunday. 
Rev. M. Moffit of Roscoe M. E. Church preached 
the funeral sermon in the Secoml Presbyterian 
Church of Coshocton, and the dead patriot was 
buried in the Coshocton cemetery, escorted by 



Coshocton and Ro^oo military companies under 
command of Colonel Irvine. The coffin was en- 
foldeil in the American flag. George Wilson was 
twenty-two years old, son of Thomas Wilson, Esq., 
of Roscoe. He was a noble boy anil a true soUlicr. 

The Afft'ol December 31,, 1863, also says in a 
published letter of another hero and martyr : 

Shell JIoCXD, TEN'XE.SSEE. nEADQU.\RTER.S FlFTV-FniST 

o. V. I., Dece.mbek ,"), lSG.i. 

Editok Age: A word about the patriot Jas. 
P. Cooper, or Cajitain Cooper as he was always 
called in the regiment. 

We have been ofiieially notified of his death, 
such a death — starved by his enemies. 

At Stone River he stoo<l at his post until sur- 
rounded, and, not seeing any other way out, he 
dropped as if .shot, and lay there while our own 
and the rebel shell screamed and plowed the 
ground up all around him. until we drove the 
enemy back and fomid Captain Cooper sound and 
ready for fight. .\t Chiekamauga, he could not 
wear a shoe or march, but while forming in line 
of battle old Company H was joined by the cap- 
tain. Wc ordered him back, but he was deter- 
mined and remained with us; he fought most of 
the time on his knees, as he cotdd not stand uji. 
No words can express our appreciation of him as 
a man and as a soldier. 

WlLUS C. WoKK.M.A,S. 

September 21, ISO:?, the army retired be- 
hind entrenchments to Chattanooga, and was 
there besieged by the rebel forces until the latter 
part of the follow'ing November, when the siege 
was raised. 

November 24, the regiment participated in the 
storming of Lookout Jlountain, and. on the 2.")th. 
took part in the tidcing of Rossville Gap, through 
Mission Ridge. Its loss in these two atlairs was 
one killed and seven wounded. 

January 1, 1864, the Fifty-first re-enlisted, aiul, 
on February 10, arrived at Columbus on veteran 
furlough of thirty days. 

While on this furlough trip home a very 
amusing incident occurred at Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, as follows: The boj-s of the Fifty-first had 
with them a game cock they had picked up at 
the South. As they were coming home, some of 
them went into a sal<ion in Louisville, and were 
followed by the rooster, who jumped upon the 
counter and crowed defiance. The sjdoon keejicr 
said he had a bird that could whip him for sev- 
enty-five dollars. The boys put up the green- 



344 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



backs, and they ■were covo'cd, and the birds 
fousht on the ooimter. At the third chp the 
Fifty-lirst rooster drove his gaff through the l)rain 
of the other, and the boys took their victorious 
"pet" and came home. 

The regiment returned to the front at Bhie 
Springs, near Cleveland, Tennessee. It remained 
at this place in camp until May 4, when it 
marched to Catoosa Springs, and entered on the 
Atlanta camjjaign. May 14 it wsis engaged at 
Kesaca, and on the 20lh of June at Kcnesaw. At 
the first named i)lace it lost one officer and ten 
men wounded, and one man killed. At Kenesaw 
it lost two officers (Captain Samuel Stephens and 
Lieutenant Workman) killed, and ten men 
killed and thirty wounded. From this time 
until Atlanta was taken the regiment was almost 
liourl)' engaged with the enemy. 

Of the part the Fifty-first took in the Kenesaw 
engagement, the Age, in its issue of July 2, saj-s : 

. Stanley ordered Whitaker to charge a knob in 
his front, the possession of which, by our forces, 
was of the utmost importance, inasmuch as from 
its summit an enfilading tire could be got upon 
Kenesaw and Bald Top. Whitaker promiitly re- 
sponded, and, with his skirmishers, the Twenty- 
first Kentucky and Fifty-first Ohio, charged up 
the steep slope, on the crest of which the enemy 
had a strong line of breastworks. The Twenty- 
first was the lirst regiment to charge the hill 
and were promi)tly sujiported by the Fifty-first, 
which arrived in time t(i make a desperate charge 
u])on the works, which they did with a cheer 
and a determination to succeed at whatever cost. 
But live minutes passed e'er the brave fellows of 
these two regiments were seen mounting the 
works and di-sappcaring on the other side. For 
a few moments the suspense was painful, for the 
capture of the whole party by the encm_y w'as not 
improbable. A number of rebels soon emerged 
from the works, closely followed by a guard of 
the captors of the ridge. The rebels made a 
number of furious charges in the attempt to re- 
gain ]iossession, but were defeated with terrible 
slaughter. 

Sej)tember 1, 18C4, the Fift.y-lirst was at Jones- 
boro, and took part in that engagement, and on 



the 2d pursued the enemy to Lovejoy's Station. 
Here it lost ten men wounded. It then fell back 
to Atlanta, and, on the Sth of September, entered 
that city. It lay there quietly in camp until the 
3d of October, when it marched toward Chatta- 
nooga, passing through Cassville, Kingston, Rome, 
Resaca and Snake Creek Gap. 

This march was made in consequence of the 
rebel General Hood's movement to the rear of 
Atlanta, and the consequent return of CJeneral 
Hood's army. At this time a series of arduous 
marches were made in pursuit of the enemy 
through Tennessee and Alabama, ending at Pu- 
laski, Tennessee, w'here it went into camp until 
November 22, 1864. It then fell back with Gen- 
eral Thomas' command to Columbia, Spring Hill, 
Franklin and Nashville. It was engaged at 
Spring Hill, but in the battle of Franklin it oc- 
cupied a position not involved in the fight. A 
number of its men were, however, engaged as 
skirmishers. December 14 and 15, the regiment 
took part in the battle of Nashville, with a loss of 
one man killed and a number wounded. It joined 
in the pursuit of the enemy to Lexington, Ala- 
bama. This march was arduous in the extreme, 
the roads being almost knee deep in mud and 
water. The regiment then proceeded to Hunts- 
ville, where it went into camp, January 5, 1865. 

March 20 it went by rail to Strawberry Plains, 
and from thence to Bull's Gap, Tennessee. April 
5 it went by rail to Nashville, where it remained 
until June 16. It was then taken to Texas, via 
New Orleans, and landed at Indianola, Texas, 
July 25, 1865. Thence it marched to Blue Lake,' 
and again to Victoria. 

October 3, 1865, the regiment was mustered 
out at Victoria, by Captain William Nicholas, 
Commissary of Musters of the Central District 
of Texas, and on the 4th was on its wayto Ohio, 
where it arrived November 1, 1S65. It was dis- 
charged at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, 
after a long and faithful term of arduous service, 
lionorably performed. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Sio 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION — CONTINUED. 

Eifllitieth Ohio— Time of Enlistiiu'iit— M\ister Rolls of Co- 
shocton C'oiniittiiics-PiKlufiih ivml Corinth— On to Yicks- 
burgh — Rosignation of Captniu Mathews— Buttles of Jaok- 
sou and Mission Ritlge — Defense of Resaea — .Sherman's 
March to the Sea— Closing .Scenes of the Eightieth's His- 
tory. 

WHILE the slain of the Thirtj'-second and 
Twenty-fourth were being silently sent 
home from the battlefield; with the dead from 
the fever-stricken camps of the Fifty-lirst, at 
Wicklitic; while these martyrs were being laid 
away in their graves by the loved ones who could 
not see them die; amidst the enactment of these 
scenes, that wrung from the agony of broken 
hearts a solemn dirge which told <)( the tortures 
of cruel war; brave hearts and jiatriotic hands 
were steadily tilling the rosters of new compa- 
nies for a regiment that was to be known as the 
Eightieth Ohio. Three companies in the Eighti- 
eth, namely, F, G, and H, were recruited solidly 
in Coshocton county, and a large portion of Com- 
pany B also came from this county. These 
companies repaired to Camp Meigs, near Canal 
Dover. 

Muster roll of Company H: 

OFFICERS. 

George W. Pepper, Captain. 

John Kinney, First Lieutenant. 

Jacob W. Doyle, Second Lieutenant. 

Nicholas R. Tidball, First Sergeant. 

S. M. Baldwin, Second Sergeant. 

H. W. Brclsford. Third Sergeant. 

Robert Dickey, Fourth Sergeant. 

F. A. Norman, Fifth Sergeant. 

A. Teiw, First Corporal. 

J. H. P. Dimmock, Second Corporal. 

E. D. Swan, Third Corporal. 

W. H. Anderson, Fourth Corporal. 

J. T. Crawford, Fifth Corporal. 

J. B. Wilson, Sixth Corporal. 

P. Moore, Seventh Corporal. 

A. Spellman, Eighth Corporal. 

P. S. Campbell and J. H. McClure, Musicians. 

Prirates.—J. Baily, II. Bell, J. Bechtol, G. B. 
Boyd, R. E. Brown, Perry Baker, J. D. Clark, T. 



J. Cook, J. B. Cross, EU Cross, H. P. Cross, John 
Chub, J. Carnafian, F. Cullison, J. P. Davis, J. 
Dayton, James 'Donley, H. H. Decker, J. Dcrr, 
Thomas Dobson, James Duil'ee, W. Dorr, S. H. 
Ellis, J. F. Ellis, M. Failing, J. J. Finlay, P. S. 
Geren, G. W. Goodhue, J. E. House, R. E. Hull, 
G. W. Huff, W. H. H. Hout, J. Hoyle, Perry In- 
field, Phineas Infield, Charles Inlicld, W. A. John- 
son, L. Kinney, C. Lint, F. Lockhart, M. Lang- 
he.ad, W. Lawrence, W. McKee, J. Mills, J. Mas- 
ten, J. Marks, S. B. Madden, ^^^ JNIadden, E. W. 
Morrow, S. Mulford,D. Mulford.J. F. Murrill, H. 
Magness, G. W. Miller, John Ogle, Jacob Ogle, J. 
Oakleaf, P. Poland, W. H. Robinson, W. H. H. 
Richards, J. Ross, A. C. Ricketts, A. Retherford, 
D. Ridenbach, H. Sharen, W. A. Syphert, W. A. 
.Stewart, J. Stewart, D. P. Sickels, A. Steele, J. 
Vankirk. T. Wilson, W. Warner, R. W. Willis, J. 
R. Williams, J. Watson, J. B. Zook. 

Muster roll of Company G : 

OFFICERS. 

William F. Marshall, Captain. 
Peter Hack, First Lieutenant. 
John D. Ross, Second Lieutenant. 
John W. Simmons, First Sergeant. 
IMilton B. Coulter, Second Sergeant. 
Benjamin A. Stevenson, Third Sergeant. 
John Ewing, Fourth Sergeant. 
William Hay, Fifth Sergeant. 
Christopher Humphreys, First Corporal. 
Robert .S. McCormick, Second Corporal. 
Augustus Erman, Third Corporal. 
John J. Sonogle, Fourth Corporal. 
Joshua Dawson, Fifth Corporal. 
John C. Miller, Si.xth Corporal. 
John Ross, Seventh Corporal. 
Josejih Wood, Elighth Corjioral. 
James W. Langhead and Josiah Gadden, Mu- 
sicians. 
Robert Lockhard, Teamster. 

Privates — Abram R. Akroyd. David Ashbrakcr, 
James Bailey, Hugh Barter, John Berton. Patrick 
Bird, R. M. C. Broas, George Brodcnkirchcr. John 
Bayer, John Carnahan, Patrick CroeUy, ^^'illiam 
Carr. .Tames Cain. William Clciulemiin, Julin H. 
Davis. John Davis, James Eastman, Simon Fisher, 
George \>'. Ford, William M. Forrest. F'dward S. 



346 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Freely, Viditius Fuller, Michael Gosser, David 
Gray, Patrick Hartigan, Jacob Henderson, ilil- 
ton Himebaugh, Noah Hustin, Lewis Huff, Wil- 
son Hutchinson, William Jones, A. Kooble, 
Eobcrt Lemon. Moses Lillybridge, Jonathan 
Longshore, David Loyd, Samuel ^Nlason, Gotleib 
Merely, John E. Miser, George H. Na*h, William 
Nash, William Nihurst, John Reed, Thomas 
Reed, John Robinson, Nelson Raney, George 
Roe, John W. Roderick, Henry Ross, John 
Ryan, Henry Samuel, John Samuel, Michael 
Snell. Theodore SncU. Alexander Shultz, Wil- 
liam Smith. George Summers, David Switzer, 
George W. Traxler, Peter Tye, Sylvester Van- 
dusen, Lewis Vancisell, David Williams, John 
Wise, Samuel Wise, Nicholas Wise, John Wood 
and Theodore Miller. 

Muster roll of Company F : 

OFFICERS. 

Pren Metham, Captain. 

James Carnes. First Lieutenant. 

Francis Farmer, Second Lieutenant. 

T. Willis Collier, First Sergeant. 

John Humphrey, Second Sergeant. 

James Cochran, Third Sergeant. 

Solomon McNabb, Fourth Sergeant. 

John N. Henderson, Fifth Sergeant. 

George B. WiLson, First Corporal. 

Samuel Clark, Second Corporal. 

George W. Cox, Third Corporal. 

Thomas Kanard, Fourth Corporal. 

N. E. Clendeunin, Fifth Corporal. 

Fernando C. Wright, Sixth Corporal. 

Samuel Compton, Seventh Corporal. 

Wesley Welling, Eighth Corporal. 

Coan Culter and James S. Gordon, Musicians. 

Jesse A. Bassett, Wagoner. 

PriC'iti's. — -Andrew Alt, Samuel Arm, Bernhard 
Bonham, William Bills, James Bair, Dennis Bar- 
anan, Mathew Baranagen, W. L. Cochran, Lo- 
renzo Carr, John Coplen, Joshua Cochran, Rich- 
ard Cox, John Clark, ilathew Campbell, Leniote 
Clark, Daniel Cunningham, Robert Cross, Rich- 
ard Croy, William Darous, Tuner Drummond, 
Nathan Daniels, Levi Daliere, David Decoursey, 
Isaac Daniels, James Ecely, Isaac Fortune, 
Thomas Fortune, Bartholomew Frickley, August 



Frickor, Peter Good, Jacob Gaunder, Michael 
R. Gaunder, John Gault, Stewart Gault, William 
A. Giffin, John S. Graybill, Jacob Harmon, John 
Hyde, Henry Hines, Thomas Hinds, Alfred Har- 
denbrood, John G. Johnson, George B. James, 
George W. Kanard, Edward Kitchen, Phillip G. 
Kiser, Charles P. Keyes, Daniel Levengood, An- 
drew J. Lama, Daniel McCuUick, Alex. McCul- 
lough, Pren Metham, William McCumber, Am- 
brose B. Meredith, Isaac Meredith, James Nash, 
Burris Noland, Ephraim Orlison, John Parker, 
Samuel Phillips, Jonas Richcreek, James Robi- 
son, Ashburn Richardson, Thomas Richardson, 
James Richmond, John Scho(*k, Jones Thatcher, 
Tliomas Turner, John B. Taylor, Caleb Tharp, 
James B. Thompson, Benjamin Viol, Wilson 
Willis, Silas Yanker, Harvy H. Zimmerman. 

The regiment left Camp Meigs on the 17th of 
February, 1862, and marched ten miles toUhrichs- 
ville, Ohio, at which point it left by rail for Co- 
lumbus, where it made a brief halt at Camp 
Chase, during a heavy storm, from which consid- 
erable sickness resulted, thence via rail to Cin- 
cinnati, from which point the journey was con- 
tinued by river to Cairo, Illinois. The regiment 
was divided into two boat loads, and that portion 
on board the transport Leonora, was delayed by 
the breaking of her shaft, and being compelled to 
float down to Aurora, Indiana, where it changed 
boats and caught up with the first section at Pa- 
ducah, Kentucky. A stay of one week was made 
by the regiment at Fort Holt, on the opposite 
side of the river from Cairo, Illinois, and then re- 
turned to Paducah, Kentucky, at which point it 
arrived on the 8th of March, 1S62. It was not 
till the regiment reached this point that it was 
armed, and then not until the 19th of April. 
The regiment also received its first pay at this 
point, on the 2;?d of April, 1862. During the in- 
terval of its arrival and its being armed, the regi- 
ment was engaged in the heaviest fatigue duty, 
consisting in the loading and unloading of steam- 
boats, and daily drills in the tough Kentucky 
mud. As a result, from heavy labor and expos- 
ure in this service, there was inuch sickness and 
the following deaths : Geo. Traxler of Company 
G, aged twenty-five years ; R. Petty of Company 
I, aged twenty-four years ; Corporal Samuel 
Compton, Company F, aged twenty-five years. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



347 



and Corixiral Ciiltor iif Comjiany I. aged twenty- 
four years. 

On the of '2-Hh April the regiment left Paducah 
and went to Hamburg, Tennessee. Here, three 
companies. C, E and I were detailed as a guard, to 
imload supplies at that point. These companies 
afterwards rejoined the regiment previous to its 
leaving Camp Clearereek, in August. 

They were under the command of Major Rich- 
ard Lanning, of Ciwhocton. Here the regiment 
was assigned to General Pope's command, and 
was consolidated into a brigade composed of the 
Eightieth Ohio, Tenth and Seventeenth Iowa 
and Fifty-si.xth Illinois, under the command of 
Colonel Purzcell, and were accompanied by the 
Sixth Wisconsin Battery. The regiment was 
now upon the ground made historic by the 
bloody battle of Pittsburgh Landing. On the 28th 
of April the regiment, with the brigade, com- 
menced a series of marches over muddy roads 
where, in many instances, it assisted to build 
heavy corduroy roads, after which the regiment 
was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Divi- 
sion, Seventeenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. 
By the 8th of May the regirnent had been in 
front of the enemy several days, and, on the 9th, 
was ordered to the support of a Missouri battery 
in front of Farmington, where it was, for the first 
time, under fire; but from this time on, during 
the entire siege of Corinth, it was frequently 
under fire in skirmishes and reconnoissances. 
On the 12th of May another forward movement 
was made, cannonading was brisk, and a second 
halt was made in front of Farmingtdn, Mississippi. 
May 17 orders were received to have two days' 
rations ready cooked, and to be prejiared for a 
forward movement at any moment. Rifle pits 
were dug, fortifications were built, and occa- 
sional skirmishing indulged in until tlie .30th, 
when word came about 7 A. >r. that Corinth was 
evacuated. The Eightieth received orders, with 
other regiments, to pursue the retreating enemy, 
and, at G p. m.. moved out on the Booneville road, 
and marched until 12 that night, when they 
stopped in one of the enemy's camj)s so recently 
deserted, where they found meat cut up and in 
I>ans to fry, and bi.^cuit mixed and in the oven. 

Sunday June 8, the regiment bivouacked in 
the woods and rested, but soon after getting to 



bed that night was culled up, ordered two days' 
cooked rations, and marched at 5 o'clock in the 
morning, jiassing through the small town of Dan- 
ville and Rienzi, Mississipj)!, and finding them al- 
most depopulated. The advance frequently came 

, up with the rear guard of the rebels, always giv- 
ing them battle taking many thousand prisoners 
and many stand of arms. It got to IBoonville 
on the yth, remained until the 11th, then started 
back to Corinth arriving on the 12th and going 
into camp on Clear creek. June 22 the regiment 
made a forced march to Ripley, Mississijipi, a dis- 
tance of forty-six miles, during which it suffered 
intensely from dust and heat, and a number of 
the men died from the efl'ects of sunstroke. July 
17 the regiment was ])aid off for the months of 
March, April, May and June. August 14 the regi- 
ment left its comfortable quarters on Clear creek 
and marched fifteen miles to near Jacinto, on 
one of the hottest days of the season, and eamj>ed. 
It was here that Second Lieutenant Jacob W. 
Doyle of company H died very suddenly. Lieu- 
tenant Doyle gave out on tlie road and was left at 
a house on the roadside and brought on after the 
regiment got to camp by a detail under Sergeant 
N. R. Tidball, dying a half hour after reaching 
the camp. August 24, George Early, of company 
B, aged thirty years died in the brigade hospital; 
and on the 2Sth, Jeremiah Bnrress, of the same 
company, worn down by hardship and exijosure, 
died very suddenly. The regiment remained in 
camp Sullivan near Jacinto.doing guard and pick- 
etduty, until the .*^th of September. On Septt'mber 
I'J the regiment marched twenty miles in the di- 
rection of luka, to meet and give battle to the 
rebel f<:>rces under General Sterling Price. For 
the last eight miles of the march the rebel out- 
posts were being driven in continually. 

The battle began about 4 r. m., and the Eighti- 
eth was marched into the action on double- 
quick; imder a heavy fire, early in the engage- 
ment; took an active part therein, ancl did not 
leave the field until ordered at 2 a. m., in pursuit 
of General Price. In this engagement Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Bartlcson had liis horse killed imder 

i him, and was himself severely woundeil in the 
thigh while gallantly leading the regiment. Ad- 
jutiint Philpott was wounded in the arm, and also 
the following named parties from difl'erent com- 



348 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



panies were wounded : H. H. Whitcraft, J. F. 
Huddleson; Corporals Jesse Gaumer, A. Hodge 
and N. E. Clendenning; James Andrews, J. De- 
lanomer, Simon Darst, Thomas Elder, R. G. Hill, 
Allen Talbott.T. Drummond (mortally), and Ben- 
jamin Viall. The regiment lost forty-tive killed 
and wounded. 

The Eightieth was now ordered to Jacinto for 
the purpose of watching the movements of the 
rebels under General Price. It remained there 
until October 3, scouting and drilling, when it 
was ordered to Corinth, and again went into line 
of battle. The regiment maneuvered and skirm- 
ished all day, and toward evening made a dash 
on the rebel lines just across the Mobile and Ohio 
Railroad, capturiiig two lieutenants, one captain 
and fifty privates. Daring that night the regi- 
ment laid on its arms, and at daylight, October 4, 
was in line of battle, and on that memorable day 
the decisive battle of Corinth was fought, result- 
ing in a glorious victory for the Federal arms. 
The following is the list of killed, wounded and 
missing in the Eightieth at this battle : 

Jlajor Richard Lanning, in command of the 
regiment, killed on the field. 

Company A — Joseph E. Hutton and Jlilton 
Stemple, missing. 

Lieutenant O. C. Powelson, of Company B, 
wounded in left side ; Private Abel Fuller, killed 
on the field, and Christ. Lerch, wounded in the 
head. 

Company C — Lieutenant John J. Robinson, 
killed on the field while bravely leading his com- 
pany on to retake a battery which we had lost ; 
Private John Wade, wounded in the foot ; Joseph 
Stinchcomb, missing. 

Company D — Private Conrad Perch, mortally 
wounded ; Sergeant W. C. Wiard ; Corporal John 
Richards; Privates T. J. Elder, John McBain, 
Alfred Johnson, James Beaty and Lewis W. 
Wiard, wounded. 

Compariy E — Private Isaac Cottrap, killed on 
the field ; private John Messer, siiot through the 
lungs, died after six weeks of great suffering; 
Privates David Charnock, Adolphus Reynolds, 
Lewis Furbay and Reuben Tedrow, wounded. 

Company F — Private Joshua Cochrane, killed ; 
Sergeant T. W. Collier and Corporals N. E. Clen- 
denning, wounded; Privates Wilser Williams, 



Bartholemew Flick (mortally), Arthur Woods, 
Isaac Fortune and B. M. Noland, wounded. 

Company G — Lieutenant George F. Robinson 
and Corporal John Dawson; Privates Michael 
Snell, wounded, and Patrick Crilley, missing. 

Company H — Privates John Ogle, Daniel Mul- 
ford, James ]M. Falkenson, wounded, and Abra- 
ham Steel, missing. 

Company I — Corporal Thomas H. Johnsonr 

killed on the field; Privates John M. Furney, 

, Joseph B. Westfall and Reuben White, wounded ; 

privates Oliver Atherton, John Anderson, Enos 

Cahill and Lapold Gol<lsmith, missing. 

Company K — Privates Emanuel Miller and 
Daniel McAfee, wounded, and George Schweig- 
heimer, Samuel Burns and Frank Speaker, miss- 
ing. 

Major Richard Lanning, who fell on this battle 
'field, was one of Coshocton's most honored citi- 
zens. He was connected with one of the oldest 
families in the county, was a farmer in earlier 
years, and was prosecuting attorney of the county 
when commissioned. He was about fifty years 
of age. After he was shot, while lying in the 
arms of a friend, he said : " I am willing to die 
for my country, my wife and my children." His 
last words, uttered midst the din of battle, were : 
"I am killed; give it to them." His body was 
sent home and now lies in Coshocton cemetery. 

The total loss of the regiment in this ^battle 
was eighty officers and men killed and wounded. 
Lieutenant Colonel Bartlcson, although still suf- 
fering severel}' from his wound, hearing of Major 
Lanning's death, mounted his horse and com- 
manded the regiment through the remainder of 
the battle. The regiment joined in the pursuit 
of the rebels and madesome very severe marches 
in the direction of Holly Springs, and on return- 
ing went into ramp at Corinth; at which place, 
October 30, 1862, Captain Morris, with about one 
hundred new recruits reached the regiment. 

November 21, Lieutenant Colonel Bartleson, 
suflfering from his wound at luka, was sent to 
Columbus on Government orders. The regiment 
marched with Grant's army through Central 
Mississippi. On this march the Eightieth, in 
company with General Sullivan's brigade, took 
part in a reconnoissance from Davis' Mills to 
Cold Water. General Sullivan in pressing for- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



349 



ward on November 28, went into Holly Springs, 
Mississippi, surprised the rebels, and took a niun- 
ber of jirisoners. Holly Si)rings was beyond the 
point to whicli Cieneral Sullivan was ordered, 
and he was immediately ordered back to Davis' 
Mills. In exeeutinji that order a forced inarch of 
twenty-two miles was made. For several miles 
on this march, the rebeh; in heavy force were in 
plain view, but for some cause they failed to at- 
tack. Colonel Eckley, commanding the Second 
Brigade, was ordered on the 5tli of December, 
with the Eightieth Ohio, Seventeenth Iowa, and 
Tenth Missouri, on a reconnoissance to the front. 
Tiie rebels were in force on the Tallahatchie 
river, about four miles in advance. A brisk can- 
nonading was kept up for some time, the rebels 
being driven back to their intrenchments. The 
reconnoissance proved a success, the I'niiin troops 
sullering no loss and capturing 500 rebel prison- 
ers, and one rebel sutler's store ; the march was 
continued across the Tallahatchie in a srtow 
storm, with almost impassable roads, and on the 
Cth and 7th of December, the brigade went into 
camp at O.\ford. 

December 9, the regiment was reviewed by 
General Grant and stafl"; remained in this camp 
until the 12th, then marched back five miles. 
December 17, Lieutenant Wagstaff' brought twen- 
ty-two drafted men to the regiment. On the ISth, 
Lieuten.ants Powelson and Hay arrived with 
twelve recruits. Sunday, December 21, the regi- 
ment marched from Yockona creek back to Oxford, 
six miles ; at 9 P. m. were in line of battle, and laid 
on its arms during the night in expectation of an 
attack. On the 22d, moved to Abbcyville, across 
the Tallahatchie, lifteen miles. On the 28d, at 7 
A. M., marched to Holly Springs, and bivouacked 
for tiie night; rations short on account of sup- 
plies having been captured by the rebel General 
Van Dorn. On the 24tli, marched to Lumpkin's 
Mills, pitched tents and I'eniained over Christmius. 

December 26, at S A. M., the regiment was again 
on the march, but on account of heavy rains 
made but thirteen miles and were then placed, 
under orders, in General Quinby's division with 
the purpose of guarding a provision train to INIem- 
phis, Tennessee. December 27, made fifteen miles 
to Byhalia, and on the 29th marched into Memphis. 
On tills march the rear of the train was fired into 



by guerillas, killing one man and wcnmding two 
others. December .'^l, regiment inarched fifteen 
miles out on the Jlemphis .and Charleston road 
and halted at Gerinantown. January 1, 1863, 
marched twelve miles to Colliersvillo. At this 
point Surgeon E. P. liuell, Adjutamt James E. 
Thilpot, Lieutenant Thomas Patton and Lieuten- 
ant Kobert Hill were taken prisoners, wliile try- 
ing to procure some forage for their horses and 
refreshments, but were eventually paroled and 
returned to the regiment, with the exception of 
Surgeon Buell, who declined to sign a parole, and 
was unconditionally released and resumed his 
duties as surgeon of the regiment. 

On the 3d of January, 18G3, the Eightieth went 
into camp at Forest Hill, eighteen miles out of 
Jlemphis, and remained, doing guard duty until 
February 8, 1863. January 16, it was again paid 
off to August 31, 1862. January 18, Captain 
ISIathews resigned his commission, on which the 
following resolutions were adopted : 

HlUDQUARTF,B.S EIGHTIETH REGIMENT O. V. I., 

January 23, 1863. 

At a supper given by the officers in honor of 
Captain C. H. IMathews, late of this regiment, the 
following resolutions were adopted unanimously: 

1. Ri-Kolved, That by the resignation of Captain 
C. H. Mathews, w-c regret having to part with a 
gentleman who.se social powers, urbanit}' of man- 
ners, and gentlemanly deportment, have deserv- 
edly won for him the higli esteem and lasting 
respect of every oflicer of this command. 

2. I\>'i«iliy'<l, That in the resignation of Captain 
C. H. Mathews the regiment loses a faithful 
oflicer, and the country a brave and dauntless 
defender, as the bloody fields of luka and Corinth 
have well attested. 

Colonel E. R. Eckley, Pres. 
Adjutant J. E. Piiilpot, Sec'y. 

January 23, Private James E. Graham, who was 
promoted from the ranks, received his commis- 
sion as second lieutenant. February 8, the regi- 
ment went into camp in the suburbs of Memphis, 
preparatory to a Vicksburg expedition. While 
at Memphis, Colonel Eckley, having been elected 
to Congress, resigned his commission, in March, 
1863, and returned to Ohio. 

March 1, 1863, the regiment embarked on the 
steamer " Ed Walsh," ami was taken to Wood- 
ruff 's Landing. It arrived at Grand Lake, March 



350 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



4, where it disembarked; but on the 7tli was or- 
dered to proceed below Helena, Arkansas, where 
it was to await transportation to convey it to the 
Ya/oo Pass, on which expedition it was ordered 
with Quinby's division. It arrived opposite the 
Piiss on the iHh, camping on a sand bar. 

March 21, the regiment embarked for the Pass. 
By the 26th. it had succeeded in making four 
miles, the currents being so swift that they 
smashed the wheel-house and damaged things 
generally. Disembarkation occured on the 3d of 
April, the boats being divested of smoke-stacks, 
guards and wheel-houses; return was ordered 
almost immediately, and the regiment got back 
into the Mississippi on the 10th of April, when 
three rousing cheers went upirom all the boats, 
and cannon were fired. Thus ended the Yazoo 
Pass e.xiicdition which, it is said, was one of the 
wildest the Eightieth participated in during its 
whole service. 

April 16th, the regiment having returned to 
Helena, took boat, and disembarked at Milliken's 
Bend. Here it was paid for the months of No- 
vember and December, 1862, January and Feb- 
ruary, 1863. April 20, it started for Carthage, 
Louisiana, where it was contemplated to cross 
the Mississippi with General Grant's forces, under 
cover of the gunboats at Grand Gulf. Carthage 
was reached on the 26th, where the regiment 
was ordered down to Bruinsburgh, where it 
crossed over into Mississijipi on the first of May, 
1863. The battle of Port Gibson was fought on 
that day, but the regiment did not get up in time 
to participate. It marched however, in line of 
battle, and skirmished with the enemy almost 
the whole way to Little Black river. May 12, the 
regiment participated in the battle of Raymond, 
but did not lose any men. 

IMay 14, Quinby's division, in which was the 
Eightieth Ohio, took the advance in the battle 
of Jackson. About four miles from Jackson the 
enemy came out to meet the United States forces. 
While the troops were forming, a heavy shower 
of rain came up. and the shells of the rebel can- 
non were flying thick and fast. The First Mis- 
souri battery returned the fire. The brigade 
charged half a mile through an open field, and 
broke down a picket fence before it reached the 
enemy. The line consisted of the Eightieth Ohio 



in the center. Tenth Missouri on the right, and 
the Seventeenth- Iowa on the left; a portion of 
the Eleventh Ohio battery came into service im- 
mediately after tlie charge and poured a few 
sliots into tlie retreating foe. Just after the 
charge was ended. General McPhorson, in com- 
mand of the Seventeenth Army Corps, rode up 
to the regiment and, raising his hat, exclaimed, 
" God Almighty bless the Eightieth Ohio." This 
1ms p.issed into history as one of the most gallant 
cliarges of the Union forces during the entire 
war. The brigade lost about one-third of its 
number killed and wounded; the loss of the 
Eightieth Ohio was ninety killed and wounded. 
The field officers in this battle were Colonel JI. 
H. Bartleson, with Lieutenant Colonel William 
Marsh.all and Major Pren Melham, both of Co- 
shocton county. Among the wounded was Lieu- 
tenant Tidball, also of Coshocton, and John 
Mills, of Company H. was instantly killed. At 
Chatnpion Hills, May 16, the Eightieth occupied 
the rear, as train guard, .and did not actively par- 
ticipate in the battle. The next morning it was 
detailed as a guard to 1,500 rebel prisoners, and 
ordered to take them to Memphis. 

This duty being j)crformed it returned, and 
then marched to Vicksburg, where, for forty- 
seven days and nights, it was under the incessant 
fire of the enemy. It had the proud satisfaction 
of aiding in the memorable siege of Vicksburg, 
and on the 5th of July marched into the town 
and went into camp. After the evacuation of 
Vicksburg about two months, the regiment re- 
ceived orders to go to the reenforcenient of Gen- 
eral Steele, at Helena, Arkansas, who was mov- 
ing on Little Rock. But before it reached Gen- 
eral Steele, information was received of the re- 
pulse at Chickamauga.and it was immediately or- 
dered to jNIemphis, there to join General Sher- 
man's forces in their march to Chattanooga, a dis- 
tance of nearly four hundred miles. 

It reached the banks of the Tennessee river, 
opposite the mouth of Chickamauga creek, and 
the regiment, with other troops, crossed in pon- 
toon boats, soon after midnight, on the 22d of 
November. By daylight strong earthworks were 
thrown up to cover the men until the pontoon 
bridge was laid over the river. 

On the evening of the 23d the regiment, with 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



353 



its division, marched out and took the east end 
of Mission Ridge. Tliat niglit the regiment was 
on tlie skirmish line for some hours without re- 
lief. Next day, entering the battle, it was com- 
pelled to pass around a point of rocks covered by 
three rebel batteries, and was exposed to a most 
terrific artillery lire Singular to n'late, says one 
account, not a man was hit. The Eightieth Ohio 
entered the fight just ea-st of the tunnel, was hotly 
engaged until near nightfall, and lost several 
commissioned officers and nearly one hundred 
men. Chaplain G. W. Pepper says, in his history 
of Sherman's campaign : " When a number of 
other regiments had lost their colors, Sergeant 
Finley, of the Eightieth, with a manly courage, 
bore the regimental standard through the iron 
storm in triumph. For personal gallantry this 
young man was unanimously recommended for 
promotion." 

In this battle. Captain John Kinney, a brave 
soldier, was shot through the heart and instantly 
killed. Lieutenant F. M. Ross was also instiintly 
killed. Lieutenant George F. Robinson was 
wounded and captured. Private Kinney was also 
killed. 

After the battle the regiment pursued the reb- 
els to Graysville, Georgia, and then returned to 
its old camp near Chattanooga. From thence it 
went to Bridgeport, and while there was, with its 
division, permanently transferred from the Seven- 
teenth to the Fifteenth arm)- corps, under com- 
mand of General John A. Logan. 

January 0, 18G4, found the regiment at Hunts- 
\i\\e, Alabama. Shortly after this it re-enlisted 
for another term. 

After wintering in Huntsville the regiment 
started on the 1st of April to enjoy its veteran 
furlough of thirty days. And while it is thus en- 
gaged, it would be well to review briefly some of 
its official records and also some letters sent home 
at various times during the campaign. 

Colonel Pren Metham went out in 1862 as cap- 
tain of Comi)any F ; was promoted to major Jan- 
uary 15, 1803, commission issued February 20, 
1863; was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy 
July 23, 1863, commissioned August 21, 186.3, pro- 
moted to colonelcy January 4, 1864, and commis- 
sioned at the same time. Colonel Jletham had 
command of the Eightieth from the siege of 
12 



Vicksburg and practically, on account of the 
wounded and weakened condition of Colonel M. 
H. Bartleson, during the siege. In the bloody 
fields of Mi.'ision Ridge, at Resaca, at Cox's Bridge 
and in all the marches and skirmishes. Colonel 
Metham displayed all the qualities of a courageous 
and able commander; Colonel Pren Metham still 
resides in Coshocton county, his sword turned to 
a plowshear, and pursues the peaceful avocation 
of a farmer. 

Captain F. W. Collier entered the service as-a 
private, and, owing to his efficient services in 
securing the comfort of the recruits when at 
Camp Meigs, was, upon organization, appointed 
first sergeant; ranked as second lieutenant Octo- 
ber 4, 1862, commissioned December 31 ; ranked 
iis first lieutenant July 12, 1863, commissioned 
August 21, promoted and commissioned captain 
October 12, 1.S64, at which point of his promotion 
Captain F. W. Collier was detached on special 
service at his own request. Captain Collier is 
still a citizen of Coshocton county, having held 
the responsible position of postmaster for twelve 
years, previous to which and during part of his 
term as postmaster he has owned and edited the 
Coshocton Affe. As a sample of the official rela- 
tion of both Colonel Metham and Captain Col- 
lier, the following mess rules will testify, as pub- 
lished in the Coshocton Ar/e of May 1, 1862 : 

Mess No. 1, Pren Meth.\m's Company. 

The boys of mess No. 1, Captain Jletham's 
company, send a list of their mess officers, and 
their regulations, which are as follows : Captain, 
T. W. Collier; First Lieutenant, F. C.Wright; 
Second Lieutenant, T. Drummond ; Orderly Ser- 
geant, S. Arm ; Second Sergeant, J. N. Hender- 
son ; Third Sergeant, L. W. Cochran ; Fourth 
Sergeant, J. Taylor; Fifth Sergeant, B. Noland; 
First Corporal, A. Frickey; Second Corporal, J. 
Blair; Third Corporal, L. Clark; Secretary, J. 
Wilson; First Cook, Pren Metham (Eng.) 

Rule No. 1. Every member of this mess .shall 
take his turn carrying water, subj(>ct to the order 
of the cook. 

Rule No. 2. If any friend of a member of this 
mess visits us, he shall be treated with resi>ect by 
the meml>ers of the mess. 

Rule No. 3. Members of this mess sh;ill not 
use any profane language in our tent. 

Rule No. 4. Any member of this mess violat- 



srA 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ing one or nmre of these rules is liable to be ex- 
pelled from the mess at any time. 

T. W. Collier, Captain. 

John Wilson, Secretary. 

While the Eightieth lay at Vicksburg, the fol- 
lowing was published: 

Headquarters of the Eightieth Ohio, 

ViCKSBUBG, Mississippi, August 20, 1863. 

Whereas, Our Assistant Surgeon, Dr. G. Bam- 
beck, being compelled, by atiairs of a domestic 
nature, to resign his position and return home, 
therefore, 

Resolml, That, while with us in the field and 
camp, his noble conduct, untiring energy and 
impartial attention to his duties, has won for 
him the respect of every officer and the undying 
aflection of every man in the regiment: 

Eesiilral, That by his separation from us, we 
have each lost an individual friend, the afflicted a 
lirotector, the regiment a surgeon in whom it 
placed unbounded confidence and one of its most 
able and cfticient officers. 

James E. Graham, Chairman; 

H. W. KiRBY, Secretarj'. 

From Chattanooga comes the following list of 

the wounded and killed, in addition to those 

already noted: 

Headquarters of the Eightieth Ohio, 
Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 30, 1863. 

Editor Age: The casualties of the Eightieth 
among the Coshocton boys, at Chattanooga, are 
as follows: 

Company F — Killed, Le\'i Dallier; wounded, 
Benjamin Viall; missing, Silas Yonker. 

Company G— Killed, Corporals Jonathan Long- 
shore and" Henry Ross; wounded, G. Messerly, 
Robert Lemon, Nelson Roney; missing. Corporal 
J. N. Wood, Privates E.. S. McCormick and Henry 
Sampsel. 

Company H— Killed, Captain John Kinney and 
Private Leander Ivinney; wounded, Sergeant P. 
H. Moore, Isaac Ross, William Madden ; missing, 
A. Steele. 

(Signed.) E. D. Swan, 

First Sergeant Company H, Eightieth Ohio. 

The Agi\ of March 19, 1864, publishes a series 
of resolutions adopted by the Eightieth Ohio, 
upon the death of Captain John Kinney, of 
which the following is a portion: 

Headquarters of the Eightieth 0. V. I., 
Bridgeport, Alabama, December 20, 1864. 

Whereas, We are called upon to mourn with 
deep sorrow, the death of our late comrade in 



arms. Captain John Kinney, who fell on Mission 
Ridge, near Chattanooga, while gallantly chang- 
ing at the head of his company. 

And, Whereas, We desire to express our pro- 
found regret at the loss of so tried a comrade, and 
to extend that expression of our feelings to his 
bereaved family ; therefore, we, his late comrades, 
the officers of the Eightieth 0. V. I., have unani- 
mously 

Besilved, That in the death of Captain John 
Kinney, we have been deprived of a valued friend, 
and the countrj' of chivalrous officer. 

Resolved, That as a soldier he was the bravest 
of the brave, always baring his breast to the 
brunt of battle. 

Resolivd, That we tender our sympathies to 
his bereaved wife and family in their affliction. 
James Carxes, Captain. 
William Wagstaff, Captain. 
Robert Hill, First Lieut. 

At the same time, by the same committee, were 
passed similar resolutions and published in the 
same issue of The Age, on the death of Lieuten- 
ant Marion Ross, who also fell in the battle of 
Mission Ridge. 

In the issue of The Age, May 4, is the following 
notice : 

The thirty-da3-s' furlough of the Eightieth hav- 
ing expired, they have again departed for the 
front. On the Wednesday evening before their 
departure they were treated to a splendid supper 
prepared for them in Harbaugh's Hall, by the 
ladies of Coshocton and Roscoe. The Eightieth 
has received many new recruits during its visit ; 
on its departure it had over nine hundred in its 
ranks, and when it returned as veteran it had 
but three hundred; and under the lead of their 
present commander, Colonel Pren Metham, the 
boys will, as in times past, be found where the 
fight is the fiercest. 

The Louisville, Kentucky, Journal, of date 
May 27, 1864, says : 

The Eightieth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, Col- 
onel Pren Metham, commanding, arrived in the 
city yesterday, fresh from furlough and home, 
en route to tlie front. We took occasion to com- 
pliment the Eightieth when it passed through 
the city over a month ago, homeward bound. 
Whether in the camp, on the weary march, or 
gallantly charging amid the thundering echoes of 
the battle field, we feel confident that the veteran 
Eightieth will exhibit discipline, and prove its 
eflfectiveness as an organization. 

At the expiration of its furlough, the Eightieth 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



355 



returned to Larkinsville, Alabama, where it per- 
formed guard duty on the hne of the Memphis 
and Charleston raih-oad. In June, 18G4, the regi- 
ment went from Huntsville to Charleston, Geor- 
gia, a long and tedious march. From there it 
went to Kingston. Then it went to Altoona, 
and remained two weeks, and was then ordered 
to Resaca, to relieve the Tenth Missouri. While 
at Resaca, the rebel general, Hood, made his dash 
to the rear of Sherman's army. October 12, 1804, 
2.S,(XX) rebels appeared before Resaca, invested the 
place, and demanded its surrender, in the fol- 
lowing terms : 

Commamling Officer United States Farces -at Besaca, 

Georgia : 

I demand the immediate and unconditional 
surrender of the post and garrison under your 
command. If these terms are acceded to, all 
white officers and soldiers will be paroled in a 
few days. If the place is carried by assault, no 
prisoners will be taken. 

Most respectfully, your obedient servant, 
J. B. Hood, General. 

Colonel Weaver, of the Seventeenth Iowa, in 
■command of Resaca, replied: 

General J. B. Hood: 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of your communication of to-day, and must say 
I was somewhat surprised at the concluding par- 
agraph, to the efl'ect that if the place is carried by 
assault no prisoners will be t^iken. In my opin- 
ion, I am able to hold this post. If you want it, 
■come and take it. 

I am very respectfully, 

Clark R." Weaver, 

Commanding Officer. 

They immediately opened on the garrison with 
artillery and musketry from the entire line. The 
national force barely numbered 613 officers and 
men ; but by a ruse in displaying numerous 
flags, and placing the entire force on the picket 
line, the rebels were made to believe it consisted 
of at least 10,000 men, and that it would cost 
too much loss of life to risk an assault. From 
Resaca, the Eightieth marched back to Atlanta, 
and joined in General Sherman's memorable 
"March to the Sea." It went through to Savan- 
nah without meeting or performing anything of 
special interest. After the capture of Savan- 
nah, the regiment was quartered near the city 



and remained in camp until the 19th of January, 
ISGa ' 

It was then, with its division, ordered to Poco- 
taligo, and from that point maile its way through 
to Goldsboro', participating on the way in a brisk 
skirmish with the enemy at Salkahatchie river. 
In this fight, it is said "the Eightieth dashed like 
a storm from the clouds upon Wheeler's cavalry, 
chasing and dispersing them." March 19, at 
Cox's Bridge, over the Neuse river, the regiment 
performed an important Hank movement under 
Colonel Pren Metham, for the purpose of pre- 
venting the rebels from burning the bridge. The 
movement was successful, the rebels being com- 
pelled to withdraw and leave the way open to 
Goldsboro'. For distinguished gallantry at Cox's 
Bridge the regiment was complimented by Gen- 
eral Logan. 

The Eightieth then marched to Bentonville, 
and reached that place in time to particiiiate in 
the closing scenes of that battle, which was the 
last of the war. It then marched to Goldsboro', 
where, after being refitted, it went to Raleigh, 
North Carolina. On this march the Eightieth 
held the advance of the whole army the day it 
crossed the Neuse river. It was ordered to make 
a forced march to an important bridge over that 
river, and, if possible, prevent the rebels from de- 
stroying it. As it came in sight of the bridge 
several rebel wagons were in the act of crossing 
it, the Eightieth having made seventeen miles in 
four hours' time and accomplished its order to 
the letter. 

The Eightieth reached Raleigh, North Caroli- 
na, on the day it was first occupied by Federal 
troops. After the surrender of Johnson's army 
to General Sherman, the Eightieth marched with 
the national forces through Richmond to Wash- 
ington City, and there participated in the grand 
review. A few days thereafter it was taken by 
rail and river to Louisville, Kentucky, and from 
thence to Little Rock. Arkansas, where for some 
months it performed guard and garrison duty. 
This closed its military career. It was mustered 
out of the service at Little Rock, 15th of August, 
lS6o, arrived at Columbus, Ohio, a few days there- 
after and was finally discharged, August 25. 1865, 
with as much honor as any regiment from the 
State of Ohio. 



356 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

WAR OF THE EEBELLIOX— COXTISUED. 

Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry— Muster Roll— Services 
in the Field — .Seventy-sixth Ohio — Muster Roll and Record. 

LARGE numbers of men enlisted in the vari- 
ous counties immediately adjoining Coshoc- 
ton, who, though residents of Coshocton county, 
were credited to regiments whose names have 
gone down in history as having been recruited 
exclusively in those counties. Fortunately, in 
the case of the Si.xty -ninth and Seventy-sixth reg- 
iments, this difficulty has been partly remedied 
by virtue of such facts as are furnished by the 
following items from the Affe setting forth the 
times and manner of recruiting these regiments 
in the counties to which they are credited. The 
A(/e of January 12, 1862, publishes the following: 
Camp Sheuman, Ne\v,vrk, Ohio, January 12, l.S(;2. 

The company to which the men I recruited in 
Coshocton county were united, is the seventh 
company now organized, and is known as Com- 
pany G. The three other companies in whose 
recruits you arc interested, are not yet full. 

R. W. Burt, Second Lieutenant. 

As to the company assigned to the Sixty-ninth 
Ohio, the Agr has the following item, under date 
of February 27 : 

J. V. Heslip, of Linton township, is recruiting 
another company. 

And, in an issue of later date, the following: 

Captain John V. Heslip has succeded in re- 
cruiting a very fine company, and is justly en- 
titled to its command. His company has been 
assigned to the Sixty-ninth, and is now at Camp 
Chase. 

And in the same issue is the following from 
the Seventy-sixth : 

The Coshocton boys of the Seventy-sixth are 
getting along very comfortaby here ; we have 
Sibley tents with stoves in them. About .sixteen or 
seventeen men lodge in each tent, lying with 
their feet towards the stove. Rations tirst-class. 

R. W. Burt, 
Company G, Seventy-sixth Ohio. 

The Sixty-ninth was raised from various coun- 
ties, among which was Coshocton, from which 
came the company of John V. Heslip, who is 



still a resident of the county, in the hamlet of 
Plainfield, commonly called Jacobsport. Besides 
this company, there was quite a number of indi- 
vidual members of other companies in the regi- 
ment, hailing from Coshocton. 

SIXTY-NINTH REGl.MENT. 

Muster roll of Company G, Sixty-ninth OhiOr 
mustered into service March 21, 1862: 

OFFICERS. 

John V. Heslip, Captain. 
James G. Elrick, First Lieutenant. 
Thomas B. Hofl'man, Second Lieutenant. 
John H Johnson, First Sergeant. 
Francis A. Stone. Second Sergeant. 
James A. Clark, Third Sergeant. 
Adam Sturts, Fourth Sergeant. 
George F. McCIary, Fifth Sergeant. 
John M. Williams, First Corporal. 
Rufus R. Wells, Second Corporal. 
John McAllister, Third Corporal. 
Thomas B. Hill, Fourth Corporal. 
Thomas Piatt, Fifth Corporal. 
John R. Neal, Sixth Corporal. 
Thomas F. Hall, Seventh Corporal. 
Thomas J. McCartny, Eighth Corporal. 

Privates. — William Armstrong, John W.Brooks, 
Samuel C. Blackford, George G. Braxton, Robert 
Bromfield, John Buch, Thomas C. Brumell, 
Thomas F. Beckett, James B. Cane, James Dean, 
James W. Uenn, Joseph Daty, George B. Dickey, 
Barney Donely, Freeman Dulin, John K. Edd}% 
Tunis Elson, William M. Elson, John Fultry, 
Richard F. Fisher, James F. Fisher, Aaron Far- 
man, Joshua 51. Gardner, Lebanon Ganncr, Wil- 
liam George, Thomas H. Haney, Mathcw Henry, 
William A. Hill, Samuel Holmes, John J. John- 
son, James D. Johiison, Henry C. Johnson, James 
Johnson, Thomas M. Kildon, John B. Kildon, 
James I\Iarshall, David Maple, John Maple, John 
Monson, Alexander Mattem, Robert McKelvey, 
Henry F. McKendree, Jacob B. Miller, Daniel 
Martin, Lonous McKeever, Joseph Penn, Robert 
Piatt, John Robbins, John N. Smith, James F. 
Stone, David A. Sayre, Henry Stribbling, William 
Sayre, Calvin Sturty, James R. Stone, Daniel H. 
Spear, George Stidd, Jacob Stortry, John W. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



357 



Thompson, Henderson Vance, Thomas Vance, 
Henry Vensel, Stephen 'NA'isenburger, OUver 
AVilkinson, Daniel Williams, Eiley Wiggins, 
John D. Elson, Anderson JIaple. 

On April ]9, 1862, the Sixty-ninth received or- 
ders to report for duty at Nashville, Tennessee, at 
which plice it arived on the 22d. Went into 
camp on Major Lewis' grounds, near the city, 
and was reviewed by Andrew Johnson, then Mili- 
tary Governor of Tennessee. Remaining here 
until the 1st of May, it then went west to Frank- 
lin, Tennessee, and was there detailed to guard 
forty miles of the Tennessee and Alabama rail- 
road. Aside from frequent alarms, nothing of 
moment occurred while the regiment was per- 
forming this duty. The rebel women of Frank- 
lin were especially bitter, and on one occasion 
evinced their venom against the national dead 
buried in the cemetery, by dancing on their 
graves. Colonel Campbell, of the Sixty-ninth, 
issued an order commenting in severe terms on 
this indignity, and warning the people of Frank- 
lin against a repetition of such dastardly insults. 

On June S, the regiment left Franklin and re- 
turned to Nashville. From thence it went by 
rail to Murfreesboro, where it joined an expe- 
dition under General Dumont, of Indiana', to 
McSIinnville, and thence marched across the 
Cumberland Mountains to Pikeville. Its object 
having been etlbcted the expedition returned to 
Murfreesboro. This march and coimter-march 
was very severe, and the suffering was much ag- 
gravated by the fact that the rations were almost 
completely exhausted. 

June 20 found the Sixty-ninth at Nashville 
again, where it remained performing provost and 
guard duty, until the last of July. Its Colonel, 
Hon. Lewis D. Campbell (since Minister to 
Mexico), was appointed Provost Marshal of Nash- 
ville, which position he held until his resigna- 
tion, in the following .Vugust. During the stay 
of the regiment here, the rebel. General Morgan, 
made a raid on the town of Gallatin. The Sixty- 
ninth Ohio and Eleventh Michigan, were ordered 
there, and drove the enemy from the place, the 
Sixty-ninth losing one man killed, Isaac Repp, of 
Dayton. This wits tlic lirst loss of the regiment 
in battle. 
When Bragg's army attempted a flank move- 



ment toward Louisville, the Sixty-ninth and 
other regiments were left at Na.shville as garri- 
son for the city. From the scarcity of troops, 
this duty was rendered quite severe. Hardly a 
day i5a.s.sed without some iiglit or skirmish with 
the enemy, who were continually making demon- 
strations on the Nashville and other turnpikes. 
This duty was performed until the 20th of De- 
cember, when the regiment went into camp 
about five miles from the city. 

On December 26, 1862, the Sixty-ninth moved, 
with the army under General Ro.secrans, toward 
Murfreesboro. It was brigaded in the Four- 
teenth Corps, which marched on the Franklin 
turnpike. On the 31st, the first day of the battle 
of Stone River, the regiment, with its brigade, 
was engaged with the enemy, taking position in 
the advance line of General George H. Thomas' 
Fourteenth Corps. It became involved in the 
disaster on the right, and was compelled to light 
its way back to the Nashville turnpike. On this 
day the regiment suHered severely both in killed 
and wounded. It was not engaged in the move- 
ments on the 1st of January, 1863. 

On Friday, January 2, the Sixty -ninth took 
part in the brilliant and desperate charge across 
Stone River against Breckinridge's rebel corps, in 
which the rebels were driven back with heavy 
loss. In this charge it captured a section of the 
famous Washington Battery, from New Orleans. 
Sergeant Frederick Wilson, of Company E, cap- 
tured the flag of the battery. This fight lasted 
imtil after dark, and proved the termination of 
the battle, as on the next day the rebel army was 
not to be seen. Cai)tain L. ('. Consellor, of Com- 
pany H; Sergeant :Mc(!illam, of Company B; 
Corporal D. P. Albright and Private Stopher, of 
Company E, were killed in the charge. Many- 
others were wounded. 

On June 24, 1863, the Tnllahoma campaign was 
commenced. The regiment moved with the 
Fourteenth Corps, under General George H. 
Thomas, on the Manchester road. No opposition 
was met witli until in the passage through Hoo- 
ver's Gap, the enemy's rear-guard was engaged in 
a brisk fight. At Elk river, also, the enemy made 
a stand, but w;is quickly driven. Reaching Cow- 
an's Station, on the Nashville and Chattanooga 
railroad, the army went into camp, it being im- 



358 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



possible to make further progress through the 
deep mutl and terrible roads of that region. 

When the army moved again, the Sixty-ninth 
was left at Cowan's Station, as guard to the gen- 
oral hospital, and it remained at that point until 
the 8th of September. It was then detailed as 
guard to an ammunition train of 450 wagons, 
going to Bridgeport, on the Tennessee river. It 
then marched to Chattanooga. 

Preparatory to the battle of Chickamauga, the 
Sixty-ninth Ohio, with the reserve corps, under 
General Gorden Granger, marched from Koss- 
ville to Chickamauga creek. At this point, in obe- 
dience to an order from Colonel Dan McCook, 
commanding the brigade, the regiment ad- 
vanced, under Colonel Brigham, and. burned 
Reed's Bridge, thus preventing the enemy from 
coming in on the rear of the national army. 
The regiment then fell back to Rossville, and im- 
mediately thereafter took charge of the division 
trains. For this reason it did not participate in 
the battle of Chickamauga. On September 20, in 
the afternoon, the Sixty-ninth was ordered to re- 
port at the front, near Rossville, where it per- 
formed picket duty and aided in covering the re- 
treat of the Fourteenth Corps toward Chatta- 
nooga. 

The regiment participated in the battle of 
Mission Ridge, and was among the first to reach 
the top of the mountain. In this charge it was 
commanded by Major J. J. Hanna, who was 
highly complimented for his bravery and effi- 
ciency. In ascending the Ridge, Lieutenant J. 
S. Scott, Color Sergeant Jacob Wetzell, Color Cor- 
porals D. W. Leach and John Meredith, Corporal 
E. J. Mauche, Privates Kluger, Elsom, Sewers 
and Hefling were killed, and a large number 
wounded, many of whom subsequently died. 

On March 16, 1864, the regiment, after having 
reenlisted as veterans, started for Ohio, on a fur- 
lough of thirty days. At the end of their fur- 
lough the men reported promptly at Camp Den- 
nison, and on the 22d of April again started for 
the field. Arriving at Nashville the regiment 
was compelled, for lack of transportation, to 
march to Cowan's Station. It joined Sherman's 
forces at Buzzard's Roost on the 11th of May. 

On May 14, the regiment, with the army, moved 
through Snake Creek Gap to a point near Resaca, 



where the enemy was met and engaged. At this- 
place Color Sergeant John A. Compton and four 
others were killed and twent3'-six men wounded. 

At Pumpkin-Vine Creek, and at Dallas, the 
enemy was again engitged. In these afl'airs the 
regiment lost five killed and nineteen wounded^ 
Kenesaw Jlountjxin was reached in the evening 
of June 14. During this siege two men were 
killed. At Marietta, July 4, another engagement 
was had with the enemy, in which the regiment 
lost one man killed and seven wounded. The 
next stand was at the crossing of the Chatta- 
hoochie river. In this affair the regiment es- 
caped without loss. On the 21st the regiment lost 
one man killed and ten wounded. July 22 brought 
the regiment and the army before Atlanta. Dur- 
ing the siege nine men were wounded, two of 
whom subsequently died. 

On September 1 the Sixty-ninth took part in 
the fight at Jonesboro, and lost Lieutenant Jacob 
S. Pierson, Martin V. Baily, Color Sergeant Allen 
L. Jobes, of Company D, and five men killed and 
thirty-six wounded, some of whom died in a few 
hours after the fight. This battle caused the 
evacuation of Atlanta, and the national forces 
occupied that city. 

The regiment participated in the subsequent 
chase after Hood, through the upper part of 
Georgia and into Alabama. It then returned to 
Atlanta and joined Sherman's march to the sea. 
On that march it lost one man by disease and 
four captured. Arriving in front of Savannah, 
it took position in the front line. In the cam- 
paign through the Carolinas, the regiment was 
engaged with the enemy near Goldsboro', North 
Carolina, March 19, 1865, and lost two killed and 
eight wounded. This was the last aflair in which 
it participated. 

Then came the march through Richmond, the 
review at Washington, the transfer to Louisville, 
and lastly the final muster out of the service, on 
the ITthof July, 1865. 

SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. 

Muster roll of Company G, Seventy-sixth Ohio. 

OFFICERS. 

James Stewart, Captain. 

John Winstrode, First Lieutenant. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



359 



Richard W. Burt, Second Lieutenant. 
Jacob A. Jury, First Sergeant. 
James G. Evans, Second Sergeant. 
Rufus W. Ilentrom, Third Sergeant. 
Hiram Vandyburg, Fourth Sergeant. 
Denton Whips, Fifth Sergeant. 
JIartin Armstrong, First Corporal. 

Harry W , Second Corporal. 

Jacob Rumcr, Third Corporal. 
Horace Reynolds, Fourth Corporal. 
Thomas J. Davis, Fifth Corporal. 
Lewis Williams, Sixth Corporal. 
Daniel Heckard, Seventh Corporal. 
George Kinupf, Eighth Corporal. 
David Jones, Musician. 
Charles H. Paramore, Musician. 
J(_)seph Jlartin, M'agoner. 

PrU'ciies — Reuben Abbott, William E. Boylan, 
Etlward Beverly, John Binkley, Isaac Bounds, 
Henry R. Bumer, Thomas Coii'man, ^^^illiam H. 
Cofiman, James Carnahan, "Henry Davis, jr., 
Henry Davis, sr., James H. Dame, Cornelius Dis- 
pennet, Samuel Dispennet, Asias Deacon, Thomas 
Dutroe, Philip W. Evans, Aaron Evans, Thomas 
Evans, Thoniiis Egans, Perry Flowers, Jacob Fet- 
zel, Henry H. German, John Gillespie, Solomon 
Holtsbury, Isiuae Holtsbury, Philip Harter, Cal- 
vin Hart, William Hall, Thomas Hancock, Crosby 
Johnson, Israel Jones, John R. Jones, Leander 
Jennings, Frederick Krauss, Adam Lawyer, 
William Lyle, Peter McKeiver, John* Mitchell, 
James Madix, Paul Murphj', Henry H. Marvin, 
William Oard, William Oliver, James M. Par- 
mer, Jeread Price, Thomas Pool, David Patter- 
son, Reason Roby, John Rickets, Barney Rogers, 
David Sams, Patrick Sullivan, Isaac Switzer, 
Haus P.C Sinith, Hugh Tagart, Lemuel Thomp- 
son, Abram Walker, John Walker, George 
Wliips, Silas Ward, Jt)lm Webber, James Wiley, 
John Wilson, Emanuel Yiesley, George White- 
heacl. 

Captain Charles R. Woods, of the Ninth 
United States Infantry, having been authorized 
to raise a regiment for the three years' service, 
recruited and organized the Seventy-sixth Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, at Newark, Ohio, on the Hth 
of February, 1SG2, The regiment left Newark, 
and, proceeding via Paducah, Kentucky, to Fort 



Donelson, took an active part in the engagement 
at that place. On the 6th of March it moved to 
the Tennessee river, and then up the river to 
Crump's Landing, where it remained until the 
31st, when it niarolied to .Vdamsvillc, and took 
position in General Lew Wallace's division, in the 
right wing of General Grant's army. The divis- 
ion made a forced march to Pittsburgh Landing 
on the 6th of April, and was in line of battle by 
dark, and during the entire engagement was con- 
stantly exposed to the enemy's fire. In the latter 
part of Ai]ril the regiment formed a part of a 
reconnoitering party toward Corinth, charging the 
rebels, driving them from their position and de- 
stroying their camp equij)age. It formed a part 
of the grand reserve during the advance on 
Corinth, and, after the evacuation, moved to 
Memphis, arriving on the 11th of June, having 
marched 130 miles with wagon supplies. The 
Seventy-sixth moved down the river on the 24th 
of July, and encamped near Helena, Arkansas. 

In the reorganization of the Army of the South- 
west the Seventy-sixtli was placed in the second 
brigade, commanded by General P. J. Osterhaus. 
On the 16th of August the regiment, forming a 
part of an expedition of observation, moved down 
the Mississippi, landed at Milhken's Bend on the 
18th, surprised the Thirty-first Louisiana Regi- 
ment, and captured all its camp and garrison 
equipage. The enemy was followed nine miles, 
and forty prisoners were captured. The fleet 
moved down to the mouth of the Yazoo, and a 
detachment, comprising a portion of the Seventy- 
sixth, proceeded up the Yazoo, surprised Haines' 
Bluft', and captured four siege guns, two field 
jiieces and a large quantity of fixed annnunition. 
The expedition returned to Helena on the 27th. 
The regiment embarked for St. Genevieve, Mis- 
souri, early in October, and, remaining a week, 
moved with the division to Pilot Knob, where 
it encamped for rest and reorganization. It be- 
came very healthy and ctlicient during its stjiy 
here, and on the 12th of November returned to 
St. Genevieve and embarked for Camp Steele, 
Mississippi. 

On the 21st of December it forme<l a part of 

General Slierman's expedition for Vic'ksburgh. 

The fleet arrived at Johnson's Landing, on the 

i Yazoo, on the 26th, and the division, tlicn com- 



360 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



manded by General Steele, disembarked ; and 
Hovey's brigade, of which the Seventy-sixth was 
a part, made a feint on Haines' Bluff, and then 
took position on the extreme left of the army. 
On the 29th the division moved to the main army 
at Chickasaw Bayou; and, during the battle, the 
regiment was held in reserve. 

General Sherman having abandoned the assault 
on Vicksburg, the troops re-embarked and pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi, landing at .Vrkansa:< 
Post on the evening of the Kith of January, 1803. 
That night the regiment marched si.x miles 
through mud and water, and by two next morn- 
ing the troops occupied the cantonments of the 
enemy. Shortly after daylight they moved upon 
the enemy's works, and about one o'clock the 
Seventy-sixth charged within 100 yards of the 
rifle ])its, halted, opened fire, and held the posi- 
tion for three hours, when the enemy surren- 
dered. On the 14th, after burning the canton- 
ments of the enemy, it returned to the river, 
and, embarking on the 23d, the troops landed at 
Young's Point, Louisiana. On the night of the 
14th of February, two non-commissioned officers 
of Company B were killed and four disabled by 
lightning. During the entire month heavy de- 
tails were made horn the regiment to work upon 
the canal then in progress across the neck of 
land ojjposite Vicksburg. On the 2d of ^^sril, 
the regiment, with Steele's division, proceeded on 
transijorts up the river, to Greenville, Mississippi. 
. The command marched down Deer creek after 
the rebel force under Colonel Ferguson, and on 
the 7th made an attack and routed them. The 
command returned to Greenville, after destroy- 
ing $1,000,000 worth of cotton and corn, and 
bringing off a large number of cattle, horses and 
mules. About 300 negroes followed the troops, 
and were enlisted in colored regiments. 

On the 24th the Seventy-sixth returned to 
Young's Point, and on the 20th moved to Milli- 
ken's Bend, and jirepared to march with the 
grand army southward. On the 2d of INIay the 
Fifteenth Corps started for Hard Times Land- 
ing, where it arrived on the 0th and crossed to 
the Grand Gulf. The Seventy-sixth moved east- 
ward, and, at Fourteen Mile creek, the division 
was attacked by a mounted force of the enemy. 
Colonel Wood's brigade pushed across the creek 



in the face of a sharp fire, and drove the enemy 
back. At Jackson the regiment charged the 
works on the enemy's left. The works were 
evacuated, and the city surrendered. On the 16th 
the corps marched for Vicksliurg,and on the 18th 
took position in the line of investment. The 
next day the regiment pushed along, the foot of 
the blufl' near the river, and established itself in 
position six hundred yards from the main lines 
of the enemy. The batteries of the enemy in 
front of the Seventy-sixth were silenced, and 
none of his guns could be manned except those 
of the water batteries. Heavy details were con- 
stantly made for strengthening the works. In 
the coiu-se of several nights eight guns were 
taken off the sunken gunboat Cincinnati and 
placed in po.sition, with telling eti'ect. After the 
surrender of Vicksburg the regiment marched in 
pursuit of Johnston, and arrived at Jackson on 
the 10th of July. While here it was chiefly em- 
ployed in foraging and making reconnoissances. 
On the 23<.l the regiment marched for Big Black 
Bridge, where the corps went into camp for rest 
and reorganization. 

On the 23d of September the division (General 
Osterhaus in command) embarked at Vicksburg 
for Memphis, and on tlie 30th moved from the 
latter place, by railroad, to Corinth. During the 
months of October and November the regiment 
marched and skirmished in Northern Alabama 
and Tennessee, arriving at Chattanooga in time 
to join General Hooker in the assault on Look- 
out Mountain ; was engaged at Mission Ridge, 
and on the 27th of November charged up Tay- 
lor's Ridge under a heavy tire, sufi'ering a fearful 
loss. In one company of twenty men eight were 
killed and eight wounded, and seven men were 
shot down while carrying the regimental colors. 

After marching and bivouacking in various 
places, on the 1st of January, 1864, the regiment 
went into camp for the winter at Paint Rock, 
Alabama. 

On the 4th of January, 1804, about two-thirds 
of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and leave 
was granted to proceed to Ohio. On the 30th it 
moved via Nashville, Louisville and Cincinnati 
to Columbus, Ohio, and on the 8th of February 
took the train for Newark. The regiment dis- 
embarked one mile from the citv and moved into 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



3G1 



town in a column by company. It wa.s enthusi- 
astically welcomed by a large concourse of citi- 
zens; speeches were made, and a sumptuous re- 
past was partaken of at City Hall. The mem- 
bers were furloughed to thoir homes. The 
Seventy -si.xth went away 'JG2strong, and returned 
in two years with less than 300. It returned to 
Cincinnati on the loth of March, and proceeded 
via Louisville, Nashville and Huntsville to the 
old camp at Paint Rock. On the 1st of May it 
broke camp and moved with the division for 
Chattanooga. At Bridgeport it was presented 
with a new stand of colors, from the citizens of 
Newark. The troops arrived at Chattanooga on 
the 6th, and pushed forward twelve miles. On 
the 9th the regiment moved through Snake 
Creek Gap, and continued moving forward, 
skirmishing and fortifying, until the 14th at 6 
o'clock in the evening, when the regiment, with 
the brigade, charged across the fields under a hot 
lire, and gained a footing on the first line of hills 
west of Resaca. On the 16th, the enemy having 
evacuated, the Seventy-sixth moved through 
Resaca and Adairsville to Dallas, llardie's corps 
assaulted.the lines of the Fifteenth Corps on the 
28th, and was repulsed, leaving many dead on 
the field, some of them within 50 yards of the 
works in front of the Seventy-sixth Ohio. 

On the 1st of June the corps moved to the left, 
near New Hope church, then to Acworth, then 
south, and so on, each day advancing and fortify- 
ing, until, on the 22d, it occupied a position near 
the railroad at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain. 
The Seventy-sixth remained in the rifle-pits until 
after the rebels evacuated it, then moved to Ros.s- 
ville; thence across the Chattahootehie, through 
Decatur, to within four miles of Atlanta, on the 
20th of July. On the 22d, the rebels captured 
four twenty-pound Parrott guns, and the Seven- 
ty-sixth Ohio and the Thirtieth Iowa, of the first 
brigade, were the first to drive the enemy from 
the works and to recapture the guns. About 
noon on the 2Sth, the enemy attacked the whole 
line of the Fifteenth Corps, and three successive 
charges were made, each one proving unavailing. 
1,000 of the rebel dead were found in front of the 
Fifteenth Corps. On the ."iOth of August, the 
skirniLsh line in front of the division was advanced 
and the Seventy-sixth captured fifty prisoners. 



On the 2Gth, the regiment moved out of the works, 
with the division, to the West Point and Mont- 
gomery railroad, which they destroyed, marched 
southward toward Jonesboro, and on the night of 
the 30th formed in line across Flint river. The 
next day the rebels charged the line and were 
repulsed, the Seventy-sixth taking an active share 
in the engagement, without the protection of 
rifle-pits. 

On the 8th of September, the division moved 
to East Point and encamped for rest and re- 
organization. On the 4th of October, the regi- 
ment crossed the Chattahoochie, marched through 
Marietta, north of Kenesaw Mountain, near 
Adairsville, through Resaca, through Snake Creek 
Gap, and on the IGth skirmi.shed with the enemy 
at Ship's Gap. On the next day the regiment 
marched tlirough Lafayette, and on the 18th 
moved south through Summerville and bivou- 
acked. Here the non-veterans were mustered 
out. The regiment moved with the army to 
Little River, Cave Springs, near to Atlanta. On 
the 15th of November, the Fifteenth Corps cut 
loose from Atlanta antl moved southward with 
the right wing of the army, averaging fifteen 
miles per day and foraging off the country. 

The route of the Fifteenth Corps was via Mc- 
Donough, Indian Springs, Clinton and Irwin- 
town, crossing the Macon and Augusta railroad 
twenty miles east of Macon ; thence eastward 
across the Oconee river to Ogeechee, and down 
the west bank of that stream to the mouth of the 
Cannonchee; thence across the Ogeechee east- 
ward to Sai^annah, where it arrived on the 18th 
of December, being twenty-six days out from 
Atlanta. 

After the evacuation, the regiment performed 
provost guard duty in the city until the 9th of 
January, 1865, when it embarked on the gunboat 
Winona for Beaufort, Sotith Carolina. From 
Beaufort it marched to Gardner's Corners, where 
preparations were made for the march northward, 
and on the .31st the command broke camp on the 
"Campaign of the Carolinas." 

On the 16tli of February the troops formed on 
the outskirts of Columbia, and the Seventy-sixth 
was engaged in skirmishing until the evacuation 
of the city, when it again performed provost 
guard duty for four days. The troops arrived at 



362 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Fayetteville on the 12lh of March; crossed Cape 
Fear and Black rivers; moved to Benton villa, 
where they engaged the enemy, and thence ('/((. 
Goldsboro' to Kaleigh, where the Seventy-sixth 
remained until Johnston's surrender. 

On the 30th of April the army broke camp and 
inarched via Richmond and Hanover C. H., to 
Washington, reaching the Capitol on the 23d of 
May, 1SG.3. The Seventy-sixth shared in the grand 
review, and shortly after moved to Louisville, 
Kentucky, where it was mustered out. It then 
proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where, on the 24th 
of July, 1865, it was discharged. This regiment 
participated in fifty-four battles; moved 9,625 
miles on foot, by rail and by water; passed 
through the rebellious States of Kentucky, !Mis- 
souri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missis- 
sippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North 
Carolina and Virginia. Two hundred and forty- 
one men were wounded ««n battle; 351 died on 
the field or in hospitals ;~222 carry scars as evi- 
dence of their struggle with the enemy, and 282 
contracted the seeds of disease. 



CHAPTER XL. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION— CONTINUED. 

The Ninety-Seventh — Rosters of Companies H and I — Re- 
view by Jolin M. Comptoii — Historical Record of the Regi- 
ment — Correspondence and Reminiscences. 

THE Ninety-seventh was recruited in the coun- 
ties of Muskingum, Morgan, Guernsey and 
Coshocton. Coshocton claims Companies H and 
I, whose muster rolls at enlistment were as fol- 
lows : 

Muster roll of Company H: 

OFFICERS. 

C. C. Nichols, Captain. 
Noah McClain, First Lieutenant. 
C. M. Mathews, Second Lieutenant 
Milton H. Lakin, First Sergeant. 
Baxter Ricketis, Second Sergeant. 
Nathaniel B. JMiUs, Third Sergeant, 
George Coggins, Fourth Sergeant. 
Jesse S. Lake, First Corporal. 
William F. Bunton, Second Corporal. 



Jeremiah Peart, Third Corporal. 
Elijah C. Richards, Fourth Corporal. 
Steiihen Zuck, Fifth Corporal. 
Jesse J. Deviney, Sixth Corporal. 
Daniel Elliott, Seventh Corporal. 
George Smith, Eighth Corporal. 
Spencer Fry, Franklin Newell, Musicians. 
Richard Roll, Teamster. 

PrivUes.— David E. Almack, Aeo. W. Bricker, 
George W. Boring, John Barrett, David Balo, 
William Blenning, John Blackburn, Benjamin 
Bush, John Bush, Stephen Balo, Abram Balo, 
Frank Cattrell, John M. Compton, William Col- 
lins, William Clough, John Chicken, Joseph 
Clark, Newton G. Dunn, Jared Doolittle, Charles 
Emmerson, David Evans, Henrv Foster, John 
B. Frey, Abram Farquar, Lewis Williams, Robert 
Gould, Samuel Harris, William Hook, William 
Haines, Adam Hogle, David Houser, John F. 
Hummer, Christopher Hall, George Hagans, 
Joseph House, Alfred Shultz, Levi Harmon,George 
Hinkin, George Holsworth, William Ishmall, 
William James, George W. Johnson, James Jar- 
vis, Benjamin F. Jones, David Jenkins, Christian 
Krouss, Joseph Layton, Samuel H. Lynch, John 
Maston, Isaac McNabb, John Moore, Oliver 
McQuine, John G. Mackey, Joseph H. Moore, 
Thomas Morgan, Sylvester Norman, George 
Nixon, George R. Nichols, William Owens, David 
Owens, Elias Oden, George Page, Robert Price, 
Nathan Price, William A.' Rannels, William 
Rodgers, John W. Richards, William Skillman, 
James Sears, Albert Smith, Mark Trumbull, 
Joseph Trumbull, Alfred B. Walford, Morgan 
Williams, Daniel Williams, J. C. Walford, Jacob 
Wiker, Hiram Wilson, Thomas AVestmoreland, 
Isaac Wiggins, John NA'iggins, Thomas Youngs. 

Muster roll of Company I: 

OFFICERS. 

Emmanuel Shaffer, Captain. 
Martin Weiser, First Lieutenant. 
G. W. Sraailes, Second Lieutenant. 
A. B. Barton, First Sergeant. 
James McCluro, Second Sergeant. 
George Jack, Third Sergeant. 
William Davis, Fourth Sergeant. 
William C. Harrison, Fifth Sergeant. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



363 



Julos Suitt, First Corporal. 
Joseph Cooper, Secoiwi Corporal. 
Albert Graves, Third Cori)oral. 
Peter Miller, Fourth Corporal. 
Daniel W. Simmons, Fifth Corporal. 
T. .1. Mi'Bride, Sixth Corporal. 
Albert Taylor, Ssventh Corporal. 
J. J. Emmerson, Eighth Corporal. 

Privates. — Samuel Browing, John E. Baker, Ed- 
win Birehfield, W. J. Boyd, Henry Babcock, Tu- 
nis S. Brown,- Kichard Cixssner, William Coy, 
Warren Clemens, J. W. Coulter, Charles Clark, 
John Day, Samuel Dickison, Eli Dickson, James 
Dwyer, James Dillon, Isaac Dusenberry, Charles 
P. Ellis, Albert Emmerson, Crispin Foster, Charles 
Funk, Daniel Fortune, Daniel Felton, James 
Felton, John W. Flag, James W. Grover, Clint J. 
Goodner, Benjamin IIowcU, Martin Howell, Wil- 
liam Hughes, Christopher Huttinger, Charles 
Hawk, Thomas Hamilton, A. J. Hughes, F'reder- 
ick Harbaugh, Henry Infield, David King, Ira 
Riser, W. W. Kennedy, John Kepler, J. T. Lacey, 
Jacob Lerch, Alexander IMcClure, William Mc- 
Eveny, F. A. Mobley, William S. JIarshall, James 
Murphy, George McCreary, Jabcz Xorman, 
George W. Newell, Charles Norman, William 
Porter, James Riser, John Robson, Peter Reny, 
William Roderick, Henry Pick, Harrison Stock- 
man, Coan Seward, Martin Sowers, George 
Starkey, Hamilton Saxton, Samuel Smailes, Sam- 
uel Sharrcm, George Shatter, Robert Thornsley, 
James Troanor, Mathas Tapzin, Joseph Thorns- 
ley, George Toland, William Toland, James 
Thomas, Adam Tincel, Salathial ^^'right, Henry 
Williams, John Wright, W. R. Wilson, John 
West, James Wolfe, John Worthington, George 
Wicken, Joseph A. Wilson, William Weiser, 
Adam Weiser, John Watson, George Westlick, 
B. W. Williams, W. M. Musgrove. 

John M. Compton, Esq., a resident citizen and 
practicing attorney of Coshocton, was a member 
of Company H of the Ninety-seventh Ohio, and 
was chosen color bearer of the brigade to wiiich 
the Ninety-seventh belonged for the last eighteen 
months of the war.^ Mr. Compton gives a very 
interesting sketch of the incidents more directly 
affecting the Coshocton companies as follows : 



There was in the Ninety-seventh from Coshoc- 
ton county besides Companies H and I a large 
part of Company F. 

The companies suffered from sickness, super- 
induced by the march of the regiment after 
Bragg's retreating army in 1802. There being a 
drouth in Kentucky that year, and no water on 
the line of march but the poorest kind, Coshocton's 
two companies though full when nuistered in at 
Zanesville, Ohio, when they arrived in Na.-ih- 
ville with Buell's army were redticed about one- 
third. Clinton Gardner, of Company I, was one 
of the first ten men who crossed the Tennessee 
river at Chattanooga on an old scow under com- 
mand of the now Secretary of State of Ohio, Col- 
onel Milton Barnes, then lieutenant-colonel of the 
Ninety-seventh. The Companies H and I had 
been engaged in a skirmish for some hoiu's before 
the ten men crossed on the scow. At Mission 
Ridge Companies Hand I were in the hottest of 
the fight, losing six killed and a large number 
wounded. In East Tennessee, these companies 
lived for some time on foraged cornbread and hog 
meat captured in e >;pr litions made by them to 
the mountains of Ea^P'ennessee. June 22, ISG-", 
Comjianies H and I were with the regiment in 
the charge on Kenesaw Mountain ; they charged 
almost up to the works of the enemy, but were 
conii)elled to lie down, the lire from the rebel 
works being very heavy; while thus prostrate, a 
great number were killed or woimded by the 
rebel sharpshooters ; of one hundred and iifty 
three men who went out on this charge, one 
hundred and twelve were either killed or 
wounded. 

Instances of per.sonal bravery in these two com- 
panies are numerous. Nate Price, of Comjiany 
H, was severely stunned by a spent cannon ball, 
which struck the breeching of the gun and de- 
moralized it. On recovering from the shock Price 
picked up a dead man's musket, went up to the 
top of the Ridge and fought it out. This inci- 
dent occurred at Mission Ridge. In the .sime 
battle Daniel Fortmie, of Comjiany I, was severely 
stunned by a solid shot passing close to his head. 
After recovering he followed the examjile of Nate 
Price, of Comi)any H. Kit Hall, also of Com- 
pany H, succeeded in bringing down the rebel 
color bearer, who was on the toj) of the Ridge 
and seemed to defy the Union marksmen. 

The Ninety-seventh was recruiteil in the coun- 
ties of Muskingum, Morgan, Guernsey and Co- 
shocton, during the months of July and August, 
l.stj2. It was mustered into the service at Camp 
Zanesville on the 1st and 2d of September; 
moved from Zanesville by cars on the 7th for 
Covington Heights, opposite Cincinnati ; and on 
the moaning of the Sth, took position near Fort 



364 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Mitchel, three miles from the Ohio river, during 
the Kirby Smith raid. 

September 20, the regiment embarked on the 
steamer Emma Duncan, arrived at Louisville on 
the evening of the 22d, and was immediately 
brigaded with General Buell's army, then in luir- 
suit of Bragg's rebel forces. It moved out of 
Louisville on the Bardstown road, with Buell's 
army, on the 2d of October. On the 4th the rear- 
guard of the enemy was met at Bardstown, and 
a brisk skirmish ensued, in which the enemy 
was driven in the direction of Perryville, Ken- 
tucky. On the morning of the Sth, the day on 
which the battle of Perryville was fought, the 
Ninety-seventh was with the main part of Buell's 
army, within ten miles of that place. At the 
commencement of the battle, the regiment," with 
its brigade and division, was ordered up to the 
battle field, where it held in check and drove 
back the rebel forces in aAattemist to turn our 
right. On the 9th, the rebels having evacuated 
Perryville, the regiment joined in the pursuit, 
and continued it up to Wild Cat, Kentucky. On 
the 22d, the pursuit was abandoned, and the 
national army commenced its movement toward 
Niishvillo, arriving on the 21st of November, and 
going into camp three miles from the city, on the 
Murfreesboro railroad. 

On the reorganization of the army by its new 
commander, General William S. Rosecrans, the 
Ninety-seventh Ohio was retained in Genei-al 
Crittenden's corps, which formed the left wing of 
the Army of the Cumberland. While lying near 
Nashville, perfecting its drill and preparing to 
move on the rebel forces under Bragg, the regi- 
ment was frequently engaged in skirmishes with 
the enemy. 

December 2G, Rosecrans' forces commenced the 
movement on INIurfresboro ; and on the 27tli 
the Ninety-seventh met and engaged the enemy's 
outposts at Lavergne, fifteen miles from Nash- 
ville. Moving on with the army, the regiment 
was not engaged until the morning of the 31st. 
General McCook's right wing having been badly 
placed, and thus driven back on the Nashville 
turnpike, the left, under General Crittenden, 
withstood the shock and repulsed every assault 
of the e.xultant enemy, and at 9 o'clock at night 
occupied its_ original line. At 3 o'clocli,on tiie 



morning of January ],the national lines were re- 
formed, the Ninety -seventh Ohio taking a position 
on the left of General T. J. Wood's division, the 
left wing of the regiment resting on Stone river. 
It remained in this position without engagement 
during the whole of the next day. On the after- 
noon of the 3d of January Breckinridge's rebel 
corps made an attack on Van Cleve's division 
(which had crossed the river), and drove it back. 
At this point the Ninety-seventh Ohio became 
engaged, and aided in repulsing the enemy's de- 
termined assault, crossing Stone river and follow- 
ing him up closely to his original line. 

In this battle the Ninety-seventh lost twenty- 
five men killed and wounded. It went into camp 
on the Liis Casas turnpike, and remained there 
(excepting when on occasional skirmish duty), 
until the 25th of June, when the movement on 
Tullahoma commenced. Marching with Critten- 
den's corps, the Ninety-seventh was not engaged. 
On the 20th of August, the regiment took posi- 
tion on Waldroii's ridge, within five miles and in 
sight of Chattanooga. 

On the 9th of September at 9 a. m., the Ninety- 
seventh crossed the Tennessee river, drove the 
enemy's sharpshooters from Chattanooga, and en- 
tered the place three hours before the main army. 
For this gallant act General Rosecrans assigned 
the regiment and brigade to garrison the post. 
For this reason the Ninety-seventh was not en- 
gaged in the battle of Chickamauga. 

In the reorganization of the Army of the Cum- 
berland, under Major-General George H. Thomas 
the Ninety-seventh Ohio was a.ssigned to Sheri- 
dan's (second) Division of the Fourth Army Corps. 

In the battle of Mission Ridge the Ninety-sev- 
enth lost one hundred and fifty-six officers and 
men killed and wounded. Following the retreat- 
ing enemy to Pigeon Mountain, the Ninety-.sev- 
enth, in company with the Fortieth Indiana, en- 
countered his rear guard in position, and drove 
him in the direction of Campbell's Station, and 
across Chickamauga creek. 

Duriiig the night of the i.'ith of November the 
command was moved up to Chickamauga creek 
but did not again encounter the enemy. On the 
26th the regiment with its divi.sion moved back 
to Chattanooga. 

On the 28th of November it accompanied Gen- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



865 



eriil Granger's coniniand to the relief of General 
Biirnside, then bosioged in Knoxville b.v General 
Ldiigstreet's rebel corps. On this march the men 
suirercd intensely, being thinly clothed, and with- 
out tc'nts or transportation. On the arrival of the 
regiment at Kno.xville seventy of the men were 
reported as without shoes or stocking.s. 

While in Knoxville, the Ninety-seventh occu- 
pied the East Tennessee Univer.sity as quarters- 
About the 1.5th of December the enemy was again 
reported as moving on Knoxville. The Ninety- 
seventh, with the Fourth Army Corps, was or- 
dered to proceed to Strawberry Plains and Blain's 
Cross Roads, where it assisted in driving back the 
rebels under Longstreet. It remained at Blain's 
Cross Roads, on the Holston river, from the 16th 
of December until the 16th of January, 1864, 
subsisting off the already impoverished country, 
without tents, in midwinter, and sufl'ering from 
intense cold and lack of rations. 

On the 16th of January the regiment (with the 
army) crossed the Holston river, and on the 17th 
arrived at Dandridge, on the French Broad river, 
where a brisk skirmish was had with the enemy. 
On the 18th the fight was renewed, and on the 
night of the same day General Sheridan, then in 
command at Dandridge, ordered the national 
forces to fall back to Strawberry Plains. 

On the 19th of January, 1864, the Ninety- 
seventh moved (with Sheridan's division) by 
easy marches to London, Tennessee, arriving at 
that place on the 1st of February. It remained 
at London until the 4th of JIareh, and then (un- 
der orders) moved to Charleston, on the Hia- 
wassee river, where it guarded the railroad bridge 
across that river until the 25th of April. On that 
day it joined the main army at Cleveland, Ten- 
nessee, and on the 3d of May entered (with Sher- 
man's army) on the AtlantiV campaign. 

On the 7tli of May the enemy's outjiosts were 
met near Red Clay, and on the 8th the regiment 
went into position on Rocky Face Ridge. On the 
11th of May the Ninety-seventh particijiated (with 
Harker's brigade) in an unsuccessful charge on 
the ridge, with slight loss. At Resaca the regi- 
ment was under constant fire for two days, (the 
14th and 15lh of May); and at Adairsville, on the 
17th, it had a sharp light, losing twenty men in 
the space of less than fifteen minutes. 



At Dallas the regiment was under constiint fire 
from the 25th of May up to the 5th of June. 
The enemy then fell back to Kenesaw IMountain. 
On the 17th of June the regiment made a charge 
on the enemy's position, and, witli the assistance 
of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky, drove his out- 
jiosts into his second line of works. 

On the 22d of June, the Ninety-seventh was 
ordered to drive in the rebel outjiosts. Of 153 
men sent forward to perform this duty, 112 were 
either killed or wounded in the space of thirty 
minutes. Major J. W. Moore, Captain W. S. 
Rosemond and Lieutenant J. T. Gossiige, in com- 
mand on the skirmish line, were seriously 
wounded, two of them so severely as to be dis- 
abled from further military service. 

Another histtirian, writing of this attack, in 
which the Nintey-seventh look such a prominent 
part, says : 

Suddenly, on tlie 22d, the enemy, who were 
restive under the unremitting pressure of the 
Union forces, rallied and attacked General Hooker. 
The ground was quite open, and tlie enemy 
easily drove in the skirmish lines. An advanced 
regiment, the Ninety-seventh, was then pur])osely 
thrown forward as a temporary check to the 
i'ssailants. The point of attack was a wooded 
ridge, occupied by Williams' division and Whit- 
takar's division of the Army of the Ohio. The 
rebels made repeated attempts to drive these 
divisions, but were met with such rapid and 
deadly volleys, accompanied by an enfilading (ire 
from the batteries, that they finally retired, leav- 
ing the dead and wounded in the hands of the 
Union trocips. This action is known as the bat- 
tle of Kulp's House. 

On the 27th of June, the second division, in- 
cluding the Ninety-seventh, made another charge 
on Kene.saw Mountain, and were badly repulsed. 
In this disastrous affair the regiment lost thirty- 
five men killed and wounded. On the 4th of 
July the enemy evacuated Kenesaw Jlountain, 
and fell back toward the Chattahoochie river. 
At Smyrna Church, on the evening of the sjnne 
day, the enemy w"as found strongly posted behind 
works, and attacked so vigorously by the national 
forces that he was compelled to fall back the same 
night to the Chattahoochie river. On the 6th of 
July, the I'egiment arrived at the Chattahoochie 
river, and went into camp on its banks ; and on 
the 9th, marched up to Rossville and destroyed 



366 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the factories at that place. On the 13th. it crossed 
the Cliattahoocliie river, being the tirst natiimal 
troops to appear on tlie .south side of that stream. 

On the morning of the 20th it crossed Peach- 
tree creek and drove in the outposts of the enemy. 
A Hne of battle was immediately formed, the 
Ninety-seventh occupying the extreme left. At 
this point the rebel General Hood made his first 
dash against the national forces. The Ninety- 
seventh, occupying as it did the extreme left, re- 
ceived the first onset of the enemy. The shock 
■was terrible; but during seven determined 
charges made against it, this little band of less 
than three hundred men stood tirm. So pleased 
w^ere General Howard (commanding the corps) 
and General Newton (commanding the division 
to which the Ninety-seventh belonged) that they 
sought out that regiment, and personally thanked 
the men for their bravery in standing up against 
the dreadful shock of the rebel charges on the 
left. In addition. General Newton issued an or- 
der exempting the regiment from all further 
picket atid fatigue duty during the campaign. 
The Ninety -seventh Ohio participated in the ac- 
tion at Jonesboro, and assisted in driving the 
enemy back to Lovejoy's Station. On the 2d of 
September the national army entered Atlanta, 
and the troops went into camp around that city, 
with the promise from General Sherman of a 
month's rest. On the 25th of September the 
Ninety-seventh (with the second division of the 
'JFourth Army Corps) was sent by rail to Chatta- 
nooga, and on the 30th relieved the jiioneer brig- 
ade on Lookout Mountain, in order that the 
brigade might go to the assistance of the national 
forces at TuUahoma, then menanced by Forrest's 
rebel cavalry. 

In the flurry of Hood's dash on Sherman's rear, 
the Ninety-seventh was kept for some time al- 
most continually on the move up and down the 
.railroads. On the 19th of October the regiment 
:again joined Sherman's army at Alpine, Georgia, 
and, after moving to AVill's Valley and Stevenson, 
it took cars for Athens, Alabama. It arrived at 
■Pulaski, Tennessee, on the 5th of November, and 
remained there until the 17th. At this time 
Hood's rebel army was advancing on Columbia, 
hoping to beat the national forces into Nashville. 

The Ninety-seventh Ohio (with its corps) moved 



up in advance of the enemy to Columbia, and 
his advance was driven from the vicinity of the 
place. On the 2yth of November, Columbia was 
evacuated by the national forces, and, after blow- 
ing up the fort at that place, they marched in the 
direction of Franklin, Tennessee. The second 
division of the Fourth Army Corps encountered 
the enemy at Spring Hill at 3 o'clock P. M.,on the 
29th day of November, and fought him until 
dark. In the night the remainder of the na- 
tional force- came up from the vicinity of Colum- 
bia, and the march was resumed and continued 
to the town of Franklin. The second division of 
the Fourth Army Corps covered the rear in this 
march, and was almost continually skirmi.shing 
with the enemy. This march was made arduous 
in the extreme, the enemy giving no chance for 
rest. 

In the battle of Nashville, the Ninety-seventh 
was with the second division of the Fourth 
Army Corps on the left center, and took part in 
the tirst assault on the rebel lines, driving the 
enemy in great confusion. 

On the IGth of December the enemy was found 
strongly posted on the Bedford hills. He was 
again attacked and driven, the Ninety-seventh 
participating in the charge. The pursuit was 
continued, with some fighting, and the Ninety- 
seventh (with the Fourth Army Corps), reached 
Huntsville, Alabama, on the 3d of January, 1S65. 

It remained at Huntsville in quarters, until 
the 2Sth day of March, when the entire corps 
moved to Bull's Gap, in East Tennessee, and com- 
menced rebuilding the East Tennessee and Vir- 
ginia railroad, with a view of advancing on Rich- 
mond, Virginia, by the way of Lynchburgh. 

Receiving information of the fall of Richmond 
and the surrender of the rebel armies. General 
Thomas moved his forces back to Nashville, ar- 
ring in that city on the 2d of May. 

On the 12th of June, 1SC5, the Ninety-seventh 
was mustered out of service at Nashville, and was 
immediately sent home to Columbus, where it 
was paid off and discharged, on the 15th day of 
June, 1S6.5. 

During the campaign of the Ninety-seventh, 
it was under fire over two hundred days, and 
took an active part in the battles of Perryville, 
Lavergne, Stone River, Chattanooga, Mission 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUXTY. 



367 



Eidgc, Charleston (Tennessee), Rocky Face, 
Resaca, Dalhis, Adairsville, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro', Lovejoy's 
Station, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. It 
lost in these battles one hundred and thirteen 
officers and men killed and live hundred and sixty 
wounded. 

The following correspondence was sent from 
the front, when the Ninety-seventh was at the 
different places from which the letters were dated. 
They were published in the Affe as follows : 

Camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee, 
.August 1!8, 1803. 

On Sunday morning, August 16, 1S6.3, the 
Ninety-seventh, then in the second brigade, 
fell in at the soimd of the bugle, and soon found 
itself climbing the rugged heights of the moun- 
tain. Ere it gained the summit, the rain began 
to descend in torrents, which continued until 
every thread of clothing was saturated. As the 
sun reached the meridian however the storm 
ceased, the regiment halted and the men dined. 
The afternoon and night was consumed in push- 
ing the wagons and artillery up the mountain. 
Imagine, if you can, everything as dark as 
Egyptian night; a road ascending at about forty- 
five degrees; mud many inches deep; six jaded 
mules hitched to a heavy government wagon, 
and a squad of tired, muddy men at the wheels, 
at midnight, and you have a poor pen-picture of 
what the Coshocton men of the Ninety-seventh 
are doing in front of Chattanooga. 

Respectfully, H. M., 

Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio. 

The following communications, published in 
the Age of date September 24, 1S63, speak for 
themselves : 

FLAG PRESENTATION. 

To the Officers and EnlUted Men of the Ninety-seventh 

Ohio: 

Soldiers of the Ninety-seventh, we are com- 
missioned by the ladies of Coshocton to present 
you the accompanying Hag. It is the M Hag 
which for many a weary month you have fol- 
lowed so faithfully and defended so well. We 
present it, that when you look upon it you may 
think of the hands from which it came, and know 
that you are not forgotten at home. 

Be assured that from the trenches of Covington 
Heights to the mountain pa.sses of the Cumber- 
land, our hearts have followed you. We have 
not forgotten how. when you had been barely 
mustered into the service, you hurried to bear 
your part with the defenders of Cincinnati ; how 



you suflTered and endured in the terrible march 
to Perryville; how, unprovided with tents or 
knapsacks, you exposed yourselves, without a 
murmur, to the storms of approaching winter; 
how, at Stone River, you helped to win the day 
that has given immortal gloiy to the armv of the 
Cumberland. 

May kind heaven spare you to a grateful coun- 
try, made by the valor of yourselves and your 
companions in arms, united", hajipy and free." 
Lizzie Taylor, '] „ 
Maria Hattersly, } Committee. 

Coshocton, August 6, 1803. 



Cumberland Mountains, Tenne.«see, 
Within Sight of Chattanooga. 
.\ugust 27, 1SG3. 

Being requested, on behalf of Company I, Nine- 
ty-seventh Regiment, O V. I., to acknowledge the 
receipt of a beautiful flag, which has been pre- 
sented to the regiment by the patriotic ladies of 
Coshocton, on behalf of the members of Company 
I, I will say, we will stand by this flag. We 
marched the day the flag was recei\-ed, and 
already it has taken part ni leading our bovs 
where victory .should perch o'er itsfolds. Oiir 
flag now floats within sight of the fortifications of 
the rebels at Chattanooga. 

Lieutenant George Smailes, 

Company I, Ninety-seventh Ohio. 

The following news from Missionary Ridge, 
giving the names of a number of Coshocton boys 
that were killed or wounded in front of Chatta- 
nooga, was published in the Age, of date Decem- 
ber 10, 1863: 

Lieutenant James McClure, Company I, Nine- 
ty-seventh O. V. I., has rerurned home from Chat- 
tanooga on a short leave of absence. Lieutenant 
McClure is severely wounded in the left liand. He 
reports the following casualties in Company I. 

Killed, Joseph Lacey, shot through the heart; 
Peter Reay, in the right eye; Jacob Leech, 
through the head. Woundedl Captain Martin 
Weiser, Lieutenant James McClure, Sergeant 
George Jack, Sergeant Josej)h Cooper, Sergeant 
William Harrison, Corporal George Starkey, 
Jose]ih Thornsley, Jack WaL-on, William Coy, 
J. W. Wright, Chris. Hootingcr, Benjamin Howell, 
Thomas McClain. William McElvcney, William 
Musgrove, M'illiam J. Boyd and Thoiiias Hamil- 
ton. 

Company H — Killed, David Owens and John 
Masters. Wounded, L, Harmon, Sergeant Mills, 
William Rodgers and D, Jenkins. 

Our boys have fought like veterans, and we 
sincerely mourn for the fallen ones and hope for 
the speedy recovery of the wounded. 



36S 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



In addition to the above, the following list of 
killed and wounded, from Coshocton county, be- 
longing to the Ninety-seventh, was iiublished in 
the Affe, of date July 9, 1804 : 

By letters from Captain C. C. Nichols, Captain 
Weisser and others, we have received the follow- 
ing list of killed and wounded in Companies H 
and I, of the Ninety-seventh O. V. I., from May 9 
to July 1 : 

Company H — Wounded, Abraham Balo, mor- 
tally (died Mav 10) ; John Chickenleg, Benjamin 
Bush, William Haines.Corporal D. E. Alniack, Levi 
Hamon, Samuel Haines, Sergeant Jesse S. Lake, 
Corporal John F. Hummer, Elias Ogden, Charles 
H. E^mmerson, Corjioral William Collins, mor- 
tiilly (since died), and Stephen Balo. Killed, 
Corporal Joseph Tumbull, E. C. Richards and 
Jacob Wiker. 

Company I— Wounded, Albert P. Taylor (since 
died); Warren Clemens, Albert B. Emmerson, 
Crispin Foster, mortally; Daniel Fortune, Chris. 
Hootingen, John H. Robson, Harrison Stock- 
man, Henry Williams, John Worthington, John 
A. Wilson. Killed, James T. Dillon and William 
D. Thomas. 

The Affi-, of July 16, 1864, publishes the follow- 
ing interesting letter from a member of Com- 
pany F, Ninety -seventh 0. V. I. : 

Camp in Front of Makietta, Georgia, 
July 1, 1864. 

Editor Age:— Notwithstanding you have of- 
ficial reports of all engagements, I can not re- 
frain from giving you a" short sketch of a skir- 
mish on the picket m which our Coshocton boys 
took a prominent part, and lost heavily. 

On the morning of the 22d of June, the Ninety- 
seventh Wiis sent out to the picket reserve, and 
four companies (two of them H and I), were im- 
mediately sent out to the picket line, under com- 
mand of Major J. Wat. Moore. Nothing of 
special interest occurred until 4 p. m.. when Ma- 
jor Moore received orders to advance his line, 
which being done, the enemy soon ojiened lire 
upon us. A most desperate and determined 
struggle ensued, when finding our brave fellows 
were encountering far superior numbers, rein- 
forcements were called for and sent, until 200 
were engaged on the picket line, out of which 101 
were killed or wounded. Major Moore being 
wounded, the command devolved upon Captain 
C. C. Nichols, of Coshocton, who demeaned him- 
self with credit and gallantry. When darkness 
came with its friendly curtain, pioneers imme- 
diately proceeded to intrench and dig rifle jiit.s, 
to screen the pickets from the cross fire to which 
they had been subjected. At 2 A. M., the follow- 



ing morning, we were relieved, leaving the lines 
to be held without very great danger. 

A Member of Company F, 

Ninety-seventh O. V. I. 

The part that the Ninety-seventh took in tlie 
.engagements from Jonesboro to Atlanta is set 
forth in a letter to the Age, bearing date Sep- 
tember 5, 1864, portions of which we give as 
follows: "On the 30th ultimo the Fourth (to 
which the Ninety-seventh belonged) and Twenty- 
third Corps struck the Macon line some five miles 
bej-ond Eastport Junction, and commenced skir- 
mishing briskly with the enemy on the right, 
driving them across Flint river towards Jones- 
boro. While the other corps were thus en- 
gaged, the Army of the Tennessee and the 
Fourth Corps were -v-igorously pressing the enemy 
on the right and left. At the break of day when 
Sherman found the enemy had retreated, he put 
his whole army in motion and followed in hot 
pursuit." During all this march the Ninety-sev- 
enth was at the front until the army went into 
Atlanta and camp. 

The following letter in the Age of date Febru- 
ary 25, 1865 explains itself: — 

Camp of the Ninety-seventh O. V. 1. 1 
HVNTSVILLE, .\LABAMA, February 8, 1865. / 

Allow US through the Age to say : the members 
of Company I, being highly impressed with the 
gallant, brave and noble manner in which Cap- 
tain M. Weiser has commanded his company (I) 
through the several engagements in which it has 
participated, as well as the gentlemanly and gen- 
erous course he has at all times iiursiied, have 
]iresented him with a sword and belts with sash 
at a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars as a 
token of our appreciation of his meritorious con- 
duct. Respectfully, 

Company I, Nixety-seyenth 0. V. I. 



CHAPTER XLL • 

war of the rebellion — CONTINUED. 

One Hundred and Twenty-second— Muster Rolls— Record of 
its Senices- Seventy-eighth Regiment— Its Services in the 
Field. 

THE One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio 
was recruited in the counties of Muskingum, 
Morgan, Coshocton and Guernsey. The Coshoc- 
ton complement consisted of two companies, viz : 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



371 



D and G, and were recruited mainly under the 
supervision of Captains Benjamin F. Sells of 
Company D, and 0. C. Farquhar of Company G. 
The muster rolls of these companies at enlist- 
ment were as follows: 

Company G. 

Officers. 

0. C. Farquhar, Captain. >• 

G. H. Barger, First Lieutenant. 

John Anderson, Second Lieutenant. 

Josiah Norman, First Sergeant. 

William Gorsline, Second Sergeant. 

Calvin Meizer, Third Sergeant. 

Daniel Shuck, Fourth Sergeant. 

Samuel Dougherty, Fifth Sergeant. 

Thomas P. Chance, First Corporal. 

Thomas G. Arnold, Second Corporal. 

George Graham, Third Corporal. 

Edwin Powers, Fourth Corporal. 

James S. Anderson, Fifth Corporal. 

John Minor, Sixth Corporal. 

Christopher Philabaum, Seventh Corporal. 

George N. Putt, Eighth Corporal. 

J. H. Loveless and James W. Law, Musicians. 

Enizy Maxfield, Teamster. 

Privates — Robert Axline, Levi Bailey, Lewis D. 
Barge, Levi Brown, Dame! Barr, Caleb Berry, 
George Boyd, William Brilhart, Amos Buckmas- 
ter, William Cassiday, Wash. Collins, Richard 
Dyer, Nathan Daugherty, William Donovan, Ben- 
jamin B. Emmerson, Alexander Finton, McCon- 
nel Fortune, J. A. Fleckenger, John H. Fretney, 
Gottleib Feas, William Gribben, David Garber, 
Peter Gephart, Zeth Goodhue, John Hawk, John 
Hawkins, David M. Harmon, George W. Har- 
mon, Lewis Hines, James Hamby, Samuel 
Hamby, Henry Hoogland, Zeb. Huff, Archie 
Heuston, George Jones, Porter Kinney, David 
Kost, Samuel Lewis, Enos J. Lower, Moses Lower, 
Luther B. Martin, Arch Martin, John A. Milli- 
gan, David C. Miser, John T. Miller, Thomas J. 
Murphy, Benjamin Milligan, James Maxfield, 
Thomas McPherson, N. C. McClain, Charles 
Moore, Andy Norman, Ezekiel Poland, James H. 
Poland, William Pyles, Nat Reed, Thomas Big- 
gie, J. W. Rinehart, David Reed, Edwin Riggle, 

13 



Isaac Stafibrd, Lyman Spaulding, Andy P. Stultz, 
David N. Thomiis, Palentine Thatcher, Amos 
Winkleplcek, William Ward, Peter Worley, Sam- 
uel Worth, George Younker. 

Company D. 

Officers. 

B. F. Sells, Captain. 
James Work, First Lieutenant, 
James Sells, Second Lieutenant. 
William A. McGruder, First Sergeant. 
Henry Forrest, Second Sergeant. 
Jacob Rogers, Third Sergeant. 
David Cooper, Fourth Sergeant. 
James Bradfield, Fifth Sergeant. 
John G. Powelson, First Corporal. 
John W. Watson, Second Corporal. 
Jacob Gribelcr, Third Corporal. 
Caleb C. Wheeler, Fourth Corporal. 
James H. Goodman, Fifth Corporal. 
James C. Stringfellow, Sixth Corporal. 
John W. Phillips, Seventh CoriDoral. 
Andrew D. Keefer, Eighth Corporal. 

Private.?. — George W. Adams, Lewis Bickelor, 
Charles Bertho, Samuel Binger, Ambrose Bryan, 
Ira C. Billman, Robert Brink, Adam Bodine, 
Noah Blackford, James Buckmaster, Joseph 
Cross, Elisha Cross, John P. Cly, James 0. Coch- 
ran, John Cochran, William H. Callentine, James 
B. Cooper, John Casebier, James Carter, William 
Camp, Vincent Clark, Augustus Cox, John Darr, 
William H. Divan, Joseph O. Donnely, John M. 
P. Davis, Samuel H. Elliott, Gotleib Fcas, Henry 
Freteg, Eli Fortner, Peter Fortner, William 
King, George King, William W. Kincaid, George 
Kiser, Zach M. Jewell, James Layland, George 
Ladees, John Lafland, Hugh Lynch, James jMil- 
ler, Robert Marshman, Thomas Jlullen, John W. 
Slagruder, Adam Murry, Patrick Murphy, Alex- 
ander Martin, John Meyers, John ^loore, Frank 
Morton, William JIcFee, Aaron Norris, Samuel 
Neptune, John T. Nelson, Samuel Phillips, John 
H. Ravir, William Roney, John W. Ridenbaugli, 
Levi Boss, William Roderick, William Reay. 

Companies A, B, D, E and H, of the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty -second, were nmstered into the 
United States service on the 30th day of October, 



372 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



18G2, at Zanesville; Company C, October 3; G, 
October 5; F, October 0; and Companies I and 
K, and the field and staif officers, October 8. 
On the 23d of October, the regiment left Camp 
Zanesville, with an aggregate of 927 men ; em- 
barked at Zanesville, on the steamers Powell 
and Patton, descended the Muskingum, and en- 
camped at Parkersburg, Virginia. It moved by 
railroad to Clarksburg, and became a part of 
the second brigade of Milroy's division; the 
brigade being composed of the One Hundred 
and Tenth, One Hundred and Sixteenth, One 
Hundred and Twenty-second, and One Hundred 
and Twenty-third Ohio regiments, Carlin's Vir- 
ginia battery, and one or two Virginia compa- 
nies of cavalry, and being commanded by Colonel 
Washburne, of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Ohio. On the 15th of November, the regiment 
moved by railroad to New Creek, and on the 5th 
of December was temporarily assigned to the 
first brigade of Milroy's division, Brigadier- 
General Cluseret, commanding. 

The brigade was ordered on an expedition up 
the valley of the South Branch of the Potomac, 
and, in a blinding snow storm, the regiment be- 
gan its first march. The coknnn advanced by 
way of Petersburg, in Hardy county, and Ward- 
ensville, and struck the valley pike at Strasburg. 
The train accompanying the expedition was 
guarded by a detachment from the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-second, and was attacked by 
McNeil's guerillas at Wardensville,but they were 
repulsed with some loss. The regiment was or- 
dered to Wardensville to keep open communica- 
tions, but lest it might be overpowered by the 
combined forces of Jones, Imboden and McNeil, 
it was ordered to Moorefield, and moved from 
there, with Milroy's command, toward Romney. 
McNeil attacked the train just north of the ford 
of the South Branch, and captured the teams and 
teamsters of eleven wagons and four men of 
Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-second, 
who were guarding that portion of the train. 
Passing through Romney, the regiment entered 
Winchester on tlie 1st of January, 1863, and, with 
the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, constituted 
the garrison of the place. 

On March 14, Milroy's division became the Sec- 
ond Division, Eighth Army Corps, and the four 



Ohio regiments which had composed the second 
brigade of the old division, were organized into 
the first brigade of the new division, in connec- 
tion with Carlin's battery and some cavalry, un- 
der the command of Brigadier General Elliott. 
The regiment was on scouts and expeditions, 
either as a whole or in detachments, to Newton, 
Front Royal, Summit Point, White Post, Cedar 
Creek, Millwood, and the Blue Ridge. During 
General Hooker's Chancellorsville campaign the 
One Hundred and Twenty-second, with other 
regiments, was sent up the Shenandoah valley to 
capture the town of Staunton. The expedition 
moved on the 4th of Slay, and advanced to New 
Market, when it was ordered back to Winchester 
by General Schenck. 

On June 13, Companies A and F, of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-second, met the advance 
of J. E. B. Stewart's raid on the Slrasburg road, 
and after a brisk skirmish retired to Winchester. 
The next day the entire regiment was engaged, 
and at night, it, with other troops, forced a 
way through the rebel lines and marched to 
Harper's Ferry. The regiment lost several of- 
ficers and men captured, some of whom were 
not exchanged vmtil April, 1865. 

The regiment spent one night on Bolivar 
Heights, and then crossed the Potomac and be- 
came a part of the garrison of Maryland Heights. 
Upon the evacuation of Maryland Heights, it ac- 
companied the heavy guns and public stores to 
Georgetown.District of Columbia; moved through 
^^^lshington City, and thence by rail to Frede- 
rick, where it was assigned to the Second Brig- 
ade, Third Division, Third Army Corps. The 
brigade at once marched against Lee, crossed the 
Potomac at Harper's Ferry, passed Loudon 
Heights by the road around their northern base ; 
marched southward along the eastern slope of 
the Blue Ridge, passed through Manassas Gap, 
and on the afternoon of July 23, marched in line 
of battle, as Ewell fell back from Wapping 
Heights. The next day it returned, passing 
through the Gap and through Warrenton, en- 
camped about the 1st of August near the Rappa- 
hannock. 

On account of the New York riots, the regi- 
ment was ordered to that city, and was distri- 
buted by detachments through the disturbed 



HISTORY ®F COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



373 



quarters. In September it rejoined the brigade, 
in camp on the Rappahannock, and marched to 
Culpepper Court House. During the tight at 
Winchester, about 100 officers and men of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-second became sepa- 
rated from the regiment, and moved with the 
One Hundred and Sixteentli Oliio to CumbeHand, 
and thence to Bloody Run. ' They were attached 
to the command of Major-General Couch, and 
following liis movements through the Cumber- 
land valley, formed a part of the garrison at Mar- 
tinsburg. This detachment joined the regiment 
at Culpepper, in the latter part of September. 
The One Hundred and Twenty-second moved 
from Culpepper to Centervillc in October, and 
held its election for Governor and State officers 
while in line of battle, on the afternocjn that 
Warren so roughly handled A. P. Hill, at Bristow 
Station. Returning toward the Rapjiahannock, 
it crossed the river November 8, and took part 
in the skirmish at Brandy Station. On tlie '2Gth, 
the regiment was again on the march, crossed 
the Rapidan, and fought at Locust Grove. It re- 
turned to Brandy Station, December 3, occupied 
ground on the farm of J. Minor Botts, and con- 
structed winter-quarters. In March, 1SG4, the 
the third division of the Third Corps, became 
the third division of the Sixth Corps. 

On May 4, winter quarters were abandoned. 
The next day the brigade guarded the road lead- 
ing up the south bank of the Rapidan until noon, 
•when it marched to the front, in the battle of the 
Wilderness. The regiment )naintained itself well 
through the fight, losing on the tirst day over one 
hundred and twenty men. During the subse- 
quent movements to Spottsylvania, to Guinea 
Dejiot, to the North Anna, and across the Pa- 
munkey, the regiment performed its full share 
of i)icket and skirmish-duty, being under fire 
almost every day. Arriving at Tolopotomy 
Creek, May 30, it was placed on the skirmish- 
line, and on the 31st aided in capturing a rifle-pit 
from the enemy. The regiment moved to Coal 
Harbor, and was engaged in a general assault on 
tlie rebel works, taking and holding those in its 
front. On the 3d of June it again advanced, and 
occupied a new position. The regiment moved 
forward by regular approaches, being continu- 
ally under fire and sustaining considerable loss, 



until June 12, when it marched to Jones' Bridge, 
on the Chicahominy, and thence, via Charles 
City, C. H., to Wilcox Landing, on the James; 
ascended the river and reported to General But- 
ler, at Bermuda Hundred. 

Here a detachment of eighty conscripts and 
substitutes joined the regiment, and, on the 10th, 
it crossed the Appomattox and marched to the 
lines in front of Petersburg. After a few days' 
rest it went into position on the extreme left, 
and, after heavy skirmishing on the 22d and 23d, 
obtained possession of the Weldon railroad. It 
was held until a portion of it was destroyed, when 
the rebels, having received re-enforcements, re- 
gained it. On the 29th the regiment marched to 
Ream's Station, fortified, destroyed a mile or 
two of railroad, and returned to Petersburg 
July 1. On the same day between fifty and sixty 
conscripts and substitutes joined the regiment, 
and, on the tuh, it moved, with the division, on 
steamers via Fortress Monroe and the Chesa- 
peake to Baltimore. The One Hundred and 
Twenty-second was divided, and, owing to an ac- 
cident, one half of it did not arrive in the 
Patapsco until July 9, when it, with the Sixth 
Maryland and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania, started 
by rail for Frederick. On that day the other half 
of the regiment, with remainder of the division, 
fought the battle of Monocacy Junction. The 
trctpps on the cars arrived in time to cover the 
retreat, and the third division marched to Elli- 
cott's Mills, and moved thence by cars to Balti- 
more. The third division proceeded to Wash- 
ington, and from there through Tenallytown 
across the Potomac, below the mouth of Goose 
creek, and joined the corps near Leesburg. 

The regiment followed Early through Snick- 
er's Gap to near Berryville, and then returned to 
Tenallytown. It soon after advanced via Rock- 
ville and Monocacy Junction to Harper's Ferry. 
On the 30th of July the army recrossed the Po- 
tomac, and concentrated near the junction, where 
the regiment enjoyed a few days' rest, for the first 
time since the opening of the campaign. On the 
7th of August the army moved to Halltown, and 
on the 10th marched via Clifton, Berryville and 
Newton, to the front of Early's works at Fisher's 
Hill. After various marches and skirmishes, on 
the 19th of September Sheridan moved down to 



374 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the crossing of the Ojiequan, between Berryville 
and Winchester, drove in the rebel pickets, and 
by 10 o'clock A. m. the Sixth Corps was formed 
in order of battle, two and a half miles east of 
Winchester. In the battle which ensued the regi- 
ment bore an important part, and in entering the 
town it came upon the old camp ground which it 
occupied in 1863 uhder Milroy. Before daybreak 
the next day the troops were again on the march, 
and soon after midday came up with Early at 
Fisher's Hill. On the 22d five companies of the 
regiment, with other troops on the skirmish line, 
drove the rebel skirmishers into their main works, 
and occupied the hills close to Early's intrench- 
ments. 

As soon as Crook was known to have gained the 
enemy's flank, the second brigade pushed over 
the breastworks, captured three guns, and assisted 
in driving the rebels from their position. The 
regiment pursued Early as far as Mount Craw- 
ford, and returning to Strasburg, rested a short 
time, and then moved via Front Koj'al toward 
Alexandria. When the head of the column was 
approaching the Shenandoah, opposite Ashley's 
Gap, it was overtaken by an order to return to 
Cedar creek, as Early was coming down again ; 
and on the 14th of October the Sixth Corps was 
in position along the hills bordering Cedar creek. 
On the 19th the regiment was actively engaged, 
and assisted in driving Early across Cedar (!reek. 

Sheridan's army went into cantonments south 
of Kernstown, November 10, and on the 3d of De- 
cember the Sixth Corps moved by cars to Wash- 
ington, and thence by boat to City Point. A few 
days later the One Hundred and Twentj'-seeond 
was in the lines before Petersburg, holding the 
" curtain " between Forts Keen and Wadsworth, 
just west of the Weldon railroad. 

Li January, 1S65, it moved with the corps to 
the left, when Grant extended his lines beyond 
Hatcher's Eun, and was placed in position near 
Fort Fisher. On the 25th of March, with the 
brigade, it captured and held the rebel picket- 
trenches. 

At four o'clock a. m., April 2, the Sixth Corps 
advanced against the enemj- and drove them from 
their fortifications. Marching in pursuit, the corps 
struck Lee's flying army, with the One Hundred 
imd Twenty-second on the skirmish line, and 



broke the rebel columns. It was present at Lee's 
surrender, and afterward marched to Danville, 
Virginia. It returned to Washington City in 
June, and was reviewed by the President and 
members of the Cabinet. 

It was mustered out on the 26th of July, with 
an aggregate of 585 men, and was paid and dis- 
charged at Columb'^is on the 30th of July, 1865. 

The following letters from difl'erent members 
of the One Hundred and Twenty-second, who- 
were enlisted in Coshocton county, give, besides 
personal reminiscences, more directly the part 
taken in the various battles of the regiment by 
the Coshocton companies. 

Wheeling, Va., June 19, 1863. 

In regard to the Winchester battle, having; 
been for four months previous thereto detailed 
from my regiment as judge advocate of our gen- 
eral court martial in the Second Division of the 
Eighth Army Corps, I was ordered to report for 
field duty on General Milroy's staff', in which 
position I acted during the engagement, on 
Saturday at 10 o'clock a. m. The One Hundred 
and Twenty -second was not engaged outside the 
forts until Monday, and up to that time had lost 
but few men and had only twelve wounded ; but 
on Monday its loss was heavy, as the regiment, 
was' ordered to assault a rebel battery in the 
woods, having a severe fight and making a gal- 
lant charge. The sensation produced on one 
after being under fire for awhile is very different 
from what I expected. I felt, after the first hour 
or so, all right. Monday morning I was sent to 
some place on the field with an order, and get- 
ting cut ofl'from the main body, had a hard ride 
to keep from going to Richmond. The force at- 
tacking us was Jackson's old corps, under Ewell, 
about 30,000 strong; our force was about 8,000 
effective men. At 2 o'clock on jSIonday, we 
spiked all our guns, lea\dng wagons, baggage, etc. 
I lost everything I had except what I had on. 

G. H. Baeger. 

Captain Barger is still a resident of Coshocton 
county and a prominent member of the bar. At 
the time when tlie above letter was written Cap- 
tain Barger was First Lieutenant of Company 
G, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio. He- 
was proniated to the captaincy, and commis- 
sioned, March 26, 1864, and resigned from the 
service October, 1864. 

The following is from the A^f, of date Decem- 
ber 31, 1863: 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



375 



The One Huiulred and Twenty -second Ohio 
was near the front during the advance of the 
Army of the rotoniac. Colonel Ball telegraphed 
from" Brandy Station that all the officers were 
safe, but that' the regiment had lost six killed and 
thirty-two wounded, of whom twenty-two are 
seriously hurt. The killed are; Edward Green, 
JohuMorling and William A. Phillips, of Com- 
pany C; Solomon Thompson, Comjiany E; Wil- 
liam K. Tudor, Com'pany I; John Hawkins, 
Company G. 

And in the Ar/r, of date January 23, 1SG4, the 
following from Captain B. F. Sells, of Company D: 

Camp Neak Beai.to.n Station, Vikc.inia, Dec. i5, 1863. 

I have just received official information of the 
death of another member of my company. 
Private RobertMarshman died at Second Division 
Hospital, at Alexandria, December 21, from a 
gunshot wound received in the light at Mine 
Run, the 27th day of November, 186.S. Private 
Jlarshnian was a promjit and efficient soldier, 
always ready and willing for duty — he had no 
superior and few equals. B. F. Sells. 

In the Age, of date June 18, 1864, these deaths 
are recorded : 

The One HnNDRED asd Twentv-Second O. 
V. I.-— This gallant regiment h;is suffered severely 
in the Virginia battles. From a long list of cas- 
ualties we copy the following of Coshocton com- 
panies : 

Company D — Killed, Martin Vance. Wounded, 
John P. Cly, Josejih O'Donnel, James Cooper and 
Thomas Nelson. 

Ccimpany G — Killed, Corporal E. Polan. 
Wounded, First Sergeant William Gorsline, Ser- 
geant C. C. Meyer, R. H. A.xline, D. B. Myser, E. 
Rigglcr, William Ward, J. W. Rinehart, Lewis 
Smith, W. King, Es. Polen and H. Moore. We 
have noticed Cajitain Work's death in a previous 
issue. 

pevesty-eighth regiment. 

Quite a number of the citizens of Coshocton 
county enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Ohio, who 
were not credited to Coshocton. While not 
enumerating any, except such as have contrib- 
iited personal reminiscences, it would not be just 
to omit a consideration of the regimental history 
of the Seventy-eighth. It was raised under sjje- 
cial authority from Governor Dennison, issued to 
M. D. Leggett, Esq., of Zanesville, Muskingum 
county, Ohio. M. D. Leggett, afterward appointed 
brigadier general, was well and favorably known 
iu Coshocton county, and his popularity ac- 



counted for the enrollment of a large number of 
those citizens whose homes were in the adjacent 
townships of Coshocton county, making Zanes- 
ville as near a point of rendezvous as Coshocton, 

The first man of the regiment was enlisted on 
the 30th day of October, 1801. The organization, 
was completed on the 11th day of January, 18G2» 
and the regiment left by cars for Cincinnati on 
the 11th day of February, where steamers were 
found,.on which it embarked for Fort Donelson, 
on the Tennessee river. This point was reached 
on the 16th of February and the regiment went 
into position on the battle-field, but too late to 
take part in the action. Immediately after this 
battle the regiment saw its first field duty, that of 
talking care of the rebel prisoners and stores. 

On the 1st of March the regiment marched 
across the country to Metal Landing on the Ten- 
nessee river, where it went into camp awaiting 
transportation. About the 10th of March it 
moved with the national forces to Crump's Land- 
ing, and thence to Adamsville, on the road to 
Purdy, to guard an exposed flank of the army at 
Pittsburgh Landing. Nothing of interest trans- 
pired here except a few slight skirmishes with 
the enemy. 

Early on tiie morning of the 6th of April picket 
firing was heard by the troops stationed at 
Adamsville. The whole command was innnedi- 
ately drawn up in line awaiting orders. Receiv- 
ing orders at twelve o'clock M., the Seventy- 
eighth, with its brigade, marched to the battle- 
field, a distance of fourteen miles, and reached 
Pittsburg Landing at eight o'clock in Oie evening, 
in company with General Lew Wallace's division. 
The fight being over for the day the regiment 
went into camp for the night on the extreme 
right of the national army. At daylight on the 
morning of the 7th the regiment went into bat- 
tle on the right and was under fire throughout 
the day, with, however, but slight loss, only one 
man was killed and nine wounded. Retaining 
its position on the right, the Seventy-eighth 
shared the movement on Corinth. La guarding 
the right ttank of the army the regiment was 
frequently engaged in reconnoissances and skir- 
mishes with the enemy. 

On the evacuation of Corinth, the regiment 
marched with Lew Wallace's Division to Bethel 



376 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



where it was detaclied and sent with the Thir- 
tieth Ilhnois, under command of Colonel Leggett, 
to Jackson, Tennessee. The town was found in 
possession of a small rebel force, which was 
driven off, and the place occupied. At this place 
the regiment had the honor to raise a national 
flag on the pole where the first rebel flag was 
raised in Tennessee. 

At Jackson, the Seventy-eighth was transferred 
from Lew Wallace's division to General Logan's 
division. From Jackson, the Seventy-eighth, 
with the Thirtieth Illinois, were again sent, un- 
der Colonel Leggett, to Grand Junction. It re- 
mained at this point one month, and then re- 
turned to Bolivar. While there the regiment 
made several important and arduous reconnois- 
sances, in which a number of skirmishes were 
had with the enemy. On the 30th of August, the 
Seventy-eighth and Twentieth Ohio, one company 
of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and a section of 
the Ninth Indiana Artillery, had a brisk engage- 
ment at .Spring Creek, sixteen miles from Bolivar. 
While the engagement was in progress, four 
companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry, under 
Colonel Hogg, reported and took part in the 
fight. Colonel Hogg was killed. On the day be- 
fore the fight, a force of mounted infantry was 
improvised from the Seventy-eighth and Twen- 
tieth Ohio, by selecting three tried men from 
each company. This force under command of 
Lieutenants G. D. Munson, of the Seventy-eighth, 
and Ayers, of the Twentieth Ohio, was sent on a 
reconnoissance the night previous, and discovered 
the enemy in force. After capturing the rebel 
outposts it fell back to its main body. On the 
the next day this " mule cavalry " performed ex- 
cellent service, and to them was attributed largely 
the successful result of the fight. In this affiiir 
the loss of the regiment was slight. 

When the rebel army, under Price and Van 
Dorn, moved on luka, the Seventy-eighth 
marched, with Logan's division, to that point, 
but did not particijiate in the battle. Returning 
to Bolivar it joined Grant's forces in the move- 
ment toward Grenada, Mississippi, and was near 
Grenada in advance of the whole army, when, in 
consequence of the destruction by the enemy of 
Holly Springs, it fell back with the national army 
on that place. Immediately thereafter it accom- 



panied Grant's forces to Memphis, Tennessee, 
and thence by steamer to Lake Providence, 
where it was employed in cutting the bank of 
the Mississijipi, and opening Bayou Jackson for 
the purpose of overflowing the country below. 
While lying at this point the regiment, with its 
brigade, went to Eagle Point and up Mud Bayou 
to aid in saving some gunboats surrounded by 
the enemy. Milliken's Bend was the next point 
to which the Seventy-eighth was sent, where it 
joined the national army, under General Grant, 
then concentrating for the march on Vicksburg- 
On the occasion of running the blockade of 
Vicksburg with transports, twelve members of 
the Seventy-eighth Ohio were selected as part of 
the crew of one of the boats of this detail. Ser- 
geant James McLaughlin and private Hutl'man 
occupied themselves during the trip in playing^ 
cards by the light of the enemies guns. Cross- 
ing the Mississippi river at Bruinsburg, the regi- 
ment marched with the army to the rear of 
Vicksburg. On this march it jiarticipated in the 
battle of Raymond, on the 12th of May, 1863, and 
lost in killed and wounded about eighty men 

On the 16th of May it was engaged in the 
battle of Champion Hills, where it lost 116 men 
killed and wounded. During these battles Gen- 
eral Leggett was commaiiding the brigade 
having received his commission as Brigadier 
General on the 29th of November, 1862. On the 
17th, 18th, and 19th of May, the investment of 
Vicksburg was completed. On the 22d of May, 
the Seventy-eighth participated in the general 
charge of that day on the enemy's works, with 
slight loss. About the 2oth of May the regiment 
was joined to a force sent up the Yazoo river, 
under General Frank P. Blair, to look after a 
rebel force reported' to be moving to the relief of 
Vicksburg, under General Joseph E. Johnston. 
Johnston having changed his line of march to a 
point further south — toward Jackson — the com- 
mand returned to Vicksburg, and the Seventy- 
eighth Ohio resumed its position before the city. 
At this point General Leggett was transferred to 
the command of the first brigade of General 
Logan's division. On the 22d of June the Sev- 
enty-eightli. was again sent with a force to pre- 
vent the rebels under Johnston from crossing the 
Black river at Bovina. The regiment remained 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



377 



at Bovina until after the surrender of Vicksburg. 
Oil the 4th of July thfe Seventy-eighth joined 
Sherman in his march on Jackson, Mississippi. 
It was left at Chnton, where, on the 7th of July, 
it was attacked by rebel cavalry, which attack it 
handsomely repulsed. On the return of the na- 
tional forces to Vicksburg, the regiment accom- 
panied them and remained there until the latter 
part of August. It then marched with !McPher- 
son's expedition, to destroy the rebel mills, near 
Canton. Coming back to Vicksburg, it went 
with General Logan's division to Monroeville, 
Louisiana, on the Washita river, to look after a 
force of rebels reported to be in that vicinity. 

On the 5th of January, 1864, the Seventy-eighth 
re-enlisted for the war. Immediately thereafter 
the regiment marched with General Sherman on 
the Meridian expedition, and on its return was 
sent home on veteran furlough. The regiment 
returned on the 1st of May, and rende?voused at 
Cairo, Illionis. The division was re-organized at 
this jioint, and moved by steamers up the Ten- 
nessee river to Clifton From Clifton it marched 
over the Blue Mountain Ridge and joined Gen- 
eral Sherman's army at Acworth, Georgia. It 
was immediately placed in position on the left, 
and commenced its part of the campaign at At- 
lanta. 

On the 17th of June, the r(?giment took part in 
the attack on and capture of Bushy ^Mountain. 
About the time the order was given to move on 
the mountain a heavy rain storm commenced. 
General M. D, Leggett, commanding the third 
division of Logan's corjis, dashed up the slope 
and captured the rebel works, turning its guns 
on the rebels as they fled. By reason of the driv- 
ing rain, the other divisions that were to co-oijer- 
ate in the afl'air, did not perceive General Leg- 
gett's movement, and supjiosed the rebels still 
held the mountain and were tiring on the na- 
tional cavalry, directed their batteries on Leggett's 
division, and shelled the mountjiin until a stafi 
officer was sent to undeceive them. 

On the 27th of June the regiment participated 
in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. The regi- 
ment, with the .Vrrny of the Tennessee, then 
swung around the mountain to the cxt/eme right 
of Sherman's line, extending to the Chattahoochie, 
at the mouth of the Nicojack creek, thus flanking 



the rebel forces and causing them to evacuate the 
mountain. From the 5ih to the 6th of July the 
regiment was engaged in an almost continuous 
skirmishing and artillery duel. During this time, 
at intervals, it was almost impossible to prevent 
the privates of the two armies from affiliating. 
On one occasion a large boat was procured and 
placed in the middle of the Chattahoochie river, 
in each end of which a hostage was seated, and a 
squad of either party placed on the banks to shoot 
the hostiige if treachery was practiced. Brisk 
trade and card playing then commenced and 
continued until discovered and stopped by some 
of the officers. 

On the night of the 15th of July the rebels 
evacuated the north side of the Chattahoochie 
river, and, on the 16th, the regiment, with its 
brigade and division marched to Rosswell Fac- 
tories and crossed the Chattahoochie at that place. 
While the Seventy-eighth was on its march to this 
point, an afl'ecting incident occurred. Major 
James Reeves, the surgeon of the regiment, while 
walking through a clump of bushes, was accosted 
by a citizen of the country with a request for a 
national surgeon to administer medical aid to 
his sick daughter. The doctor at first demurred, 
but on reflection concluded to go with the man, 
who took him down in a valle}- and into a cave. 
In this secluded spot were congregated about 200 
Union refugees, hiding from the persecution of 
the rebel authorities. 

From Rossville the regiment moved directly 
on Atlanta. On the 21st of July the regiment 
participated in the attack on and capture of Bald 
Knob, a position commanding the city of Atlanta. 
The rebels occupied it in force, behind strong 
works. In carrying it the division suffered se- 
verely. This position being carried, shells were 
at once thrown into Atlanta bj- the national artil- 
lery. This ])osition was considered so imjuirtant 
by the rebel commander that in his anxiety to re- 
take it he, on the next day, threw his whole army 
on the left flank of the national lines and a terri- 
ble battle was the result, costing the life of the 
brave McPherson. The Seventj'-eighth Oliicj suf- 
fered severely. It lost 20.'? officers and men killed 
and wounded. At a critical moment the Seventy- 
eighth and Sixty-eighth Ohio held a line near 
Bald Knob, on which the rebels made a deter- 



378 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



mined attack. A hand-to-hand fight occurred in 
which desperate valor -was displayed on both 
sides. Of thirteen flag and color bearers of the 
Seventy-eighth Ohio, all were either killed or 
wounded. On one occasion a rebel was about to 
capture the flag, when Captain John Orr, of Com- 
pany H, seized a short sword from the ground 
and almost decapitated him. For this the Cap- 
tain received a gold medal from the board of 
honor of the Army of the Tennessee. 

The Seventy-eighth participated in the subse- 
quent movements of the Army of the Tennessee 
till the fall of Atlanta. It then went into camp 
near Atlanta, and remained there until about 
the middle of October, when it was sent up the 
Atlanta railroad to the vicinity of Chattanooga, 
to guard that line of supply. When Hood left 
the railroad and marched toward Decatur, the 
Seventy-eighth returned to Atlanta, by the way 
of Lost Mount<ain, reaching that place on the 
13th of November. On the 15th, it started with 
General Sherman's forces on the March to the 
Sea. 

After the taking of Savannah, and the march 
through the Carolinas, up to the surrender of 
Johnston's army, the regiment accompanied the 
national forces through Richmond, Virginia, to 
Washington City, and there participated in the 
grand review. 

From Washington it was sent by rail and river 
to Louisville, Kentucky. On the 9th day of July 
it started for Columbus, Ohio, and on the 17 th 
was paid off and mustered out of service. 

The Seventy-eighth passed through a series of 
battles and skirmishes that involved an immense 
amount of fatiguing duty and severe exposure. 
One of the saddest results that followed this tax- 
ing service, finds an illustration in the person of 
Hamilton Caton, from one of the best families in 
Coshocton county, and who is still living under 
the care of relatives in the county, incurably in- 
sane. William Caton was a faithful soldier, a 
private in the ranks of the Seventy-eighth ; he did 
not shrink from any task, and met any amount 
of exposure with a truly Spartan fortitude; the 
result of this physical drain, combined with the 
impressions produced by the horrors of war, was 
to becloud the mind of this patriot and soldier 
with the dark shadows of the insane, and though 



long years have elapsed since the war, and he has 
been through them all, the recipient of a grateful 
country's bounty, he still tramps over swamp 
and through thicket, and digs trench, and stands 
picket, ever hearing, day and night, the shrieks 
of shells and the dying. 

Co.shocton still retains as a citizen, another 
prominent member of the Seventy-eighth, in the 
person of A. W. Search, who, entering the ser- 
vice as a private, at the organization of the regi- 
ment, was promoted to the first lieutenancy 
July 1, 1S63, and to the captaincy January 11, 
1865. While holding the position of lieutenant, 
Captain Search was assigned to duty as adjutant 
of the reginient, and was also appointed judge 
advocate for the Third Division, Seventeenth 
Army Corps. Captain Search has for quite a 
number of years edited the Coshocton Age, and 
has been a prominent citizen in his influence in 
the count_t. Within the first three months • 
the year 1881, he has retired from the more pub- 
lic life of a newsj^aper man, to that of mercantile 
pursuits. 

The following interesting sketch of personal 
reminiscence is furnished by Captain Search: 

The Seventy-eighth had a few of that class in 
her private ranks, who were mighty men and 
brave — in words — and who continually boasted — 
in camp — of the j)rowoss tbey would manifest 
upon the field. A shrewd colonel, having over- 
heard their warlike speech while the division 
was on the march from Crump's Landing to 
Purdy, concluded it was bad to keep them wait- 
ing, and detailed a small scouting squad, taking 
in every man " of words " from the various com- 
panies, at midnight, to go ahead on a corduroy 
road and be vigilant and brave, and notify the 
main body if the enemy was found. A staff offi- 
cer was sent after them to sound the recall in a 
short time, who in leading his horse over the cor- 
duroy road and trailing his sword thereon so 
frightened the scouting squad of braves that they 
fled incontinently, minus guns, hats, and some- 
times coats. In going to La Grange, Tennessee, 
the regiment made a forced march which told so 
heavily on the boys that onl_y a few men out of 
each company showed up when the regiment 
first arrived, the balance coming on behind ex- 
hausted and spent. At La Grange there was a 
seminary located, the president of which, like 
Horace Greeley, prided himself upon "what he 
knew about farming" and gave good evidence of 
it, in a large field one side of his residence which 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



379 



was crowded with finely growing sweet potatoes; 
the boys of the Seventy-eighth immediately took 
possession and commenced digging thcni out 
with their bayonets. 

The j)rofessor came out and ordered them off, 
and, not a man giving the slightest heed, he then 
pompously asked: " Is this the manner in which 
you come to defend a down-trodden country?" 
and was answered by a shock-headed Coshocton 
county farmer in this wise: "Not much, boss; 
this is the way we dig taters." The professor 
surrendered and retired. On the Water Valley 
campaign an interesting incident occurred, show- 
ing the advantage of being the possessor of inge- 
nuity. General Logan's division came to the 
baiAs of a stream too deep to ford, the bridge 
over which had been burnt by the rebels. Gen- 
eral Logan rode to the front with his engineer, 
and inquired how long it would take to put a 
bridge over. The engineer .said, " Three days." 
Captain AViles, of Company C, Seventy-eighth, 
spoke up and told General Logan if he would 
fui'uish tliree reliefs, of a hundred men each, he 
would have it ready the next morning. The men 
were furnished, the bridge was built, and the di- 
vision wa-s over according to agreement, although 
the engineer swore it could not be done. It was 
managed by tearing down a cotton gin on the 
banks, and by cutting and floating limbs of trees 
into place. 

At Atlanta, during the severest part of the 
fight, while the Seventy-eighth was behind some 
earthworks, two brothers belonging to one of the 
companies of the Seventy-eighth, of the name 
Cocochnower, were so intense in their fighting 
hatred that they jumped upt)n the top of the 
works and loaded and fired until thev were both 
killed. 

Company C, under command of Cai)t;iin Wiles, 
was the pioneer company of the corps, and liad 
charge of the mining and .sapping, in order to ac- 
comj)li.-:h which they were compelled to load up 
a long wagon with bales of cotton, and push it on 
ahead to cover them from the fire of sharpshoot- 
ers. Maijy efforts were made by the rebels to 
burn it, and they finally shelled it and set it on 
fire. 

AVhile pushing the mining and sapping the 
men who were so detailed were continually at- 
tacked; among other methods that of the hand 
grenade being employed, and. in numerous in- 
stances, our boys would coolly pick them up, 
burning fuse and all, and throw them back into 
the rebel works, not without some fatal results 
however. 

Cajitain Search, it may be added, was, at one 
time, cai)tured by a small body of rebels who 
were hidden in the bush along side of the road 



leading to Resaca, and upon which road the 
Union forces were moving to meet Hood. 

Captain Search was then a staff officer, and 
was coming back on the road with orders to close 
up the sections of artillery on the road. As he 
was riding back he met a slouchy appearing man 
coming toward him, who, in the dusk of the 
evening, he sujiposed was one of the gunners or 
teamsters, when directly opposite Captain Search 
he seized the lines, thrust a pistol in his face, and, 
taking him off the road about three hundred 
yards, placed him in charge of a company of 
about one hundred. 

Considerable badgering was indulged in about 
appropriating the captain's property, but, finally, 
when they were ready to depart, he wa.s allowed 
to mount his own horse, which, being a good one, 
as they struck the road in crossing he put spurs 
to and dashed off, succeeding in getting away 
from his captors, it Iseing too risky for them to 
pursue him on the open highway. 



CHAPTER XLIL 

WAR OF THE REBELLION— CONTINUED. 

Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry — Its Operations in the 
Field — Thirty-seventh Ohio — A Record of its Services. 

THE Fifteenth and Thirty -seventh regiments, 
in so far as they find a representation in 
Coshocton county, obtained the Coshocton men 
somewhat similarly. The men who enlisted pro- 
posed going into other regiments, but were too 
late, and consequently became absorbed in the 
Fifteenth and Thirty-seventh. The following 
history of the Fifteenth is from "Ohio in the 
War"": 

The Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was 
one of the first to respond to the President's call 
for seventy-five thousand men for three months' 
service, and, on the 4th of May, 1861, the regi- 
ment was organized at Camp Jackson, Ccjlumbus, 
Ohio, and four days after moved to Camp God- 
dard, near Zanesville, Ohio. Here it spent about 
ten days, engaged in drilling, disciplining and 
active preparations for the field. It was tlien 
ordered into West Virginia, and, crossing the 
Ohio river at Bellaire, it was employed for some 



380 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



time in guard duty on tlie Baltimore and Ohio 
railroad, advancing as far as Grafton. It was en- 
gaged in the rout of the rebels under General 
Porterfield at Phillippi, on the 13th of June, and 
afterward took part in the affairs of Laurel Hill 
and Carrick's Ford. The regiment performed a 
large amount of marching and guard duty, and 
rendered valuable services to the Government in 
assisting to stay the progress of the rebels, who 
were endeavoring to carry the war into the north. 
Having served its term of enlistment, it returned ' 
to Columbus, Ohio, and was discharged about the | 
1st of August, having lost but two men, one killed 
and one dying of disease. 

The President having issued his call for three 
hundred thousand men for three years, the sol- 
diers of the Fifteenth felt the importance of a 
hearty response, and with their patriotism and 
ardoi not lessened, but rather increiised, by the 
trials and exposure incident to their three months' 
campaign, they almost immediately and almost 
unanimously resolved to reenlist; and the regi- 
ment was reorganized at Camp Mordecai Bartley, 
near Mansfield, Ohio, and left Camp Bartley for 
Camp Dennison on the 26th of September, 1861. 
At this place they received their arms and the 
remainder of their clothing, camp and garrison 
equipage. The regiment was armed with old 
Springfield and Harper's Ferry muskets altered, 
e.Kcept Companies A and B, which received En- 
field rifles. The outfit being completed on the 
4tli of October the regiment left for the held, its 
destination being Lexington. Kentucky. It re- 
mained in camp at Lexington until the 12th, 
when it was transported by rail to Louisville, and 
from there to Camp Nevin, near Notin's St^ition, 
Kentucky. At this place it was assigned to the 
sixth brigade, (General R. W.Johnson command- 
ing) Second Division, (General A. McD. McCook, 
commanding) of the Army of the Ohio, then 
commanded by General W. T. Sherman, subse- 
quently by General Buell. The regiment re- 
mained at Camp Nevin until the 9th of Decem- 
ber, 1861, when the division marched to Bacon 
creek, and on the following day the sixth brigade 
occupied Mumfordsville. On the morning of the 
14th the second division broke camp, moving in 
the direction of West Point to embark for Fort 
Donelson ; but upon receiving intelligence of its 



capture the division was marohed to Bowling 
Green. Crossing Barren river on the 27th, the 
command marched for Nashville, Tennessee, 
which place was reached on the 2cl of March. 
Camping grounds were selected about three miles 
from the city, and the army rested until the 10th, 
when the march to Savannah began ; which point 
was reached on the night of April 6, and on the 
morning of the 7th the regiment embarked for 
the battle-field and was engaged from about twelve 
M, till four p. M., when the enemy retreated. In 
this engagement the regiment lost six men killed 
and sixty-two wounded. 

In the subsequent operations against Corinth, 
the second division formed the reserve of the 
army, and did not take the front until the 27th of 
May. 

It was continually skirmishing with the enemy 
until the 30th, when the town was occupied by 
our forces. On the 10th of June the division 
marched to Battle Creek, Tennessee, crossing the 
Tennessee river at Florence, and, resting there 
several days, arrived at Battle Creek on the 18th 
of July. The regiment was engaged in building 
a fort at the mouth of Battle Creek and in the or- 
dinary duties of camp until the 20th of August, 
when General McCook's command moved to Al- 
temonte, on the Cumberland mountains, in which 
direction the invading army under Bragg was 
marching. From Altemonte the division marched, 
via Manchester and Murfreesboro, to Nashville, 
arriving there on the 8th of September. After 
halting two or three days the army marched to 
Bowling Green, and thence, by way of West 
Point, to Louisville, arriving on the 25th of Sep- 
tember. On the 1st of October the second divi- 
sion marched on the Shelbyville pike ii; pursuit 
of the enemy, reaching Shelbyville the second 
day. Remaining in camp a few days, the march 
was resumed to Lawrenceburg, where a skir- 
mish was had with the enemy in which the regi- 
ment was engaged. The division then marched to 
Perryville, wliirh was reached a few days after the 
battle of Chaplin Hills, and there joined the main 
army and marched in pursuit of Bragg as far as 
Crab Orchard, where it remained several days, 
and then marched to Nashville, where it arrived 
on the 7th of November, 1S62. 

The army was reorganized and thoroughly 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



381 



driUcil here, and, on the iGtli of December, ad- 
vanced on the enemy's position at Mnrfreesboro. 
In the battle of Stone Kiver the regiment was 
heavily engaged, losing eighteen killed and 
eighty-nine wounded. After the occupation of 
Murfreesboro by the army, under General Rose- 
crans, the Fifteenth was engaged in drilling, 
foraging, fortifying and picket duty imtil the 24th 
of July, when an advance was ordered on TuUa- 
homa and Shelbyville, which places were occu- 
pied by our army after the enemy was dislodged 
from his strong position at Golner's and Liberty 
Gaps, the latter being carried by the second di- 
vision, and the Fifteenth taking a very promi- 
nent jiart therein. 

In this engagement, one officer and seven men 
were killed, and twenty-three wounded. The 
second division was stationed at TuUahoma till 
the 16th of August, when it was ordered to Belle- 
fonte, Alabama, marching via Winchester and 
Salem, and arriving at its destination on the 22d. 
Remaining there about a week, the division 
marched to near Stevenson, Alaliama. On the 
2d of September the march was resumed in the 
direction of Rome, Georgia, crossing Lookout 
Mountain and camping at the eastern foot, near 
Alpine, on the 10th. After remaining in posi- 
tion for ten days, the command recrossed Look- 
out Mountain to ^^'inson's valley, and, on the 
11th, marched to a position in connection with 
main army in Lookout valley. 

The regiment remained in position on the ex- 
treme right flank of the army until the morning of 
the 19th,when it marched for the battlolield of 
Chickamauga.adistance of thirteen miles,and was 
engaged soon after its arrival. At Chickamauga 
the regiment lost one officer and nine men killed, 
two officers and sixty-nine men wounded, and 
forty men missing. The reginient bore its share 
in the arduous labors and privations of the 
seigc of Chattanooga, and on the 2oth of Novem- 
ber participated in the brilliant assault of Mission 
Ridge, capturing a number of i)risoners and 
some artillery. 

On the 2-!th of Xovcmh;>r the regiment, then 
belonging to the First Brigade, Third Division, 
Fourth Army Corps, marched with the corps to 
the relief of Knoxvillc, Tennessee, arriving on the 
8th of December; on the 20th the command 



moved to Strawberry Plains by way of Flat creek. 
On the 14th of January, 1864, the greater por- 
tion of the regiment having re-enlisted as veter- 
ans, it started for Columbus, Ohio, via Chatta- 
nooga, preparatory to being furloughed. The 
regiment arrived in Columlius, with .350 veterans, 
on the 10th of February, and the, men were fur- 
loughed on the 12th, 

On the 14th of March the regiment assembled 
at Camp Chase to return to the field, having re- 
cruited to upward of 900 men. Upon arriving 
at Nashville, on the 22d, the regiment was ordered 
to march to Chattanooga, arriving on the 5th of 
April, On the 8th the regiment moved to Cleve- 
land, Tennessee, meeting with a serious accident 
near Charleston, Tennessee, by a railroad train 
being thrown from the track, by which twenty 
men were more or less injured. 

The regiment moved to McDonald's Station on 
the 20th, and remained there till the opening of 
the spring campaign. At noon, on the 3d of 
May, the regiment broke camp and marched to 
Tunnel Hill, where General Sherman's army 
took position, and was constantly skirmishing 
with the enemy, this regiment being frequently 
engaged until the 13th, when the enemy evacu- 
ated Rocky Face Ridge and our army took pos- 
session of Dalton. 

The Fifteenth participated in the subsequent 
pursuit of the rebels, in the battle of Rcsaca and 
again in the jmrsuit and engagement near Dallas, 
where the regiment sufl'crod severely, losing nine- 
teen men killed, throe officers and sixty-one men 
wounded and nineteen men missing, who were 
supposed to be either killed or severely wounded. 
The color guard, with the exception of one corpo- 
ral, were all either killed or woiuideil, but the 
colors were safely brought oft' by the surviving 
member of the guard. Corporal David Hart, of 
Company I. The rebels having evacuated their 
works on the 5th of June, the army moved to the 
vicinity of Acworth, and on the 10th advanced to 
near Kenesaw Mountain. While skirmishing 
sharply, on the 14th of Jime, the regiment lost 
one officer and one man killed, and live men 
wounded, all belonging to Company A. On the 
morning of June 18, the rebels having withdrawn, 
a party of three or four men advanced to recon- 
noitre, and picking up a couple of stragglers, they 



382 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



were sent back in charge of Peter Cupp, a private 
of Company H, who, in returning to tlie regiment, 
suddenly camfe upon a rebel outijost. which had 
been left by accident. Cupp announced the with- 
drawal to them and ordered them to stack their 
arms and surrender, which they did, and one cap- 
tain, one lieutenant and sixteen men of the First 
Georgia volunteers were marched into our lines 
by Private Cupp. While in the vicinity the reg- 
iment was engaged in scouting and skirmishing, 
frequently capiuring prisoners. 

After crossing the Chattahoochie the regiment 
moved down the river on the 11th of July, and in 
connection with the division, drove back the en- 
emy's cavalry -and covered tiie crossing of the 
Fourteenth Corps. The line was advanced each 
day until it closed in around the rebel works be- 
fore Atlanta. On the night of August 25, the 
command to which the regiment belonged with- 
drew from the works in front and commenced 
the movement upon the communications in the 
rear of Atlanta, skirmishing with the enemy at 
Lovejoy's Station on the night of September 5, 
and, reaching Atlanta the 8th, the Fourth Corps 
encamped near Decatur. 

When the army of Hood began its raid upon 
our communications tlie regiment marched via 
Marietta and Rome, to the relief of Resaca, Octo- 
ber 3, and from Resaca it marched through Snake 
Creek Gap, by way of Salesville, Chattanooga and 
Pulaski to Columbia, where it was engaged in a 
slight skirmish. From Columbia the army moved 
toward Franklin, passing in view of the camp-fires 
of a corps of the enemy near Spring Hill, Ten- 
nessee. The regiment did not participate in the 
battle of Franklin, but was assigned the duty of 
covering the withdrawal of the forces and the re- 
treat to Nashville. At Nashville the regiment 
formed the extreme left of the army, and when 
the order came for the left to move forward the 
regiment advanced rapidly, capturing a fine bat- 
tery of four brass guns and some thirty prisoners 

On the 16th of December, the enemy was 
found entrenched in a strong position on Frank- 
lin pike, about five miles from the city. The regi- 
ment participated in a movement upoi\ these 
works, capturing prisoners to the number of two 
commissioned oflicers and one hundred men. 
The entire loss sustained by the regiment in the 



two days of the fight was two oflScers and one 
man killed and two otficers and twenty-four men 
wounded. The most vigorous pursuit was made 
by otu' army, but the infantry was unable to over- 
take the flying enemy, and after following the 
rebels to Lexington, Alabama, the corps moved 
in the direction of Iluntsville, and the regiment 
v,-ent into camj) at Bird Springs about the 4th or 
5th of January, lS65,and remained until the 15th 
of March when it was ordered to move into East 
Tennessee. It moved by rail to New Market, 
Tennessee, and then took tip the line of march to 
Greenville, to assfst in preventing the escape of 
Lee and Johnson, while Grant and Sherman 
pressed them to a surrender. The Fifteenth ar- 
rived at Greenville on the 5th of April, and on 
the 22d was ordered back to Nashville. On this 
march the regiment acted as train guard and 
reached Nashville about the 1st of May, 1865. 
From this time till the IGth of June, the regi- 
ment was in camp near Nashville, Tennessee, 
when orders were received to move to Texas. 
With a good degree of cheerfulness the men 
turned their backs once more upon their homes, 
went to Johnstonville and thence by boat to New 
Orleans. Moving down a short distance below 
the city they bivouacked in the old Jackson bat- 
tle ground till July 5, when they shipped for 
Texas. 

The regiment arrived at Indianola, Texas, 
July 9, disembarked, and in order to obtain a 
sufficient supply of water, marched that same 
night to Green Lake, a distance of about twenty 
miles. Remaining here just one month, on the 
10th of August it marched for San Antonio, a dis- 
tance of one hundred and fifty miles. The scarcity 
of water, the extreme heat, the want of suitable 
rations, together with inadequate transportation, 
all combined, made this one of the most severe 
marches the regiment ever endured. It reached 
the Salado, a small stream near the San .Vntonio, 
on the 21st of August, and remained there until 
October 20, when it was designated to perform 
post duty in the city, and it continued to act in 
this capacity till November 21, when it was mus- 
tered out and ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for 
final discharge. 

The regiment left San Antonio on the 24th of 
November and marched to Indianola, proceeding 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



383 



thenre, by way of Now Orloans ami Cairo, to 
Columbus, Oliio, where it arrived December 25, 
and was finally discliarged from the service of 
the United Suites, on the 27th of December, 1865. 

The Fifteenth Was among the first regiments 
to be mustered in, and among the last to be 
mustered out, having been in the service as an 
organization about four years and eight months. 

Few regiments present a better record upon 
battle fields and marches than the Fifteenth, while 
in respect to the intelligence a.id moral charac- 
ter of its officers and soldiers, it holds an enviable 
po.sition. 

It is worthy of note, that the Coshocton sol- 
diers in the Fifteenth, though not numerous, in 
following the varied vicissitudes of the regiment, 
as they did, from its muster in till its muster out, 
escaped without a death or a wound. 

THIRTY-SEVENTH. 

In \'iewing the record of the Thirty-seventh 
Ohio, it would be well to note the fact that it was 
recruited as a German regiment, and as stich was 
the third of its kind raised in Ohio. A large 
portion of the regiment was taken from Tuscar- 
awas county, and the German settlements of Co- 
shocton county bordering on Tuscarawas con- 
tributed liberally in enlistments that were cred- 
ited to Tuscarawas. The record of the regiment 
is as follows : 

The Thirty-seventh was jsrincipally recruited 
among the patriotic Germans of Cleveland, To- 
ledo and Chillicothe. The counties of Auglaize, 
Franklin, Mahoning and Tuscarawas (Coshocton 
men) furnished a number of the men ; Erie, 
Wyandot and Mercer also contributed liberally. 
Its organization was commenced under the call 
of President Lincoln for .300,000 men, in August, 
1861. By the latter part of Scptcmlicr, seven 
full companies had reported, and on the 1st of 
October SCO men were enrolled. With this num- 
ber the regiment was placed in Camp Dennison, 
and on the 2d of October it was mustered into 
the service armed and equipped. Colonel E. 
Siber, an accomplished German officer, who had 
.seen active servece in Prussia and Brazil, was se- 
lected as the commander of the regiment; L. 
Von Blessingh,of Toledo, Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
Charles Ankele, of Cleveland, Major. Its line 



otticcrs were selected from those who had seen 
service in the preceding three months' cam- 
paign. 

The regiment moved via Cincinnati to a point 
on the Kanawha river, in West Virginia, where 
it reported to General Rosecrans, then command- 
ing that department. Shortly after its arrival, 
the regiment was sent up the Kanawha, in com- 
pany with other forces, to the oil works at Can- 
nelton, with the view of driving tlie rebel Gen- 
eral Floyd out of that valley. The national 
forces moved uj) the valley, marching along Loup 
creek, flanked, and forced the rebels to evacuate 
Cotton Hill, and pursued them to within seven 
miles of Raleigh Court House. On its return 
from this expedition, the regiment went into 
winter-quarters, at Clifton, where it occupied 
itself in drilling and perfecting its organization, 
guarding all the principal points in the vicinity, 
and occasionally sending out scouting parties in 
all sections of that part of W^est Virginia. In 
.January, 1862, it went out on an expedition to 
Logan Court House, east of Guyandotte river, 
and eighty miles distant from Clifton. After 
marching and brisk skirmishing with the enemy's 
cavalry, the place was captured and all the war 
material destroyed. This accomplished, the reg- 
iment returned to Clifton, having suttered a loss 
of one officer and one man killed. In March, 
1862, the Thirty-seventh Ohio was added to the 
third provisional brigade of the Kanavha divis- 
ion, and ordered to accompany that division on a 
raid to the southern part of West Virginia, with 
the view of reaching and destroying, if possible, 
the Virginia and East Tennessee railroad, near 
Wytheville, Virginia. ' But, after severe and un- 
successful fighting at and near Princeton, on Eiist 
river, in which the regiment lo.st one officer and 
thirteen men killed, two oflicers and t'orty-si.ic 
men wounded, and fourteen men mis.sing, the 
national forces were compelled to retreat to Flat- 
top Mountain, where they remained in bivouac 
until the 1st of August, 1862. On that day the 
regiment marched to Raleigh, garrisoned the 
place, and scoured the country for a circuit of 
twenty-five miles. 

Li an expedition to Wyoming Court House, a 
detachment of the regiment fell into an ambus- 
cade, and were surrounded by the enemy, but cut 



384 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



•their way out of the difficulty with the loss of two 
killed, and one officer and seven men taken pris- 
oners. In the latter part of August the regiment 
marched in detaclinients to Fayetteville, Vir- 
ginia, which place was garrisoned by the Thirty- 
seventh and Thirty-fourth Ohio, and a temporary 
battery, composed of men from the Thirtj'-sev- 
enth Ohio on temporary duty. 

On the 10th of September two companies of the 
regiment were sent out on the Princeton road, 
and, after reaching a spot one and a half miles 
from their starting point, they encountered the 
■enemy in heavy force, making it necessary to fall 
back. Shortly after, the whole force was engaged 
with the enemy, led by General Loring. The 
fight lasted from V2 m. until dark, when Colonel 
Siber, the commanding officer of the Thirty- 
.seventh Ohio, being informed that another force 
of the enemy was threatening the national rear 
and line of retreat, the retreat was sounded, and, 
at 2 o'clock in the morning, the regiment moved 
back on the Gauley road, taking a position on 
Cotton Hill, and engaging the enemy an hour 
with eflective results. The retreat was then re- 
sumed, and, on the 12th of September, the national 
troops crossed the Kanawha river at Camp Piatt, 
and arrived at Charleston on the next day. The 
enemy, who had followed at a respectful distance, 
was here engaged and kept at bay until dark. 
This stand was necessary in order to cover tlie 
retreat of a valuable train of seven hundred wag- 
ons loaded with the entire supplies of all the 
troops in the Kanawha valley. 

After a very exhausting march of three days 
and nights, the Ohio river Wixs -cached on the 
loth, at a point nearly opposite Ripley, Ohio, and 
the troops crossed over, but almost immediately 
thereafter re-crossed the river, and went into 
camp at Point Pleasant. In this unfortunate re- 
treat the Thirty-seventh t^hio lost two men killed, 
three woimdcd and sixty-three missing, of which 
latter a large portion were teamsters and train 
guards. All the company wagons, camp equip- 
age and officers' baggage were lost near Fayette- 
ville by a rear attack of the enemy. 

On the 15th of October the company entered 
Kanawha valley, under command of Lieutenant 
L. Von Blessingh. Gauley Bridge was reached 
November 19th, where a camp was formed and 



occupied up to December, 1862, on which day 
the regiment marched to Camp Piatt, and from 
thence embarked on steamers for Cincinnati. 
While lying at the wharf there Colonel Siber as- 
siuned conmiand of the regiment, and was for- 
tunate enough to procure new Enfield rifles in 
exchange for the arms then in use. Proceeding 
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the regi- 
ment was landed at Napoleon, Arkansas, on the 
16th of January, 1862. Here it was, with other 
regiments, formed into the Third Brigade, Second 
Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. On the 
21st of January the troops moved over to Mili- 
ken's bend, nearly opposite Vicksburg, Missis- 
sippi, where they were engaged in the construc- 
tion of the canal which was to isolate Vicksburg 
from the river, and make it an inland town. A 
freshet in the Mississippi river compelled the 
regiment, with the other troops, to seek higher 
ground for encampment. Young's Point was 
selected. From Young's Point a number of ex- 
peditions were sent to the east side of the Missis- 
sippi and up the Yazoo river, in all of which the 
Thirty-seventh particijiated. 

On the 29th of April, 1862, the. regiment, im- 
der the comn)and of Lieutenant Colonel L. Von 
Blessingh, with eight other regiments of the di- 
vision embarked on steamers and were taken up 
the Yazoo river to Haines' Bluff. This move- 
ment was made as a feint to t'over the movements 
of General Grant, to the southeast of Vicksburg. 
The regiment returned to the west side of the 
IMississippi and again went info camp at Young's 
Point, performing guard and fatigue duty until 
the loth of May, when it was sent down to Grand 
Gulf. From that place it marched-with the force 
under General Grant to the rear of Vicksburg, 
where it was assigned as a portion of the front 
line of the army investing that place. In the 
bloody but unsuccessful assaidts on the enemy's 
works. May 19 and 22. and the subsequent siege 
of Vicksburg, the regiment lost nineteen killed 
and seventy-five wounded— including among the 
wounded Lieutenant Colonel L. Von Blessingh. 
This casualty devolved the command of the regi- 
ment upon Major C. Hipp until the ISfh of June, 
when Colonel Siber reported from his leave of 
absence, and resumed command. 

After the surrender of Vicksburg the Thirty- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



385 



seventh participated in the expedition against 
Jackson, Mississippi, and on its capture, July 17, 
it performed provost-guard duty for some days. 
On the 23d of July it marched to a camp of rest 
and reorganization, called Camp Sherman, near 
Big Black river. It remained in this camp up 
to the 26th of September, 186.3, on which day it 
marched into Vicksburg and embarked on the 
steamer Nashville for Memphis, Tennessee. From 
Memphis the regiment marched into Corinth, 
Mississippi ; thence to Cherokee Station, Ala- 
bama, reaching the latter place on the 20th of 
October, and remaining in bivouac until the 26th 
of the same month. 

The rebel General Forrest becoming trouble- 
some, the Thirty-seventh Ohio marched, with its 
division, to drive off his cavalry, who were oper- 
ating with the view of impeding the march of the 
national forces toward and for the relief of Chat- 
tanooga. On the 21st of November Chattanooga 
was reached, and on the nights of the 23d and 
24th the regiment crossed the Tennessee river, 
opposite Mission Ridge, and held a hill in front 
of the enemy during the night of the 24th, in 
ordci; to maintain communication with the first 
brigade of the division. On the morning of No- 
vember 2.5 the regiment participated in an as- 
sault on the enemy's fortified position, in which 
it lost five men killed and thirty-six wounded, 
live of the latter being officers. Although not 
successful in the charge, other points of the rebel 
line were broken and the enemy retreated dur- 
ing the following night, and was jiursued as far 
as Ringgold. 

At Gravesville, on the 29th of November, the 
regiment received orders to march with the di- 
vision to East Tennessee to drive the rebels un- 
der Longstreet from that part of the State. This 
campaign lasted for three weeks, and is memora- 
ble from the intense suli'ering endured by the 
troops. The weather was intensely cold, the men 
half clad, and numbers of them shoeless, and were 
compelled to subsist on half rations ; and yet these 
brave men endured all these privations without a 
murmur. On the contrary, unreasonable as it 
may seem, the men generally were in exuberant 
spirits, and it was noticed that more humorous 
jokes were current on that campaign than any 
that preceded it. On the march back, the regi- 



ment remained at Bridgeport, Alabama, until the 
26th of December, when it went into camp at 
Larkinsville, Alabama. 

In the beginning of the month of February, 
1S64, the Thirty-seventh formed part of an expe- 
dition sent toward Lebanon, Alabama, and on 
the 1.3th of the same m.onth it marched to Cleve- 
land, Tennessee, with the Fifteenth Army Corps, 
on a reconnoissance to the vicinity of Dalton, 
Georgia, returning to Larkinsville, Alabama, 
March 2. 

On the 8th of March, three-fourths of the men 
having re-enlisted for another term of three 
years, they were again mustered into the service, 
and placed in the Second Brigade, Second Di- 
vision of the Fifteenth Army Corps. The usual 
thirty days' leave was accorded, which the regi- 
ment enjoyed at their homes in Ohio. 

At the expiration of the furlough the men 
promptly rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near 
Cleveland, and by the 2Sth of April, 1864, were 
again at the front, ready for duty. On their way 
to duty a disastrous railroad accident occurred 
near Mumfordsville, Kentucky, by which thirty 
men were wounded and one killed. 

On the arrival of the regiment at Cliattanooga 
it was newly armed and equii)ped, and was im- 
mediately ordered to join its division (May 10), 
then operating in Sugar creek valley, Georgia. 
On the 13th of May it participated in the advance 
on Resaca, in which it lost three killed, two of 
whom were officers, and ten men wounded. 

The enemy having been driven out of his 
strongholds, the division and regiment crossed 
the Oostenaula river at Lay's Ferry, and marched 
towards Kingston, Georgia, reaching there on the 
19th of May. At this time the Thirty -seventh 
Ohio was under the command of Major C. Hipp, 
Lieutenant Colonel L. Von Blessingh being in 
Ohio on sick leave. 

In the march on Atlanta, Dallas was the next 
point reached. On the 23d of May, the enemy 
was encountered in strong force at that place, 
sheltered by a strongly fortified position. In this 
engagement and at New Hope Church (May 28, 
29 and June 1), the regiment only lost four men 
wounded. On the retreat of the enemy, the 
Thirty-seventh pursued toward Acworth, and 
went into line of battle in front of Kenesaw 



386 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Mountain, and participated in the memorable 
and disastrous assault made by the national 
forces against that stronghold, in which the 
enemy was compelled to fall back and abandon 
the position. Up to this point (from June 11 to 
July 2), the regiment lost four men killed and 
nineteen wounded. 

Again on the march, the regiment was next 
found, with its division, to the extreme right of 
the army, supporting the Twenty-third Army 
Corps in the engagements near the Chattahoochie 
river and Nicojack creek. Immediately after, it 
was ordered to the left (July 12), and marched 
through Marietta, Eosswell Factories and across 
the Chattahoochie river. Strong breast works 
were built on the south side of the river, and the 
regiment moved by a rapid march to the Atlanta 
and Augusta railroad, which was distroyed for a 
considerable distance. It then moved through 
Decatur on Atlanta, and on the 20th of July, 1864, 
encamped within two miles of that city. 

On the 22d of July the Thirty-seventh Ohio 
held a position on the right of its division, in the 
breastworks abandoned by the enemy on the pre- 
vious night. The enemy, receiving heavy rein- 
forcements, succeeded in breaking the national 
lines on the left, whereby the Thirty-seventh was 
flanked and compelled to " get out of that." In 
this reversed movement it lost four men killed, 
ten wounded, and thirty-eight taken prisoners. 
The national forces, stung to the quick by the suc- 
cess of the enemy, turned fiercely upon them, and 
with the help of the Sixteenth Army Corps, re- 
took the position and held it. On the 27th of July 
the Fifteenth Army Corps was moved to the right 
of the besieging army, thereby threatening the 
enemy's communication with Macon and the 
South generally. Perceiving too late the advan- 
tage that had been gained by the national move- 
ment, the enemy made an effort to drive them 
from their position, and for that purpose the bat- 
tle of Ezra Chapel was fought (a fierce encounter) 
in which the rebels were severely punished. 
Tlie Thirty-seventh Ohio held the extreme right 
in this engagement, was deployed as skirmishers 
and completely frustrated an attempt of the enemy 
to turn the national right. Major C. Hipp com- 
manded the regiment in this affixir, and lost his 
left arm at the commencement of the battle. This 



devolved the command on Captain Morritz, who 
took the regiment through the remainder of the 
battle. The regiment lost one man killed and five 
wounded. 

Very nearly a month (from July 28 to August 
26) was consumed in advancing the national lines 
toward the fortifications in front of the railroad 
leading from Atlanta to East Point, during which 
period the regiment lost five men killed and eight 
wounded. It then moved with its division, over 
the Atlanta and Montgomery railroad, toward 
Jonesboro on the Atlantic and Slacon railroad. 

The 30th of August found the Thirty-seventh 
in line of battle, moving on Jonesboro in advance 
of the brigade. Driving the enemy's skirmishers 
before it, at sundown it had gained a position one- 
half mile west of the railroad, where, during the 
night, it threw up intrenchments, and participa- 
ted in the bloody repulse of the enemy's repeated 
charges on the national position. The loss of the 
regiment during these two days (August 30th and 
31st), was two killed and seven wounded. 

Jonesboro was entered by the national troops 
on the 1st of September at noon. By night, At- 
lanta was occupied, and the national forces in full 
pursuit of the rebel army. The pursuit was 
abandoned at Lovejoy's Station, and the regiment 
returned to East Point (September 7), where it 
went into camj) and rested until the 4th of Octo- 
ber, 1864. The Thirty-seventh Ohio left its camp, 
in pursuit of the rebel forces under Hood, on the 
4th of October. Forced marches were made over 
Northern Georgia and Alabama, and the enemy's 
cavalry rear guard encountered near Gadsden, 
Alabama, on the Coosa river. On the advance of 
the brigade in line of battle, the enemy retreated 
in such haste that it was useless for infantry to at- 
tempt the pursuit. The regiment then returned 
to Kuffin's Station, near the Chattahoochie river, 
where it remained up to the 13th of November. 
Lieutenant Colopel L. Von Blessingh, having re- 
covered from his illness, joined and resumed com- 
mand of the regiment, relieving Captain G. 
Boehm, who had taken the place of Captain Mor- 
ritz, absent on leave. 

The great March to the Sea was forming, and 
its energetic commander. Major General W. T. 
Sherman, had ordered up to Atlanta all the regi- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



389 



iiients and divisions that could be spared from 
<jeneral Thomas and the other army corps. 

On the 13th of November, 1SG4, the Thirty- 
seventh Ohio marched into Atlanta to draw the 
necessary outfit for the long march about to be 
made. On the loth it took up the line of march. 
The route of the regiment passed over Mc- 
Donough's Indian Springs, near which place it 
crossed the Ocmulgee river; thence through the 
towns of Hillsboro and Clinton. At the latter 
place it performed, in company with the Fifteenth 
Michigan Infaiitry, valuable guard duty, in pre- 
venting the enemy's cavalry from crossing the 
road leading to Marion, with the view of cap- 
turing and destroying a division train, then 
parked in the town of Clinton. Covering the 
rear of the division, the regiment marched the 
next day to Griswold, where it joined its division, 
and having crossed the Georgia Central Railroad, 
marched through Ironton. It crossed the Oconee 
on the 26th of November and, after marching 
through extensive swamps, arrived at Sum- 
mertown, November 13. Continuing its march 
through the low and swampy lands of Georgia, 
along the southern side of the Ogeechee river, it 
crossed the Connonchee river on the 9th of Dc- 
■cember; thence to the line of the Savannah and 
■Gulf Railroad, miles of which, with the assistance 
of other regiments.it destroyed. Eecrossing the 
Cannonchee, it passed the Ogeechee river and 
advanced to within nine miles of Savannah. 
On the 13th, it again crossed the Ogeechee, at 
King's bridge, advanced on Fort McAllister, 
wliich was invested by the national forces and 
carried by assault the same day. 

After some days rest the division again marched 
to the Savannah and Gulf Eailrcjad and completed 
its destruction for a distance of thirty miles. On 
the return of the brigade to Savannah it received 
orders to report to the lieadquarters of the Fif- 
teenth Army Corps to take part in the contem- 
plated general attack on Savannah. In the mean- 
time, however, the enemy evacuated the city, and 
the Thirty-seventh Ohio went into bivouac in a 
camp eleven miles west of the place. 

It afterward moved into the immediate vicinity 
of the city and occupied itself in drilling, perfect- 
ing its equipment and in fortifying against the 
enemy, who, it was thought, might possibly make 

14 



an cti'urt to regain possession of Savannah. On 
the I'.Hh of January. 1865, the regiment, under 
orders, marched to Fort Thunderbolt, on the 
Savannah river, where it embarked for Beaufort, 
South Carolina, which was reached on the 22d of 
January. At this jioint the regiment went into 
camp until the 27th of January, when it returned 
to Beaufort and took the division train out of the 
transports then lying in port at that place. On 
the 30th it escorted this train to Pocotoligo, and 
from thence marched to McPhersonville, where 
it joined the division, and went with it through 
South Carolina and the southern part of North 
Carolina. 

On this march it crossed Coosawattee, the Big 
and Little Combahee, the South and North Edisto, 
often wading through water up to the arm pits , 
of the men, and attacking the enemy in fortified 
positions. After crossing the Congaree, the regi- 
ment bivouacked on its banks, five miles south of 
Columbia. On the 16th of February it crossed 
the Saluda river, four miles above Colum))ia, and 
guarded the division train into Columbia. It 
crossed Broad river February 18, and was en- 
gaged for two days in destroying the track of the 
Columbia and Charleston railroad. On the 20th 
of February the regiment continued its march,^ 
crossing the Wateree and wading Lynch creek 
(which had assumed the dimensions of a river), 
on the 26th. At this point the regiment was 
compelled to halt until the 2d of March, to allow 
the balance of the division to come up, freshets 
and the carrying away of a bridge having retard- 
ed the march. 

On the 7th of March, Cheraw, South Carolina, 
was entered, and the Great Pedee crossed. 

The next day (March 8), the State line of North 
Carolina was crossed. After having crossed the 
headwaters of the Little Pedee, Lumber river, 
and Little river, the regiment was ordered to 
escort General Howard's headquarters and pon- 
toon trains of the Army of the Tennessee (right 
wing). It brought the trains safely into Fayette- 
ville. North Carolina, on the 11th of March. 

On the 14th of March, Cape Fear river wag 
crossed, the regiment marching on the road lead- 
ing to Clinton, which was guarded from the 
enemy's cavalry, then demonstrating in the- 
national front. On the 17th, Seaman's Cross- 



/ 



390 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



roads was reached, and the national army drew 
near Goldsboro', North Carolina. 

On the 22d of March, the regiment marched 
towards Goldsboro', crossed the Neuse river on 
the 24th and went into ramp two miles east of 
the town. The regiment renxained in this cami^ 
until the capitulation of Lee and Johnson, when, 
with the rest of the national annj", it marched, 
■via Richmond, Virginia, to Washington City, 
there passed in review before President Johnson 
and his Cabinet. Thence it was transported by 
rail to Louisville, Kentucky, where it lay until 
the latter part of June, when the regiment was 
sent with the Second Division of the Fifteenth 
Army Corps to Little Rock, Arkansas, arriving 
on the 4th of July. The regiment remained in 
camp there until the 12th of August, when it was 
mustered out and transported to Cleveland, Ohio, 
and there discharged, and the men returned to 
their respective homes. 



CHAPTER XLHL 

WAR OP THE REBELLION — CONTINUED. 

Sixty-Ninth Battalion, or One Hnndreil and Forty-Second 
Ohio N. G. and One Hundred and Forty-Third Ohio N. G' 
—Review ot the Sixty-Nintli Battalion— Rosters of Five 
Companies- Record of the Due Hundred and Forty-Second 
and One Hundred and Forty-Third— Correspondence from 
the Front. 

THE Sixty -ninth Battalion was originally com- 
posed of six companies, but at the time Gov- 
ernor Brough made a call upon the National Guard 
of Ohio there were but five companies. Two of 
these companies went into the One Hundred and 
Forty-second Ohio, and three into the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-third Ohio. 

The Sixty-ninth Battalion absorbed nearly all 
of the fighting element that was left in Coshocton 
comity, and the interest that was felt in the or- 
ganization is manifest in the following, published 
in the Age of date May 14, 18G4: 

The Coshocton county National Guards, that 
had been temporarily dismissed to their homes, 
on Wednesda)', the 4th inst., reported promptly 
for duty again on Monday last, and rendezvoused 
in the fair ground at 4 p. Jt. Tuesday, when they 
went aboard a special train, provided to convey 
them to Camp Chase. The weather, Tuesday, 



was very unpropitious, a cold rain falling all day^ 
and our streets were very muddy, but notwith- 
standing, a large concourse of people assembled 
at the depot to see the Sixty -ninth Battalion, O. N. 
G., depart, and many a friend wished them God 
speed and a safe return. They are as fine a look- 
ing body of men as have yet left the county, and 
are commanded by officers of known ability. Al- 
though calling them into service at the present 
time is very hard on many of them — in many 
cases no one being left to cultivate their farms — 
yet they went off cheerfully and in good spirits^ 
determined to do their duty wherever they may 
be sent. 

The Sixty-ninth Battalion was known in the- 
military records solely as part of the two regi- 
ments to which it was assigned as mentioned 
above. The muster rolls of the five companies 
are given as they were assigned. 

Muster rolls of Companies E, G and H, of the 
One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio: 

COJIPANY E. 

Officers : 

N. R. Tidball, Captain. 
D. F. Denman, First Lieutenant. 
J. Willis, Second Lieutenant. 
M. L. Norris, First Sergeant. 

C. C. Thompson, Second Sergeant. 
J. D. Evans, Third Sergeant. 

J. E. Milner Fourth Sergeaiit. 
Reuben Jennings, Fifth Sergeant. 

D. Laffer, First Corporal. 
John Day, Second Corporal. 

F. Suttlemcyer, Third Corporal. 
D. S. Waggoner, Fourth Corporal. 
William Watson, Fifth Corporal. 
George Mofiit, Sixth Corporal. 
William H. Mayberry, Seventh Corporal. 
D. W. Horton, Eighth Corporal. 
Alonzo McClure, Drummer. 
M. S. Beebe, Fifer. 

Privaten. — S. Anderson, A. J. Bricker, W. E. 
Butler, Howard Cass, H. Curch, James Donehew, 
John Dennis, J. B. Elliott, Jackson Engle, D. H. 
Ewing, William Frew, H. Fortune, J. Fortune,. 
Joseph Guinther, Joel Glover, G. W. Gilbert, 
James Hay, A. C. Hay, J. P. Hay, F. Hammtree. 
E. Hastings, Harrison Hart, Alexander Jennings, 
E. Kingler, 0. Laclore, William Lanzer, Robert 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



391 



Love, M. L. Linsey, W. S. Lutz, E. Michael, 
Wesley Jlarlatt, Edwin Mnrijhy, Lcnnel Marlatt, 
William F. Mobley, D. F. jNIeyers, K. A. Mohler, J. 
W. Norman, J. E. Oxley, Thomas Parson, A. P. Per- 
kins, S. L. Ricketts, Alexander Richards, Joseph 
Richards, Robert Sands, William Scott, Thomas 
Scott, John Sherrod, A. Steward, L.S.Smith, James 
Stone, Nick Swartz, M. Stcenhine, Samuel Tay- 
lor, W. S. Tidball, John Fish, Joseph Vincel, Ja- 
cob Vincel, George W. Vincel, William Webb, 
H. Waggoner, A. D. Wells, I. F. Wait, Thomas 
L Wells, Elias West, W. H. Williamson, L. H. 
Whinery, I. A. Williamson. 

Company G. 

Officers: 

John L. Daugherty, Captain. 
Andrew J. Stover, First Lieutenant. 
Daniel Rose, Second Lieutenant. 
Lewis Carhart, First Sergeant. 
Leander Bryant, Second Sergeant. 
Barzilla Shaw, Third Sergeant. 
John W. Graves, Fourth Sergeant. 
James Reed, Fifth Sergeant. 
Alexander McCullough, First Corporal. 
Thomas Le Retilley, Second Corporal. 
Hiram Hall, Third Corporal. 
William Austin, Fourth Corporal. 
Albert Wright, Fifth Corporal. 
Joseph Graves, Sixth Corporal. 
Phillip Bible, Seventh Corporal. 
Samuel S. Waddle, Eighth Corporal. 
Lewis Reed, Fifer. 
Martin Hack, Drummer. 
Samuel Squires, Wagonmaster. 

Privates— John Allen, Henry Akeroyd, Joseph 
Blackburn, Henry Bradlield, James Brennernan, 
William Bradfield, Jeremiah Barcroft, Moses Cha- 
ncy, Thomas Cook, W. H. Cox, Lewis Cain, Wil- 
liam CuUison, Franklin Catrel, William Dodd, 
William Dawson, J. Dawson, William Dunfee, 
Jared Doolittle, Jesse Fortune, T. J. Edwards, R. 
Finnel, T. A Finnel, N. Graves, James Graham, 
S. Gooden, Wesley Graves, George Hill, J. Hufi- 
man, J. Husten, William Huffman, S. Hues, S. 
Keyes, D. Kern, D. R. Larr, T. Lowery, J. Lowery, 
J. McCullough, F. D. Miller, William McCullough, 



H. Mulford, J. North, A. Ogle, L. Owen, J. Peart, 
William Peoples, William Phillip, R. Piatt, A. J. 
Randies, W. G. Ross, Josephus Kecd, J. H. Reed, 
G. Roney, G. C. Robinson, J. Sprigley, G. Sheron, 
Stewell Squire, J. Stevens, T. Smith, J. Stone, J. 
W. Taylor, J. W. Turner, M. D. Vaneman, J. W. 
Vansickel, H. Vansickel, H. Wright, G. W. Wright 

COWPASY H. 

Officers : 

James Rarie, Captain. 
John T. Crawford, First Lieutenant. 
Nathan Elliott, Second Lieutenant. 
W. H. Park, First Sergeant. 
Elias Steward, Second Sergeant. 
Nathan Glover, Third Sergeant. 
Thomas Love, Fourth Sergeant. 
Andrew Jack, Fifth Sergeant. 
John Waters, First Corporal. 
John Weir, Second Corporal. 
John E. Baker, Third Corporal. 
Harvey Ford, Fourth Corporal. 
Robert McGee, Fifth Corporal. 
John A. Duncan, Sixth Corporal. 
Robert McKarr, Seventh Corporal. 
Daniel Overholt, Eighth Corporal. 
James P. Lanning, Musician. 

Privates — John M. Adams, John Andrews, Ga- 
briel Andrews, Robert D. Boyd, Samuel E. Bcch- 
tol, Ramsey W. Boyd, James H. Boyd, Henry R 
Boyd, Samuel G. Bechtol, John C. Boyd, Francis 
M. Buckalew, Aaron Fitzwater, Hammon Carna- 
han, William A. Carnahan, Leander Catterell, 
John Derr, Joseph Davis, Jonas H. Duncan, Jo- 
seph R. Duncan, George Derr, William Derr, 
Thomas G. Ensley, Simeon H. Ellis, James El- 
liott, George W. Elliott, William A. Ensley, Rob- 
ert B. Finley, William G. Jack, Thomixs L. Karr, 
John W. Karr, Andrew Karr, George Kuhn, 
Benjamin J. Lower, Harrison Ling, Miland A. 
Larance, Sylvester Leant, John B. Linn, Joseph 
Ling, James L. Moorheail, Alex. McConnell, 
James Overholt, John J. Robertson, Cyrus Rey, 
James E. Reed, Harvey E. Shannon, William 
Shannon, Samuel Stonehocker, William Stewart, 
William F. Sands, Thomas Shannon, Isaac Staf- 
ford, Thomas C. Sayer, Joseph Stonehocker, 
Emanuel Sjianglcr, Istwc 51. Smith, Abraham 



392 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Shafier, David Stewart, Robert G. Terbit, Robert 
W. Thompson, Richard Walters, J. A. WilHam- 
son, Ebenezer Williamson, John T. Whitemore, 
Emanuel Winklepleck. 

Muster Rolls of Companies E and G of the One 
Hundred and Forty -second Ohio: 

Company E. 

Officers : 

Lambert B. Wolf, Captain. 
John Weatherwax, First Lieutenant. 
B. F. Lcighninger, Second Lieutenant. 
Joseph Fletcher, First Sergeant. 
Ralph Barcroft, Second Sergeant. 
Ander.son Hedge, Third Sergeant. 
William McLaughlin, Fourth Sergeant. 
Charles Conley, Fifth Sergeant. 
Hiram Phillips, First Corporal. 
Asa H. Lose, Second Corporal. 
Aaron G. Hedge, Third Corporal. 
George Leighninger, Fourth Corporal. 
Orin Jennings, Filth Corporal. 
Milton Brelslord, Sixth Corporal. 
B. F. Chamberlain, Seventh Corporal. 
F. W. Culbertson, Eighth Corporal. 
Musicians— Joseph Love, Fifer; Alonzo Sibley, 
Drummer. 

Privati-s. — L. F. Annsbaugh, Adam Aaronhalt, 
E. D. Baker, Jacob Brewer, Josiah Bible, Trusdal 
Babcock, David Barcroft, Christ. Bowers, Samuel 
Brillhart jr., L. G. Cheverant, Isaac Casbear, H 
W. Duling, Martin Duling, James Frazee, W. H. 
Fowler, Benjamin Fuller, Eli Fox, Josiah Green, 
Porter Hedge, Peter Holser, O. P. Jones, Joseph 
Jones, Samuel Jones, H. W. Jennings, James H. 
Johnson, D. W. Kelley, A. H. Lewis, A. J. Loos, 
Levi Lehninger, Levi Levengood, J. M. Mathena, 
C. H. Mathena, Francis McGuire, C. Meek, D. B. 
Mulvaine, Samuel McKee, A.W. Moffet, John Mor- 
rison, W. S. Magness, A. J. McCoy, J. A. McClain, 
David Norman, Richard Owens, J. Poland, Phile- 
mon Phillips, David Phillips, John Phillips, Adam 
Potter,W. J. Price, Joel Reherd, Lemuel Reherd, 
James Richmond, Henry Vanolinder, James Van- 
olinder, Levi Vansickle, William Venrick, Harri- 
son West, William Williamson, E. D. Wells, Wil- 
liam Wolf, Milton N. Wolf, S. P. Woodward, Wil- 



liam Williams, J. L. Watson, J. AVilliamson, E. 
Weathwax. 

Company G. 

Officers : 

Caleb Wheeler, Captain. 
David Lawson, First Lieutenant. 
Solomon McNabb, Second Lieutenant. 
Joseph J. Barrett, First Sergeant. 
Joseph J. Maggs, Second Sergeant. 
John Johnson, Third Sergeant. 
L. H. Hogle, Fourth Sergeant. 
John J. Given, Fifth Sergeant. 
Aaron Clark, First Corporal. 
John W. Edwards, Second Corporal. 
J. W. Moore, Third Corporal. 
William H. Cullison, Fourth Corporal. 
J. W. Thompson, Fifth Corporal. 
Cyrus Elder, Sixth Corporal. 
Adam Trimble, Seventh Corporal. 
G. W. Cullison, Eighth Corporal. 

Privates. — Joshua Ammond, John Barrett, 
James Barrett, John Bennett, M. Batemen, Alex- 
ander Barrett, J. S. Barcroft, Henry Brilhart, G. 
W. Crooks, John Cullison, Daniel Cammel, New- 
ton Callioon, D. Cullison, M. Cullison, Ben Culli- 
son, J. W. Clark, J. S. Churchill, Alonzo Clark, 
Thomas Carter, Charles DehufT, Jesse Downes, 
John Darr, Samuel Deviney, D. Dorsey, David 
Daniels, Stanton Fry, N. C. Guinn, S Gilbert, 
Henry Hayns, William Hubenthal, Thomas 
Jones, Samuel KnoflP; Robert Kyle, Joseph Lan- 
ders, John Little, Robert Long, Thomas Little, 
W. N. Lamey, S. Lanning, Daniel Miller, A. J. 
Mackey, W. S. Masterson, Corwin McCoy, Joseph 
McCoy, L. Ogean, R. Phillips, W. R. Polo, M. 
Pomeroy, H. Plummer, David Richcreek, T. O. 
Schooley, Joseph Speaks, J. W. Stanton, G. W. 
Smith, William Stewart, Joseph Smith, R. Smith, 
G. W. Stover, Joseph Treadway, H. Terry, John 
Taylor, G. S. Tredway, N. Thompson, Franklin 
Ulman, R. Willis, C." W. Wilson, H. Wolford, 
John Yunker. 

The One Hundred and Forty-second was or- 
ganized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into 
the service of the United States for 100 days, 
May 12, 1864. 

On the 14th it was marched through the streets 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



of Columbus to the State arsenal, where it was 
supplied with Enfield muskets. Thence it took 
cars for JIartinsburg, Virginia, where it remain- 
ed drilling until the 10th of May, and then left 
for Washington, D. C, but meeting with deten- 
tiim at Harper's Ferry, on account of the bridge 
bemg destroyed at that point, it did not reach the 
capitol until the 21st. 

From Washington it marched out to Fort Lyon, 
nine miles dist;\nt. The regiment did not reach 
the fort until late at night, and tinding no bar- 
racks, the men tasted their first experience of 
soldier life by lying prone upon the naked 
ground. That night's experience will be long re- 
membered ; .and many a good jolly laugh has 
been e.xpended at the recollections of the learned 
and serious conversations of the night about 
" suffering for the country," " the Valley Forge 
days repeated," etc. Their subsequent experi- 
ence of the hardships and privations of the sol- 
dier's life threw that night's "frolic" far into the 
shade. 

The regiment remained at Fort Lyon, busily 
engaged in strengthening the fortifications and 
perfecting its drill, until the 5th of June, when 
orders were received to report to General Aber- 
crombie at White House Landing, on the Pa- 
munkey river. Among the men some astonish- 
ment was expressed that they should be selected 
for duty at the extreme front ; but as good loyal 
soldiers, they felt gratified at the confidence re- 
posed in them. 

The regiment took steamer at Alexandria on 
the 7th of June, and arrived at the White House 
Landing, Pamunkey river, on the 9th of June 
about midnight, and went into camp in the open 
field. The wounded from the battle of Coal Har- 
bor, then in progress, were being brought in— a 
gloomy reception to inexperienced soldiers. 

Without rest, the regiment, carrying six days' 
rations, left all its baggage and marched, at 4 
o'clock in the morning, to guard a supply train 
through the Wilderness to General Grant's front, 
near Coal Harbor, a distance of sixteen miles. 
Arriving there in the evening, Colonel Cooper 
reported to General Meade, who ordered him to 
report his regiment to General Butler, at Bermu- 
da Hundred. This point was reached, by water, 
on the 13th of June, where, without being per- 



mitted to land, it was conveyed on transports to 
Point of Eocks, about five miles below Peters- 
burg, Here it was landed, and marched about 
about six miles to the extreme right of the na- 
tional line. Thinking to get a night's rest, the 
tired soldiers lay down on their blankets, but 
just as they had lapsed into dreamy forgetfulness, 
the long roll was sounded. Leaving its tents 
standing, the regiment was marched three miles 
on the double-quick, through a dense pine forest, 
dark, and filled with stumps and underbrush, 
over which the men often stumbled and fell. 
The point to be defended was reached, and the 
men were immediately placed in rifle-pits, in 
which exposed position they passed about a week. 
They were then detailed to destroy a line of 
earthworks from which the enemy had been 
driven. While engaged in this doty, they were 
resisted by tfie rebels, but the regiment, with the 
aid of other troops on the line, not only efTectu- 
ally completed the destruction, but drove the 
rebels from the field. 

Hardly a day passed without the regiment or 
detachments from it being detailed to perform 
picket and fatigue duty. At one time the whole 
regiment was detailed to build a fbrt at Turkey 
Bend, on James river, which duty it performed 
with credit and dispatch, although incessantly 
annoyed by shells from a hostile battery. 

On the 19th of August it received orders to re- 
pair to Washington City, as its term of ser\'ice 
had about expired. It accordingly embarked on 
transports at Bermuda Hundred and reached 
Washington City on the 21st. It then went by 
rail to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was there mustered 
out of the service of the United States on the 2d 
of September, 1804. 

The One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Na- 
tional Guard was princiimlly raised in the county 
of Knox, and was composed of men from all the 
various departments of life. The farmer, the me- 
chanic, the lawyer — aye, and the minister— all 
ceased their vocations for a time, and ofti?red their 
services— and their lives, if need be — to insure 
the perpetuity of the Union and its institutions. 

Out of an aggregate strength of eight hundred 
and forty-five men the regiment lost fifty, mostly 
from disease incident to camp life, excessive fa- 
tigue and exposure. 



394 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The One Hundred and Forty-third regiment 
was formed by consohdating the Eighteenth Bat- 
talion, Ohio National Guard, of Colnmbiana 
county, with the Sixtj'-ninth Battalion, Ohio Na- 
tional Guard, of Coshocton county. It was or- 
ganized at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 13th of May, 
and on the 15th left for Washington City. 

On its arrival it was assigned to Ilaskins' di- 
vision. Second Army Corps, and was placed on 
garrison duty in Forts Slemmer, Slocum and 
Stevens, north of the Potomac. On the 8th of 
June the regiment embarked for White House, 
but without debarking, it was ordered to Ber- 
muda Hundred. It was assigned to the Tenth 
Army Corps, and was placed in the intrench- 
ments at City Point, where it remained until 
ordered to Fort Pocahontas. It was relieved 
from duty at Fort Pocahontiis, August 29, and pro- 
ceeded to Camp Chase, where it arrived on the 
5th of September, and was mustered out of ser- 
vice on the 12th. 

The two companies of the Sixty-ninth Battalion 
0. N. G., which were assigned to the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-second Ohio, had much severer 
tasks assigned them than fell to the lot of the 
three compajiies forming part of the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-third. The causes are worthy of 
notice. The two regiments pursued the same 
route and were passing through similar expe- 
riences until the 5th of June, when both regi- 
ments were ordered to White House Landing, 
on the Pamunkey river, to re-enforce General 
Abercrombie. On this passage, while the boat, 
named "lolas," — w-hich contained the three com- 
panies of the One Hundred and Forty-third, 
among others — was on its route, at ten P. M., it 
was run into by a large schooner, and part of the 
deck swept overboard. Fortunately no one was 
Tip, except Captain N. R. Tidball and Private 
Lewis Smith, and there was in consequence no 
personal injury, although the boat was so much 
damaged, she was lashed to the schooner, and in 
the morning, was ordered back to Washington. 
The incident separated the two regiments, and 
orders did not call them together again during 
their hundred days service. 

While Company E, of the One Hundred and 
Forty-third, was acting as garrison for Fort Ste- 
vens, about four miles north of Washington city. 



an incident occurred that excited some consterna- 
tion among the men. Quite a number of the 
men, upon eating rice, were attacked with sick- 
ness and vomiting. Fifteen or twenty gasjjing, 
choking victims created quite an excitement in 
the mess, and it was thought that an effort had 
been made to poison the men, but no seriou^e- 
sults following, and the attempt not being repeat- 
ed, the matter was passed by without investiga- 
tion. 

During the month of June the One Hundred 
and Forty-third built a jiontoon bridge across the 
Appomattox ; the regiment was then encamped 
at City Point. It was arduously engaged in this 
labor, and also in the building of heavy fortifica- 
tions at Fort Pocahontas, at which point earth- 
works of the most extensive character were being 
constructed. These were mainly built by the 
One Hundred and Forty-third. 

The mortality among the men was very heavj', 
owing partly to the sudden change of climate and 
water in the hot months of the year, and partly to 
the heavy exertions required in the building of 
fortifications and the exposure requisite to their 
completion. 

Company E of the One Hundred and Forty- 
third lost eight men, all of whom died from ex- 
posure and heavy work, even though cared for in 
the best wards of the hospitals. 

The first member of the old Sixty-ninth Bat- 
talion who lost his life in the one hundred days' 
service was Elias West, who had been assigned to 
Company E of the One Hundred and Forty-third. 
His death was followed by those of W. E. Butler 
and A. C. Hay, at Fortress Monroe; John Den- 
nis, Reuben Jennings and Thomas C. Scott, at 
Wilson's Landing. 

The following item, published in the Age of date 
July 23, 1864, will serve to show how heavy was the 
tax of climate and labor on the boys during their 
brief, but memorable, one hundred days' service: 

F. C. Ricketts, of this place, returned a few days 
ago from a visit to Washington, and reports the 
following boys on the sick list. His report may 
be relied upon: 

Company H — W. A. Carnahan, in general hos- 
pital, Alexandria, Virginia; Andrew Karr and 
T. J. Karr, in Howard hospital, Washington, D. 
C'.; Sanniel Stonehoeker, Jan;kes Overholt, W. G. 
Jack, E. Spangler, Joseph Ling, S. Leavitt and J. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ti95 



E. Reed, in Hampton liospital, Fortress Monroe, 
and N. S. Glover, at Wilson's Landing, Virpinia. 
All the above are convalescent. S. E. Beclitol and 
J. A. Williamson, at the same hospital, are .vcr\' 
sick, cases doubtful. T. C. Saver died at Fortress 
Monroe, and Eli Seward at Wilson's Landing. 

Company G — Sick in Hamptim hospital. Fort- 
ress Monroe: A. Wright, S. S. Waddle, .1. North, 
J. Dawson, J. Bareroft, U. Wright and .J. Fortune ; 
sick in camp: L. Cain, W. .\ustin, W. H. Co.x, A. 
Ogle, W. H. Bradfield, A. McCuUough and 'Wil- 
liam Peoples. 

Company E— Sick in hospital at Fortress Mon- 
TOe: Lieutenant D. F. Denman, J. P. Randies, J. 
R. Stone, A. Donohew, L. Marlatt, T. .T. Wells, O. 
Leeclair, E. Hastings and W. H. Williamson. 
'Captain N. R. Tidball and W. S. Tidball are at 
Washington, and are convalescent. J. Vinsel and 
<3eorge Gilbert are in the hospital at Alexandria, 
Virginia. In camp hospital at Wilson's Landing: 
Robert Sands, E. McMichael, W. Marlatt, A. P. 
Perkins, D. F. Meyers, J. C. Glover and W. S. 
Lutes. 

The following extracts from letters from the 
toys of the One Hundred and Forty-second and 
One Hundred and Forty-third, will show how 
they demeaned themselves and how proud they 
felt of the old Sixty-ninth batallion. 

CVMP ClLVSE, COHIMBCS, OHIO, 

May 12. 1864. 

Owing to detentions along the road we did not 
reach Columbus until about twelve o'clock at 
night. After floundering around the freight de- 
pot until nearly two o'clock, A. m., we were or- 
dered to repair to Tod barracks where we ob- 
tained quarters till morning. 

As the night was cold, and the men jiretty well 
soaked with the rain, our slumbers were not as 
pleasant as we liked, but a good breakfast in the 
morning li.xed matters all right, and at 11, a. m., 
we marched for Camp Chase, four miles from 
Columbus, and by dark we were arranged com- 
fortably. 

In organizing one of the companies of the old 
Sixty-ninth, Company B, of Spring Mountain, 
:suddenly vanished and ceased to exist. Owing 
to some of the companies being below the mini- 
•miam strength, it became nece.ssary to consoli- 
date, and Company B, being the smallest it was 
divided among the others as follows: one man to 
Company A, one man to Company C, nineteen 
men to Company D, fourteen men to ComiMny 
E, eleven men to Company F. 

Cai>tain Wetherwax, of Company B, was of- 
fered, and accepted, the position of First Lieu- 
tenant in Company E, to till the vacancy caused 
■by the withdrawal of Lieutenant Relierd, who 
goes home. 



A consolidation has been effected by which 
companies .\, C and D. are attached to Columbi- 
ana county battalion, forming a regiment. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Nicholas retains his position, as 
does also Surgeon S. H. Lee. We regret the loss 
of Major George Mai-shall, Lieutenant S. L. Ed- 
wards and Quartermaster George Ridgely, who 
are thrown out by the consolidation aiid are 
obliged to go home much against their will. 
They had the honor of going witli us as far as 
they were able. The old Sixty-ninth is no more 
for 100 days these arrangements lasting only 
during the time we are mustered into the United 
States service, after which the Sixty -ninth will 
be herself again. 

The following is from the A(/e of May 28, 1864 : 

ILvRPEit's Ferry, Va. 

We left Columbus Saturday evening, and after 
a long and tedious ride reached Martinsburg, 
about twenty miles from Har])er's Ferry. We 
had the ple;isure of meeting William A. McKee, 
formerly superintendent of the Coshocton Union 
School. He is stationed at Martinsburg with two 
companies of his regiment as guards. 

Other regiments of Ohio National Guards are 
constantly arriving and are being transported 
over the river in a common open flat boat or a 
rope ferr)'. 

Our two Coshocton companies of the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-second are consider,ed by Colonel 
Cooper as tlie best in the regiment. The Colonel 
is from Mount Vernon and is an older brother of 
Dr. P. L Cooper, formerly of Coshocton, Much 
surprise is shown among the people here along 
the line of the railroad, at Ohio being able to send 
so many new troops into the field. One, on being 
informed that the national guard numbered 40,- 
000 men, all under marching orders, replied, " dey 
must be lots of you-uns up in 'Hio dar." , 

Again in the Age, bearing date July 2, 1864, ap- 
pears the following: 

\Vii>oN's Landing, Virginia. June 22, 1864. 

Editor Age: Having a little leisure time, I 
will give you all the news we have. We hear 
General Grant giving his batteries a little exercise 
at the rate of about one hundred shots a minute. 
\\'e hope to hear of the fall of the rebel capitol 
pretty soon. We are at jiresent stationed at a 
very nice, healthy )ilace, situated about twenty- 
five miles below Richmond, on a high bluff over- 
looking the James river. '• Uncle Abe " has been 
up to the front and is now jjassing this ]ilace on 
his way back. We have been to the fi-ont, but 
were sent here to guard the " Cracker Line." 
Our regiment is all on fatigue duty, anil, if we 
stay here long, we will have this j^lacc well forti- 



396 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



fled; in fact it is veiy strong now, and if the 
"Johnnies" wisli to give vis a. trial, they will re- 
ceive a hot reception. 

We were with the One Hundred and Forty- 
second, the other day, at Point of Rocks Several 
of our boys are under the weather; our long trip 
on the water heliicd make the most of them sick. 
Lieutenant Denman has been unfit for duty for 
several days. The most of the one hundred daj's' 
men take to soldiering like ducks to water, and 
it would be hard to tell them from veterans. 

The Age, of date July 23, 1}>G4, publishes as 

follows: 

WiL.so.N's LAXDi.vr;, July 14, 1864. 

Ed. Age : By request of the members of Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Forty-third Regi- 
ment O, N. G., I write to you, to let our friends 
in Coshocton county know how we are getting 
along. Our regiment is doing guard duty at 
this place, along with the One Hundred and 
Si.xty-third O. N.G., and two batteries of artillery 
from New York State. 

When we came here, the fortifications were 
only about half completed, and we were called 
on to do a considerable amount of fatigue duty, 
to put the ]ilace in a more perfect state of defense. 
Our defenses are now about perfect, and it will 
require a considerable amount of courage on the 
part of the rebels to make a successful assault on 
us. Our sick list has been very large, but it is 
now getting dcjwn to a very few names; it has 
been up to forty-three. 

Also, in same issue: 

In a letter just received, from A. F. Fritchey, 
Quartermaster of the One Hundred and Forty- 
seconil O. N. G., he writes as follows of that regi- 
ment : 

Our boys, as a general thing, are contented, 
and take pleasure in doing their duty, and 
althotigh we have seen a little rougher times 
than we did at home, yet we have been favored 
in every way, when we compare our situation 
with the veterans who have been here with us. 
Our food is good and plenty — all receive the 
regular rations of ]>ork, fresh beef, soft and hard 
bread, beans, hominy, etc., etc., and the Sanitary 
Commission, God bless it. has not overlooked us. 
A number of our boys have been sent to the 
hosjHtal, sick, but we find the health of our I'egi- 
ment is remarkably good, especially Company 
G, from Warsaw, Coshocton county. 

And again, in the issue of August 13, is the fol- 
lowing : 

BERMCDA Hl'SDRED, .\llgUSt S, 1,S64. 

Ed. Ace : As we are here at Bermuda Hun- 
dred, in front of the enemy, in connection with a 
few other regiments, holding our works from the 



James river in sight of Fort Darling across to 
the Appomattax, the old troops relieved by us 
having gone forward with General Grant's main 
army, I am glad, and I think that every hundred 
days' man that ever called himself "a " Union 
man " will be proud that the government has 
called upon us to perform some actual service. 
The government has called upon us to go out in 
front of our last breastwork, in front of the en- 
emy, to perform picket duty. The boys do this 
part of their work the most eheerfullyand will- 
ingly of any, and the more so becau.<e it is not 
generally connected with garrison duty, which 
was understood to be the extent of the duty re- 
quired of us when called out from Ohio. As we 
become more accustomed to a soldier's life we 
feel its roughness less. ^Ve have frequently been 
called out in line of battle, and the call has always 
been obeyed with as much alacrity ap|)arently as 
a call to dinner. We may be attacked any day ; 
if so, I believe the One Hundred and Forty-sec- 
ond will acquit herself honorably. 

If our soldierly qualities are not put to such a 
test before we come home, we want no reception 
but a friendly shake of the hand — your honors 
should be reserved for the veterans. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION— CONCLUDED. 

Cavalry and .Vrtillery— History of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry — 
Roster of Company M— Correspondence from the Front — 
History of the Twenty-sixth Battery — Its Organization from 
the Thirty-second Infantry— Petition of Veterans, and En- 
dorsement of Coshocton County— Military Committee for 
New Organization. 

IN the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, Coshocton found a 
representation in Company M, which was re- 
cruited by Colonel James Irvine, formerly colonel 
of the first organization of the Sixteenth 0. V. L 
Its muster roll at enlistment was as follows: 

OFFICERS. 

James Irvine, Captain. 
Joseph MeCulloch, First Lieutenant. 
James Stonehocker, Second Lieutenant. 
John Carhart, Jr,, First Sergeant. 
Sylvester A. Ellis, Quarter-master. 
Thomas Carnahan, Commissary. 
James >I. Humphry, First Sergeant. 
William Wicken, Second Sergeant. 
Charles M. Pike, Third Sergeant. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



397 



John E. Siij'der," Fourth Sergeant. 
Samuel P. Mingus. Fifth Sergeant. 
Steplien Xowl.<, First Corporal. 
Martin W. Gritiin, Second Corporal. 
Caleb S. Ely, Thinl Corporal. 
Robert E. Tavener, Fourth Corporal. 
Ale.xander Carnahan, Fifth Corporal. 
,1. A. Williamson, Sixth Corporal. 
Thomas Kicharils. Seventh Corporal. 
Frank H. Pen, Eighth Corporal. 
John Glass, Saddler. 

Primic.'t.—J. Allen, William Allen, L. W. Bar- 
ton, J. Bible, S. H. Blaek, S. Borden, T. Buttler, 
N. S. Carnahan, S. Collier, M. Comstock, C. H. 
Critchlield, J. W. Davis, R. H. Deems, T. Dicker- 
son, G. Dusenberry, P. Donoho, T. J, Edwards, 
W. Enwright, A. Evans, G. Fisher, H. Fivecoats, 
F. D. Forker, J. T. Frazee, A. Green, G Green, J. 
Greer, P. Hazle, T. J. Hardesty, M. Harrington, 

C. W. Harrington, G.Hibbetts, S. Hoglan, J Hog- 
Ian, S. Hook, M. Infelt, J. Jennings, A S. Joy, L. 
Keever, M. Lear, A. Lcelair, D. Leech, — Long- 
baugh J. H. Luse, J. S. Mankin, F. McCoy, Wil- 
liam McLaughlin, S. Michael,IsraelPerry, J. Por- 
ter, J. Rider, C. F. Schneid, G. W. Slusser, C. 
Smith, W. Smith, J. Smith, J. Smith 2d, W. C. 
Starkey, J. T. Stonehocher, L. Stokes, A. Taylor, 

D. H. Thocker, J. Thomas, William Thomas, J. 
Tinsman, A. Wells, J. Wicken, J. Wines, B. F. 
Wright. 

On the 3d of October, 1S62, Governor Tod re- 
ceived instructions from the President to raise 
three regiments of cavalry, to be known as the 
Eigth, Ninth and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. 
A short time previous to this Captain W. D. 
Hamilton, of the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, 
then stationed at Winchester, Virginia, had been 
ordered from the field to recruit another com- 
pany for that regiment. He had enlisted fifty 
men tor that purpose, when the regiment with a 
nimiber of others w"as captured by Stonewall 
Jackson. September 15, 18G2, Captain Hamilton 
reported for instructions to the Governor, who 
assigned the duty of organizing a cavalry com- 
mand, to be known as the Ninth Ohio Vulunteer 
Cavalry. Tlic men recruited for the cajilured 
regiment formed the nucleus, and the remainder 
was raised in the eastern portion of Ohio. They 



rendezvoused at Zanesville. On the 1st Decem- 
ber seven companies wore ready for muster, but 
three of these companies were transferred to 
complete the Tenth Ohio Cavalry, then organ- 
izing at Cleveland. The four remaining compa- 
nies were designated the First Battalion of the 
Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and were ordered 
to Cami) Dcnnison. 

Here the battalion was equipped and re- 
mained under drill until April 23, when it was 
ordered to report for field duty at Lexington, 
Kentucky. It was, then ordered to Clay county, 
to drive out a rebel force and protect the coun- 
try. 

The battalion, consisting of 300 eflective men 
moved forward, driving the enemy from the 
moimtain regions, and established its camp at 
Manchester. 

The command remained in this region, having 
frequent skirmishes w'ith the enemy, until the 
16th of June, when an exj)edition was planned to 
penetrate into E:ist Tennessee, to ascertain the 
condition of the inhabitants, and to destroy some 
extensive factories below Knoxville. 

The whole force consisted of about 2,000 
mounted men, in which were 200 of the battalion. 
On the night of the 10th of June, this force 
crossed the Cumberland river at Williamsburg, 
and moved toward Big Creek Gap, a rebel strong- 
hold commanding one of the entrances into East 
Tennessee, between Cumberland Gap and Knox- 
ville. The niain road to this point crossed a spur 
of the Cumberland mountains at Pine Mountain 
Gap, a strong pass which was held by the enemy. 
By a strategic movement, the rebels were sur- 
prised and nearly all captured, without firing a 
gun. Next morning the command moved to- 
ward Big Creelc Gap, and when within about 
twelve miles— the first battalion of the Ninth 
Ohio, being in the advance — the enemy was en- 
countereil, and skirmishing was kept up until he 
was driven within his works at tlie Gap. The 
enemy evacuated, and without opposition, the 
command accomplished its designs. 

The battalion returned to London. Kentucky, 
where, on the evening of July o, an order was 
received to report to Stanford, Kentucky. It 
traveled all night and arrived at Stanford, a dis- 
tance of fifty miles, at three o'clock next day. It 



398 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



was then ordered to Danville to check the progress 
of General Blorgan. He having avoided Danville, 
the battalion was ordered back to Wild Cat, near 
London, to watch and embarrass the progress of 
the rebel General Scott, who, it was reported, had 
«ntered with a cavalry force, by way of Cumber- 
land Gap, to support General Morgan. General 
Scott took a circuitous route to the right and a 
force hastily organized at Camp Dick Robinson 
was sent in pursuit. In the running fight of ten 
days the battalion, part of the time, marched at 
the rate of fifty-seven miles in twenty-four hours 
— the men living chiefly on blackberries, which 
they gathered by the roadside while the horses 
were resting. 

On the 1st of August the battalion proceeded 
■from Stanford to Glasgow, Kentucky, a distance 
of one hundred miles, where a cavalry brigade 
was organizing under orders of General Burn- 
side, which was destined to take the advance of 
his expedition into East Tennessee. On the 17th 
of August this bwgade moved forward and crossed 
the Cumberland river near Burkesville, where it 
was met by General Burnside in command of the 
infantry. The cavalry took the advance across 
that portion of the Cumberland mountiiins sup- 
posed to present the fewest obstacles to the pas- 
sage of an army. During this march both men 
and horses were, sometimes, two days without 
food. Knoxville was taken with but little opposi- 
tion. Major Hamilton was appointed provost- 
marshal of the city, and the battalion was as- 
signed to patrol and guard duty around the 
suburbs. 

During this time very strong efforts were made 
in the North to obt<ain recruits for the army. An 
-order had been issued to raise two more battalions 
to complete the Ninth, and Major T. P. Cook, 
formerly of the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
was assigned by Governor Tod to take charge 
of the recruits at Camp Dennison. On the Gth 
of November, the second battalion for the regi- 
ment was organized. On the 16th of December 
the regiment was completed by the organization 
of the third battalion. The two battalions, raised 
to their maximum number, together with one 
hundred recruits for the old battalion, were at 
once furnished with horses, were armed and 
equipped with sabers and Smith carbines, and 



were carefully drilled in camp until February 6, 
1864, when they were ordered to proceed by 
water to Nashville, Tennessee. 

They embarked at Cincinnatti, upon seven 
steamboats, and jjroceeded as far as Louisville, 
Kentucky, where, by reason of the reported pres- 
ence of some guerrillas in that State, they disem- 
barked and marched through the country to 
Nashville. The march was made without oppo- 
sition. The regiment was then attached to the 
left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps and 
ordered to report for field duty at Athens, Ala- 
bama. Here the two battalions were assigned 
the duty of watching the movements of the enemy 
along the Tennessee river. 

At this time Colonel Hamilton proceeded to 
Knoxville with orders for the first battalion to 
join the regiment. The severe campaign, through 
which tills part of the regiment had passed, ren- 
dered an entire equipment necessary. For this 
purpose the men were sent by rail to Nashville, 
where, after much trouble and delay on account 
of the difficulty of procuring horses this battalion 
took the field and joined the others at Athens, 
Alabama. Four companies were ordered to the 
shoals of the Tennessee river, twenty-five miles 
from Athens, to examine the islands in that por- 
tion of the river reported to have stock and pro- 
visions secreted there. This occupied nearly a 
week. During this time Company G was sent to 
the vicinity of Florence, Alabama, twenty-five 
miles further down the river, to examine the 
country and collect stock. 

On the night of the 13th of April an Alabama 
regiment surrounded a barn, in which the men 
were sleeping, shot two of the sentinels, and, af- 
ter a short struggle, succeeded in capturing Cap- 
tain Hetzler, Second Lieutenant Knapp, and 
thirty-nine men. The remainder of the company 
escaped and reported at headquarters near the 
shoals, where thej' arrived the next evening. The 
remaining three companies were jnished forward 
with all speed but they failed to rescue the pris- 
oners. The non-commissioned officers and men. 
were sent to Andersonville prison. 

Eight months after the capture. Orderly Ser- 
geant Kennedy reported that twenty-live of the 
number had died. Captain Hetzler and Lieuten- 
ant Knapp were sent to Columbia, South Caro- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



399 



lina. Lieutenant Knajip, after two unsuccessful 
cfTorts to cseape, in wliich he was retaken by the 
aid of bloodhounds, finally succeeded in reaching 
Knoxville, Tennessee, after travehng three 
weeks, principally at night, securing food and 
assistance from the negroes. At one time he 
heard the hounds on his trail, and again would 
have been capturcnl but for the generous assist- 
ance -of a negro, who, after giving him something 
to eat, said : " Now, bress de Lord, Massa Yank, 
you jist trust to me, and we'll fool dem dogs. 
You trot along fust, den I'll come, too, steppin' 
in your tracks. Go 'bout half mile, den you come 
to some watah ; you take to de right, fro dat, den 
I'll keep on t'other way. See, dem dogs is used 
to huntin' niggers ; dey knows de smell, and likes 
to follow de black man's foot." " But," said tlie 
lieutenant, surprised at this singular but devoted 
offer, " but the dogs will catch yon, and probably 
tear you to pieces." " Oh, massa," said he, " let 
this nigger alone for dat ; I'se fooled dem dogs 
afo' for de Yanks ; and, bress de Lord, I'll try it 
again. Now trot along, massa, for I hear dem 
dogs a comin'." Shortly after crossing the pond 
the lieutenant heard the hounds howling in the 
direction taken by the negro, and he was no 
longer disturbed. He afterward joined the regi- 
ment at Savannah, Georgia, in January, 1865. 
Captain Hertzler remained a prisoner until near 
the close of the war, when he was exchanged. 

Another battalion of the Ninth Ohio Volunteer 
Cavalry was sent out in the vicinity of Florence 
to patrol the river and keep watch of the move- 
ments of the enemy. In this work the regiment 
was engaged for about three weeks, living upon 
the country. The river was guarded for a dis- 
tance of fifty miles, and frequent skirmishes with 
the enemy took place. The regiment was or- 
dered to report at Decatur, Alabama, where it 
arrived on the 5th of ;\Iay. 

On the morning of the 8th, the enemy made 
an attack upon the place. The Ninth moved out 
to ascertain the strength of the enemy, u])on the 
skirmish lino, a half a mile from the works. The 
country was about equally divided between tim- 
ber and level, open land. The rebels formed on 
the open ground, and, as the regiment swung 
around the timber, a battle took place, in which 
the rebels were driven back in confusion. The 



Ninth had one man killed and three severely 
wounded. For weeks the enemy's pickets were 
posted within two miles of the town, and cavalry 
skirmishes were of daily occurrence. 

About the 1st of June the regiment was sent 
to Pulaski, to re-enforce the Seventh Illinois In- 
fantry, which had been driven from Florence. 
After driving the enemy back beyond Florence 
and remaining a few days, it returned to Decatur. 
When it became known that the rebels received 
large supplies over the Atlanta and West Point 
railroad, it became necessary to destroy it. Of 
the 2,500 men chosen to effect this, 700 were from 
the Ninth Cavalry. The command started as 
secretly as possible, desiring to strike the road 
anywhere between the extreme point guarded 
by General Johnston's troops, and Montgomery, 
Alabama. It left Decatur on the 10th of July. 
For three days the command was unmolested, 
except by bushwhackers.. In the evening of the 
third day the command reached the Coosa river, 
and found a force of the enemy preparing to dis- 
pute its passage. A contest ensued in which the 
enemy suffered severely. 

On the evening of July 17, the command 
reached the village of Sochopolka, upon the rail- 
road, thirty miles east of Montgomery, and about 
200 miles south of Decatur. It was almost ex- 
hausted, yet it went immediately to work to de- 
stroy the road. For a few days the command 
was engaged in this work, and was attacked sev- 
eral times, in rear and front, by the enemy. 

This expedition traveled, on an average, twenty 
hours per day, effectually destroyed twenty-five 
miles of an important railroad, 100 miles beyond 
the rebel lines, and sustained, comparatively, a 
small loss. That of the Ninth cavalry amounted 
to twenty-six men, mostly captured while forag- 
ing. Having accomplished it* purpose it started 
in a northeasterly direction, and reached General 
Sherman's lines, near Marietta, on the 22d of July. 

Two days after arriving at Marietta, the regi- 
ment was ordered to report to Brigadier General 
McCook, who was starting upon a raid around the 
right and rear of Atlanta. Upon arriving at the 
Chattahoochie river, thirty miles below the city, 
the horses of the regiment were found to be too 
much jaded to attempt to make the raid. It re- 
mained, therefore, at the river, guarding tlie pon- 



400 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



toon bridge which had been brought to eflfect a 
crossing. The enemy sent a force to destroy the 
bridge, but did not succeed. After defending it 
until the evening of the next day, the regiment 
lifted the bridge and returned to the national 
lines. 

After a week's rest at Viningo Station, it was 
ordered to report to Colonel Garrard, command- 
ing a cavalry division upon the e-xtreme right of 
General Sherman's army in front of Atlanta. 
Here it remained on duty until the fall of that 
city, one battalion doing .service at the battle of 
Jonesboro'. Four hundred and fifty fnen of the 
regiment, who had been dismounted while with 
Garrard, were ordered to Nashville to procure 
horses. 

On the night of the il of September, while the 
train containing men was passing Big Shanty, 
Georgia, it was thrown from the track, and six 
cars were demolished.- The enemy, concealed 
beside the track, opened fire on the wreck. The 
fire was returned and the cowards fled. One 
man was killed and three were wounded, by the 
accident, and two killed and five wounded, by 
the enemy's fire. Failing to procure horses in 
Nashville, the regiment proceeded to Louisville, 
where it obtained them, and returned to Nash- 
ville, en route to the front. About ten hours after 
arriving at Nashville this portion of the regi- 
ment formed a part of the force sent out to 
check General Forrest, who was reported about 
twenty miles from the city. After various en- 
counters, during a period of ten days, the enemy 
was compelled to retire beyond the Tennessee 
river, below Florence, Alabama. This portion 
of the regiment then proceeded to Chattanooga, 
en route for Atlanta. Here a dispatch was re- 
ceived, that the Ninth had been designated as 
one the regiments comprising a new cavalry 
division, in the reorganization of the army under 
General Sherman, and that this portion of the 
regiment should march to Marietta, as rapidly as 
possible. On arriving at Marietta, the regiment 
found the city vacated and partly burned. Push- 
ing on, it arrived at Allan tii on the morning of 
November 17, having passed over a distance of 
eighty miles in thirty-six hours. The city being 
evacuated, the regiment proceeded to McDowell, 
seventeen miles soutliward, where it joined the 



other portion of the Ninth. Although the regi- 
ment had sufTered some severe losses, in killed 
and wounded, captured and sickness, yet its 
strength was sustained by recruits, and it was 
able to number seven hundred men present for 
duty. 

From this time the Ninth was identified with 
the cavalry division of General Sherman's army 
to the coast. It had almost daily encounters 
with the enemy. Its duty was to cover the march 
of the infantry, make false marches to deceive the 
enemy, and at all times prevent him from har- 
rassing the columns. On the 20th of November, 
the third day of the march, skirmishing com- 
menced and continued, more or less, until De- 
cember 4, when a general engagement took place 
at Waynesboro, in which the regiment made the 
second charge and broke the rebel lines. After 
driving the rebels within their works around Sa- 
vannah, and while the siege was progressing, the 
regiment, with part of the cavalry command, 
moved in a southea,sterly direction on the Savan- 
nah and Gulf railroad, destroyed parts of it as far 
as the Alatama river, and succeeded in burninga 
portion of the extensive trestle-work and bridge 
across the swamp and river. The expedition re- 
turned to Savannah, where the army remained 
until the latter part of January, 1865. At this 
time, 150 men of the Ninth, who had been at- 
tached to General Thomas' army at the battles of 
Franklin and Nashville, joined their regiment. 
On the night of the 3d of Februarj', the cavalry 
division crossed the Savannah river at Sister's 
Ferry, forty miles above the city, and com- 
menced the decisive campaign of the Carolinas. 
Most of the night was oocui)ied in crossing a 
swamp seven miles wide. On the 6th the regi- 
ment, having the advance, encountered the rebels 
at a swamp near Barnwell. The men dismounted, 
waded the swamp, under cover of the timber, and 
drove them from their position. From this point, 
dui-ing the march, the enemy made several at- 
tempts to check the cavalry under General Kil- 
patrick, and harrassed the infantry. 

The cavalry was ordered to cover the move- 
ments of the army, by making a feint upon Au- 
gusta, Georgia. 

Striking the August;i and Charleston railroad 
at Blackwell, February 9, it tore up the track 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



401 



within live miles of Aikon, and twenty-five miles 
from Augusta. At Aiken the regiment wa.s en- 
gaged and assisted in driving the rebels beyond 
their lines. Orders came to fall back, and the 
Ninth guarded the rear and protected the ambu- 
lances and artillery. During the march through 
the Carohnas, the frequent scarcity of grain, as 
well as the number and character of swamps en- 
countered, rendered a large nvimber of the horses 
unfit for service, and as the enemy prevented the 
capture of others, many of the men were dis- 
mounted. These were organized into a "dis- 
mounted command." 

On the night of the 9th of Jlarch, General Kil- 
patrick went into camp with the third brigade 
and the dismounted men, about three miles in 
advance of the remainder of his command. The 
Fourteenth Army Corps was about two miles 
on the right, and the rebel cavalry, under Gen- 
eral Hampton, about the same distance on the 
left. On the 10th, the rebels dashed in upon the 
camp and captured the wagons, artillery and 
many of the oflBcers and men, before they had 
time to dress themselves. The dismounted men 
rallied, returned, and opened a close and heavy 
fire upon the rebels, who were pillaging the 
camp. A rapid and irregular fight ensued, dur- 
ing which the artillerists recovered their cannon 
and opened on the enemy. After a short contest, 
in which twenty-five national and seventy-five 
rebel soldiers were killed, all the stores were taken 
by the national forces, and the rebels held at bay 
until the arrival of the second brigade. After this 
brigade arrived the rebels were driven from the 
ground. 

In the battle of Averysboro on the ]r)th of 
March, which was fought Vjy infantry and cavalry 
on both sides, the Ninth supported the right fiank 
of the Twentieth Corps, and was hotly engaged. 

At Bentonville, North Carolina, where the final 
battle was fought. General Kilpatrick's entire di- 
vision occupied the left flank. After the victory 
the army moved forward to Goldsboro, North 
Carolina, where it remained until the 10th of 
April. General Kilpatrick led the advance upon 
Raleigh, skirmished a little and on the 14th of 
April, entered the capitol with but little oppo- 
sition. On the morning of the 18th, a portion of 
the left wing of General Johnston's army occu- 



pied the village of Chapel Hill. It was protected 
by a brigade of General Wheeler's cavalry, sta- 
tioned at a swamp, through which the road passed. 
At daylight the regiment was ordered to advance 
and, if possible, eflect a crossing. 

Upon arriving at the swamp the second battal- 
ion was dismounted and moved forward through 
the water, under cover of the cypress timber, un- 
til the enemy was brought within range of the 
Spencer carbines. A spirited conflict then en- 
sued which resulted in the enemy's being driven 
from his position, leaving a captain and stiiff offi- 
cer of General Wheeler and three men dead on 
the ground. Orders in the meantime had ar- 
rived from General Sherman suspending hostili- 
ties. 

After the final surrender of the rebels, the com- 
mand was ordered to Concord, North Carolina, 
where it remained on duty until the last of July. 

The services of the cavalry being no longer 
necessary, the Ninth was ordered home. On the 
2d of August, 1S6.5, the regimental colors and prop- 
erty were turned over at Columbus, and the regi- 
ment was mustered out of service. 

The following correspondence from the Ninth 
cavalry, or concerning it, is of interest, and sheds 
some light upon its record. It was jjublished at 
various dates in the columns of the Age: 

Camp Densison, January 25. 

I suppose it will be of interest to some of your 
readers to know how the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, or, 
at least, how Company M, of Coshocton county, is • 
getting on. The boys are in fine spirits and good 
health generally. Some of them have the mumps 
and bad colds, but none are in the hospitals. We 
have had our horses only a month, but have 
neither saddles nor bridles, as is the case with the 
entire Third Battalion. This is admitted to be 
the star company of the regiment. It has never 
yet been censured by the commanding officer for 
negligence in any way, and on inspection has al- 
ways been complimented for its neat and soldier- 
like appearance. J. Stoneiiocker, 

Second Lieutenant, Company M, Ninth O. C. 

The following is published in the Age, as copied 
from the Nashville Times : 

The most imposing military pageant we have 
witnessed since the early days of the civil war 
appeared in the streets of Na.-ihville on Saturday 
afternoon. It was the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, on its 
way to the front; it was a war-like troop, com- 



402 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



posed of grim, stalwart soldiers, whose bronzed 
complexion had evidently caught its hue from 
the pencil of many a sun. The musicians were 
mounted on cream-colored horses, the first com- 
pany on black horses, the second on white liorses, 
and' the third on bay horses. The martial aspect 
of this troop excited general admiration. 

Decatur Junction, Alabama, June 25, ISM. 

Ed. Age : As none of our boys have written 
you for a long time, I thought I would post you 
and our friends through your columns. We are 
patroling the Tennessee River as far down as 
Brown's Ferry, a distance of twenty miles below 
Decatur. Occasionally a rebel patrol tries to 
cross the river, but our patrol puts in an appear- 
ance, and back goes Mr. Reb. A few nights ago 
a party of us, under the command of our kind 
old captain (James Irvine), took a rebel picket- 
post about eight m^les in front of Decatur, and 
returned to Decatur next morning about four 
o'clock. 

I think our company is composed of some of 
the best men that ever left Coshocton county — 
men who, when called upon to perform any duty, 
it makes no difference what kind, are always 
ready and willing to do it without a grumble. 

As a company, we are proud of the officers ap- 
pointed over us. They are men that you are ac- 
quainted with, and in whom we can place confi- 
dence. 

We are sorry to record so many deaths in our 
company since we left Ohio. The following is 
the complete list : Corporal Robert E. Tavener, 
died March 26, at Athens, Alabama ; Samuel Bor- 
den, March 27, at Athens, Alabama; Patrick 
Vickers, March 23, at Nashville, Tennessee; 
Thomas Richards, April 19, at Athens, Alabama ; 
Abraham Spur, April — , at Nashville, Tennes- 
see ; John Glass, saddler, April 10, at Athens, 
Alabama; Lewis W. Barton, May 27, at Athens, 
Alabama : Daniel Senter, at Mooreville, Alabama. 
The rest of the boys are in good health, and are 
ready at any time for a shot at the rebs. 

Yours, truly, O. S., 

Company M, Ninth Ohio V. C. 

TWENTY-SIXTH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY. 

The artillery record of Coshocton county is in- 
cluded in the record of the Twenty-sixth Ohio 
Independent Battery and in an eftbrt that was 
made (in combination with a petition from the 
veterans) on the part of the military committee of 
the county. The record of the Twenty-sixth 
Ohio Independent Battery is compiled from the 
official records. 

The nucleus of this organization was a detach- 



ment from the Thirtj'-second Ohio Infantry (in 
which Coshocton county had two solid companies). 
Its complement of men was completed by Captain 
B. F. Potts (afterward Colonel of the Thirty- 
second Infantry and Brigadier-General United 
States Volunteers) at Augusta, Carroll county, in 
the month of August, 1861. After completion, it 
was attached to the Thirty-second as Company 
F, and served with that regiment until July 20, 
1862. At that time it was detached for artillery 
duty at Winchester, Virginia, fully armed and 
equipped as a battery of light artillery, and called 
"Potts' Ohio Battery." 

On General Pope's retreat, in 1862, Winchester 
was evacuated and its garrison, 'including the 
Twenty-sixth Ohio Battery, retired to Harper's 
Ferry on the night of the 11th of September. On 
its arrival there one section was immediately 
ordered to Sandy Hook, an important point on 
the road leading to Harper's Ferry, and about 
five miles below that place, where for two days 
it skirmished with the enemy. On the 13th of 
September the enemy brought to bear upon this 
section six pieces of artiller)-, which it withstood 
for a time, and until an order was received to fall 
back toward the Ferry. This order was very 
difficult of execution, as the national forces had 
evacuated Maryland Heights, and the enemy had 
gained a position on the flank of the section in 
order to prevent it from joining the main force ; 
but, with the aid and support of a Maryland regi- 
ment, the section fought its way to the garrison. 

On the 14th a tierce artillery duel was kept up, 
in which the entire battery was engaged con- 
stantly from 10 A. M. until dark. It was exposed 
to a fierce fire from Loudon Heights, and an en- 
filading fire from Maryland Heights. During the 
same evening the position of the battery was 
changed to the extreme left of the national line, 
where the enemy was massing a force with the 
intention of making a vigorous attiick. 

At sunrise on tlie 15th the rebels opened upon 
the battery, front, right and left, with twenty-four 
guns, and for upward of an hour this unequal 
contest was continued, and for some time after 
the white flag had been raised by the national 
forcas. 

In this engagement the battery occupied an ex- 
posed position in an open field, and it was within 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



403 



ten yards of its position that Colonel Miles re- 
ceived the wound from the efiects of which he 
died. 

After the surrender, the battery, with other 
troops composing the garrison, were paroled, and 
sent to Chicago, where the company was rejoined 
to the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, which had 
also been surrendered at Harper's Ferry. 

On the 21st of January, 1863, being exchanged, 
the battery company again left for the field, in 
company with the Thirty-second, and served 
with it through General Grant's Mississippi cam- 
paign, until May 16, 1864. 

At the battle of Champion Hills, the brigade 
to which the Thirty-second was at tiiched charged 
and turned the enemy's left, capturing a battery 
of si-x; guns. General John A. Logan, having been 
informed of the proficiency of Company F in 
artillery practice, issued an order that these guns 
should be placed in their charge, and to have 
them in readiness for action ne.xt morning. Not- 
withstanding, more than one-half the horses had 
been killed, the harness cut and torn throughout, 
and numerous damages to repair, yet, by the in- 
dustry and perseverence of the officers and men, 
the battery entered the column next morning at 
daylight, ready for action. The company wa.s m iw 
called "Yost's Captured Battery," and during the 
entire siege of Vickburg was actively engaged. 

Its posijtion was on the left of Logan's division, 
but it was afterwards transferred to the right of 
the same division, and in front of rebel Fort Hill, 
an extremely exposed position, within three 
hundred yards of the enemy's works. 

Although destitute of the facilities of a regu- 
larly organized battery, this company endured 
the dangers .and hardships of the entire siege, 
and received high compliments from Generals 
McPherson and Logan. 

On the 3d of August, 1863, the company was 
again remanded to the Thirty-second. Infantry, 
but was soon after again temporarily detached — 
one half with Battery D, First Regiment Illinois 
Light Artillery, and the other half with the 
Third Ohio Battery, and was associated with 
them in the expedition from Vicksburg to 
Canton, in October, 1863, the first named battery, 
commanded by S. D. Yost and Lieutenat 0. S. 
Lee, of the Third Ohio Battery. In the expedi- 



tion both batteries were engaged in several 
skirmishes. 

On the recommendation of General James B, 
McPherson, the War Department gave authority 
to Governor Tod to transfer the company from 
the Thirty-second Ohio, and on the 22il of De- 
cember, 1863, it was made into a distinct organi- 
zation, and designated as the Twenty-sixth Ohio 
Battery. 

The Tweniy-sixth Ohio Battery, becoming en- 
titled to veteran furlougli, it was, on the 1st of 
January, 18154, ordered home to Ohio, where it 
remained the customary thirty days. 

On the 8d day of February, 1864, it returned 
to the field at Vicksburg, with recruits sufficient 
to bring it up to the maximum strength. 

The battery was a participant in a number of 
expeditions from Vicksburg and Natchez, re- 
sulting in skirmishes. The first raid (in July,- 
1864,) made by the battery and other troops, was 
led by General Slocum. The second was a cavalry 
raid from Vicksburg to Natchez, in October, 
1864, commanded by Colonel Osband. It was a 
very rapid and fatiguing march, accompanied 
by daily skirmishing. 

On the 8th of November, 1864, the battery was 
ordered to report at Natchez, Mississippi, for gar- 
rison duty. This was the last of its active ser- 
vice, excepting an occasional bru.sh with guerril- 
las in the vicinity of Natchez, and acrass the 
Mississippi river. After the close of the war it 
was attached to the Texas expedition, and served * 
on the Rio Grande until August, 1865, when it 
was ordered to Ohio, and on the 2d day of Sep- 
tember, 1865, it Wixs mustered out of the service 
at Tod barricks, Ohio. 

Following is a list of Coshocton county soldiers 
who sleep upon Southern soil: 

James Cooper, Company H, Fifty-first O. V. I., 
died at Annapolis, ^laryland, 1864, from effects of 
starvation at Belle Isle. 

William Wales, Company F, Fifty-first 0. V. L, 
killed at Stone River, December 29, 1862. 

George Murphy, Company F, Fifty-first O. V. 
I., killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862. 

Christian Meek, Company F, Fiftj'-first O. V. 
I., killed at Stone River, Deceniber 31, 1862. 

John INIills, Company H, Eighthieth 0. V. L, 



404 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



killed at Jackson, Mississippi, May — , 1?63. 
Served in the Jlexican war and in three months' 
eervice in the civil war. 

Elias West, Company E, One Hundred and 
Forty-third O. N. G., died at City Point, Virginia. 
June, 1S64. 

John N. Henderson, Company F, Eightieth 0. 
V. I., died at Corinth, 1S62. 

John Jennings, Company K, Twenty-fourth O. 
V. I., died at Andersonville, 1803. 

George Tra.xler, Company G, Eightieth O. V. 
I., died at Paducah, April, 1862. 

James Laughead, Company G, Eightieth O. V. 
I., died at Vicksburg, July, 1S63. 

Peter Ray, Company I, Ninety-seventh O. V. I., 
died at Murfreesboro, May, 1863. 

William T. Ray, Company I, Ninety-seventh 0. 
V. I., killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1803. 

Joseph Lacy, Company I, Ninety-seventh O. 
V. I., killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863. 

Jacob Leech, Company I, Ninety-seventh 0. V. 
L, killed at Mission Ri<lge, November 25, 1863. 

Alonzo Barton, Company 1, Ninety -seventh 0. 
V. L, died at Danville, Kentucky, October 17, 1862 

Charles Funk, Company I, Ninety-seventh 0. 
V. L, died at Pulaski, Tennessee, November, 1864. 

William Rogers, Company H, Ninety-seventh 
0. V. L, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 
1803. 

William Doyle, Lieutenant Company H. Eighti- 
eth O. V. I., died at Rienza, Mississippi, April, 1862. 

Jonathan Longshore, Company G, Eightieth 
O.V. I, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 
1863. 

Eli Cross, Company H, Eightieth O. V. I., died 
at Rock Island, 1863. 

Adam Weisser, Company I, Ninety-seventh 0. 
V. L, died at Nashville, February, 1863. 

Joel C. Glover, Company E, One Hundred and 
Forty-third 0. N. G., died at Wilson's Landing, 
Virginia, September 6, 1864. 

Benjamin D. Day, Company H, Fifty-first O. V. 
I., died at Murfreesboro, September, 1862. 

John Blackburn, Company H, Ninety-seventh 
0. V. I., killed at Franklin, Tennessee, November 
30, 1864. 

John Flagg, Company I, Ninety-seventh O. V. 
L, died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, November^ 
1862. 



Reuben Jennings, Company E, One Hundred 
and Forty-third O. N. G., died at Wilson's Land- 
ing, Virginia, July, 1864. 

William Welch, Company F, Fifty-first O. V. 
L, killed at Stone River, December 29, 1862. 

David Owens, Company H, Ninety-seventh 0. 
V. I., killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863. 

Joseph Thornsley, Company I, Ninety-seventh 
O. V. I., died at Chattanooga, December, 1863. 

Julian Suitt, Company I, Ninety-seventh 0. V. 
I., died at Silver Sjirings, Tcmi., November, 1862. 

Ezekial Norman, Company I, Ninety-seventh 
0. V. I., died at Nashville, February, 1863. 

Addison Hay, Company E, One Hundred and 
Forty-third 0. N. G , died at Wilson's Landing, 
July, 1864. 

The following is a list of Coshocton soldiers 
buried in the Coshocton Cemetery : 

John \\'atson. Company I, Ninety-seventh O. 
V. L, died December 28, 1863. 

John Gosser, Company I, Eightieth O. V. I., 
died March, 1S72. 

James E. Bcebe, Company F, Fifty-first 0. V. 
I., died ]\Iay 26, 1878. 

John Lynch, Company A, Sixteenth 0. V. I., 
died February 13, 1862. 

Samuel Lynch, Company H, Ninety-seventh 
O.V. I., died April 6,1803. 

John B. Crowley, Jlexican soldier, died Octo- 
ber 24, 1857. 

William Crowley, died March 8, 1874. 

Albert A. Donahue, Company E, One Hundred 
and Forty-third 0. N. G., died May 20, 1870. 

Thomas Parsons. Company E, One Hundred 
and Forty-third O. N. (i., died July 2S, 1877. 

John Wilcox. Comi)any M, Ninth 0. V. C, died 
May 6, 1874. 

John Taylor, Mexican soldier, died May 15,1848. 

Frederick Schweiker, Mexican soldier, died 
September 8, 1862. 

Joseph Richards, Company E, One Hundred 
and Forty-third O. N. G., died August 4, 1869. 

John Moore, Company H, Ninety-seventh 0. 
V. I., died November 30, 1869. 

Thomas Hartley, Michigan Volunteer Battery, 
died .July, 1S69. 

William Webb, Sixty-first Tennessee, Confed- 
erate soldier, died June 12, 1863. 











■UNION COAL FAK.M," HOME OF SAJ.U 




30KE (COSHOCTOK), COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



409 



George IMahew, Company K, Twenth-fourth 
O. V. L, died April 4, 1S66. 

Fernando Wright, Company F, Eightieth 0. 
V. I., died February 20, 1872. 

John Allen, Company G, One Hundred and 
Forty-third O. N. G., died August 13, 1875. 

A. H. Sells, Mexican soldier, died January 12, 
1854. 

Richard Lanning, Major Eightieth O. V. I., 
killed at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Octo- 
ber 4, 1862. 

Tliomas Scott, Company E, One Hundred and 
Forty-third 0. N. G., died July 1, 1862. 

Oscar Bunn, Company L, First Iowa Cavalry, 
died March 5, 1864. 

James M. McMiehael, Company F, Fifty -first 
0. V. I., died February 1.3, 1862. 

Edward McMiehael, Compimy E, One Hundred 
and Forty-third O. N. G., died August 19, 1864. 

William Weisser, Company I, Ninety-seventh 
0. V. I., died January 19, 1863. 

Patrick S. Campbell, Company H, Eightieth 
O. V. I., died September 28, 1862. " 

Methias Denman, Fifty-second 0. V. I , died 
March 16, 186.3. 

Thomas Southwell, Company F, Fifty-first 0. 
V. I., died September 22, 1874. 

George Wilson, First Ohio Artillery, died No- 
vember 6, 1863. 

James P. Davis, died February 3, 18S0. 

Martin D. VanEman, Company H, Eightieth, 
died — . 

Joseph O'Donnell, Company D, One Hundred 
and Twenty-second O. V. I., died July 8, 1877. 

Wils W. Batch, Lieutenant Company F, One 
Hundred and Ninety-first O. V. I., died January 
24, 1881. 

David H. Bunn, Company G, Fifteenth Iowa 
Volunteers, died August 25, 1880. 

Bradley Burt, Company I, Twenty-sixth Illinois 
Volunteers, died April 22, 1881. 

D. C. Johns, First Ohio Sharp-shooters, Com- 
pany B, died — . 

John Barnej'. 

Messrs. S. A. Bold and Isaac Ferrel furnish the 
following list : 

Captain B. F. Hesket, Company C, Fifty-first 
0. V. I., died January 2, 1863, from the efiecta of 
15 



wounds received at the battle of Stone River, 
January 2, 186.3. 

John Q. Winklepleck, Orderly Sergeant, Com- 
pany C, Fifty-first O. V. I., died at Nashville from 
the eflects of wounds received at Stone River, 
January, 1863. Both of Chili, Coshocton county, 
Ohio. 

Robert Dewalt, Company C, Fifty-first O. V. I., 
died in 1862, in hospital at Nashville, of diarrhoea; 
buried at Nashville, Tennessee. 

Everhart Caton, same company and regiment, 
died in hospital at Camp Wicklifte, Kentucky, 
1862; buried at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. 

Henry Crossgraves, same regiment and com- 
pany, killed at battle of Stone River, January 2, 
186.3. 

George Matson, Company F, Fifty-first O. V. I., 
killed at battle of Mission Ridge, 1863. 

David Carnahan, Company C, Fifty-first 0. V. 
I., died in camp hospital at WickliflTe, Kentucky, 
February, 1862. Buried at Camp Wickliffe. , 

David Gibson, Company H, Fifty-first 0. V. I., 
died in hospital at Washington, in 1862. 

James Bristcr, Company H, Fifty-first 0. V. I., 
died in hospital at Nashville, 1862. 

Lester P. Emerson, buried at Qiili, Ohio, Ser- 
geant Company C, Fifty-first O. V. L, died in 
hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. 

W. R. Wilson, Company C, Sixty-seventh 0. V. 
I., furnishes this list: 

David Carnahan, White Eyes township. Com- 
pany C, Fifty-first, died in Camp Wicklifit, Ken- 
tucky, 1862. 

Lanceon Kimball, Company C, Sixty-seventh, 
was accidentally shot and killed by a comrade 
while in line of battle in 1864. 

Jacob Clarman, Company C, Sixty-seventh, died 
in Indiana since close of war. 

Eli Seward, Company H, One Hundred and 
Forty-third, died at Wilson's Landing, Va., 1864. 

Thomas C. Seward, Company — , Thirty-second, 
was drowned while trying to run a boat through 
the blockade at Vicksburg. 

Samuel Beohtel,0ne Hundred and Forty-third, 
0. N. G., Company H., buried at Hampton Roads, 
1864. 

George McCrary, Company I, Ninety-seventh, 
buried at Nashville, Tennessee. 



410 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



George Aclams, Company H, Eightieth, buried 
at Rosaca, Georgia, 1864. 

Daniel Overholt, Company H, One Hundred 
and Forty-third, buried at Portsmouth, Virginia. 

John Beall, Company K, Thirty-second, was 
killed at Atlanta, Georgia. 

John Bechtol, Company H, Eightieth, died at 
Memphis, Tennessee. 

John Walters, Company H, One Hundred and 
Forty-third, buried at Portsmouth, 18C4. 

John Clark, Company — , One Hundred and 
Forty-third, buried at Hampton Roads, 1864. 

John Dennis, Company E, One Hundred and 
Forty-third, buried at Hampton Roads. 

Charles Infield, Company H, Eightieth, buried 
at Clear Creek, Mississippi. 

James S. Wilson, Company I, Ninety-seventh, 
buried at Jeffersonville, Indiana- 
William Shannon, Company H, Fifty-first, killed 
at Mission Ridge. 

Sylvester Levitt, Company H, Eightieth, buried 
at Manchester, New York, 1SG4. 

William Steward, Company H, One Hundred 
and Forty-third, buried at Wilson's Landing. 

John P. Davis, Company G, Eightieth, buried 
at Brandy Station, Virginia. 

William Nash, Company G, Eightieth, shot and 
killed himself accidentally at Corinth, Mississippi. 

John Wise, Company G, Eightieth, killed at 
Vicksburg. 

Henry Ross, Company G, Eightieth, killed at 
Mission Ridge. 

Jabez Norman, Company — , Ninety-seventh, 
buried at Nashville, Tennessee. 

Cassaday, Company I, Ninety-seventh, 

killed by rebels, while in line of battle. 

Charles Norman, Company — , Ninety-seventh, 
died at home, while absent on sick furlough, 
in 1863. ^ 

John Hout, Company G, Eightieth, died at 
Cairo. 

John Armstrong, Company H, Fifty-first, died 
South. 

B. Cidlison, Fifty-first, died in Texas, in 1865. 

James Atkins, Fifty-first, buried in the South. 



Frank Landers, Company H, Fiftj'-first, died 
in Na.«hville, Tennessee. 

John Fox, Compan)' H, Fifty-first, died at 
Nashville, Tennessee, 1863. 

John McCluggage, Company H, Fifty-first, 
died in the South. 

Abram Balo, Company H, Ninety -seventh, 
killed at Mission Ridge. 

Jackson Hughes, Company D, Seventy-sixth, 
died at Nashville, Tennessee. 

George Ferguson, Company F, Fifty-first 0. V. 
I., died in 1865 at Macon, Georgia. 

Mr. John M. Carhartt furnished the following 
additional matter: 

We, in Roscoe, have erected in our cemetery a 
beautiful wooden monument, painted white, in 
honor of our fallen comrades that are buried in 
the South, and a beautiful wreath adorns that 
monument every Decoration Day in honor of 
those dear comrades of ours who fell defending 
the glorious old flag and our country's honor. 

I will now give the names of those heroes from 
this county that belonged to Company M, Ninth 
O. V. C, whose bodies lie buried in the South: 

Jdhn Glass, died at Athens, Ala., April 10,1864. 

Lewis W. Barton, died at Athens, Alabama, 
May 27, 1864. 

Daniel Senter, died at Moresville, Alabama, 
June 8, 1804. 

B. F. Wright, drowned on the Sult.ina, 1865. 

Albert Wells, killed by guerillas, 1865. 

Robert Deems, killed by guerillas, 1865. 

Lewis Longbaugh, killed by guerillas, 186-5. 

One other boy, whose false friends at home were 
the true cause of his death. He went home on 
leave of absence from Camp Dennison, 0., and 
through the influence of enemies of our noble 
cause, did not return on the expiration of leave 
of absence. He was, after several attempts, ar- 
rested by the proper authorities, and taken from 
one camp to another until he finally reached the 
company at Vining Station. Georgia, sick, down- 
hearted and discouraged, and was taken to the 
hospital, where he died September 23, 1864. He 
told me that he was sorry that he did not report 
to the company at the proper time, and de- 
nounced those who caused him to remain away. 
That soldier's name was Franklin Felton. 

The above list is evidently incomplete, and the 
reader is referred to the general history for addi- 
tional names. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



411 



CHAPTER XLV. 

EARLY HISTORY OF COSHOCTON. 

Its Site an,Indian Village— Early Settlement— Colonel Charles 
Williams— Ebenezer Buckingham— Dr. Samuel Lee— Tradi- 
tion of Louis Phillippe— The Cold Plague— A Lost Child— 
The Whoo-whoo Society— Journal of Colonel Williams. 

COSHOCTON is built upon the site of an 
old Indian village, which was centrally 
located in the region occupied by the Delaware 
nation, and was for a time its capital. Up the 
valleys of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas and 
down the Muskingum valley, at short intervals, 
were other villages, so that the selection of this 
place, situated in the heart of the nation, as his 
residence by the great chief, Netawatwees, was a 
happy one. It was often visited by the famous 
councilors, White Eyes and Killbuck, as well as 
by the leaders of surrounding tribes, making it, 
without doubt, the seat of many councils where 
■questions of state policy, involving war or peace, 
life or death, were debated or determined. In 
Thomas Hutcluns' map of General Bouquet's ex- 
pedition it is designated simply as "A Delaware 
Town." According to DeSchweinetz, its n.ame 
was Goshackgunk ; according to Heckewelder, 
Gashochking. The dwellings were built in the 
cabin and not in the usual wigwam style. The 
village extended from the river to Third street, 
and the principal street corresponded with the 
present Second street of Coshocton, the cabins 
standing close together, in two long rows on each 
side of it. The remains of their fire-places, 
which are said to have been at the north end of 
•each of the cabins, could be easily discerned by 
the first white settlers of the place. The village 
was burned by General Brodhead in 1780. 

The town of Coshocton was laid out in April, 
1802, by John Matthews and Ebenezer Bucking- 
ham, Jr. In their survey they were assisted by 
Gibson Rook, and two town lots were given him 
for his services. The town was christened Tus- 
carawa, but the name was changed to Coshocton 
by act of the legislature in 1811. 

Charles Williams is generally regarded as the 
first settler of Coshocton. In March, LSOl, he and 
Isaac Hoagland moved with their families from 
Denman's prairie, situated several miles up the 



Walhonding river, to the site of the future town. 
They erected a temporary abode on the now va- 
cant lot on the river bank, below the Tuscarawas 
bridge, where there was a fine sugar camp. This 
house was the first erected in Coshocton. It was 
built of buckeye logs; w;is twelve feet square, 
and for a few weeks occupied by Charles Wil- 
liams and Isaac Hoagland, with their wives and 
several children. During this year Mr. Williams 
built a log house near the northeivst corner of 
Water and Chestnut streets, and removed his 
family to it. On the 11th day of February, 1809, 
the house was consumed by fire, and two chil- 
dren, one of Mr. Williams' and one of his brother 
James, perished in the flames. All the household 
goods were also destroyed. 

In 1800, John Matthews and Ebenezer Bucking- 
ham, who were the principal surveyors of much 
of the land in this part of Ohio, located the Bow- 
man section of land upon which Coshocton now 
stands. During the same year that the Williams 
house was built, Matthews and Buckingham, in- 
tending to make a permanent location, erected 
a log house somewhere between the river bank 
and the Central House — corner Second and 
Main streets. It was also about this time that 
Dr. Increase Matthews, one of the proprietors of 
Putnam, Muskingum county, visited Coshocton, 
being invited by his brother to engage in build- 
ing a mill on Mill creek. He found in Coshoc- 
ton the two houses already mentioned; but 
speaks of having seen here on that occasion his 
own brother, John Matthews, Stephen Bucking- 
ham, Ebenezer Buckingham, jr., and a sister, 
afterwards Mrs. Fairland, keeping house for them. 
This intended settlement by the Buckingham's, 
was in the fall of 1802 abondoned, and they re- 
moved from the county. The reason of this re- 
moval was principally the prevalence of malarial 
diseases. For many years the place bore the 
name of being very imhealthy, and many who 
came here with a design to settle, left on that 
account. 

Both the proprietors of the town soon aban- 
doned it, and in some way disposed of their in- 
terest in it. John Matthews went to Zanesville, 
was for a time interested in a store there, but 
finally built Moxahala mills, on Jonathan's creek, 
where he died sometime after. 



412 



HISTOKY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



After Matthews and Buckingham left the place, 
William Scritehfield purchased and ocQupied the 
Buckingham liouse, as it was called. About the 
year 1804, William Whitten, a blacksmith, and 
afterwards the first justice of the peace, settled 
here, and lived in a cabin a little back of the pres- 
ent residence of William Burns, on Second street. 
About this time Calvin Bobbett also -built a cabin 
just north of this, on lot 219. Not far from this 
date George McCullough and Thomas Evans re- 
moved to the place. The former married a 
daughter of William Scritehfield and lived in 
the Buckingham house. " This was perhaps the 
first wedding in the county. What would we 
not give to be able to describe it. But the mem- 
ory thereof has faded away, and there is no one 
to tell the story. Imagination must be left to 
picture it to the reader, for there has been no 
chronicler of the events of that memorable day." 
Thomas Evans was a shoe maker and carried on 
his craft in a cabin which stood on Second street, 
excepting such times as he went from house to 
house with his kit, "cat-whipping," as it was then 
called. 

About the year 1808, Andrew Lybarger, a tan- 
ner, moved into the place. He lived for a time 
on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut 
streets, carrying on the tannery just across Sec- 
ond street. 

In 1808, Zebedee Baker, a saddler, settled in the 
town. Several years later he moved to Mills 
Creek, and years afterwards returned to Coshoc- 
ton. 

In 1809 or 1810, Abraham Wisecaver and James 
Colder settled here. Wisecaver was a hatter, and 
lived on or near lot 170, Second street. James Col- 
der was a merchant, and exhibited his goods on lot 
214, Second street. This was no doubt the first 
attempt at merchandizing in the place. Colonel 
Williams, however, had previously kept on hand 
a stock of goods, which he traded witli the In- 
dians for peltry. Adam Johnson also brought 
here in 1811 and exposed for sale a stock of 
goods, in the log house which stood on the north- 
east corner of Water and Chestnut streets. 

In March, 1810, Captain Joseph NefT came to 
this place. He was by trade a tailor and for many 
years followed the business. Owing to removals 
because of the unhealthy climate and other causes, 



at the time Mr. NefT came, there were but four 
families of those already mentioned still living 
here. Much of Main street was at that time cov- 
ered with hazel bushes. In June, 1811, Dr. Sam- 
uel Lee, the first resident jihysician, settled in 
Coshocton. In the spring of 1811 Wright War- 
ner, and in the fall of the same year Aaron 
Church, the first two resident lawyers of the vil- 
lage, took up their abode here. The career of 
Church was of short duration and unfortunate in 
its termination. He was the son of a New Eng- 
land clergyman, and received an education at an 
eastern college. Upon its completion he read 
law, was admitted to the bar, and open*! an of- 
fice at Hartford, Connecticut, soon acquiring a 
good reputation as a lawyer. He married well 
and settled into a remunerative practice. Drink 
was his enemy and proved his downfall. He neg- 
lected his business, quarreled with and separated 
from his wife and came West to begin life anew. 
The opening in Coshocton was promising and he 
settled here, soon gaining a practice which ex- 
tended into the surrounding counties, but his ap- 
petite again gained ascendency over him and soon 
made him mentally and physically a wreck. He 
died of " cold plague " in the spring of 1815. 

Adam Johnson came 1811, married a daughter 
of Colonel Williams and was associated with him 
in business for many years. He was the first 
clerk of the court and recorder, captain of a com- 
pany in the war of 1812 and a prominent and in- 
fluential citizen up to the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1829. 

About 1815, the town began to settle up more 
rapidly. In the fall of that year, John Crowely 
came from Maryland ; he was a carpenter by 
trade, was for a time ferryman for Charles Wil- 
liams, and was afterwards sherifl' of the county. 
About the same time John Darnes, also a carpen- 
ter, emigrated from Virginia, near Washington 
City. Richard Stafford was here at this time, 
coming from the South Branch of the Potomac, 
Virginia. He was a wagonmaker, and served 
as an early justice of the peace. Albert Torry, 
a blacksmith, from the State of Maine, was also 
living in town at this time. He afterwards set- 
tled on Killbuck creek. James Renfrew, Sr., an 
early merchant, came about 1815. William and 
Alexander McGowan came in 1815, with their 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



413 



mother, from New Jersey. Tlwnr father, a Bap- 
tist minister, was killed, near Mount Pleasant, 
while they were on their journey hither, by the 
accidental upsetting of the wagon. Mrs. Mc- 
Oowan died in 1816. The boys were long known 
as the proprietors of the hotel, corner Second 
and Main streets. Abram Sells, a cabinetmaker, 
<;anie from Marietta, in 1814. He wiis for some 
time a justice of the peace, and also coroner of 
the county. He died in 18C9. Sannicl Burns 
moved here from Philadelphia, in 181 C. He was 
born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 
and was a hatter by trade. He purchased the 
tools of Abraham Wisecaver, who had previously 
removed to Muskingum count}', and followed his 
calling for a nunaber of years. For sixteen or 
eighteen years he was a justice of the peace in 
this township. He died in 1852. A few more 
years brought in Benjamin Ricketts, Otho and 
Daniel Cresap, John Forrest, Hezekiah Robinson, 
John McCullough, William Carhart. Garrett and 
Joseph Buckingham, John Smeltzer, Sanford 
Madden and others, and by 1820, the population 
had probably reached one hundred and lifty. No 
statistics are at hand, but this is the estimate of 
several old settlers who were living here at the 
time. 

The earliest pioneers of Coshocton deserve a 
more extended account, and of a few, concerning 
■whom information is had, short sketches are 
herewith given. 

Charles Williams, the first resident of the 
county seat, was among the first emigrants to 
cross the Ohio, and the principal personage in 
the first company that made a permanent settle- 
ment within the present limits of Coshocton 
county. He was born near Hagerstown, Wash- 
ington county, Maryland, in 1764. His jiarents 
were of Iri.sh and Scotch descent, and during 
the Revolutionary war removed to Wa.shington 
county, Pennsylvania; at its close they moved a 
little farther west, in the vicinity of Wellsburgh, 
Virginia. This was then the frontier, and Wil- 
liams grew to manhood here amidst the perils of 
border warfare. At twenty or twenty-one he left 
his father's house, crossed the Ohio into what is 
now Jefler.son county, and soon after became en- 
gaged to Susannah Carpenter, one of seventeen 



children connected with the principal family of 
the settlement in wealth and influence, her father 
havingtgiven his name to the settlement, "Car- 
penter's Fort," or C'arponter's Station, as it was 
sometimes called. The attachment of the parties 
was mutual, but the stern old gentleman refused 
his consent, and was inexorable. Consequently 
an elopement was determined upon. The good old 
man was decoyed from home one day, upon one 
pretense or another, by Samuel Morrison, who 
was among the first settlers of this county, and 
afterward brother-in-law to Williams, and the 
young couple made good their escape, crossed 
the Ohio and were married in the usual every- 
day dress of early settlers. After changing his 
place of abode several times in different parts of 
Ohio, he came to Muskingum county and en- 
gaged for a while in the manufacture of salt. 
Not succeeding here as he desired, in the sjiring 
of 1800 he removed to Coshocton county. 

There came with him his wife and two child- 
ren, his brother-in-law, William Morrison, and 
Isaac and Henry Hoagland, with their wives and 
one or two children each. Their place of settle- 
ment was on Denman's prairie, several miles up 
the Wolhonding from Coshocton. This spot of 
open prairie land seems to have been especially 
inviting in the midst of the dense forest which 
surrounded it. It began near the mouth of what 
has since been called Stone creek, and extended 
several miles up the river, varying in width ac- 
cording to the course of the stream. The margin 
of the river was skirted with timber. The set- 
tlers ran a fence between the prairie land and 
this strip of timber. They were unable, from 
the fewness of their number, to erect cabins im- 
mediately, and dwelt for some time in a kind of 
tent. The cabins, when built, stood away from 
the river at the foot of the hills, which bounded 
the prairie at the north. The following year, as 
already mentioned, Mr. Williams removed to 
Coshocton, where he remained until his death, 
August 2, 1840. 

The life of Colonel Williams is intimately as- 
sociated with the early history of Coshocton. He 
was a successful trapper, hunter, Indian scout 
and trader, and held every office, being almost 
all the time in some position in the county, from 
road supervisor and tax collector to member of 



414 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the State legislature. He was famous as a tavern 
keeper, and in that and other capacities became 
very popular. Clever, genial, naturally slfi'ewd, 
indomitable in purpose, not averse to the popu- 
lar vices of his day, and even making a virtue of 
profanity, he was for forty years <( controlling 
spirit of the county, and for twcnty-tive years the 
controlling spirit. He was a man of great nat- 
ural ability, though he never learned to read or 
write till he came to Coshocton. 'Squire Whitten 
gave him what little assistance he needed in 
learning to read and write. He was a man, too, 
of many good qualities, generous, enterprising 
and possessed of a commanding influence over 
others, so much so that he was familiarly known 
as "King Charlie." He obtained his military 
title from a promotion to the office of colonel in 
the militia of the State. 

Ebenezer Buckingham, Sr., was born at Green- 
field, Connecticut, November 1, 1748. His father 
having been lost at sea while Ebenezer was j'et a 
youth, he lived with his brother-in-law, Albert 
Sherwood, until he became of age. He was mar- 
ried at his native place in 1771, to Esther Brad- 
ley, daughter of Rev. Elanthan Bradley. After liv- 
ing at several places in New York, he determined 
in 1799, to move West. Two sons, Ebenezer, Jr., 
and Stei)iien, — the former of whom had gone to 
the settlements at Marietta, Ohio, as early as 1796, 
followed not long after by Stephen — returned 
home to Cooperstown, New York, with such 
glowing accounts of the beautiful and fertile 
country on the Muskingum river, that they all 
concluded to emigrate to that land flowing with 
milk and honey. They left Cooperstown, De- 
cember 25, 1799, on two sleds drawn by one yoke 
of o.xen eacli, leaving the two oldest daughters 
who were married, and taking ten children with 
them. A Mr. Spencer and wife, accompanied 
them with another sled across the mountains to 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by the way of Cove 
Gap, where they waited si.x weeks for the ice on 
the Ohio river to break up, wlien the cattle were 
sent by land through what was then a wilderness, 
under the care of his son Stephen, to Middle Is- 
land, on the Muskingum above Marietta, while 
tlie balance of the family with their goods and 
effects, descended the Ohio on a flat boat, reacliing 



Marietta in March, 1800. They poled the boat 
up the Muskingum, piissing Zanesville, with its 
two or three cabins (the cattle going up by land), 
and finally settled at the mouth of Killbuck 
creek. It is said they were accompanied by one 
or two other families from Jlarietta, whose names 
are unknown. They immediately put up their 
cabins, made of logs with clapboard roofs and 
dirt floors. The doors were hung with wooden 
hinges and not a nail or piece of iron was used 
in the construction of the cabins. Here they 
traded with the Delaware Indians, the older ones 
of whom were very expert in the use of the bow 
and arrow. They raised line crops of corn and 
potatoes the first spring, and also in 1801 and 
1802. He probably occupied for a while the 
house at Coshocton, built by his son, Ebenezer, 
Jr , and suffering much from sickness here in the 
fall of 1802 he removed to the mouth of the 
Hockhocking on the Ohio. Here he raised a 
crop of corn, then settled in Carthage where he 
resided until his death, October 24, 1824. His 
widow removed to Putnam, Muskingum county, 
where she remained with her son, Ebenezer, till 
her death, several years later. 

Dr. Samuel Lee settled in Coshocton as a regu- 
lar practicing physician in June, 1811. He was 
born and spent his boyhood on a farm near Pult- 
ney, Vermont, studied medicine at Castleton,. 
Vermont, and, in 1809, came to Ohio in company 
with Rev. Timothy Harris, of Granville, Ohio. 
The journey was performed on horseback through 
the wilderness. On the route they encountered 
Indians and swollen streams, and camped out at 
night by watch-fires. The doctor stopped first 
at Granville nearly two years, where he married 
Jliss Sabra Case ; then resided a few months in 
Mount Vernon. He came to Coshocton in search 
of an estrayed or stolen horse. The town was 
then a mere hamlet and wanted a physician, and 
he removed at once with his wife and one child. 
He lived during a part of the first year in a small 
cabin on Second street, built by Mr. Nett' for a 
tailor shop, but about Christmas of the same year 
he removed to a small cabin on the southeast cor- 
ner of Main and Fourth streets, then surrounded 
by a thick growth of hazel bushes. Surgery was 
a more prominent element of practice then than. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



415 



at present. Fighting was common — almost uni- 
versal — and bruised or broken limbs must often 
be mended. Among the doctor's first patients 
were two men who liad been fighting, one having 
his ear bitlen ofl' and the other his eye gouged. 
Nor were his services always called into requisi- 
tion in those self-reliant days. Witness the fol- 
lowing: An individual was thrown into spasms 
one day at Charlie Williams' tavern, and fell 
writhing to the floor. The doctor's residence 
was some distance away, and the case seemed to 
demand immediate action. The inquiry, " What 
is good for fits?" passed through the crowd as- 
sembled there, and the prevailing opinion seemed 
to be that bleeding was the proper remedy. Ac- 
cordingly, an energetic, muscular man seized the 
prostrate patient by the hair with his left hand, 
raised his head from the floor, and, with his 
clenched fist, dealt liim a powerful blow upon the 
nose as the most available point and nearest the 
supposed seat of disease. This heroic treatment 
was successful, and the man speedily recovered 
his senses. 

At the time the doctor came here there was no 
other physician within the radius of thirty miles 
and a ride of this distance and even farther was 
of common occurrence, often necessitating an ab- 
sence from home of several days. He remained 
a life-long citizen of Coshocton and died March 
19, 1874, having completed within four months his 
eighty-ninth year. 

Dr. Lee had undoubted adaptations for his 
time and place. The roughness and freedom and 
economy of pioneer life did not misfit him. He 
was very genial ; could tell a good story and crack 
a joke with the jolliest of the men and women of 
that day. Although holding public office but 
twice — that of county treasurer in very early 
days, and that of State senator in 1826-27— he was 
always interested in public aft'airs. There are 
abundant evidences of his friendly disposition in 
his readiness to go on their official bonds, and 
otherwise stand for his neighbors. His conscien- 
tiousness and diligence in his profession none 
have questioned. He had a quick-wi ttedness and 
strong common sense that often stood in lieu of 
profundity of attainment. He was not what 
might be called a scholarly man but always the 
friend of intelligence. His shrewdness and strict 



honesty in business transactions were prominent 
features of his character. His creditors were 
generally few and debtors many. The doctor at 
an early day owned almost the entire square 
bounded by Fourth, Fifth, ]\Iain and Walnut 
streets. He had a farm just east of town ; but his 
residence was for the most of his life in the brick 
house at the corner of Fourth and JIain streets. 

One of the cherished traditions of Coshocton is 
that Colonel Williams once kicked out of his tav- 
ern Louis Phillippe, afterwanl king of France. 
The story runs somewhat as follows : Louis was 
putting up at the tavern and was not satisfied 
with the accommodations. An altercation en- 
>ued between him and the tavern-keeper, ending 
in his telling Williams that he was heir to the 
French throne, and would not, as the coming 
sovereign, condescend to bandy words with a 
backwoods plebian. Williams replied that in this 
backwoods of America there were no plebians. 
"We are all sovereigns here," said he, "and I'll 
show you our power," and suiting the action to 
the word, he kicked Louis Phillippe out of the 
house, at which the " sovereigns" loitering around 
the tavern gave three cheers. The statement 
that he was once in Coshocton rests upon the fact 
that when George W. Silliman, attorney at law in 
Coshocton, visited Paris, in a reported interview 
with Louis Phillippe, then on the throne, the 
king told him that he once went to a point in the 
Northwest Territory, where two rivers came to- 
gether, and gave such a description of the place 
and the landlord of the tavern, who, he said, 
treated him very shabbily, as to satisfy Silliman 
that Co.shocton was the place and Williams the 
tavern-keeper. Colonel Williams, on being spo- 
ken to about it afterward, stated that he recol- 
lected the occurrence. It is a historical fact that 
Louis Phillippe came to America in 179G, and it 
seems to be well established that he vLsited the 
Muskingum valley, but it is equally true that he 
sailed from New York to England, reaching it in 
January, 1800, before Colonel Williams kept tav- 
ern in Coshocton. 

Coshocton in its infancy was frequently visited 
by the Indians, upon trailing or other excursions, 
and sometimes difliculties arose, but nothing 
more serious than an occasional fight. Just as 



416 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the war of 1812 w;i.s breaking out, they came 
several times, in war paint, to Col. Williams' 
tavern, where they were accustomed to trade, 
and boasted of the depredations they were about 
to commit upon the whites. After the war 
opened, most of the able-bodied citizens of Co- 
shocton and vicinity were drawn ofT in mili- 
tary companies and stationed at different points 
in the northern part of the State. A rumor was 
spread abroad one day that the town was to be 
attacked that night by a force of savages, and the 
people congregated at ColonelWilliams' cabin for 
safety, but it proved a false alarm. 

During the winter of 1814-15, the town was 
visited by what was called "the cold plague." It 
was a most fatal disease, of which many died, 
sometimes whole families. On Cantwell's run, 
in Eoscoe, Andrew Craig's whole family per- 
ished, and some forty or fifty persons are said to 
have died in Coshocton and the country around. 
The consternation which its ravages produced was 
great. The same disease reapjieared in 1823, or 
about that time, but was less fatal in its attacks. 

The following narrative of a lost child, in Co- 
schocton, in pioneer times, is from the pen of 
Rev. H. Calhoun. It well represents the " condi- 
tion of things," as they existed here years agor 

It was a cloudy, September day in 1812, in the 
early history of Cosshocton, when Malona Lee, an 
only child, eighteen months old, was lost. The 
country was then all very new; Indians were 
often seen, and at night hungry wolves were 
heard howling near the settlement. There were 
but few people then in the place, perhaps not 
over fifty all told, and these were scattered in 
some ten or twelve families over nearly all the 
present limits of the town (in 1850). Between 
many of the cabins and log houses, for there 
were only one or two frame houses, there were 
acres of ground covered with hazel thickets, and 
a narrow foot path might here and there be seen 
running from one cabin to another. There was 
a road which ran along the river bank, and an- 
other which ran out into the hills in the direc- 
tion of Cadiz. Besides these two roads and the 
foot paths we have mentioned communicating 
between the dwellings in diflerent parts of the 
settlement, there was another, which had been 
cut out for the purpose of getting wood by the 



inhabitants, and which extended out a mile and 
a half from the river cast, and was lost in the 
dense forest beyond. The residence of Dr. S. 
Lee was situated about midway between this 
wood path and the Cadiz road, some distance 
from any neighbor. 

The doctor had been engaged during the day 
in his professional business, and, having returned 
liome late in the afternoon, went into the garden 
to secure some vegetables which were growing 
there. He had not been there long when Mrs.' 
Lee called to him to know if he had seen Malona. 
The reply was that he had not, when she re- 
turned and made further search for her. Not 
being alarmed, the doctor continued his work, 
thinking nothing more of it, for he had seen the 
child in the house as he j)assed through on his 
way to the garden. 

After some time Mr.s. Lee again returned to 
the garden, saying that she had searched the 
house and been to the neighbors', but could hear 
nothing of the child. By this time both were 
much concerned about her safety, knowing that 
if she were lost in the hazel thickets, in the 
midst of which they lived, it would be impossi- 
ble for one so young to find her way home, and 
next to impossible for them to find /«r. 

Both now set out in a new, thorough and anx- 
ious search for the lost child ; for lost in earnest, 
she seemed to be. Again they made search all 
over their premises, and all the child's resorts for 
play, and again they went through the town, call- 
upon every one to know if they had seen the 
child. But it was all in vain. It was now grow- 
ing dark, and no trace of the lost one was yet 
found, and the dreadful thoughts of their only 
child lost in the wilderness around them, with 
all its dangers, filled the hearts of the anxious 
parents with an almost breathless solicitude, and 
with distressing forbodings tor her safety. . 

Nearly the whole settlement were soon alarmed, 
and without respect to age or sex, gathered at 
the house, every heart beating with sympathy for 
the afflicted parents. It was resolved at once to 
commence the search of the thickets north of 
the house. It was a very still and cold, though 
cloudy and dark night. Candles and torches 
were soon lighted up, and every individual tak- 
ing one in hand, they formed a line a few feet 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



417 



npart from each other, and commenced their 
march north through the thickets, every one 
carefully searching on every side until they came 
out to the Cadiz road. Several times they passed 
through and through, until they became satisfied 
that tlie child must have wandered away in a dif- 
ferent direction. 

And now the search began south of the house, 
down the river road running out into the hills 
and forests before referred to. All the hazel 
thickets were examined carefully in that direc- 
tion. At length the impression of her little foot 
was found in the sand, in the road nearly south 
of the house from which she had innocently 
strayed away. A few impressions only were 
found and all further traces of her were lost, and 
again all was bewilderment and anxiety as be- 
fore; for a child so young was as likely to forsake 
as to follow the beaten path. By this time it was 
far on in the night. Nothing had as yet been 
found to allay in the last the solicitude for the 
child's safety. It was a grand specbicle which 
those fathers of the present generation and hardy 
pioneers there formed. The deeply solicitous 
father, the distressed mother, with lights in hand, 
hurrj-ing to and fro, and many anxious parents 
around them feeling almost as though it were 
their own child. Scattering out on each side of 
the way they now conclude to search and follow 
the road out into the deep forest; for the traces 
found indicated she had gone in that direction. 
A few rods further on brought them again upon 
the tracks which the cliild had made ; and not far 
from that she had lost a little shoe which lay in 
the road. It was a cloth shoe of her own moth- 
er's contrivance, just such a shoe as the ingenuity 
of a kind mother h.ad readily contrived amid the 
stern necessities of a pioneer life. 

Thus they follow on, finding no more traces of 
the child until the road is lost in the hills and 
deep forest. Then the search was suspended; 
■while some busied themselves in kindling large 
fires to give light and warmth, and as defense 
from wild animals, and others continued their 
examinations, believing the child to be some- 
where in the vicinitj'. 

It wa.s now the dead of night. The fires were 
blazing high among the trunks and branches of 
the heavy forest trees, and the scene was distress- 



ing, gloomy and grand enough. But none slept 
— the woods were all alive with fires and the 
torches of those hurrying here and there, still 
continuing the search. In vain was the anxious 
mother entreated to return home to rest. Though 
worn down with fatigue, none moved swifter to 
and fro and continued the fruitless search with 
seemingly so little sense of fatigue as she did, so 
absorbed were her thoughts in her care and so- 
licitude for the child — her only child. 

Many were coming and going on all sides with 
lights and torches, and many anxious inquiries 
were made as they jiassed, if any trace of the 
child had been found. Old Squire Whitten, a 
hardy blacksmith and the first justice of tlie 
peace of Coshocton county, having carelessly ex- 
amined a cluster of underbrush, and being dis- 
satisfied with his search went back to look again, 
and lo! there was the dear object of all their 
search, folded in the arms of sleep lying upon the 
leaves, unconscious of her danger or of the many 
friends so near. Awakened by the noise she 
looked up, and discovering the Squire, she ex- 
claimed in her joj'," Pretty Papa!" "Pretty Papa!" 

A shout was raised by the overjoyed man, a 
genuine Indian war-whoop, to which the ears of 
many of the early settlers were familiar. When 
the friends and father and mother gathered 
around, the lost one was enjoying the caresses of 
the good man, sitting upon his knee, stroking his 
hardy features, and saying "Pretty Papa!" 
" Pretty Papa!" There was no indication that she 
had so much as shed a tear — probably falling 
asleep from over-fatigue. 

A famous organization in the early annals of 
Coshocton was the "Whoo-whoo Society," which 
was organized in 1828, on the Sthday of .January. 
For many days a heavy storm of mingled wind, 
rain, sleet and snow had poured down, and its 
efTects were soon visible in the melting of the pre- 
vious snow and the rapidly rising streams. The 
waters of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas were 
swollen beyond all precedent. They soon left 
their accustomed banks and completely flooded 
the low lands in the forks. Residents on the low 
lands by the river began to look about for a place 
of refuge. Some sought a home among hospita- 
ble friends, while others packed themselves away 
in their cabin lofts and the second stories of their 



418 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



dwellings, fastening a canoe to the upper window 
as a last resort. Timber, drift-wood, hay and 
grain, farming implements, hogs and cattle in 
one confused medley, went hurrying by. Appre- 
hensions being entertained that tliere might be 
distress in some of the cabins, a skid' was manned 
and started up the river for the cabin of John 
Elder, two miles from the forks, partly from sym- 
pathy and partly for the sake of adventure. Ar- 
riving at their destination, the crew found that 
the family had deserted the cabin and found 
safety on high land. On the return, ivs the expe- 
dition promised nothing more romantic, the ad- 
venturers made an inroad upon the turkeys and 
chickens, which, chilled with the cold, sat on the 
limbs of the trees down almost to the water's 
edge; and arriving safely among their friends 
with the trophies, gave out that they had fallen 
in with a flock of " owls." 

The nation's memorable day and its honored 
hero must not be forgotten. The materials for a 
sumpftious feast were at hand. Night came on, 
the tables were covered with the smoking viands, 
alias "owls," and the word was out for all, far and 
near, to come and partake. A night of revelry 
succeeded ; merrily the bowl went round, the 
swaggering song was encored, the welkin rang 
with huzzahs for the chieftain of the day — Gen- 
eral Jackson forever — and all were too much 
" half seas over " to tell when the carnival ended. 
So auspioiotis a beginning was not suflered to end 
thus. There was organized, forthwith, what was 
called the "Whoo-whoo Society of Coshocton," 
which was to meet annually on the 8th of January, 
in honor of the day and its hero. It is impossi- 
ble to give a full account of what was done by this 
strange and novel organization, nor would it be 
desirable if possible. The genius of the institu- 
tion was a bacchanalian, reckless and extravagant- 
h' boyish hilarity. The presiding officer was 
known as the great " Whoo-whoo Owl," and a 
monstrous bird of this .species always stood at the 
head of the table by his side. The second officer 
was called the "Little Screech Owl," and a bird of 
this kind stood by him. No citizen of the plaCve, 
and no stranger who might chance to be in town, 
was permitted to be absent, and was as surely in- 
to.xicated as present. Those who declined t(3 at- 
tend were often forced along against their will. 



Once assembled, at the direction of the master of 
ceremonies, folly and madness reigned supreme, 
and strange modes of amusement were contrived 
by minds half frenzied with the fumes of intoxi- 
cation. The members arrayed themselves in gro- 
tesque costumes, representing celebrated charac- 
ters or various animals, and the initiate was intro- 
duced to these severally. At one time the story 
of " the babes in the woods" was enacted in a 
most ludicrous manner. Great and over-grown 
men lay down in an arbor as babes in the woods, 
while another with huge wings, representing an 
angel, was let down from above them by ropes, to 
cover them with leaves. 

The chapter is closed with a journal written by 
Colonel Charles Williams of his life and travels. 
It perhaps affords a better insight into the char- 
acter of Coshocton's first settler than could be 
conveyed by another. A small portion is omitted 
and in some instances the phraseology has been 
modified, but the writing in the main is as it 
originally stood. 

CAPTAIN WILLIAMS' JOURNAL. 

Started from Fifteen Mile Creek, Maryland, 
October, 1779, crossed the mountains barefooted 
and came to a place called Brush Run, seven 
miles west of what is now Washington Town; 
there I stayed under my father's control. In the 
spring of 1781, tlie Indians captured a family and 
killed some of them about one mile oil' from our 
place. In the same spring my father moved to 
Cox's Fort. Tliere we lived ui>on boiletl wheat 
anil hominy; in the fall we lived very well on 
cashaws, pumpkins and milk; we had nothing 
but gourd cups and horn or wooden spoons. The 
Indians were killing or taking somebody almost 
every week. Here I soon bacame able to carry 
a gun. 

In 1783, I moved with my father into the coun- 
try on Cross creek, three miles from the fort. In 
a short time I became a hunter and killed bears 
and deer, and other animals. After some time, 
I liegan life for myself. The Indians killed one 
Yankee in my hcai-ing; then we raised about 
twenty men and followed them, and overtook the 
Indians in Sugar creek jilain at the mouth. There 
I killed one, I think, and we got the white man's 
bible and a deed for some land, and returned 
home safe. Then, I think in tlii» year 1784, I 
crossed the river when, I understand, there were 
but eight men in the State of Ohio. After some 
time I engaged in the ranging business. Those 
were very troublesome times. I lived hard but 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



41» 



free. Then I married a girl named Susanna 
Carpenter. I had to steal her away, and, as we 
Avere poor, I was unable to get a marriage lieense 
for want of money; but all came right. There 
was a justice of the peace in Virginia, and he 
agreed to marry me for a buckskin, and we went 
over the river in Ohio and got married on a big 
rock iiT the woods; some who were present, were 
barefooted ; then we went home and had a fine 
dance. 

In the next winter I lost my mare, by carrying 
a heavy load of meat, and then had nothing but 
my gun and dog I moved over the river into 
Ohio, I think, in the year 1787; there engaged in 
the ranging business; followed the Indians and 
hunted for a living, for several years, living 
happily, though the Rulians were very trouble- 
some. ' I lived at a place called Carpenter's Sta- 
tion, one mile up Short creek. We had tine 
4imes; nothing to do but dance, and eat hominy, 
and guartl ourselves. Then, after some years, I 
thought I would quit this kind of life, and go to 
work. I went down the river to Manchester, in 
this State (Adams county), and thought I would 
work for my living. I began to raise a crop, but 
had not been there long until a party of men 
came along who were going after some prisoners 
who had been taken on Flat river, Kentucky, 
about thirty women and children. Nothing 
would do, but I must go with them, and I at last 
agreed to do so. On the second, day we fell in 
with a party of Indians, and attacked them, and 
killed perhaps three. I shot one, who happened 
to be a white man. raised with the savages from a 
chilli, and was going to war then, to the mouth of 
the Scioto, to hack boats, steal property and kill 
people, as they had taken many boats there. In 
the above attack, I lost one man ; he fell against 
me. His name was Joseph Jones, a tine soldier. 
Four of our party thought it best to run in the 
camp, with our knives and tomahawks, and did 
so, an<l lost Jones. It was in the night. .Jones 
had not yet e,\pired when I left him, but we had 
to run for our own safety, as we supposed there 
were more Indians near by. Sure enough, it 
was so, and we returned home. I thought I 
woulil quit lighting the Indians, but in a short 
time they took three horses from me. Then my 
ambition was raised against them, and I started 
out with a party of surveyors, who were going to 
survey the Virginia IMilitary Land, beyond the 
Scioto, and lay out, without tire, si.xty odd nights, 
with one blanket. The greater part of the time, 
there was snow. Wc would cook before night; 
then I would gather brush, scrapie away the snow 
and lay my brush or b-^rk on the ground; sjiread 
my blankets upon this, and put on dry socks anil 
moccasins. There I slept very well, about half 
awake, not knowing what might hajipen to us 
that night. 



After being out for some time, we met an In- 
dian in the woods, as the surveyor was running 
a line, and the Indian ran oil', and we gathered 
together all our force, which was, I think, twenty- 
one, most of them young lads; perhaps ten or 
eleven with guns. In the morning, after break- 
fast, we started with intent to strike the camp, 
but missed it a little, but fell on their trail and 
foimd they were toi.i many for us. Our company 
was very much alarmed on .account of the young 
lad.s. Colonel Nathaniel Massie, who was with 
us, would not permit us to attack them. I was 
put before. We went about two miles, when we 
found the trail of about eight Indians. I told 
Massie that we would follow them, a.s they went 
our course ; then he took the precaution to push 
up for fear of what might lie behind. At sun- 
down we came to the place where the Indians 
were encamped for the night. We soon caught 
their horses, and waited patiently untd dark;, 
then myself and four others, wh(.i were to attack 
the camp, creeped up to within a few feet and 
fired upon them. Two were killed; the rest es- 
caped. We went fast for home through fear of 
those we had passed tliat ilay. We went about 
four miles; there we stayed all night, cooked and 
ate our breakfast; then started for home, killed 
two buftiiloes, and reached home in safety the 
next day. 

Then I determined to go with Anthony Wayne, 
and started; reached him at Cincinnati, where I 
was given $2 a day to go about twelve miles to 
take care of cattle for the use of the army. It 
was very dangerous, for the Indians were plenty, 
watching the army. After some time I got word 
that my wife was very sick and I returned home. 
I found my wife very low. In the spring we 
moved to a piece of land in Ohio which I had 
bought, on Bru.sh creek,* with a family with me, 
by the name of Hoglin. He died a short time 
after, and I moved back to the station. When 
we were at the land it was very dangerous. 
After some time I moved uj) the river where I 
came from. Carpenter's Station, on Short creek. 
I then had some money and two horses. There 
was peace with the Indians by this time, and I 
thought I would rejiay them for the damage they 
had done me. Following them many miles, I 
reached New Comerstown; there, I and three 
others, fell in with tliirty or forty Indians; wc 
gave them a small keg of whisky and kejit one to 
trade on. They got iiretty high, and soon came 
to take my bread! One got hold of the bag and 
ran, bnt I soon overhauled him and took it from 
him. Soon after they came to get more whisky, 
and I sold it to thein for $1 a quart, one-third 
water; thus I w.as paying them up. In two or 
three days I got done'trading and went home in 

■fAtlams county, Ohio. 



420 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



fine heart, thinking what I would do next trip. 
I soon started out again with several horses 
loaded with articles for trade and one loaded 
with whisky, as it would make nearly two horse 
loads. I came to the camp and found many In- 
dians there eager to trade, and made good bar- 
gains for mj'self. 

I found a white man there named Robert Hig- 
gins, and the Indians and I got an old woman 
willing to marry him; then the buck's foot and 
corn were handed about, and the marriage was 
over. We put them to bed on a bear-skin. Then 
I started home; had made a good trade and 
brought some Indians home with me. My fath- 
«r-in-iaw had been wounded and taken prisoner 
by the Indians, and was very angry at thoni. It 
was hard work to save them from liini, but I did 
it. I sold oft' my trade and lived high, played 
cards and ran horses. I s|)ent my money as fast 
as I made it, but took good care of my family. 

In the spring I took my brotlier-in-law with 
me; took plenty of trade, especially whisky, as it 
was good trade that would sell when ca.sh and all 
skins were gone, for the best of clothing. This 
was full of lice, but we would wash it and sell it 
again to others who had skins. Then the Indi- 
ans got very troublesome. Tlicy wanted to take 
my whisky, and I fought for it, and Carpenter 
left me alone. I had to work to save my prop- 
erty, but none was taken. In a few days I sold 
all out and started for home. About fifteen, or 
twenty went with me. Then I began to under- 
stand them a little, which made trading easier 
for me. I traded eight years with them, and my 
wife, too, understood them before I was done 
trading. 

Then, after some time in the next fall, I deter- 
mined to move to the Muskingum Salt Springs, 
■where Chandlers made salt. I started down the 
Ohio to the mouth of the Muskingum, then up it 
to the salt works. On the way I got the ague, 
■and had it two months, or thereabouts; landed at 
Duncan's Falls, where there were thirty or more 
Indians waiting for me. I had a barrel of whisk\- 
— great joy for them. Soon they got drunk. There 
•were no persons with me but my wife and three 
•children. My hands had g<ine up to the salt 
•works. We liad to move our bed and barrel of 
whisky seven times that night to keep from being 
robbed, as they always found us. 

Daylight came at last. I had hard work to save 
all but did so. After some time in the day my 
hands came for me. They stole oft" the barrel of 
whisky and left it out in the woods, then came 
back for the family, ^"\"hen we had gone about 
two miles I took sick and they left me under a 
tree with a blanket over me. Up came a very 
hard rain but I was not able to get up. In the 
evening they came for me witli a horse; we went 
about four miles, there came to my wife and chil- 



dren, with no shelter except a small tent. Those 
were hard times. There was no person to work 
for me and I laid sick for about two months with- 
out bread or any other food except meat. It was 
a very hard winter. After some time I got able 
to go for some {)rovisions, and brought several 
horse loads. I had to fetch it about eighty miles 
through deep snow. Tliere was no road, but at 
last I got home, and we had bread. 

There were some young men who had been 
trading with the Indians. They came to see ns 
and the Indians were all very dry. They sought 
to have a frolic and had one. I had to keeji very 
steady. -Ml got pretty high. Solomon McCul- 
loch and William Morrison cut a hole in the ice, 
or it was cut, and j)oke<l one Indian in it. I ran 
and took him out. By that time they had stripped 
one more all but one leggin and breech clout. 
He broke away and ran to the woods where he 
stayed all night. The .snow was deep and it was 
very cold. My wife and I followed but could not 
overtake him. In the morning he came back and 
wasnot frozen .as we expected he would be. He had 
lain under a bank where there was a spring. The 
next night the Yankees played a trick on one of 
our liands ; they got a rope around his neck and 
swore they would draw him up the chimney, I 
abed heard them, spoke to them and they let him 

go- 

My neighbors were Indians, but in a short 
time I had two neighbors who were white men, 
William McCulloch and Henry Crooks. Then I 
made money making salt and keeping provisions 
for travelers. I spent it all in cutting a road so 
as to keep the road by my house. I then sold 
out and moved to the Whitewoman. The In- 
dians came there and rol>bed me of my best 
clotlies from under my head. They stole my 
horse, and several others. I went with the own- 
ers of the horses and got two back again. Then 
they stole more horse.s. I felt very willing to 
follow them, took two Indians with me and start- 
ed. I overhauled the one that had stolen my 
clothes, but he had lost them at gambling. The 
chief told me totakehim l>ut I thought it best to 
leave him. The Indians lind sent the horses he 
had stolen to where I lived. Tlien the next 
morning I started and came to a place called 
Helltown,* a small Indian town. I was treated 
very well but there were no news of stolen pro- 
perty. The next morning I went on to Lower 
Sandusky. There I found them very much 
alarmed on account of two Indians that had 
stolen two horses, and three men had followed 
and killed tliem. The white men's names were 
Elias Hughes, Jtjhn Ratlift' and John Bland.f At 



*In Riohlancl county. 

fThis was in April, 1800. See Howe's nistorical Collec- 
tions of Ohio, page 292, or Graham's History of Licking 
county. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



421 



Sandusky the Indians had a feast, about 300 were 
there. I thought my chances were l)ad, but good 
or bad I bolted up in the midst of them, told the 
clrief what my erran<l was— to have the horses 
returned and the stealing stopped, and that then 
there would be no more killed. Thi^y agreed to 
give up all the horses, and I got eight or nine 
home for their owners. That put a stop to horse 
stealing by the Indians to this day, 1<S31. 

I then had the ague for nine months almost 
every day. Then I moved to Coshocton, here 
I have lived thirty-two years. I thought when I 
came that I would try to make something to live 
.on in my old days. I kept a tavern for about 
twenty-eight years, and drove hogs and cattle, and 
made money on all .sides. Before I left the salt 
works the Indians robbed my wife of one keg of 
whisky and stole two horses when I was away 
from home. When I returned I followed them 
with two other men, and we overhauleil them on 
White Woman river. That was in time of peace. 
I think I was gone five days. 

About twenty-one yea'rs ago I had my house 
burned and two children, one of my own and one 
of my brother James', burned and everything but 
a mere trifle lost. In about one month I was 
doing business as good as ever, keeping tavern 
and droving.. After a time the last war came on. 
I thought I must see what was going on. At 
Hull's surrender I was ordered out with 100 men 
or thereabouts, went on to Manslleld. Before I 
got there I had some trouble with the Indians, to 
get them to tell what they would do, go to the 
British or go toourarmy, and my men killed one. 
They came to us after a day or two ; we stayed at 
Mansfield. In a few days, the Indians came 
within a few miles and killed two old persons, 
man and wife, I think they were seventy or up- 
wards, and their daughter and one other man. I 
and four or live more went where they were 
killed, found them dead and scalped. In the 
course of the day they were buried without cof- 
fins. In a few days, about fifteen or twenty 
Indians came where there wa.s a family and some 
military men, about one mile distant from where 
they had killed the others, and killed, I think, 
four persons. I was sick at the time. Sent 
twenty men after them but could not overhaul 
them. After a month, I was ordered home with 
my men. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

GROWTH OF COSHOCTON — PRESS — FRATERNITIES. 

Location of Tuscarawa— Description of Original Tlat— AJ- 
ditions to Coshocton— Increase of Population— Incorpora- 
tion— List of Mayors— Postmasters— City Hall— The Press— 
The Coshocton Republican— Spy— Democratic Whig— Pro- 



gressive Age— Coshocton Age- Castle of Liberty— Western 
Horizon- Democrat— Practical Preacher— Young America. 
—Saturday Visitor — People — Commonwealth — Farmers' 
Home .lounial—Wochenblatt— Secret Orders- Masons— Odd 
Fellows— Ucd Men— Knights of Honor— Patrons of Hus- 
baudry. 

rnHE original proprietors of the town of Tus- 
-L carawa must have had high anticipations of 
the future iiniiortimce of the place, if the extent 
of its boundaries be any indication ; and, indeed, 
the location was amply sufficient to warrant 
glowing expectations of eminence. It was situ- 
ated at the headwaters of one of the most beau- 
ful and noted rivers of the West, in the midst of 
a luxuriant and classic valley, readily accessible 
by water crafts, then the only means of extensive 
transportation. 

The town plat embraced a territory perhaps 
three-fourths of a mile square, extending south- 
ward three squares beyond Mulberry street, and 
eastward as far as Fifth street, including 308 lots. 
Besides these, there were forty-seven large out- 
lots, No. 1 to 23, inclusive, east of the town plat 
proper, between what are now Fifth and Seventh 
streets; 21 to 35, west of Muskingum river, and 
36 to 47, north of Tuscarawas river. Three 
squares, of just four acres each, were donated to 
the public ; one, occupied by the north building, 
for school purposes, and two for the public use. 
One of these is now occupied by the court house ; 
the other lay directly south of it. 

The land between the town and river, several 
hundred feet in width, was to be used as a com- 
mon, reserving to holders of lots fronting on the 
common the right of building warehouses and 
wharves in front of their lots, between lots 229 
and 240, provided a street four rods wide be left 
between the lots and wharves, and provided such 
wharves and warehouses interfere not with any 
usual ford or any ferry that the proprietors may 
establish ; the proprietors reserving all rights to- 
ferries within the bounds of the town. 

The State legislature, January 13, 1811, passed 
an act authorizing that the name of Tuscarawa 
be changed to Coshocton; that the portion of 
town south of Mulberry street (including 132 
lots) be vacated, and that the county commissioners 
subdivide into lots and sell the public square 
lying between Main and Walnut streets. This 



422 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



latter was divided into fourteen lots (309-322) 
and sold soon after. At the same time the pro- 
prietor re-subdivided a portion of the plat as 
vacated by the act into what is known as the 
south out-lots, and also revised tlie plan of the 
east out-lots, lying between Fifth and Seventh 
streets. 

The various additions made to the town of Co- 
shocton are as follows: R. M. Lamb, in May 
1837, made a subdivision of land lying east of 
" east out-lots " into what was called Location lots. 
It is now known as Lamb's Addition, and was 
surveyed by John Fulks, deputy county surveyor. 
William F. De La Mater laid out an addition in 
March, 1854, comprising ea.st out-lots 13 and 14; 
surveyed by John C. Tidball. James M. Burt's 
.addition was laid out in March, 1862, from parts 
of out-lots 13 and 14; surveyed by John C. Tid- 
ball. Samuel H. Lee's addition was made in 
May, 18GG, from a portion of lot 12, section 1. 
■September, 1807, James R., David M. and Thomas 
H. Johnson made an addition including parts of 
east out-lots 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 It was surveyed 
"by Thomas H. Johnson. John Burt, Sr., made an 
addition from a portion of lot 12, section 1, in No- 
vember, 1866; surveyed by Hunt and Johnson. 
Spangler's addition was made in April, 1868, by 
E. T. and A. H. Spangler and Joseph Burns, from 
parts of east out-lots 16, 17, IS, 19 and 20; sur- 
veyed by R. A. Cunningham. Daniel Triplett's 
addition, comprising parts of out-lots 9, 10, 11, 12 
and 13, was made in August, 1868; surveyed by 
William Humrickhouse. John B. Elliott's ad- 
dition was made in March, 1872, from a part of 
section 1. It was surveyed by John A. Hanlon. 
The Coshocton Iron and Steel Company's ad- 
dition was made in April, 1872, from portions of 
east out-lots 6, 7 and 8; surveyed by John A. 
Hanlon. 

In August, 1872, Thomas M'illard subdivided 
lot 9, and A. M. Williams and Martin Weisser, 
lot 8 of Triplett's addition. The Coshocton 
County Agricultural Society, in December, 1872, 
subdivided the fair grounds — a part of lot 12, sec- 
tion 1— J. A. Hanlon, surveyor. W. E. Hunt, 
Daniel Triplett and Anthony Winimer, in Feb- 
ruary, 1873, subdivided in-lots 87,38,39 and 40. 

Ricketts' additions were made in April and in 
December, 1873, by T. C. Ricketts, Houston Hay 



and F. Barney from jtortions of east out-lots 1, 2, 
3,4 and 5; John .\. Hanlon, surveyor. In March, 
1873, Willis Wright subdivided lot 13, of Lamb's 
Location lots. 

The growth of the village was at first extremely 
slow. At the end of ten years there were scarcely 
a dozen families living here. Directly after the 
close of the war 1812 settlers began to arrive 
more rapidly, and the estimate of several pioneers 
is, that in 1820 Coshocton contained probably one 
hundred and fifty people. The census for 1830 
gives it three hundred and thirty-three inhabit- 
ants. The Ohio canal had just been building, 
and it served to increase the population of Co- 
shocton, though to a less extent than Roscoe. In 
1833 there were in Coshocton a brick court house, 
a jail, two printing offices, live mercantile stores, 
four taverns, four lawyers, three regular and two 
Thorapsonian practitioners of medicine, a num- 
ber of mechanics, a large steam mill with four 
run of buhrs, and two saw mills, owned by Ren. 
frew & Company. The population was computed 
at four hundred. In 1840 it had increased to six 
hundred and twenty-five, and 1850 to eight hun- 
dred and fifty. From that date it began to in- 
crease more rapidly, and 1860 it had reached 
eleven hundred and fifty-one. Ten years later it 
was seventeen hundred and fifty-four. The cen- 
sus returns for 1880, however, indicates the 
most marked advance in population, for in 
that year it was three thousand and forty-eight. 

Coshocton was incorporated by act of legisla- 
ture, January 21, 1833. The early records are lost 
or destroyed, rendering it impossible to give a com- 
plete list of the mayors of the village. Since 1847,> 
they have been as follows: Thomas Campbell 
1847-51; John C. Tidball, 1851-52; J. Irvin, 1852- 
54; John C. Tidbah, 1854-50; Welcome Wells, 
1856-58; A. J. Wilkin, 1858-59; John C. Winn, 
1859-60; C. H.Johnson, 1860-63; G. F. Wilcoxon, 
1863-04; J. C.Pomerene, 1864-65; W R. Forker, 
1865-66; William Ward, 1866-67; J. S. Elliott, 
1867-68; L. L. Cantwell, 1868-69; J. S. Elliott, 
1869-70; Hiram Beall, 1870-72; John M. Compton, 
1872-76; L. L. Cantwell, 1876-78; Thomas C. 
Ricketts, 1878-80; George A. Hay, 1880. 

The following list of postmasters at Coshocton 
since the formation of the county is believed to 
be correct and complete. If there was an office 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



423 



nt this point prior to 1811, diligent inquiry has 
failed to reveal it: Adam Johnson, from 1811 to 
to about 1S2G; Wilson McGowan, from about 
1826 to 1830; William K. Johnson, 1830-45; C. 
H. Johnson, 184o-i9; R. F. ftiker, 1.S49-53; Sam- 
uel Rich, 1853-54 ; H. N. Shaw, 1854-61 ; Asa L. 
Harris, 1861-64; A. H. Fcitehey, part of 1864; 
W. A. Johnson, 1864-5; R. M. Voorhees, 1865-69; 
T. W. Collier, 1809-81; J. G. McGaw, present 
postmaster. In 1828 the office yielded an income 
of about |G2 per annum. It was held by Adam 
Johnson in his store room on Water street. 
After his term of service, it was usually located 
at some point on Second street, until within a 
few years, since when it has been kejjt in various 
rooms on Main street. Its present commodious 
quarters are in one of the rooms of the Opera 
House. 

The city hall, standing on the northwest corner 
of lot 140, Main street, is a handsome and credit- 
able public structure. It is built of brick, with 
stone facings, and is two stories in height. The 
upper floor contains a large audience hall and 
two front offices, one of which is occupied by the 
mayor. Below are two large store-rooms, and in 
the rear is the dismal apartment which is best 
known to offenders against the peace and dignity 
of the village. The erection of the building was 
begun in 1877 and completed in 1878, the con- 
tract for which was awarded to H. Waggoner for 
$9,793. 

The first printing press and newspaper in the 
■county of Coshocton was eshiblished at Coshocton 
in 1827. It was a small sheet about twelve by 
eighteen inches, styled the Coshocton Republican, 
ancr issued with considerable irregularity. Dr. 
William Maxwell was editor and proprietor. 
After a brief career of little more than a year 
the proprietor became so much involved that he 
was obliged to dispose of the establishment. It 
passed into the hands of John Frew, who had 
furnished supplies from his store for some time 
He continued its publication under the name of 
the Coshocton Spy. Washington O'Hara was 
placed in charge of the paper as foreman, and, 
notwithstanding the cflbrts of Mr Frew, it failed 
to be self-supporting, and he was obliged tc^st«ad- 
ily pay a little for the honor of its publication. It 



was Whig ih its politics, and remained in Frew's 
possession until 1844. Burket E. Drone then 
purchased the press and issued the paper for a 
few years, calling it the Dcmicnttic Whig. At 
length he also became involved and the press 
was sold for debt. The paper was then suspended 
for a year or more, until 1850, when it was again 
revived under the name of the Coshocton Repub- 
lican, by Joseph Jloilill, afterward famed in Cleve- 
land, and still later and more greatly in Chicago, 
as editor of the Tribune and mayor of the city. 
Medill soon after removed from the county, and 
the paper became the property of H. Guild, who 
at length suspended iniblication as most of his 
predecessors had done. After some time the office 
became the property of R. W. Burt, now in tlie 
Internal Revenue service at Peoria, Illinois. The 
progress of the paper under his control, as set 
forth in a letter from him, published in Hunt's 
Historical Collections, is as follows: 

In August, 1853, Mr. H. Guild, the editor and 
proprietor of the old Whig newspaper at Coschoc- 
ton, called on me, and desired to sell me his in- 
terest in it. He had ceased the publication, two 
or three months previously, having lost hope of 
its success. I told him I was not 'a Whig; had 
been a Democrat, but was now a Free Soiler; 
that my party in Coshocton only included about 
fifty people, and that I saw little or no prospect 
of establishing a paper in advocacy of my own 
principles. I also distrusted my ability to do 
justice to my own cause, never having had any 
experience as an editor, nor even as printer. I 
gave him no encouragement and he went away. 
But, in truth, he had awakened a desire in my 
mind to engage in the work of publicly advo- 
cating my i)rinciples, which I believed would 
finally triumph. I thou.ijht over the matter, 
talked with my father and some leading Whigs 
and independent Democrats, and finally em- 
barked in the entor]irise. I was assisted greatly 
by Hon. James Matthews, and his brother-in-law, 
Thomas W. Flagg. was taken in as associate 
editor. I called the ])ai>er the Pngressive Age. 
The first number was i)ul)lishcd in Sejrtember, 
1853, and was outspoken on the subject of slavery 
extension and the fugitive .-^lave law, and strongly 
advocated tenqierance. William A. John.son 
was foreman in the ))rinting office. I sent the 
paper to all the subscribers of the old Whig 
paper and also to all the Democrats whose names 
I could get. I soon found ])lenty of pajjcrs re- 
turned, "not taken out of the ])OStoffice." In two 
months, however, after my first issue, I had only 
about 250 subscribers; but I did not get discour- 



424 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



aged. In a few months, by most persistent efforts, 
my subscription list was greatly enlarged, and 
at the end of the year it had reached 7U0. The 
following year, the Age took part in the forma- 
tion of the Kepublican party, and the new party 
having succeeded in electing nearly all their 
candidates for county offices, the Age came in for 
a share of the jiublic printing, which gave it a 
firmer footing. I continued the publication 
about three ycar.s, and the Republican party was 
in power in the county, when 1 sold the paper to 
A. R. Hillycr, who published it about a year, 
and then sold it to J. W. Dwyer. I assisted 
Dwyer about a year and then left the county. 

J. W. Dwyer, made very little pecuniary gain 
out of the paper, and left it to take office in the 
Treasury Department under S. P. Chase. Asa L. 
Harris become the proprietor of the paper in 
1861. He changed the name from Progressive 
Age to CosJwdun Age, which title it has retained 
ever since. About the time of the close of the 
war, Harris received the appointment of postmas- 
ter at Atlanta, Georgia, and went South. The 
paper after being for a short time under the 
management of J. W. Dwyer and W. A. Johnson, 
became in 1866, the property of Captain T. W. 
Collier. He retained possession of it until April 
1, 1878, when it was purchased and edited by A. 
W. Search and J. F. Meek. This firm was dis- 
solved in February, 1881, Mr. Search disposing of 
his interest to Mr. Meek, who is now sole pro- 
prietor. The circulation of the Age is considera- 
bly in advance of any other paper published in 
the county. It is reported at 2,000 copies. 

In 1831, John Meredith began the publication 
of a paper at fiist Union, which gloried in the 
warlike cognomen of the Castle of Liberty ami the 
Battle Axe of Freedom. It was removed the fol- 
lowing year to Coshocton, and was published un- 
til after the presidential election in that year, 
when it was discontinued. It advocated demo- 
cratic principles and the re-election of General 
Jackson to the presidency. James Matthews as- 
sisted in the editorial department for a time. 

In 1835 the publication of a democratic paper 
called the Western Horizon, was begun at Coshoc- 
ton by William G. Williams. Mr. Williams was 
at this time county treasurer and he was assisted 
in the editing of this paper by Russell C. Bryan. 
He was succeeded in the editorial chair by Joseph 
F. Oliver. In no great length of time he in turn 



was succeeded by T. W. Flagg and Chauncey Bas- 
sett. They were the publishers in 1840 when the 
paper was about one-half the size of the present 
Denwa-at, and by them the name of the paper was 
changed to the CoshoHon Democrat. They were 
succeeded by Messrs. Avery and Johnson, who af- 
ter a year or two disposed of it to James F. 
Weeks. From his hands it went back again into 
the possession of Chauncey Bassett, one of its 
former editors. After him it was edited and 
published by Dr. A. T. Walling, since congress- 
man from the Columbus district. In 1853 Rich 
and Wheaton were publishing it. In the spring 
of 1856, Asa G. Dimmock, who had edited the 
Cadiz Sentinel and the Cosmopolite at Millersburg 
and had just finished his service as warden of the 
Ohio penitentiary, became editor and publisher. 
When nominated for prosecuting attorney in 
1862, he disposed of the paper to A. McNeal, a 
young man from Bethlehem township, who had 
just served as county recorder. He was drowned 
while fishing in the Tuscarawas river, a few miles 
aboTe Coshocton in August 1862. Wash. C. 
Wolfe ran the paper from McNeal's death until 
after the election, when Dimmock resumed, and 
soon thereafter (November, 1861), J. McGonagle, 
formerly of the Cadiz Scnti-nel, became a partner 
with Dimmock, and continued for some two 
years. He removed to Shelby, Ohio. In the 
spring of 1866 the present publisher, John C. 
Fisher, of Licking county, became a partner with 
Dimmock. The health of the latter was at that 
time seriously broken. He spent the most of the 
summer in visiting among friends, and died that 
fall at the home of his brother in ]\Iontrose, Penn- 
sylvania, and Mr. Fi.sher became the proprietor 
and editor of the paper, continuing as such unto 
this writing, except that during Blr. Fisher's ab- 
sence in the State senate it was edited by W. R. 
Gault and other temporarj- editors and that dur- 
ing the summer of 1875 for a few months W. C. 
Brownlee was associated with him. It is under- 
stood that in its earlier history tlie pajjer fre- 
quently required the helj) of its party friends, and 
none of its numerous publishers have been able 
to retire with a large fortune. Its appliances are 
better now than in any past period of its history. 
Its circulation is reported at 1,175 copies. 
The Prfutical Preacher was the name of a three- 



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8 






HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



427 



column, sixteen page, semi-monthly paper, the 
publication of which was begun at Coshocton in 
the fall of 1849. Each number contained "an 
original sermon by a living minister," in addition 
to other religious reading. It also contained 
much miscellaneous matter, including some local 
news. A series of historical sketches of Coshoc- 
ton and vicinity, written by Rev. H. Calhoun, ran 
through the first volume and a few numbers of 
the second, forming one of its leading features. 
It was edited by Rev. C. E. Weirich, a Jlethodist 
minister, stationed at Plainfield, and Rev. II. Cal- 
houn, the pastor of the Second Presbyterian 
Church of Coshocton. At the end of the first year, 
Mr. Weirich removed to Washington, Guernsey 
county, and the paper was published at Coshoc- 
ton and Washington co-jointly. With the close 
of the second volume, Mr. Calhoun withdrew 
from the paper and its publication was conducted 
for several years at Washington only, all connec- 
tion with Coshocton county being severed by the 
withdrawal of Mr. Calhoun. 

In the spring of 1853, S. M. Rich and J. V. 
Wheaton began the publication of Yuung America, 
Mr. Rich as editor, Mr. Wheaton as printer. It 
was a large five-column paper, neutral in politics, 
unsectarian, and devoted to the beautiful in litera- 
ture, the elegant in art and the useful in science. 
No advertisements were inserted, the sjiace being 
wholly filled with choice selections. Like many 
another worthy enterprise, its career was brief. 
Lack of support caused it to suspend publication 
indefinitely within a year of its first issue. 

In tlie fall of I860, the Sntunhii/ I'mZ/o?- was ush- 
ered into being by H. 1). Beach, Avho soon after 
associated with him in its publication L. L. Cant- 
well. It was purely a literarj' and local paper, 
letting politics severely alone. In 1871, the pub- 
lishers sold the i:)aper to W. A. Johns, who re- 
moved to Ncwcomerstown and continued its pub- 
lication under the name of the Ncwcomerstuini 
Argus. 

In 1874 H. D. Beach began the publication of 
an independent newspaper at Coshocton called 
the Coshocton People. After a brief and fitful ca- 
reer of between one and two years it expired. 

The first number of the Coshm-Um Count ij Com- 
monwedlth was issued January 1, 1880. Its pub- 
lishers are the Ferguson Brothers ; its editor, W. 
16 



M. Ferguson. The paper is a weekly publication, 
independent in politics, and devoted to the news 
and interests of the county. Though at this 
writing it has barely begun its second year, it has 
already secured a paying subscription list of 
seven hundred, and bids fair to obtain a perma- 
nent position of rank in the press of Coshocton 
county and vicinity. 

The Farmers' Home Journal, a, monthly publica- 
tion of sixteen pages, devoted to the interests of 
the agricultural jjopulation, was sUvrted in Octo- 
ber, 1880, by L. L. Cantwell. 

The Coshodon Wochenbhitt is a weekly newspa- 
per published in the German language, by L. L. 
Cantwell and Henry Mining. Its first number 
was i.ssued October 2, 1880. It is still in its in- 
fancy, but the publishers report a constantly in- 
creasing circulation. 

Coshocton Lodge, No. 06, of the Masonic Fra- 
ternity, was instituted in 1846. There had pre- 
viously been a lodge of this Order at Co.shocton, 
Clinton Lodge, No. 42, which had suspended in 
1836. The Coshocton Lodge was organized at 
Ricketts' Hall, northeast corner of Chestnut and 
Second streets, and was composed of the follow- 
ing charter members: David Spangler, Master; 
Joseph W. Rue, Senior Warden ; William Mc- 
Farlin, Junior Warden ; Josiah Harris, R. M. 
Lamb, William B. Decker, Thomas C. Ricketts, 
Samuel Lee, R. C. Brj'an, M. Ferguson, T. P. 
Jones and William Carhart. At this writing, the 
lodge is officered as follows : George Shrigley, 
Master; William H. Robinson, Senior Warden ; 
Fulton Sears, Junior Warden ; Henry Davis, 
Treasurer; Calvin Skinner, Secret;iry; Willard 
Sears, Senior Deacon ; H. Cramlet, Junior Dea- 
con, and R. B. Black, Tyler. The lodge hall is lo- 
cated in the McLain building, on Chestnut street, 
and the membership considerably exceeds one 
hundred. 

Samaritan Chapter, No. 50, of Royal Arch Ma- 
sons, was chartered October 22, 1852, with the 
following membership : Josiah Harris, High 
Priest; Samuel Hutchinson, King ; Smiley Har- 
baugh. Scribe ; Jacob Nichols, Thomas P. Jones, 
John Taylor, David Sj)angler, Thomas Harrison, 
and Benjamin Bonnett. There are now about 
fifty members. For the term beginning with 



428 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



1881, the officers are: W. W. Bostwick, H. P., 
Lewis Demoss, King; Dr. Josiah Harris, Scribe ; 
William Hughes, C. of H.; Theodore Agnew, P. 
S.; C. F. Burns, R. A. C; George Agnew, First 
v.; Thomas McConnell, Second V.; M. G. Hack, 
Third V.; J. G. Magaw, Secretary ; E. McDonnald; 
Treasurer ; Samuel Taylor, Guard. 

Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' 
there are two lodges and one encampment in 
Coshocton — Coshocton Lodge, No. 44; Sarah 
Lodge (Daughters of Rebekeh), No. 15, and Co- 
shocton Encampment No. 191. The first was in-' 
stituted by Thomas Spooner, Special Deputy, 
August 2, 1845, with the following charter mem- 
bers: John Lamb, Francis Fritchey, E. L. 
Stevens, James Relf, John Arentrue, James S. 
Clark, James K. Walker and F. Kirk. The first 
meetings were held in the Ricketts Hall, corner 
Chestnut and Second streets, then in the McClain 
block, a little farther east. Their hall is now in 
the Sheik building, on Main street. The mem- 
bership is 135, and the officers at this writing are : 
Conrad Mayer, Noble Grand ; John Tish, Vice 
V Grand; Joseph Wilson, Recording Secretary; 
Josiah Harris, Permanent Secretary; E. McDon- 
nald, Treasurer; Thomas Campbell, John Cas- 
singham, LewisDemoss, John Carhart and Joseph 
Stanford, Trustees. Frank Kane is Deputy 
Grand Master; 

The dispensation of Sarah Lodge was granted 
January 10, 1870, to E. H. Lynde, Mrs. E. Lynde, 
E. McDonnald, Mrs. E. McDonnald, Mrs. P. Hack, 
John H. Lowrie, Seth McClain, Mrs Seth Mc- 
Clain, Mrs. D. Harris, Mrs. Thomas Love, Thomas 
Campbell, Frederick Sdmidc, E. Collrado, Mrs. 
L. Demoss, and one other Its membership is 
now about fifty, and its officers, Mrs Mary Fritz, 
Noble Grand ; Mrs. John Carhart, Vice Grand ; 
Mrs. Joseph Wilson, Recording Secretary; 
Charles Kane, Permanent Secretary. 

The Encampment of Patriarchs was instituted 
July 7, 1875, with the following membership: 
Peter Hack, Lewis DeMoss, Joseph Hosleton, 
James C. Harrison, L. E Karnes, John Burt and 
Herman Mueller. Conrad Mver is Chief Patri- 
arch; David Jones, Senior Warden; Benjamin 
Richards. Junior Wanlen; George Lorenz, High 
Priest; W. H. Coe, Scribe; John Burt, Treasurer. 



Thomas Campbell is Deputy Grand Chief Patri- 
arch. The membership is twenty-eight. 

Ouargo Tribe No. 87, of the Improved Or- 
der of Red Men, was chartered October 29, 
1874. The original members comprised W. W. 
Bostwick, Herman Mueller, James B Manner, 
W. H. McCabe, Theodore Agnew, Luther L. 
Cantwell,C. F. Burns, John E. Tingle, T. H. Bur- 
rell, W. S. Wood, F. S. Faulkner, D. Laflfer, P. H. 
Moore and George Palm. The officers at this 
writing are: W. S. Wood, Sachem; David Laffer, 
Senior Sagamore; W. H. McCabe, Junior Saga- 
more; R. D. Waite, Chief of Records; H. S. 
Faulkner, Keeper of Wampum. The chief ex- 
ecutive office has been filled from the organiza- 
tion of the tribe to the present by the following 
members successively: W. W. Bostwick, W. H. 
McCabe, Judson Bunn, G. B. Manner, George C. 
McNeil, William McNaughton, J. N. Collier, D. S. 
Wagner, Joseph Wilson, Henry Max, Irwin Mil- 
ler and W. S. Wood. W. W. Bostwick is Deputy 
Sachem of the State. The membership is thirty- 
two. The hall on the second fioor of the Rick- 
etts building. Main street, was first used as the 
place of meeting, but the hall in the Morris 
block is now occupied by the tribe. 

Guiding Star Lodge, No. 1742, of the Knights 
of Honor, was organized August 27, 1879, with 
the following charter members: W. W. Bostwick, 
W. H. McCabe, F. A. Wernett, A. W. Search, G. 
M. Mortley, G. C. McNeal, G. W. Seward, W. H. 
Robinson, J. H. Hay, John B. Crowley, William 
Ward, W. H. Barcroft, G. J. Bock, A L. Ayres, 
G. H. Howe, J. W. Cullison, A. D. Howe, Harri- 
son Hawn, L W. Robinson and Joseph Burrell. 
It is now officered by the following: A. D. Howe, 
Past Dictator; W. H. Robinson, Dictator; Rich- 
ard Walker, Vice Dictator; G. G. Ridgely, Re- 
porter; W. H. Coe, Finance Reporter; Thomas 
Page, Treasurer ; William Ward, Chaplain ; John 
M. Connel, Guardian; Albert Ayres, Guide; 
Tames Moore, Sentinel. The lodge was organ- 
ized in the Morris block, but now meets in the 
Ricketts building. 

Besides these a number of orders have been 
represented by lodges in Coshocton, which are 
now dead. Among them wiis Coshocton Lodge 
of the Knights of Pythias. Crescent Camp of the 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOlSr COUNTY. 



429 



Independent Order of Knighthood was organized 
a few years ago, but survived a few years only. It 
was originally Council 7, but afterward beeame 
Council 5. The order is now extinct in this State, 
and the Coshocton lodge was the last to e.xpire. 
Equitable Council, No. 310, of the the Royal Ar- 
canum, was chartered April 17, 1S79. It met in 
the Norris block, and after a brief career of a year 
or two gave up the ghost. 

Coshocton Grange, No. 1313, of the Patrons of 
Husbandry, was organized May 31, 1879, by 
Joseph Love, County Deputy, with a member- 
ship of thirty. The number has now reached 
fifty. D. F. Denman is the present Master. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

MERCANTILE AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS. 

Early Taverns— Present Hotels— First Store- Early Merchants 
— James Calder — Hedge and Hammond — James Renfrew^ 
Benjamin Ricketts— Robert Hay— Present Business Direc- 
tory—Banking — The Johnson Brothers— Ricketts Bunk — 
First National Bank— Commercial Bank— Savings and Build- 
ins and Loan .\ssociation — Ferries— Coshocton Iron and 
Steel \forks— Paper Mill— Various Other Industries— Past 
and Present. 

TAVVERN-KEEPING is one of the first occu- 
pations in a new country. Houses of public 
entertainment were plentifullyscattered through- 
out this county whileit was yet very thinly settled. 
They were often the precursors of hamlets and 
villages, and always among the earliest features of a 
locality that aspired to something more than rural 
environments. Charles Williams, the earliest 
settler of Coshocton, engaged at once in this pur- 
suit, and for a number of years was without a 
rival in providing for the public wants. His 
tavern stood near the northeast corner of Water 
and Chestnut streets. An invariable attendant 
of the early tavern was the bar, which doubtless 
was a source of greater income than the tavern 
proper. The journal of Colonel Williams was 
written upon a few leaves of an old ledger, and 
from them are obtained the names of several of 
his early customers between 1810 and 1820. The 
principal charges are for whiskey or ferriages, 
and, if the accounts speak truly, many of them 
have never been paid. One of the earliest ac- 



counts is that of James L. Priest, who is credited 
with twenty-eight days' work, per son William, 
at nine dollars per month, nine dollars and si.xty- 
nine cents. In 1811, Joseph Mulvain, Israel H. 
Buker, Benjamin Burrcll, Solomon Vail, Chrisley 
Wise, Allen Moore and Jarrot Moore each have 
a running account. The other charges were made 
from 1816 to 1820. The names are John Maholm, 
Samuel Clark, ,Iesse Cunningham, Peter Darne, 
John Barto, Elisha Elliott, Levi Rodruck, James 
Davis, William Carr, Thomas Harkum, John 
Michaels, William King, Ephraim Thayer and 
Strong Thomas. 

In 1816, Wright Warner was keeping tavern at 
the northwest corner of Main and Second streets, 
now the Central House. Some time before this, 
Asa Hart was running a tavern on the east side 
of Second street, a few rods north of Chestnut. 
He died here in 1815, of cold plagtie. Warner 
was a lawyer and had been the first prosecuting 
attorney of the county. He had come here 
from one of the New England States, and in a 
few years removed to Steubenville. Thence he 
went to New Philadelphia, where he was inn- 
keeper for some time. He was succeeded by 
William Wliitten, a blacksmith, and first county 
treasurer, who is described as a short, stoutly 
built man, of excellent judgment and great nat- 
ural abilities, though somwhat addicted, as was 
nearly every one at that time, to the flowing 
bowl. Wilson McGowan followed Whitten, as 
proprietor of this hotel. He was a zealous Bap- 
tist and often had preaching at the tavern while 
it was in his charge He was a quiet gentle- 
man, with winning, persuasive manners,and pos- 
sessed the elements of leadenship. He was af- 
terwards clerk of the court, for a few years; 
then engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Coshoc- 
ton, with his son-in-law, Rufus Eldridge. 

During these early years there was quite a 
strife between the denizens of Water street and 
those of Second street. Water street was first 
settled, and for a long time embraced the main 
portion of the town. Colonel Williams, who re- 
sided here, was at first a Federalist in politics, 
but afterward becatne a Democrat, and was the 
acknowledged local leader and champion of that 
party. His tavern became the rendezvous for 
those of like political faith, while the tavern on 



430 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Second street developed strong Whig tendencies, 
and in its proprietor was recognized the leader- 
ship of that party. The political warfare which 
was engendered did not flow and ebb with the 
coming and departure of elections as at present, 
but was maintained with rancor throughout the 
entire year. To such an extent was this carried 
that separate Fourth of July celebrations would 
be held by the two factions. Each would pre- 
pare a big dinner, and the respective adherents 
of the two parties were accustomed to arrive 
early in the morning, and spend the day in rough 
out-door sports and games. An oration would 
sometimes be prepared and delivered— oftencr in 
the Whig assembly than the Democratic. Colonel 
Williams usually held his meetings in a sugar 
grove on the river bank, just below the bridge, 
and would terminate the festivities of the day 
with a grand dance. Abundant and excellent 
music was always provided, and under its en- 
trancing strains and the mirthful sport which ac- 
companied it, the night would glide swiftly away, 
and the peep of another day ushered in much 
too soon for the wakeful scions of liberty. The 
youthful Whigs, who had spent the day in the 
opposite camp, and come at night to enjoy the 
dance, were invariably hooted and driven away. 
Colonel Williams' house was afterwards kept 
for a while by his son-in-law, Adam Johnson and 
then by Thomas H. Miller, another son-in-law. 
A Mr. Johnson also was proprietor here for a 
while. A number of buidings on Second street 
have been used for this purpose. A brick house, 
built in 1816, occupying the northeast corner of 
Chestnut and Second streets, was for a long time 
one of the principal taverns. Ellis D. Jones was 
among the earliest proprietors. He subsequently 
removed to Roscoe, where he remained but a 
short time, then returned and took charge of the 
Central House. After Mr. Jones' removal to 
Roscoe, Oliver Barrett took possession of the 
house he had vacated and remained there several 
years, then returned to Zanesville, whence he 
had come. Judge B. R. Shaw was pro[)rietor 
here fgr about five years, beginning about 1838. 
Alexander McGowan, Alexander Hay and Mr. 
Pees, from Tuscarawas county, at dilTerent times 
kept tavern here. On the southwest corner of 
the same streets, now occupied by Buchanan's 



grocery, stood a frame building in which Samuel 
Morrison, Mr. Bowers and others kept public 
house. Thomas B. Lewis for a few years pro- 
vided entertainment in a rough log building 
whicli stood on a lot on Chestnut street, now oc- 
cupied by the Spangler residence. A number of 
fugitive slaves were passing northward through 
this county at one time, under the guidance of a 
Quaker, and were concealed in a cornfield in 
Bethlehem township. Their hiding place was 
discovered by several rowdies in that vicinity, 
and, hoping to receive a reward for their capture, 
the ruflians pounced upon the negroes and beat 
them severely, then brought them mangled and 
bleeding 'to Lewis' tavern. Public indignation 
was aroused at the shameful treatment the slaves 
had received, and the rowdies were obliged to 
flee the town without their prey. The slaves 
made good their escape, but were subsequently 
recaptured in Knox county. 

The Central House, at the corner of Main and 
Second streets, is the oldest tavern in Coshocton. 
Except during a few years, when it was rented as 
a tenement house, it has been used as a tavern 
for nearly seventy years. Seward & McCabe 
have been its proprietors for several years, and it 
has recently passed into the hands of William 
Shaw. 

The large brick standing on lot 215, Second 
street, was occujjied as a hotel for about twenty 
years. It was built by John, Joseph K., and 
William K. Johnson, in 1840, but not used for 
hotel purposes until 1856, at which time AVilliam 
Tidball took possession of it. He was succeeded 
by Thomas McBride, and Mr. McBride, in 1865, 
by W. H. H. Price, who remained its jiroprietor 
until 1876, when he left it to take charge of the 
new Price House. It has since been used for 
other purposes. 

The hotel at the northeast corner of Main and 
Fifth streets was built in 1854. The addition 
fronting the railroad was erected two years later. 

Until 1867, it was the railroad eating house. 
Its first owner and proprietor was "Aunt Letty 
Thomas," a colored woman, who was brought to 
this county when sixteen years old, from Wash- 
ington City, by Colonel William Simmons. In 
1860 or 1861, the property wiw sold to Mr. Sauer- 
beck, of Alliance ; and his son-in-law, Robinson, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



431 



'became its proprietor. Since his connection with 
the house was dissolved, tlie proprit'tors have 
been as follows : Allison Williamson, Seth Gard- 
ner, Mr. Hoover, John Christy, Mrs. Ilackenson, 
and G. A. McDonald. Seward & McCabe, the 
present proprietors, took charge in April, 1881. 

The spacious three-story brick hotel on the 
northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, 
was erected in 1875, by A. M. Williamc and M. 
Weisner. S. L. Gardner was its proprietor for 
six months, and was succeeded by W. H. H. 
Price, who continued at its head until his death, 
which occurred April 1, 1880. Then, after a few 
months, S M Price, his son, took charge of the 
house, and is its present proprietor. 

James Cakler came to Coshocton in 1S09 or 
1810 and opened a regular country store on the 
west side of Second street, a few doors north of 
the Central House, on the site now occupied by 
Shaw's queensware store. He remained a few 
years, became involved in business and was 
obliged to suspend mercantile operations. Re- 
moving across the river he founded Caldersburg, 
now Roscoe, and soon after moved to a farm 
about two miles west of that place. There and 
in Caldersburg he spent the remainder of his 
life. Mr. Cakler was the first merchant of Cosh- 
octon. Charles Williams had for a few years pre- 
vious kept a very limited stock of dry goods at 
his tavern but the amount scarcely warrants him 
at that time the title of merchant. His grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Oliver, residing on Water street, 
has the old day-book kept by him in 1807. The 
usual charges are for lodging (jr liquor but scat- 
tered through it are a few for calico and other 
staple dry goods. 

Hedge & Hammond was the next mercantile 
firm at Coshocton. Josiali Hedge and Charles 
Hammond were citizens of St. Clairsvillc, Ohio, 
and in October, 1810, they entered into a contract 
with Adam Johnson, also of that place, to open a 
store for them at Coshocton, commencing Octo- 
ber 29, 1810, he to receive $230 for his services as 
■clerk during the first year. The store was erected 
on the northeast corner of Chestnut and Water 
streets, the first goods being sold about the 1st of 
November. The first books of this firm are also 
in Mrs. Oliver's possession, in a good state of pres- 
ervation. In 1815, the goods were sold to Wil- 



liams & Johnson, who remained in business for 
some years ami then disposed of the store. Adam 
Johnson was a leading character at Coshocton at 
the time the county was organized, and for years 
thereafter. He was born in Pennsylvania, and 
prior to his removal to Coshocton, had spent some 
time in St. Clairsville as a clerk. He married a 
daughter of Colonel Williams, and became asso- 
ciated with him in business. He was the first 
clerk of the court, auditor and recorder, and was 
at the same time postmaster. He was distinct- 
ively a self-made man, and won his way to a posi- 
tion of influence in county affairs, which he kept 
up to the time of his death in 1829. John Frew 
was afterward merchant at this corner, and con- 
tinued in business here many years, afterward 
removing his store to the opposite side of Chest- 
nut street. He came to Coshocton about 1818, 
and was well and widely known as a prominent 
business man. 

James Renfrew was the next merchant. It was 
about 1815 that he opened a store, in a frame 
building, on lot 215 Second street, later occupied 
by the old Price House. He was born at Lis- 
burn. County Antrim, Ireland, in 1767. In 1820, 
while in Pittsburgh, where he was accustomed 
to purchase goods, he married Mrs. Johnson, 
a widowed sister of Dr. Kerr, of the A. R. Pres- 
byterian church, in that city, and mother of 
John, Joseph K. and William K. Johnson, well- 
known citizens of Co.shocton, at a somewhat 
later date. William Renfrew, quite prominent 
as a merchant, and James Renfrew, Jr., were 
children of Mr. Renfrew by a prior marriage. 
Mr. Renfrew died in 1832, in the sixty-fifth year 
of his age. 

In 1817, Benjamin Ricketts began mercantile 
life at Coshocton, in the building previously oc- 
cupied by James Cakler, for the same purpose. 
He was born near Cumberland, Jlaryland. July 
30, 1786. During Benjamin's boyhood, his father 
died, and he learned the trade of a hatter in that 
place, with Colonel Blair; married Nancy Taylor, 
and with their little earthly efTects, they crossed 
the mountains, and Mr. Ricketts opened a shop 
at Zanesville, soon after removing to Putnam. 
Too close confinement to his occupation made 
serious inroads upon his health and. under the 
advice of his physicians, he abandoned the trade 



432 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and opened a store in West Zanesville. He did 
not remove to Coshocton until the spring of 
1820, for a few years prior to that date operating 
a store both at West Zanesville and at Coshocton, 
the latter under the management of his son, T. 
C. Ricketts, and John Smeltzer. Mr. Ricketts' 
success in business was attested by the accunui- 
lations attending it. In 1827, he disposed of his 
store to his son, Thomas C. Ricketts, who con- 
tinued in business uninterruptedly until 1856, and 
has since resumed it. Subsequent to 1827, Benja- 
min Ricketts turned his attention to stock and 
land dealing, and acquired a large estate, in the 
vicinity of Coshocton. He was always averse to 
a poUtical life. He was elected and acted as 
justice of the peace, during his residence in 
Zanesville; in 1825, was placed in nomination as 
county commissioner. He and the opposing 
candidate received a tie voteand,by lot, the office 
devolved upon Mr. Ricketts. He died July 1, 
1857. His wife survived him twenty-three years, 
dying in her ninetieth year. 

John Smelzer was a Pennsylvanian by birth 
and of German descent. He moved to Zanesville 
when quite small, with his parents, and there 
served an apprenticeship in the hatter shop of 
Mr. Ricketts; but steady application to this busi- 
ness proved injurious to his health, and he was 
induced to quit it and accept a clerkship in Mr. 
Ricketts' store. He came to Coshocton in that 
capacity in the fall of 1818, and was afterward a 
partner for a short time, but about 1S2G he re- 
moved to Roscoe, where he was engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits for many years. Alexander 
Renfrew was associated with him in business for 
a while, and afterward Ransom and Medberry. 
He finally removed to Piqua, Ohio, where he 
died. He was a man of prepossessing appear- 
ance, a fluent speaker of both English and Ger- 
man tongues, and very popular. He served one 
term as sheriflf. 

Mr. Thomas C. Ricketts has in liis possession 
the set of books kept in his father's store from 
1818 to 1823. In them are found the accounts of 
early settlers from all parts of the county. 
Whisky was one of the chief commodities, retail- 
ing at twenty-cents per quart, or seventy-five 
cents per gallon. Powder and lead were staples 
in trade. The latter was sold in bars at nineteen 



cents per pound; powder for one dollar a pound. 
Coffee was worth forty-five cents a pound ; tea. 
two dollars. Calico was sold at fifty cents per 
yard ; muslin at thirty-seven and one-half to sev- 
enty-five cents. Tobacco was thirty-seven and 
one-half cents per pound ; sugar, twelve and one- 
half; iron, twelve and one-half; steel, forty-four 
cents ; naifs, nineteen cents; salt, two dollars per 
bushel; dried apples, two dollars per bushel. 
German almanacs are quoted at twelve and one- 
half cents; English almanacs at six and one- 
fourth cents ; spelling books at twenty-five cents ; 
flints at two cents. Coal was indirectly dealt in 
to a limited extent, and brought eight cents per 
bushel. From the credits it is learned that wood 
was worth from twenty-five to thirty-seven and a 
half cents a load; wheat, thirty to seventy-five 
cents per bushel , corn, twenty cents ; oats, fifteen 
cents; hogs, two cents per pound. 

Robert Hay was probably the next merchant 
in Coshocton. He was born in County Derry, 
Ireland, in February, 1801. He came to America 
in 1817 and was employed in stores in Pittsburg 
for two years, and then came to Coshocton in the 
employ of James Renfrew. After a clerkship of 
several years he became a partner with Mr. Ren- 
frew. He soon after opened a store on the east 
side of Stcond street, lot 170 or 171, on the site 
now occupied by Dr. S. H. Lee's drug store and 
subsequently formed a partnershij} with William 
Renfrew. 

For fifty years he was in business. He was in 
his store "when taken with his last illness No 
man ever stood higher in the community for 
truthfulness, honesty, promptitude, and careful 
application to business. Trained in the old school 
of merchants, he was a strict discijilinarian, and 
despised all trifling and trickery. He always was 
himself to be found at his business in busuiess 
hours and expected a conscientious devotion to 
his interest, on the part of his employes, whom 
he alwavs regarded with kindly interest. For 
the worthv poor he had always much sympathy, 
and was especially ready to help them to help- 
themselves. He served the county for several 
years as countv treasurer but was never inchned 
to public station. In the regular prosecution of 
his business as a merchant and distiller he stead- 
ily increased his worldly estate, and by the vast 
accretions in connection with the excise tax in 
the earlier part of the war, left at his death the 
largest estate ever administered upon in Coshoc- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



433 



ton county. He marricfl Miss Mary Corbin, of 
Granville,' Ohio, in IMoS. She and one child pre- 
ceded him to the grave and two children survived 
him. He died, after a few days' illness. May 3, 
1869, at the home of his brother James, which for 
some time he made his home. — Hunt's Collections. 

It would be impossible and undesirable to give 
a complete list of the merchants of Coshocton, 
but among the more prominent of a later date 
may be mentioned W. K. Johnson & Co., Bache- 
lor & Lamb, Humrickhouse & Co., Jarret Haw- 
thorn, John G. Stewart, Abraham McGowan and 
Jackson Haj'. 

Mr. Hunt mentions the following as the mer- 
chants in Coshocton in 1856, all the stores being 
on Second and Chestnut streets : 

T. C. Ricketts, dry goods; R. & H. Hay, dry 
goods; H. Meek, dry goods; A. N. Milner, dry 
goods; J. W. Dwyer, dry goods; Dryden & Co., 
drugs and books; William McKee, drugs and 
books; S. Harbaugh, hardware; F. X. Fritchey, 
grocery; Mrs. E. Hawley, grocery; H. N. Shaw, 
boots and shoes ; Cassingham & Shaw, leather and 
findings; G. F. Wilcoxen, boots and shoes; J. 
Waggoner, furniture, and R. M. Hackenson, 
drugs. 

Since then the increase in the number of mer- 
cantile houses has been large, and the business of 
Coshocton, as it existed in the spring of 1881, is 
hereunto subjoined ; 

Dry Goods— Hay ifc Mortlcy, J. Pocock & Sons, 
Mrs. W. W. Walker, Sturgeon & Selby, Wright, 
Biggs & McCabe, J. Klein. 

Groceries— C. C. Eckert, Rue & Son, George 
Lorenz, Ed. Mortley, George Ayres, Alfred Bunn, 
W. S. Hutchinson, Charles Eckert, Samuel Gam- 
ble, F. LaSere, Boyd & Wier, Maro Smith, B. 
Bachman, Mrs. C. Schweiker, C. Zugschwert, B. 
A. Stevenson, John Heinzle. 

Drugs— Dr. S. H. Lee, W. A. Johns, Dr. J. An- 
derson & Son, J. F. Conipton, M. W. McNaughton, 
L. K. Anderson. 

Clothing— T. B. Hack, D. M. Moore, A. Berko- 
witz, I. Wertheimer & Co. 

Boots and Shoes — J. G. McGaw, Joseph R. Hay, 
Thomas Lear, E. Martter, William Watson. 

Hardware— Ricketts & Jacobs, E. McDonnald, 
Bonnet Brothers. 

Jewelry— W. W. Bostwick, W. W. Burns, John 
A. Bostwick. 



Furniture- J. Waggoner. D. Rose & Son. 

Stoves and Tinware— Benjamin Coe, A. Weis- 
ner, E. H. Lynde. 

Millinery— Mrs. George Lorenz, Mrs. H. Mur- 
phy, J. Duncan, Miss Sallie Clark. 

Chinaware — B. R. Shaw. 

Music and Books— J. Glover. 

Agricultural Lnplements— McDonald & Han- 
Ion, ElRott & Marx, S. H. Moore, Bonnet Brothers. 

Saddlery— A. N. Compton, S. J. Stevenson. 

Grain and Lime — A. H. Thompson, J. Mulli- 
gan. 

Wholesale Liquors— M. McManus, A. Hertz- 
berg. 

Pumps and Gas Fixtures — C. A. McNary. 

JIarble— Thompson Brothers. 

Pianos, Organs and Sewing Machines — J. A. 
Compton, R. T. Compton, J. W. Shaw. 

Sewing Machines — J. A. Jones, John Barkhurst. 

Meat Markets — Haller Brothers, Charles Hozle- 
ton, Shaw <fe Tidball, C. W. Handel, Hughes & 
Mirise. 

No regular banking was done at Coshocton 
j)rior to 1852. Many years before this date, how- 
ever, owing to a great scarcity of change, it was 
customary for merchants to issue their scrip, or 
"promise to pay," in very small Amounts, ranging 
perhaps from five to seventy-five cents. They 
were made paj-able when presented in sums of 
five dollars or more. They proved a great con- 
venience to the merchants and to the public as 
well, and had an extended circulation. The prin- 
cipal merchants, too, were accustomed to receive 
deposits from their customers and buy and sell 
eastern exchange. The business continued to 
grow on their hands until it culminated in the 
establishment of a regular banking business by 
W. K. Johnson & Co., about 1852, and by T. C. 
Ricketts in 1853. 

The Johnsons, consisting of three brothers, 
William K., John and James K., were representa- 
tive business men in Coshocton county during 
the period of its rapid development. They were 
from Tyrone county, Ireland, emigrating to 
America in 1818. After a brief stay in Balti- 
more, the family came to Pittsburgh, where a 
brother of Mrs. Johnson— Rev. Dr. Kerr— was 
living. In 1819 or 1820, Mrs. Johnson was mar- 



434 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ried to James Renfrew, and the family removed 
to Coshocton, wliere the boys received a business 
training under the guiding liand of their step- 
father. Of William K. Johnson, Mr. Hunt says 
in his Histcjrical Collections: 

He had the confidence of the whole commu- 
nity, and his name was a synonym for integrity, 
sobriety, diligent application to business, and 
great prudence. By all the scms of the Einerald 
Isle, especially, he was looked to as a wise coun- 
selor. His approbation of any matter of town 
and county interest was regarded as quite im- 
portant to its accomplishment. His views and 
actions have very largely shaped the social and 
business affairs of the region where for nearly 
forty years he lived and labored. He was for 
many years a member of the board of education, 
and of the town council of Coshocton. He was 
postmaster fur some fifteen years. He was con- 
nected with the Steuben ville and Indiana rail- 
road, as a director, from its organization until his 
death. While not uninterested in political atFairs, 
he had little ambition in that line. He married, 
in 18.36, Miss Elizabeth Humricldiouse, who, with 
six children, survived him. 

He died Monday— having been in his place of 
business the Saturday previous — December 10, 
1860, aged fifty-one years. 

John Johnson learned the tanners' trade under 
the direction of Mr. Renfrew, and also worked 
at saddle and harness making. He represented 
the district of which Coshocton county was a 
part in 1842 and 1843 as State senator, and was 
also a member of congress in 1851-'o3. He was 
a member of the convention which framed the 
present State constitution. His health was not 
firm for some years before he died, and on this 
and other accounts he was not so much engaged 
with public affairs in his later years as in earlier 
ones. With limited education, his industry and 
native shrewdness and caution enabled him to 
achieve a considerable degree of business and 
political success. He died February 5, 1807. 

After the death of William K. Johnson, the 
banking firm became J. K. Johnson & Co., 
John Johnson being junior partner. After the 
latter's death, David and John H. were received 
into the firm, and the business was thus conducted 
until their removal to New York City, about the 
1st of January, 1872. Since then the bank has 
been operated by John G. Stewart, on the south- 



east corner of Main and Fourth streets. The 
banking house of the Johnsons was at this place. 

T. C. Ricketts started his banking house in the 
Hawthorne building, on Chestnut street, and at 
first in the room occupied by his store, but in a 
short time it was removed a few doors west, to 
the corner of Chestnut and Second streets. He 
afterwards removed it to Main street, near Fifth, 
continuing in the banking business individually 
until January, 1872, when the First National 
Bank was organized, with T. C. Ricketts, presi- 
dent, and Baxter Ricketts, cashier. It com- 
menced business in March, 1872. 

Two years later the First National Bank was 
organized, Jackson Hay becoming president, and 
H. C. Herbig, cashier. These officers continue 
to the present. The orignal capital was $50,000; 
this was afterwards increased to $110,000 in order 
to meet the demands of business, but it has since 
been returned to its original amount. In March, 
1881, the bank withdrew its circulation and has 
since become a private banking house, doing 
business under name of Commercial Bank. 

In August, 1868, the Coshocton's Savings, Build- 
ing and Loan Association was incorporated. 
Its directors have been F. E. Barney, James M. 
Burt, William E. Hunt, Hiram Beall, Thomas 
Campbell, T. C. Ricketts, E. T. Spangler, J. B. In- 
graham, J. G. Stewart, D. L. Triplett, H. Hay, J. 
C. Pomerene, and J. S. Wilson. J. W. Cassing- 
ham was secretary through all its history. J. M. 
Burt, J. G. Stewart and D. L. Triplett, have served 
as president, and T. C. Ricketts and J. G. Stewart, 
as treasurer. It practically discontinued busi- 
ness in 1875, having at that time, by installments 
of stock and profits, nearly $100,000 of assets, 
which were paid out to the stockholders. 

The present bridges over the Tuscarawas and 
Walhonding rivers were finished in the years 
1837 and 1838, respectively. A bridge across the 
Tuscarawas liad been built in 1832, through the 
efTorts of a number of the citizens and petitions 
to the county commissioners, but it survived the 
floods only one year and was then swept away. 
Before that the main reliance for crossing the 
river was by ferry. The streams were then higher 
and deeper than now, and high waters prevailed 
during a much greater portion of the year. The 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



435 



river was scarcely ever fordable in winter, and 
for only a part of the summer. It has been 
mentioned that the proprietors of the town re- 
served to themselves the right of all ferries within 
the bounds of the town plat. John Matthews, 
one of the original proprietors, transferred this 
right to Colonel Williams during Matthews' life- 
time onlj', it seems. Colonel Williams did not 
attend to the ferry jiersonally, but employed men 
to run it for him. One of the earliest of these 
was Abraham Miller, son of George Miller of La- 
fayette town.ship. Somewhat later, John Crowley 
performed these duties, and after him Samuel 
Morrison, a nephew of Williams. The ferry 
under Williams was at the foot of Chestnut street, 
and was one of the most remune'-ative occupa- 
tions then attainable by the residents of Coshoc- 
ton. The authorized charges were, for footman, 
six and one-quarter cents ; horse and rider, twelve 
and one-half cents; loaded two-horse wagon, 
seventy-five cents. At Matthews' death the ferry 
was sold to a company consisting of Robert Hay, 
William K. Johnson, Samuel Burns and Joseph 
Burns. By them the ferry was moved farther up 
the stream and a rope ferry established. These 
men were heartily in favor of a free bridge, and 
lent their aid to its erection. 

The Coshocton Iron and Steel Works, located 
on South Fifth street, is the largest and most 
extensive manufacturing establishment in the 
county; it has been in operation about ten years. 
A stock company was formed in May, 1861, for 
the manufacture of springs, axles and iron 
bridges, and duly incorporated. The principal 
holders of the company were Houston Hay, T. 
C. Ricketts, F. E. Barney, Lewis Demoss, J. W. 
Shipinan, E. T. Spanglcr, John Davis, J. A. Bar- 
ney, Coshocton Planing Mill Company, Rue & 
Son, T. H. Burrell, J. B. Ingram, Willis AVright, 
N. Renfrew, W. J. Moflat, J. D. Nichols, Samuel 
Moore, J. C. Pomerene, William Stanton and 
Ca.ssingham and Crowley. The officers elected 
were — Houston Hay, president; F. E. Barney, 
vice-president; T. C. Rickets, treasurer, and they, 
with Lewis Demoss, John Davis, E. T. Sp.angler 
and James W. Shipmnn, constituted the board of 
directors. John A. Barney was made secretary. 
The extensive buildings as they now stand were 
at once erected, and James W. Shipman, who had 



previously operated an establishment of this kind 
in the State of New York, was placed in the general 
management of the works. After a brief career 
of between two and three years, the aflfairs of the 
company became greatly involved, and in Jan- 
uary, 1874, an assignment was made. The causes 
which led to this were various. The machinery of 
Mr. Shipman's formerestablishment had been pur- 
chased at a high price, and, proving wholly insuf- 
ficient, a considerable outlay for new machinery 
became necessary. The company was organized 
with a capital of .f 100,000, but not more than two- 
thirds of this amount was ever paid in. This was 
mostly expended in buildings, machinery, etc., 
and the working capital liad to be borrowed, at 
high rates of interest. High wages were paid, 
and large salaries for which, in some cases, little 
service was rendered. High prices, too, were 
paid for material. A boiler explosion in June, 
1872, entailed a loss of about $10,000. The of- 
ficers remained about the same up to the time 
of the assignment, except that William Ward 
was elected director, vicr Shipman, and also sec- 
retary in place of John A. Barney. Mr. Ward 
was appointed assignee, and under him the work 
in progress was finished, requiring about six 
weeks. The works then remained idle until 
they were sold in August, 1874, at the third 
oflfer, to Houston Hay for |33,.3;M. Mr. Hay im- 
mediately resumed the manufacture of axles, 
and about six months later work was commenced 
in the spring department. 

In April, 1875, J. W. Dwyer associated with 
Mr. Hay as partner in this latter department but 
about two years later this partnership was di.s- 
solved and Mr. Hay has since been sole proprie- 
tor of the works. The manufacture of iron 
bridges has not been resumed since the failure of 
the company. The work in the spring depart- 
ment is done under contract. Since Mr. Hay's 
connection with the works the quality of the 
manufactures has established a reputation for 
them which insures an easy and continued sale 
wherever they are known. Columbus, Toledo, 
Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago and St. Louis, are 
the principal shipping points, but tlie manufac- 
tures find their way westward as far as the shores 
of the Pacific. About ninety workmen are now 
employed in the works. William Ward has su- 



436 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



pervision over the works, Farley Connerty is 
foreman in the foundry, A. D. Howe in the axle 
department and Horn and Kronenbitter are the 
contractors in the spring department. 

The Coshocton paper mill, situated between 
Fifth street and the Tuscarawas river, was built 
in 1863 by Thompson Hanna. He soon after 
turned over the business to his son and son-in- 
law, Daniel W. Hanna and Robert Sinclair, who 
operated it until 1866 when they failed. This was 
caused by a lack of working capital and a boiler 
explosion in 1866. (By this explosion John Free- 
man was killed and John Sherrod seriously hurt). 
After remaining idle about two years the mill 
was sold to Peter Ho>igh, who ran it for a year 
or more, became involved and retired from the 
business. It was then leased temporarily to sev- 
eral parties, and in May, 1871, was purchiised by 
John W. Cassingham and A. D. Harvey of Cosh- 
octon, and Hugh McElroy of Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1875 Cassingham and McElroy bought 
Mr. Harvey's interest and are still its successful 
proprietors. Wrapping paper is the kind manu- 
factured and it finds a market chiefly in Pitts- 
burgh. J. S. Smart, a man well known in paper 
circles, is the present surperintendent of the mill. 
Thomas Arthur, the foreman, has been connected 
with the establishment from the start. 

Tlie Coshocton Planing Mill Company com- 
menced operations in 1869. As originally com- 
posed the company consisted of Addison M. Wil- 
liams, Martin Weisner and W. H. Robinson, Jr. 
Mr. Robinson soon after withdrew, and Dr. Wil- 
liam Stanton was for a while a jjartner. For 
some time the firm has been Williams & Weis- 
ner. The building first used was Jackson Hays' 
old warehouse, from Canal Lewisville, which the 
company took down, hauled to Coshocton on 
wagons, and re-erected. Very considerable ad- 
ditions have been made to this original structure. 
The mill stands on the southeast corner of Wal- 
nut and Cherry streets, east of the freight depot. 

Across Walnut street from the planing mill 
stands the Coshocton city mills, erected in 1875, 
by Charles and George Bolch. The latter with- 
drew in September, 1875, and for a year Charles 
Bolch was sole owner and proprietor of tlie mill. 
C. F. Burns was then received as a partner in the 
mill, and in November, 1878, Garret Treadway 



also. In August, 1880, R. F. Sayer, Daniel Sny- 
der, George Bolch and Charles Craig became the 
proprietors of the mill and owners of the prop- 
erty. The mill contains a run of five buhrs, and 
does an extensive business, both in custom and 
merchant work, large quantities of flour being 
shipped to Sdtimore and elsewhere. 

The gas works were built in the winter of 
1873-4 by a stock company, representing a capi- 
tal of $25,000. The contractor was B. Van S teen- 
berg, now of Logan, New Jersey, and was also at 
the outset the heaviest stockholder. He soon 
after disposed of his interest to Houston Hay. 
The company was organized in 1872, with F. E. 
Barney, L. Demoss, John G. Stewart, H. N. Shaw 
and W. E. Hunt as directors. At this time the 
directors are Houston Hay, James Wilson, Jo- 
seph Rue, L. Demoss and James R. Johnson. J. 
G. Stewart is president, and Henry Herbig sec- 
retary and treasurer. Isaac McNary has been 
superintendent of the works from the start. The 
amount of gas furnislieJ by these works has been 
steadily increased since the works were estab- 
lished. 

Carriage and wagon manufactories are now 
carried on by E. McDonnald, V. O. Jeffries and 
James Stewart. In 1857 Mr. McDonnald and Al- 
exander Manner erected a carriage manufactory 
on lot 20',t West Walnut street. Two years later 
McDonnald purchased his partner's interest in 
the works, at the same time selling to Mr. Man- 
ner his interest in a hotel, which had become 
their property. He remained in possession of 
the factory, except during a few months, when 
Judson Hughes, of Zunesville, controlled it, until 
1869, when he erected the extensive shops now 
standing on lot 140, Third street, near Main. He 
has since continued the manufacture of carriages 
at these shops. During the last ten or eleven 
years he has built, on an average, about sixty ve- 
hicles a year. 

The works of V. O. Jeffries arc located on Sec- 
ond street, between Chestnut and Locust. He 
has had possession of the shops for several years, 
succeeding Jeffries & VanAllen. 

James Stewart built his wagon shops a few 
years ago near the south end of Water street, and 
is still operating them there. 

A carriage shop was built on Sixth street, be- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



437 



twcen Main and Walnut, by G. A. PiefFer & Sons. 
of Dresden. In 1S73 Alexander Manner bought 
these premises at assignee's sale, and operated 
here for a while, but has since ceased manufac- 
turing. George Schley, at one time, was an ex- 
tensive wagon maker, and subsequently J. Glover, 
C. W. Frew, A. Fritz and others have also at one 
time or another been engaged in this business. 

The Coshocton Foundry, located on North Fifth 
street, was built about 1871 by Edward Kirk. It 
afterwards passed into the hands of T. C. Ricketts 
and was operated by Kirk and Robert Hay, then 
by Ricketts & Ev-ans, and still later by Hirt, Palm 
& Evans. After standing idle for two j'ears it 
was purchased in January, 1881, by W. H. King, 
who is now carrying on a general and extended 
line of business here. 

Probably the first foundry in Coshocton was 
the one started by George E. Conwell and Morris 
Burt. The building used was the one now occu- 
pied by Mr. Jeffries as a carriage shop, on Second 
street. It afterward came into the possession of 
J. C. Maginity, who afterwards entered into a 
partnership with the Roses, owners of the Roscoe 
foundry. The Roscoe foundry soon became the 
principal, and after a time, the only one operated 
by the firm. Another foundry was started about 
1868, by Hiram Taj'lor and W. H. King, near the 
Tuscarawas river bridge. After a time they re- 
moved to Roscoe and it was abandoned. 

Tlie first tannery was started about ISOS, by 
Andrew Lybarger, on the northwest corner of 
Second and Walnut streets. This yard after- 
wards passed into the hands of John and Joseph 
K.Johnson, who operated it for a scries of years. 
At a still later date it was owned by Andrew J. 
Wilkin .and James Dryden. It was abandoned 
quite a number of years ago. 

There is now a tannery, located on Water 
street between Main and Walnut, operated by 
McClain & Koontz. John Taylor erected a ma- 
chine shop at this place about 1845, and carried 
it on for many years. The shop then stood idle 
for some time and was purchased by Ca^singham 
& Shaw, who converted it into a tannery. It was 
sold to Mr. Loose, and from .him passed into the 
hands of the present owners. 

A small soap factory was built about 1850, near 
the Tuscarawas bridge by J. Mayer. In 1871 the 



establishment was bought by W. H. Robinson, 
Jr., and C. Skinner, torn down and replaced by a 
larger building known as the Coshocton Soap 
Works. For a short time it was owned and ope- 
rated by D. Adams, but was repurchased, and 
is now conducted by C. Skinner & Co. 

T. Hager manufactures cigars, on Main street. 
G. F. Palm began the manufacture at this place 
in 1878, and a year or two later, sold out to Mr. 
Hager. Gaumer is also engaged in this busi- 
ness, on Second street. J. K. March was the first 
to manufacture cigars to any considerable ex- 
tent, beginning in 1870. 

The first brewery in Coshocton was started in 
a building on the west side of Second street, be- 
tween Locust and Sycamore, about 1852, by L. 
Mayer. In 1866, Lewis Beiber built the brewery 
on North Fourth street, near the river. It was 
afterward operated by Charles Boes, but has- 
since been discontinued. 

Among the manufacturing establishments that 
have formerly had a place in Coshocton may be 
mentioned the fanning mill factory which was 
operated about 1848, for awhile, by William M. 
Green, on lot 172 Main street, where W. W. Bost- 
wick's jewelry store now stands. Josiah Dewey, 
for some time, was extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of chairs, on the northeast corner 
of Second and Locust streets. Prior to 1850, he 
sold the establishment to A. Ordway, who con- 
tinued it sometime longer. James Taylor, about 
1840, stiirted a woolen mill, on Walnut street, be- 
tween Water and Second. He finally went to 
California, and the mill went down. 

Dr. Samuel Lee, about 1826, started a carding 
mill on the lot which is situated at the southeast 
corner of Main and Fourth greets. It continued 
in operation for eight or ten years. A grist mill 
was for a time attached to it. The motive power 
was furnished by an ox, the machinery consisting 
of a tread-mill. Maiiy years before this, Charles 
Williams built a little tread-mill on tlie lower 
part of lot 216, Chestnut street, where the grists 
of many early settlers were ground. The ma- 
chinery was removed to a small mill on Cant- 
well's run, across the river. In 1832, a large steam 
flouring mill was built at the southwest corner of 
Main and Second streets, by James and William 
Renfrew and Robert Hay. It contained four 



438 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



run of bithrs. In 1839, the mill was consumed 
by fire, but the following year it was rebuilt and 
operated by ditt'erent parties, usually with indif- 
ferent or ill success until 1.850, when the building 
was leased to Robert Hay, Thomas Love and John 
Hay, for the purpose of carrying on a distilling 
business. Love & Hay — Samuel Love and Robert 
Hay at first, but afterward Thomas Love and 
Robert Hay — had commenced operations in this 
line at Roscoe in 1837. The loss of their mill 
there by fire caused its removal to Coshocton, 
where the business was conducted on a mucli 
larger scale than formerly. In 1865, Robert and 
J.ames Hay retired from the firm, and after a 
little while the manufacture ceased entirely. In 
its da^ this distillery was the most active and e.x- 
tensive industry in the village. Its capacity was 
300 bushels per day, which would produce, on an 
average, 1,050 gallons of whisky. 



CHAPTER XLVIIL 

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES OF COSHOCTON". 

Early Schools— First School Houses and Teachers— Erection 
of Buildings— Pro(?ress and Statistics. 

Churches — Early Preaching— Presbyterian— Jlethodist Prot- 
estant—Methodist Episcopal— Catholic— German Lutheran 
—Baptist— Episcopal. 

SCHOOL facilities in Coshocton were meager 
indeed during the formative stages of its 
growth, and even for many years after. The 
then great West attracted many settlers who 
cared little or nothing for the benefits of educa- 
tion, and made no efforts to provide their chil- 
dren with even the rudiments of learning, and 
even had they been so disposed, the demands of 
pioneer life in otlier directions were so pressing 
as to forbid much time or attention being paid 
to it. There were some, it is true, who brought 
with them from the East a deep conviction of the 
necessity of education, and who did what they 
could to implant it in this community; but their 
resources were limited, and they made but tardy 
advancement. 

Rev. Calhoun says: "It is worthy of being 
noted that, according to the best information we 
can obtain, five or six years after the settle- 



ment of Coshocton, it was destitute of a school 
of any kind." According to his statement, the 
first school in Coshocton was established in the 
year 1807, by Joseph Harris, who had the year 
before taught a school at the Evans settlement, in 
Oxford township. It was held in the house of 
Calvin Bobbet, which seems to have been vacated 
by him shortly after he built it, situated on lot 
219 Second street, just north of William Burns' 
residence. In January, 1808, some difficulty 
arose between the school master and his pupils, 
and he was obliged to seek employment, in his 
vocation, elsewhere. The nature of the difficulty 
is unknown, but considering the season of the 
year, it is probable that the teacher was " barred 
out " for refusing to treat, as was the custom in 
those times, on New Years Day. However that 
may be, Coshocton lost its first pedagogue. 

In 1809, Charles Roberts taught a school in this 
settlement a part of the time, in the neighbor- 
hood of Fulton's or Cartmell's, and another por- 
tion of his time in a house standing on Second 
street. * 

Israel H. Buker is also recollected as one of the 
early school-teachers. He was a Revolutionary 
soldier, was quite acceptable as a teacher and 
tiiught several quarters in a house standing on 
the river bank in the southwestern part of the 
town, on or near the south line of south out-lot 
number 1. 

It would not be desirable, even if it were possible, 
to follow up eacli school that has been tjiught 
here. Prior to 1828 there was no school-house of 
any kind, though quite a number had already 
been built in the neighboring settlements; and 
the desultory schools that were taught were held 
wherever the use of a vacant cabin could be ob- 
tained, scarcely ever twice in the same place. 
,\bout 1818, Williant B. Hubbard, who came here 
from St. Clairsville, taught a quarter on lot 167 
Second street, where James Johnson now resides, 
in a building which had previously been used by 
Captain Abram Sells as a furniture shop. Mr. 
Hubbard, from all accounts, was an excellent 
teacher; he soon after returned to St Clairsville, 
and subsequently wont to Columbus, where he 
attained celebrity as a banker, lawyer and rail- 
road magnate. James Madden, from Virginia, 
taught in a building near the northeast corner of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



43? 



Second and Chestnut streets. He was crippled 
in one arm, but excelled as a penman, and taught 
several quarters. He afterwards moved to White 
Eyes township where he continued his chosen 
occupation. A Mr. Jackson also taught here. 
He is described as a ver}' irascible and stern in- 
dividual, who wanted but the .slightest provocation 
to exercise his pedagogical right to flog. He 
taught in the fall of 1828, when the hero of New 
Orleans was a candidate for President. An en- 
thusiastic young Democrat innocently hurrahed 
for Jackson one day in the school yard, and the 
dignified professor, deeming this a reflection 
upon his name, administered to the offending 
youth an unusually severe dose of discipline^ 
which rendered him very unpopular to the pre- 
dominating democratic element of the village. 

Jloses L. Neel taught for a number of years, 
prob.ibly beginning in 1819 or 1820 in a rough 
cabin, standing just south of the mill on the south- 
west corner of Main and Second streets. He was 
impetuous and brilliant, and gave satisfaction as 
a teacher. He was a remarkably fine penman. 

The court house, too, was utilized for school 
j)urposes for a few years. James Matthews taught 
a term here in 1831. He afterwards represented 
the county in the State legislature and served 
two terms in congress, 1841-5. Moses Neel also 
taught in the court house. All these were sub- 
scription schools. The terms, as gathered from 
several of Mr. Neel's school contracts for the years 
1824-5 and 6, were two dollars per quarter for 
each scholar. Money must have been a rare ar- 
ticle for the subscriptions were made paj^able in 
'■common country produce" at the cash price 
when delivered. The subscribers also agreed to 
"furnish a -comfortable school house, benches, 
seats, tables, fuel cut and split in good order and 
proper size for the chimney, and delivered at the 
door " of the school house. The teachers rarely 
ventured beyond instruction in "reading, 'riting 
and 'rithmctic," and usuallj' taught only the first 
principles of these. 

In 1825, the legislature passed a general bill 
authorizing, on certain conditions, the levying of 
a tax, not exceeding in amount $300, for building 
a school-house. Rate (or tuition) bills could be 
arranged for and relied on where the tax was in- 
sufficient. Tlie minutes of the commissionera 



show that in June, 1828, " Upon application it is 
ordered by the commissioners of said county 
that Simuel Lee and his associates have a privi- 
lege of building a school-house on the southwest 
corner of the pubhc square, in the town of Co- 
shoekton (as it was then spelled), O.," the build- 
ing to be " a good, decent brick or frame house 
not to be less than twenty feet square, or larger 
if they think it necessary." Accordingly a little 
brick school-house twenty by thirty feet, con- 
taining one room, was erected and served as the 
village school for about twenty years. Among 
the earliest teachers in the building were Mr. 
Barnes and Mr. O'Neal, a law student in the office 
of James Matthews; among its latest teachers 
were Messrs. Alexander, James Irvine and James 
Dryden and Rev. H. K. Hennigh. 

" In the latter part of this period, say from 1840 
to 1850, there was a growing conviction that 
thorough and extended scholarship had not been 
attained under the public school system as then 
ordered by law, and this fact and a higher sense 
of the importance of the religious element in 
education gave rise to a number of private 
schools and academies. In this work at Coshoc- 
ton were engaged Rev. E. Buckingham, and es- 
pecially Rev. Addison Coftey, both of the Presby- 
terian church. The latter built quite a good ^ 
brick house with the view of luaking room for 
boarders, and had for his school-house the build- 
ing now occupied by W. R. Forker, both build- 
ings being on south Fourth street." The re- 
moval from the county of Messrs. Buckingham 
and Coffey, involved the discontinuance of these 
institutions. 

The present graded schools were established 
under the " Akron law," passed in 1849. William 
K. Johnson, Josejih C. Maginity, John G. Smith, 
Joseph Guinther, John Tidball and Jacob Wag- 
goner were chosen by the citizens as the first 
board of education. As first estalilished, there 
were three departments in the schools, two pri- 
mary and a higher one. William R. Powers, for- 
merly of New York, then of Utica, Ohio, was 
employed as superintendent, assisted in the 
higher department by Miss Sallic Elder (Mrs. 
George Dewey). Mi.ss Araminta Bodclle (Mrs. 
H. N. Shaw) and Miss Caroline Stewart (Mrs. 
Samuel Denman) presided over the two primary 



440 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



schools. Soon after a secondary school was started 
and taught by Miss Elder, her place in the higher 
school being supplied by Miss Delia Roberts (Mrs. 
Houston Hay). The schools at that time held 
their sessions in a little frame school-house in the 
southeast corner of the north school lot, where 
the little white school-house now stands, and in 
the basements of the Methodist Episcopal and the 
Second Presbyterian churches. The little brick 
school-house on the public square had become 
dilapidated, and owing to the location, objection 
was made to repairing it. 

The following petition is here given, as much 
for the preservation of names of old citizens at- 
tached to it, as for the interest shown in the cause 
of education. The petition was presented to the 
legislature by Timothy A. Condit, then a mem- 
ber of that body from Coshocton : 

To the Hvnamble, the Gewral AssemMy of the State 
of Ohio, runv in session : 

The undersigned citizens of the school district 
composed of the town of Coshocton and vicinity, 
respectfully represent: That with a desire of im- 
proving the public school in said district, and of 
establishing a central ciiuuty school in which stu- 
dents from' all parts of the county might, on lib- 
eral terms, enjoy educational advantages superior 
to those afforded in the ordinary district school, 
with a view to their employment in the business 
of teaching, they hiive established and have now 
in successful operation in said town a Union 
School, under the provisions of the "act for the 
better regulation of public schools," etc., passed 
February 21, 1.S49, and that the expenses neces- 
sarilv incurred in the organization and support 
of said school are so great as to amount to a hen vy 
burden on the taxable property of said district; 

The undersigned therefore pray that by an en- 
actment of your honorable body, all fines here- 
after collected for violations of the criminal law, 
occurring within the bounds of s;ud district, may 
be appropriated to the support of said school, to 
be expended in the same manner as the school 
fund now provided by law, etc. 

Coshocton', Ohio, Februnry 11, 1851. 

Benj. R. Shaw, 

T. S Humrickhouse, 

Benjamin Kieketts, 



Wm. Sample, 
W. K ,I"hnson, 
David Spnngler, 
Josiah Harris, 
Thos. Camiibell, 
G. F. Cassingliam, 
H. Cantwell, 
Jacob Waggoner, 
John F. Traxler, 



Henrv N. Shaw, 
A. R.Hillyer, 
11. J. Riihanser, 
J. Irviiie, 
John Waggoner, 
John Dames, 



Henrv LafTer, 

F. Factor, 
A. L. Cass, 

J. H. Hutchinson, 

G. E. Con well, 
James T. Morris, 
Robert Southwell, 
John C. Tidball, 
Jas. Hazlett, 
Robert Hay, 
Samuel Love, 
Edward IM.aher, 
F. X. Fritchey, 
John Burt, 

D. Trueman, 
R. M. Hackinson, 
Joseph Evans, 
J. Med ill. 
J. C. Medill, 
R. F. Baker, 

John 



Jos. M. Traxler, 
W. P. Wheeler, 
A. N. Milner, 
Josiah Dewey, 
\y. T. Decker, 
James jM. Brown, 
Jno. G. Stewart, 
H. Meek, 
Samuel Moore, 
Alex. D. ]\IcGowan, 
Thos. Dwyer, 
Joseph Burns, 
J. H. Workni.Tn, 
Wm. H. Robinson, 
S. B. Crowlev, 
Thos. C. Ricketts, 
Mahlon Richcreek, 
W. C. Wolfe, 
Thos. Love, 
J. W. Rue, 
Frew. 



In 1S53, it was determined to erect a suitable 
school-house. A considerable amount of feeling 
was manifested in regard to the location of it. 
Some were anxious to have it erected on the 
quarter block (two original town lots), at the 
northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets, 
fronting the public square. Others insisted upon 
placing it upon the square at the north end of 
the town, given by the original proprietors of the 
town for that purpose. The latter carried the 
day. The building (a two-story brick, thirty by 
eighty feet, with belfry,) was finished in 1855. 
A. N. Milner, a merchant and general operator, 
took the contract at about .¥4,500. A small allow- 
ance was subsequently made, but it was claimed 
that he was out of pocket very largely, whether 
by proper cost or through want of management, 
is disputed. The brick work was done by Henry 
Davis; the carpenter work, et •., by George Hay. 
The bell was added six or eight years afterward — 
purchased by the fines paid in that year by the 
violators of the liquor law. The shade trees 
which adorn the large school yard, were planted 
by superintendent W. A. McKee. When this 
school-house was built, the board of education 
was composed of B. R. Shaw, J. C. Tidball, .Jacob 
Waggoner, A. L. Cass, H. Cantwell and William 
Sample. 

There are no accessible records, from whicli to 
obtain the complete list of names and periods of 
service of the subsequent members of the board, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



441 



but the following persons have served in this ca- 
pacity since: John Frew, Thomas Campbell, H. 
N. Shaw, James Drytlen, J. G. Stewart, Henry 
Davis, W. H. Eobinson, A. J. Wilkin, J. C. Pom- 
erine, A. H. Spangler, D. F. Denman, J. M. 
Compton, J. S. Wilson, C. H Johnson, T. J. Mad- 
den and W. W. Walker. The board at this time 
embraces G.. H. Barger, Henry Davis, William 
Cro'sVell, E. J. Pocock, William Carnahan and 
W. H. Robinson. 

Following Mr. Powers, the superintendents of 
the Coshocton union schools have been as fol- 
lows: W. A. McKee, 1.854-7; T. V. Milligan, 
1857-9; John Giles, 1859-64; C. Forney, l.'-ci-S ; 
George Conant, 1S&8-7S; E. E. Henry, 1878-81. 

To meet the demands of a rapidly increasing 
enrollrfient the board in 1870 erected a two-story 
brick on the northeast corner of Walnut and 
Seventh streets. In 1874 a small frame was 
erected on the southeast corner of the north 
school lot, and the accomodations being still in- 
sufficient, two primary schools were set up in a 
private house on Chestnut street, just east of the 
railroad. 

In 1876 an imposing three-story front addition 
was built to the school-house on Walnut and Sev- 
enth streets. The plans were furnished by John- 
son & Kremler, of Columbus, and the work 
done by the Coshocton planing mill company. 
Its cost was 115,000. 

The growth of the schools during the decade 
which has just ended has been rapid. For the 
year 1879-80 there were 6S1 pupils enrolled and 
the average daily attendance was 565. Thirteen 
teachers are employed. The course extends over 
a period of twelve years, four in each of the 
three departments, primary, grammar and high. 
The first graduating cla.«s was that of 1879, con- 
taining six members; the class f)f '80 consisted of 
seven members. Several futile attempts have 
been made to establish advanced educational in- 
stitutions in this place. " In 1870 the Presbyter- 
ian Church of Coshocton made a proposition to 
give the frame church building for a school-house, 
and a strip of ground— now occupied by the par- 
sonage — whereon to erect a boarding house, to a 
board of trustees appointed by the session, but 
including representative members of other do- 
nominations, to the number of two-thirds of the 



board, if the community woidd assist in securing 
not \e?s than $5,000, wherewith to erect the board- 
ing house. Over $4,000 wore subscribed— all but 
$300 by members of the Presbyterian Church, but 
the community manifested so little interest in 
this movement to secure the ' Coshocton Female 
College,' that the church, after waiting a year, 
withdrew the propo-sition and proceeded to erect 
a parsonage with the fund so far as it had been 
contributed within the church. 

" A few years later Rev. Mr. Lee, of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, the president of an institu- 
tion called the One Study University, undertook 
to start a branch of that university under the 
name of ' Coshocton College ' but the effort also 
was quite abortive— the concern leading a feeble 
life for a year or so, and then passing away." 

In early days preaching could only be had occa- 
sionally, and this was usually by ministers either 
engaged in western missionary work, or passing 
fortuitously through the county. Prior to 1811, 
there was probably no preaching in Coshocton. 
Rev. Calhoun is authority for the statement that_, 
in 1810, " from all we can learn, there was not a 
praying family in the town, and probably a 
Christian prayer had never been oflered on the 
town plat." 

After Dr. Samuel Lee became a resident of the 
place in 1811, Rev. Timothy Harris, a Congrega- 
tional minister, of Granville, who had accompa- 
nied him from Vermont, used to preach here 
occasionally Others, doubtless, whose names 
are now lost beyond recall, conducted meetings 
in private houses, from time to time, during the 
decade that followed the organization of the 
county. The first denomination to effect an or- 
ganization in Coshocton was the Presbyterian. 
Its history has been kindly furnished by James R. 
Johnson, as follows: 

The churches of Kcene and Coshocton were 
originally one organization. The date of organi- 
zation, as gathered a few years later, from the 
earliest members, is .-ihown by the followingentry 
in the record book, in 1827: 

As nearly as can now be ascertained this 
church was formed in the fall of 1818, by Rev. 
J. Cunninuhani, of Richland Presbytery. It was 
called "The Church of the Congregations of 
Coshocton and Mdlcrcek;" and at that time was 
composed of the following members: 



442 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



James Renfrew, Timothy Emerson, Dr. Samuel 
Lee, Jacob Emerson, Andrew Hendersoif, Enos 
Emerson, William Ford, John Elder, Henry 
Jewit, Mrs. Jewit, Mrs. Elder, Polly Emerson, 
Katy Henderson, Catherine Emerson and Mrs. 
Thayer. 

Mr. James Renfrew and IMr. Timothy Emerson 
were chosen elders, and ordained. 

Church services were held in private houses 
until after the erection of the court-house, in 
1824, and the brick school-house, in 1828; both 
on the public square. 

A record was begun July 14, 1827, at which 
time Rev. Thomas i3arr preached, and eighteen 
additional members were received. From this 
time the church had preaching more regularly, 
the services being mostly held at Keene. as the 
membership there was much greater than at 
Coshocton. 

In 5824, with the assistance of Rev. James 
Cunningham, the first Sunday-school in the 
county was started, in Coshocton, under the 
superintendence of James Renfrew. It met for 
a time in the currying shop of his tan-yard, on 
Second street; then in the tavern, corner Second 
and Walnut streets; then in the court-house, 
and later in the school-house. In January, 1829, 
we find fourteen teachers and seventy-six pupils 
enrolled. This school has been kept up regularly 
till the present day. 

Rev. Samuel Rose, a Congregational minister, 
preached to the cliurch for a few months, about 
the year 1827. Rev. George W. Warner (now 
living in Columbia countv, N. Y.,) preached here 
from November 24, 1828, to April 10, 1831. It 
was during his ministry that the first Presby- 
terian communion service in Coshocton was 
held, Januarv 15, 1831, in the court-house, Rev. 
John Pitkins" officiating. The church was sup- 
plied bv Rev. Henry ^Hervey, of Martinsburg, 
and others, until the spring of 1834, when Rev. 
Nathaniel Conkling began his labors here. 

In April, 1834, a lease, from the county com- 
missioners to Samuel Lee, William K. Johnson 
and John Porter, as trustees, granted permission 
to erect a church building on the public square. 
By a great effort a substantial frame building, 
thirty by forty-two feet, was erected the same year. 
It faced' Main street, standing back about ten feet 
from the line of the street, and opposite lot 316. 
This was the first church building in Coshocton. 
It had one wide aisle, in which stood two stoves, 
the pipes ascending straight to the ceiling ; in the 
north end a high box-pulpit; in the opposite end 
a choir gallery; four very large windows on each 
side and two next the street, with glass eight by 
ten inches. The wood-work inside and out was 
painted white. In later years the ladies' sewing 
society had the walls papered and green Venetian 
shutters put to the windows, and the pulpit and 



double front door grained in oak, and a rag 
carpet placed in the aisle. It had no belfry or 
bell, the court-house bell being used for court, 
fires, funerals, school, church and political meet- 
ings. 

During the two years' ministry of Mr. Conk- 
ling, the churches of Keene and Coshocton be- 
came separate organizations ; a good church build- 
ing was erected at each of these places, fourteen 
members were added at Coshocton and thirty- 
eight at Keene. The first year, Jlr. Conkling 
lived at Coshocton, the second year, at Keene. 
He had five children; one of them, now Rev. 
Nathaniel Conkling, D. D., of New York City, 
was born at Keene. Mrs. Conkling is buried at 
Keene. 

Mr. Conkling was succeeded by Rev. Joseph S. 
Wylie, the first minister who was installed as 
pastor of the church. During the five years of 
his ministry (1S36-1.S41) some forty-eight' mem- 
bers were added at Coshocton, and the church 
was incorporated by act of the legislature as 
" The First Presbyterian Church of the town of 
Coshocton, in Coshocton county." 

In 1838, some difficulties arose which led to the 
withdrawal of fourteen members, who were 
formed (January 12, 1839) into a new school 
Presbyterian Church, known as the Second 
church. Mr. Wylie preached at Keene part of 
his time. 

Rev. E. Buckingham preached to the second 
church from 1839 till 1846, in which time eighty- 
seven members were added and a frame church 
building, thirty-eight by fifty-five feet, with stone 
basement, was erected on lot 50, Fourth street, 
in 1840. The basement was used for service un- 
til the audience room was completed, October 14, 
1849. Rev. Henry Calhoun (now of Ironton) be- 
gan preaching in the Second church in the spring 
of 1846, and remained eleven years. During his 
ministi y sixty-two were added. He also taught 
.school, and preached in Roscoe part of his time. 
April 25, 1857, fifteen members were dismissed to 
ft)rm a separate church in Roscoe. A very flour- 
ishing Sunday-school was another feature of Mr. 
Calhoun's ministry. This for some years was the 
largest Sunday-school in town. 

Rev. Addison CofTey, from Lebmon, Ohio, 
began jireaching in the First church, as stated 
supj)ly, August 8, 1841, and was installed pastor 
August 4, 1843. The pastoral relation was dis- 
solved September 2, 1847. Sixty-six were added 
during his ministry. 

He built a school-house on lot 87, and a brick 
dwelling on lot 85, with a view to keeping school 
boarders. He went to Peoria, Illinois, where he 
has since died. The shorter ministries of Mr. 
Hennigh, Mr. Jacob, and others in the First 
church, and of Mr. Wallace and others in the 



HISTORV OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



443 



Second church, are mentioned in a table at the 
dose of this sketch. 

During Mr. Jacob's ministry, a ladies' .sewing 
society was formed in the First church; Mrs. 
Joseph K. Johnson, president; Miss Isabel Sam- 
ple, treasurer. A society of the same sort was 
maintained in the Second church. Mrs. Buck- 
ingham, president. Plain sewing and fancy 
needle work, an annual fair and festival and 
evening mite meetings have been their sources 
of revenue. To this time they have contributed 
for repairs, and toward the erection of a new 
church and parsonage, some .'t'6,5(X). 

Eev. William E. Hunt, the present pastor, be- 
gan preaching in Coshocton in July, 18.56, and 
was ordained and installed April 15, 1857. The 
following events of his twenty-hve years' minis- 
trj' are worthy of special mention: 

1. The church became self-sustaining — all the 
ministers who preceded liim being partly sup- 
ported bj- the mission boards. 

2. The acquisition, in 1857, of the parsonage on 
lot 314. The lot was the gift of \V. K. Johnson 
& Co., a frame building being erected by the rest 
of the congregation. This was sold in 1871, to 
T. C. Ricketts, for $2,400. The house on this lot 
was burned in the fall of 1877. 

3. The purchase, in 1863, of lot 49, corner of 
Fourth and Chestnut streets, by the ladies' sew- 
ing society of the First church, "for $1,000. 

4. The erection thereon, in 18C6-68, of a new 
church building forty-three b}' sixty-nine feet, at 
a cost of .'515,500. 

5. The reunion, after a separation of thirty 
years, of the First and Second churches, which 
was consummated September 11, 1870, after wor- 
shiping together for a period of three years un- 
der a temporary arrangement; the member- 
ship of the First church being, at the time of the 
reunion, 112; that of the Second church, seventy- 
five ; the session of the united church being made 
up of the elders of both churches, Eev. William 
E. Hunt, pastor; corporate name. The Presbyte- 
terian Cluireh of Coshocton. 

C. The erection, in 1871, of a new parsonage, 
adjoining the church, at a cost of .f5,000 Two 
thousand six hundred dollars of this was raised 
as a special memorial fund to commemorate the 
reunion. 

7. The accession of 280 members. 

8. The sale of the old First church, in 1868, to 
J. M. Brown, for 1400, now used for stores, corner 
Fourth and Main streets ; and the sale of the old 
Second church, in 1873. to J. C. Fisher and oth- 
ers, for S3,000, now remodeled and used for print- 
ing and lawyers' offices. 

Besides the regular weekly services of the 
church, Mr. Hunt^has, up to tliis time, conducted 
265 funeral services, and performed 390 marriage 
ceremonies. 

17 



The church now has 209 members, with 200 
pupils in Sunday-school ; and besides the ladies' 
sewing society, already mentioned, has two mis- 
sionary societies and a young peojile's associa- 
tion ; is out of debt, and" anntially raises $1,800 
for current expenses, and $300 for missionary 
and other benevolent enterprises. 

The list of ministers of the First church is as 
follows : 

Eev. James Cunningham, 1818; missionary 
work at intervals. 

Eev. Samuel Rose, about 1827; a few months. 

Eev. George W. Warner, 1828-1831; two and 
one-third years. 

Rev. Henry Hervev, about 1832 ; a few months. 

Eev. N. Conkling, 1834-1836; two years. 

Eev. Joseph S. Wylie, 1836-1841; five years. 

Eev. Addison Cofley, 1841-1847; six years. 

Eev. H. K. Hennigii, 1847-1849: one and one- 
half years. 

Eev Eobert Robe, 1849-1850; one-half year. 

Rev. P. H. Jacob, 1851-1855; three and three- 
fourth vears. 

Rev."T. J. Taylor, 1855-1856; a few months. 

Rev. William E. Hunt, 1856; present pastor. 

Following is a list of ministers of the Second 
church : 

Rev. E. Buckingham, 1839-1846 ; seven years. 

Rev. Henry Calhoun, 1846-1857; eleven years. 

Rev. Slusscy, about 1858 ; a few months. 

Eev. John Henderson, 1859-1860; a few months. 

Eev. William Bridgman, fall of 1860; three 
months. 

Eev. Charles W. Wallace, 1861-1865; four and 
one-fourth vears. 

Eev. William M. Kain, 1866-1867 ; one year. 

The list of ruling elders of the First church, 
is as follows, with date of election and years of 
service : 

James Eenfrew, 1818 ; fourteen years. 
John Elliott, 1832; twenty-three years. 
Jacob Eliot, nineteen and one-half years. 
Jonathan Fisk, eleven and one-halfyears. 
Samuel Wheeler, 1844 ; twelve years. 
William Loder, 1844; nineteen years. 
— Rolla Banks, 1844; five years. 
John F. Traxlcr, 1844 ; four years. 
David Noble, 1844; fourteen years. 
Joseph K.Johnson, '849; twenty-three years. 
William S.imple, 1855; .seventeen years. 
William Laughead, 1855; ten j'ears. 
T. S. Humrickhou.se, 1867. 
T. C. Ricketts, 1867. 
James E. Johnson, 1867. 



444 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Following is a list of ruling elders of the Second 
church : 

Samuel Lee, 1839, thirty years. 

\. R. Hillyer, 1S39: twenty-one years. 

Phineas Tuttle, 1843; nineteen years. 

James Hill, 1843; fifteen years. 

A. D. Denman, 1S60. 

Josiah Glover, 1860. 

Chester Wells, 1862: six years. 

William H Robinson, 1863. 

Samuel Hiram Lee, 1863. 

The Methodist Protestant church at Coshocton 
was organized soon after the disruption in the 
Methodist church, in consequence of which the 
Methodist Protestant denomination sprang into 
being. It was probably in the year 1830 that Rev. 
Rufus Richason formed a little class consisting of 
Zebedee Baker and Susanna his wife, David Wag- 
goner and wife, Mary Darnes, and one or two 
others. The early preaching was held in the 
court-house. About 1840 the erection of a sub- 
stantial brick church was begun, and completed a 
year or two later. It stands on Locust street be- 
tween Second and Third, and of late years has 
been occupied by the German Lutherans. Dur- 
ing the winter preceding its erection, a noted se- 
ries of revival meetings were held at the court 
house by Rev. William Munhall. As a result of 
these meetings one hundred and thirty accessions 
were made to the three churches then organized, 
a large proportion of the converts joining the 
Methodist Protestant society. Not long after the 
church began to decline ; 'the membership stead- 
ily decreased until within a few years when serv- 
ices were wholly discontinued. The last minister 
was Joseph Thrapp. Of the early preachers may 
be mentioned Joel Dolby, Israel Thrapp, Zacha- 
riah Ragan, John Burns, N. Sneethen and Rev. 
Reeves, whose wife also could preach a sermon 
•when it became necessary. Among the more 
prominent ministerial laborers of a somewhat 
later day were Thomas Stevens, Phineas Inskeep 
and Joseph Hamilton. 

The membership at one time amounted to 
about one hundred, and for three years the 
church formed a separate station. A Sunday- 
school Wivs organized soon after the church was 
built, and for a while was considered the best in 
Coshocton. 

The history of the Methodist Episcopal church 



dates back to the year 1840. Prior to that year 
diflferent ministers had preached in the town, 
from time to time, as occasion offered, for a 
number of years — such as Thomas A. Morris 
(afterward bishop), David Young, Jacob Young, 
Robert O. Spencer, William B. Christie, John 
Dillon and others. A few years ago Rev. B. F. 
Beazell prepared a historical record of the cir- 
cuit to which Coshocton belonged, from which 
most of the following has been taken. Rev. J. 
N. Baird says: 

I was sent to Coshocton in the summer of 1840. 
Found the territory I was to organize into a cir- 
cuit to be bounded by the Muskingum river, 
from Coshocton down to the mouth of Will's 
creek; up the same to the neighborhood of Lin- 
ton; thence north, to the plains near Evansburg; 
thence down to the place of beginning. There 
were societies at East Plainfield, Marquand's and 
Robinson's. There was no society in Coshocton — 
indeed, but one member wsis found there. Sister 
Spangler. Thomas C. Ricketts had, a little before 
that, united with the church in Roscoe; was yet 
on probation, and afterwards came to us, w'hen 
we organized. There was a Brother Conwell, 
also, who had been a member of the church 
somewhere, and joined us, when we organized. 
But Mrs. David Spangler was the only member of 
the church at the time of mv arrival, and to her, 
as much as to any preacher, perhaps, our strug- 
gling enterprise there, is indebted for success. 
Her noble husband, though not a member, was 
always helpful in every way. I preached in the 
court-house, and organized the first class of 
twelve members in the old jury box. I left a 
considerable society — near .seventy members, I 
think — and was succeeded by Rev. John J. Swayze, 
at that time the most popular man in the pulpit, 
in the conference. 

The twelve members of that first class were : 
Elizabeth Spangler, Thomas C. Ricketts, George 
E. Conwell, Feli.x Landers, David Frew, Benja- 
min R. Shaw, Henrietta Shaw, Nancy Decker, 
Martha Wallace, Mary Wallace, Abraham Sells 
and Lucy Thomas. It was organized within a 
few months after Dr. Baird's arrival. Dr. Baird 
was a faithful and efficient worker, and at the 
expiration of his two years' term of ser\-ice, left 
the society in a prosperous condition. Preach- 
ing was continued at the court-house until the 
church was built, This was begun during Dr. 
Baird's pastorate. The original record book 
bears this inscription: "At a meeting held in the 
town of Coshocton, May 9, 1842, by the friends 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



445 



and members of the M. E. church, for the pur- 
pose of consuUation as to the propriety of erect- 
ing a house for pubhc worship — Wilhani McFar- 
land having been called to the chair, and R. B. 
Shaw made secretary — on motion of David 
Spangler, it was unanimously resolved that we 
take immediate measures to secure a site and 
erect a suitable building." Accordingly a com- 
mittee of five persons was appointed to secure a 
location and solicit subscriptions. Thomas C. 
Ricketts, James Robinson, David Frew and Wil- 
liam McFarland, composed the committee. An 
additional committee, consisting of James Le- 
Retilley, Theophilus Phillips and Samuel Hutch- 
inson, was appointed to secure subscriptions in 
Roscoe. At a subsequent meeting, David Frew, 
B. R. Shaw and George E. Con well, were elected a 
building committee. 

A vote of thanks for the liberal subscriptions of 
the community is recorded, and then, among 
other things, the following: " lieaolved, That we 
accept the proposal of Mr. John Elliott to erect 
said building for the sura of $2,500, as per con- 
tract;" at the same time paying him $1,099, the 
amount of subscriptions then obtained. Four 
years later, when the building was finally ready 
for use, little or nothing remained to be paid. 
The church was dedicated in the early summer 
of 1846, during the pastorate of Rev. E. P. Jacob, 
by Rev. Wesley Kenny, D. D., then of Wheeling- 
Since that time it has been repaired and im- 
proved at difierent times at an aggregate expense 
of not less than double its original cost. 

Until 1859 the circuit retained, substantially, 
its original shape, but in that year a division was 
made. Coshocton, Robinson's and Lafayette 
formed one pastoral charge, retaining the old 
name. Lafayette, by request, was next year 
placed in the Plainfield circuit. For nine years 
Robinson's and Coshocton constituted one pasto- 
ral charge; but, in 1868, the former was included 
in the Plainfield circuit, since when the latter has 
been a station. 

In view of the dilapidated condition of the 
church, Mrs. David Spangler, who was one of the 
original members of the church, and has always 
taken a deep interest in its prosperity, made the 
following proposition to the members and friends 
of the M. E. church, of Coshocton, June 12, 1879: 



"On condition that the sum of $5,000 be raised to 
erect a Methodist Episcopal church, in the vil- 
lage of Coshocton, I promise to give the south 
half of lot No. 56, in said vilUige, being situated on 
the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, for the 
purpose of erecting said church edifice." The 
offer was unanimously accepted by the trustees a 
few days later, a subscription paper put in circu- 
lation, and the amount speedily raised. The old 
church building, which stands on Third street 
(lot 147), between Chestnut and Locust streets, 
and the adjoining parsonage, which was secured 
in 1862, built by Charles McCloskey, were sold to 
D. R. Culbertson for $1,250. It was abandoned by 
the congregation in the fall of 1880, services and 
Sunday-school being held in the city hall during 
the winter of 1880-81, until the new church was 
ready for occupation. 

At a meeting of the trustees, December 8, 1879, 
the contract for building the church was let to 
S. C. Dillon, of Dresden, for $8,603; for which 
amount he was to finish the building entire ex- 
cept glass for windows, frescoing, heaters and 
seats in Sunday-school room. The aggregate 
cost was in round numbers $10,000. The ladies 
aid society, organized February 17, 1873, a very 
efficient auxilliary to the church organization, 
has been active and earnest in its support of the 
new enterprise, and has contributed largely to its 
success. The church is one of the finest struc- 
tures in Coshocton. It was dedicated, free of 
debt, April 24, 1881, by Bishop Warren, of At- 
lanta, Ga. The niember.ship of the church is 2.35. 

The Sunday-school was organized August 8, 
1845, with George E. Conwell, superintendent, 
Russell C. Bryant, secretary, and W. Wells, libra- 
rian. One of the early entries in the "minute 
book" is this: "It would be much better to have 
the male and female scholars kept in separate 
rooms, and we hope the congregation will build 
a school-house " The earliest record of attend- 
ance is five teachers and thirty-five scholars. 
From that day of small things the school has 
gone steadily on, with increasing advantages and 
numbers, doing incalculable good. There are 
now eighteen classes and over 300 members 
enrolled. E. J. Pocock is serving his fifth term 
as superintendent of the school; I. B. Dillon is 
secretary and Miss Ida Anderson, treasurer. 



446 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



A catalogue of the pastors of the church is jis 
follows: 1840-2, Isaac N. Baird; 1842-3, John J 
Swayze; 1843-4, John D. Kich; 1844-5, Thomas 
McLeary; 1845-6, E. P. Jacob; 1846-7, James Hen- 
derson ; 1847-9, D. P. Mitchell ; 1849-50, C. Wyrick; 
1850-1, D. Truman; 1851-2, C. A. Holmes; 1852-4, 
J. E. McGaw ; 1854-5, H. Sinsabaugh and E. S. 
Hogue ; 1858-9, T. Davidson and H. Jl.Close ; 1859- 
60, T. Davidson and J. J. Neigh ; 1860-2, S. M. Hick- 
man; 1862-3, W. R. Fonts; 1863-5, W. D.Ste- 
vens; 1865-7, E. W. Brady, who, retiring before 
the expiration of his term was succeeded by J. 
W. Bushong; 1867-8, E. Birket; 1868-71, S. 
Crouse ; 1871-3, J. D. Vail; 1873-6, B. F. Beazell ; 

1876-8, W. L. Dixon; 1878 , J. Brown, the 

present pastor. 

The German Lutheran congregation, which 
now worships in the old Methodist Protestant 
church, was organized about forty years ago in 
Roscoe. It appears that no record has been kept 
and little is known of its early history. The 
meetings were at first held in the old brick school- 
house on the hill, but when the Presbyterian 
church was erected at Roscoe, in 1849, the mem- 
bers of the German Lutheran church contributed 
1300 to the building fund, and in return had the 
use of the building each alternate Sunday. The 
majority of the membership becoming residents 
of Coshocton, services were transferred to this 
place. They were held for a number of years in 
the old Second Presbj'terian church on Fourth 
street, now "Equity Building;" then the present 
house of worship was engaged and since occupied, 
and kept in repair by the society. The member- 
ship, through dissatisfaction, has been considera- 
bly reduced during the last few years, and is now 
quite limited. Rev. Grumer, of Newark, supplies 
the congregation at present. 

St. George Catholic church was built in 1859. 
Rev. Serge De Stchaulepink(.)fl'— a Russian priest 
who, on becoming Catholic, had been compelled 
to leave his country — was sent to Coshocton the 
year before, as pastor of the several country 
cliurches previously established. Soon after he 
arrived, he organized the church at Coshocton, 
and the following year, under his direction, this 
church was erected. It is located on lot 102, Third 



street, between Chestnut and Locust. Among 
the earliest adherents to this faith who settled in 
and about Coshocton, and became identified with 
the church at its organization, were Thomas 
Collopy, Mr. Trainer, James Hallesey, George 
Factor, Joseph Guinther and Joseph O'Donnell. 
The first pastor continued in charge for some 
three years and was succeeded at short intervals 
by Fathers Andres, Ranch and Nordmeyer — all 
sent by Rev. J. B. Purcell, Archbishop of Cincin- 
nati. In January, 1869, Rev. John M. Jacquet 
was appointed pastor by the Right Rev. J. H. 
Rosecrans, who, the year before, had been made 
First Bishoji of Columbus. Through his instru- 
mentality both the church building and the pas- 
toral residence have been much improved, and 
all debts against the charge paid otf. The mem- 
bership is somewhat limited in number, and for 
some years has remained about the same. 

A Regular Bajjtist church was constituted at 
Coshocton, August 23, 1834, the services being 
held at the house of Wilson McGowan (who was 
a leading member and for many years clerk of 
the congregation), and conducted by Elders John 
Pritchard, George C. Sedgewick, William Spen- 
cer and William Purdy. Elder Sedgwick Rice 
was the minister until May 5, 1838, when he was 
at his own request released. He died some 
time thereafter, leaving a pleasant recollection of 
him in the community as a godly man and an 
able and earnest advocate of his church. After 
his services ceased, the church was supplied by 
several brethren for several years, until it seems 
to have been practically dissolved about 1848. 
The McGowan, Bryant, Welch, Burt, Coe, Carhart, 
Farwell, Loder, Miller, Estinghausen, Whitte- 
more, Babcock, Sprague, Elliott, Wright and 
Odoi' families seem to have been connected with 
this movement. At one time there were some 
thirty-seven members. The services w-ere held 
in the court-house. Benjamin Coe was the last 
clerk of the congregation. » 

A recent effort to establish another society of 
this faith in Coshocton has met with success. 
Rev. H. L. Gear, financial secretary of the Ohio 
State Baptist convention, held a series of meet^ 
ings in the Protestant Methodist church during 
January, 1878, and on the 31st day of the same 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



447 



month a church was here constituted, to be known 
iis the First Baptist Church of Coshocton, with 
the following membership: Elizabeth Bonnett, 
Flora Love, Mary E. Ganlner, IX'lilah Henry, 
Anna Breightman, Sarah Felton, Elizabeth Burt 
anil Almedia Coe. The articles of faith and 
church covenant, as found in J. Newton Brown's 
Encycl(jpedia of Religious Knowledge, were 
adopted. On the same day a council, composed 
of members of Dresden, Pleasant Hill, Tomaka 
and Chestnut Hill Baptist churches, met at the 
same place. After an examination of the articles 
of faith, church covenant, and reasons for organ- 
izing a Baptist church in Coshocton, the council 
recognized the organization with the following 
services: Sermon, by Rev. J. P. Hunter; charge 
to the church, by Rev. J. Wright; and hand of 
fellowship, by Rev. H. L. Gear. February 2, 
Rev. J. P. Hunter was called as first pastor of the 
church. He entered upon his pastoral duties 
April 1, 1878, and at the expiration of eighteen 
months resigned. The church wivs then without 
a pastor for a few months, but Rev. D. Trichler 
was soon called to the charge, and entered upon 
his work in February, 1880. The church began 
holding services in Central Hall, in March, 1878, 
and in the following month it was resolved to 
erect a house of worship. Within a year a neat 
and comfortiible edifice, substantially built of 
brick, was completed, at a cost of $3,4.57. It was 
dedicated March 16, 1879. The present officers 
are: Rev. D. Trichler, pastor; E. W. Williams, 



deacon ; John Robinson, E. A. Breightman, and 
E* Williams, trustees; L. P. Hay, clerk. The 
church numbers forty members. A mite society 
is an active auxiliary in benevolent enterprises. 
A Sunday-school was organized at Central Hall 
in the spring of 1N78, and is now in good work- 
ing order, superintended by E. Williams. It 
contains about fifty scholars. 

Trinity Church, a congregation belonging to 
the Episcopal Church, was organized at the law 
office of W. S. Crowell, in October, 1878, by the 
adoption of articles of association. November 2, 
following, S. D. Brewster was elected the first 
rector. The first services were held December 8, 
1878, in McClain's Hall, which is still the place of 
meeting. The financial affairs of the body were 
managed by a committee appointed for the pur- 
pose until January, 1879, when the first officers 
were elected. James S. Wilson was chosen Sen- 
ior Warden; W. S. Crowell, Junior Warden; and 
W. W. Bostwick, L. T. Judd and Thomas Wilson, 
Vestrymen. Rev. S. D. Brewster continued at 
the head of the society until February, 1880, 
when Rev. J. M. Hillyar was elected rector. The 
original members numbered twenty-seven; there 
has since been a material increase in member- 
ship. 

A successful Sabbath-school was established 
July, 1879, which has been under the manage- 
ment of W. S. Crowell since its organization. Its 
membership is about fifty. 




COSHOCTON COUNTY INFIRMARY AND FARM. JOHN RICHARDSON, 81 



t 




NTEXDENT. DAVID FRY, R. C. WARREK, TIIOS. WIGGINS, DIRECTORS. 



TOWNSHIP HISTORY. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 



ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 



Location— Physical Features— Its Military Sections— Organi- 
zation— First Officers- Early Justices— Indian Encamp- 
ments—Early White Occupation— Settlers- Mills — Oil- 
Physicians— Scjiools-Churchcs—Bakersville. 

ADAMS township is situated in the eastern 
part of the county. On the north and east 
it touches Tuscarawas county, Oxford township 
on the south and White Eyes on the west. The 
surface is hilly throughout though not to a degree 
depriving the land of value for agricultural pur- 
poses. The soil is, for the most part, argillaceous 
or clayey. Some of the hills, however, are cov- 
ered with a sandy loam. It is productive, yield- 
ing abundant harvests of corn and wheat, the 
principal crops grown. The highest land lies in 
the northern part. Here are the head waters of 
two streams which flow in a southerly direction 
draining the entire surface of the township. The 
more easterly of the two, Evans creek, passes 
through Oxford township on the south and soon 
after mingles its waters with those of the winding 
Tuscarawas. The other, called the East Fork of 
White Eyes creek, bends to the northwest when 
near the southern limit of the township and en- 
ters White Eyes township. The numerous little 
brooks that feed these streams, trickling through 
nearly every dale, attest the existence of many 
fine springs. 

The township is five miles square in area, con- 
sisting of the sixth township in the fourth range 
of the United States military district. The east- 
ern half was congress land, which was* surveyed 



into sections of one mile square by Alexander 
Holmes, in the year 1803. The western half was 
composed of two military sections of 4,000 acres 
each. In 1800 military land could be entered 
only in tracts of 4,000 acres, and it sometimes 
occurred that a number of persons, each holding 
an insufficient number of warrants to enter a 
whole section, would unite their several claims 
for this purpose, afterward dividing the section 
among themselves, in proportion to the amount 
of each one's warrants, Tiius it was with both of 
these sections. The northern one, constituting 
the northwest quarter of the township, was en- 
tered by a company of ten individuals as follows: 
Jesse and Abijah Hunt, of Hamilton county, 
holding warrants for 1 ,500 acres ; Ephraim True, 
with warrants for GOO hundred acres; James Per- 
cival, of Connecticut, for 500 ; Lewis Morris, of 
Charleston, South Carolina, for 400; Joseph Love- 
land, of Fairfield county, for 300; Joseph Lock- 
land, for 300, and four others, Henry Eoss, of 
Washington county; John Buel, major in the 
army ; Stephen Smith and Christopher Hamel, for 
100 acres each. The section was located and sur- 
veyed for the company by John Matthews, he re- 
ceiving in compensation for his services the one- 
tenth part, or 400 acres. The other section, form- 
ing the southwest quarter of the townsliip, was 
located for a company of ;\Iarylanders, of whom 
Rezin Davis and O. H. Williams were the most 
extensive shareholders, the two owning more 
than the one-half of the section. S. Herbert, 
Jacob S. Towson, Richard Pindall, W. VanLear 
and P. Thomas had lesser amounts. The land in 
these two sections was not placed in the market 
for many years, and, as the owners were non-res- 



454 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



idents, the settlement of this portion of the 
township was somewhat retarded. The few pio- 
neers who settled here, did so without title to the 
soil, and were obliged to abandon their cabins 
when the legal holders put in their appearance, 
if they had not already' done so. 

Upon the formation of Oxford township, in the 
fall of 1811, that territory was embraced in its 
limits which now constitutes Adams township. 
In 1823, when White Eyes township was organ- 
ized, the northwestern quarter of what is now 
Adams township was taken from O.xford, and 
made a part of the new township. In 1832, the 
county commissioners ordered the establishment 
of Adams township, as it now exists. The com- 
pletion of the organization, by the election of 
local officers, is thus recorded in the township 
book: 

Agreebly to previous notice, by the commis- 
sioners of Coshocton county, the citizens of Adams 
township assembled at the house of Benjamin 
Headley, in said township, June 23, 1832, for the 
purpose of electing the necessary officers for 
said township, and, after being assembled, did 
proceed to elect, vioa voce, three judges and two 
clerks, to hold said election, viz. : Thomas Powell. 
Joshua Wood and Benjamin Headley were ap- 
pointed judges, and Henry Belong and P. S, 
Campbell, clerks, who, after being duly sworn, 
did proceed to open and hold said election, 
agreeably to law; and, after carefully examining 
the poll books of said election, found that thirty 
votes had been given, and that the following per- 
sons were elected to the respective offices named, 
with their names, and did likewise proclaim 
them duly elected, in the presence of all the 
voters that were present at the close of said 
election : 

The persons elected trustees were Thomas 
Powell, Joshua Wood and Archibald Leach; 
township clerk, P. S. Campbell; constable, James 
C. Colson; treasurer, Richard Taylor; super- 
visors, William Curry, William Norris, Jr., and 
Thomas Powell, Jr.; overseer of the poor, Benja- 
min Headley, and Vincent Dewitt; fence viewers, 
Robert Corbit and Leonard Hav.'k. 

J. P. James was justice of the peace at the time 
the township was organized, having been elected 
previously from Oxford township. Patrick S. 
Campbell was the first justice elected in the new 
township, his commission dating May 23, 1833. 
He was successively elected seven times, holding 
the office until his death, December 4, 1852. 



Lewis Corbit also has served the township in this 
capacity for a like number of terms. He was 
first elected in 1857, and served continuously un- 
til 1878. Other early justices were Thomas Pow- 
ell, John Baker and James Jones. 

The Indian villages that were situated in Co- 
shocton county were invariably found in the val- 
leys of the larger streams. Hence there were 
none in Adams township. Several small encamp- 
ments, however, had a place within its limits. 
One which, according to the tradition of the ear- 
liest settlers, contained three wigwams, stood in 
the southwest quarter of section 9, close to the 
present residence of Lewis Corbit. It was located 
on the sandy knoll of ground across the road, a 
few rods southeast from the house. An open 
space of about an acre extended from the knoll 
to the spring, which gushes forth from the hill- 
side close to the house. Quite a number of In- 
dian relics have been found here, such as arrow- 
heads, stone axes, etc. Mr. Corbit plowed up in 
this vicinity, over thirty years ago, an old gun 
barrel so rust-eaten as to be scarcely recogniza- 
ble. Another encampment of five wigwams 
stood southeast from this one, near the mouth of 
Indian Camp Run. Here the first white arrivals 
found a cleared space of several acres, with only 
one or two wild cherry trees growing upon it. 

Deer licks were numerous throughout this re- 
gion, and were places of frequent resort for the 
deer at morning and evening. This fact was well 
known to the hunters of that day, and turned to 
advantage by them. Instead of roaming the for- 
est in search of game they would lie in wait for 
it here. A blind would be formed of bushes, be- 
hind which they would screen themselves from 
view, and as the deer unsuspiciously approached 
it could easily be covered and brought low by the 
unerring aim of the rifleman. 

The earliest white occupants of the territory 
now embraced within the bounds of Adams 
township were mainly members of that migra- 
tory class which continually hover on the ex- 
treme frontier of an advancing civilization, white 
men who could not relinquish all intercourse 
with their race, yet wishing to rid themselves of 
the cares and duties of a settled country, pre- 
ferred the free and easj' life of a hunter, cultivat- 
ing perhaps a little patch of corn, but subsisting 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



455 



chiefly upon the game which could always be had 
for the shooting. As this became scarce, through 
the influ.x of settlers, they would gather up their 
tents and silently steal away to the west beyond. 

Prior to the war of 1812, there docs not seem to 
hav#bcen anj' permanent settlement made here, 
though it was the transient home of several white 
m.en. A family named Mulford was the first known 
to occupy this territory. Mulford built a little 
cabin on what was afterward Robert Corbit's 
•place, the southeast quarter of section 18, but re- 
mained only a few years, removing to Oxford 
township. Williani Sparks afterward occupied 
the same cabin, and was living in it in 1816. An- 
other squatter named Murphy, much given to 
hunting, settled in the same locality very early; 
also. Remembrance and Elijah Williams. " Mem" 
was a notable hunter. They came several years 
before the war, and both moved west at a later 
day. Remembrance to Indiana and P^lijali to Mis- 
souri. Aaron Shipley was another early occupant. 

James Baker came with his family from 
Adams county, Pfinnsylvania, during the war of 
1812. He did not become a property owner 
here, and subsequently emigrated to Arkansas. 
His son, John Baker, is still living, and is one of 
the oldest persons in the township. He was 
born January 25, 1796, came west with his father 
from Pennsylvania, and has always considered 
Adams township his home, though he has been a 
great traveler. In his younger days he was ex- 
tremely fond of the chase, and spent much of his 
time with the Indians, whom he thinks were 
among his best friends. Mr. Baker was the 
founder of Bakersville, and has been one of the 
largest land owners in the township. His wife 
Ellen, a daughter of Robert Addy, also still sur- 
vives. She was born May 20, 1800. 

Robert Addy, a wild and daring spirit, came 
from the Virginia banks of the Potomac in 18t)4, 
and soon after settled on Will's creek, in Linton 
township. In 1815 or 1816, he moved to this 
township, settling in the southwest portion of 
section 12. He had been drafted in the war 
of 1812, a short time before its termination, and 
was on his way to the seat of war when news of 
peace was received. 

Robert Corbit, one of the earliest i)ermancnt 
settlers, came from Hancock county, Maryland, 



to the Tuscarawas river in O.xford township, with 
Isaac Evans, in 1804. Not liking the country, he 
returned to Maryland, but soon after came west 
again with James Meskimen, of Linton township, 
and entered his employ, remaining seven years 
and working for seven dollars a month during 
the summer, and often for his board in the 
winter. He then worked for Isiuic Evans till the 
war of 1812 broke out. In one of the earliest 
drafts John Junkin, a brawny Irish settler on the 
river, and a man of considerable wealth for those 
days, drew the fatal ballot which consigned him 
to a place among the conscrii)ts. Mr. Corbit 
went as his substitute and remained in the army 
two years, doing service at Fort Meigs. After 
his return, he remained with Isaac Evans till 
1818, when he married Susan Fuller and settled 
on the southeast quarter of section 18. He pos- 
sessed a keen relish for hunting which never 
cloyed. His dog and rifle were his inseparable 
companions, and it was not an uncommon occur- 
rence for him to spend the entire night in the 
woods. He remained a life-long resident of this 
township, and died July 3, 1878, at the age of 
eighty-eight years. 

Robert McFarland came about the same time. 
He was a Vfrginian and entered the northeast 
quarter of section 19. In his earlier days he was 
addicted to the then prevalent vice of intemper- 
ance, but he joined the Methodist church and 
entirely abandoned the use of ardent spirits. It 
is said that he placed a tempting flask of whisky 
upon the mantel-piece of his cabin, in plain view, 
where it remained untouched to the day of his 
death, which occurred years afterwards. 

William Norris and James Jones settled here 
among the earliest. Both were Virginians; the 
former entered the southeast quarter of section 
23, the latter the northeast quarter of the same 
section. Mr. Norris enjoyed the distinction 
of being the father of twenty-one children. 
He died in the township at a good old age in 
1841. Some of his descendents still live in this 
township. Mr. Jones was one of the leading 
citizens of his time. He was a strictly temper- 
rate, church-going man and was one of the ear- 
liest justices. He removed to Benton county, 
Iowa, where he lived up to the time of his de- 
cease. Joshua and Benjamin Chance settled 



456 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



about 1818 or 1820.' They were not holders of 
real estate. 

Enos and Samuel Dean and John Norman 
were the earliest settlers in the western part of 
the township. They had been here sometime 
before the year 1816. Mr. Norman's father had 
located on the Tuscarawas river, and John moved 
up to the head of White Eyes creek very early. 
Enos Dean first pitched his cabin down by the 
creek, but not succeeding as he thought he should 
he built another cabin on a hill situated on F. W. 
Powell's upper farm west of the creek, with the 
expectation of doing better. This place, from 
this circumstance, was dubbed "Mount Hope," a 
name which clung to it for many years. 

Jonathan Tipton soon after came from Harri- 
son county, with a Mr. Kimble; the latter settled 
in White Eyes township, and Tipton in the west- 
ern part of Adams. The names of other settlers 
were James and William Poland, John Lemons 
and John Mizer. 

Thomas Powell entered the township about 
1819. He was an Englishman by birth, a mer- 
chant by occupation, and emigrated from his 
native land to Richmond, Virginia, and after- 
wards to Steubenville. He there leased the 
Campbell place, situated near the center of this 
township, in the northwestern quarter, and soon 
after moved upon it. He remained there about 
ten years ; then purchased and settled upon a 
large tract of over a thousand acres in the south- 
western portion of the township. His sons, 
Thomas and F. W., still reside upon it. 

James Campbell moved to his property, va- 
cated by the Powells, in 1831. He was originally 
from Pennsylvania, but since 1802 had carried on 
a large tailoring establishment in Steubenville. 
He died September 2.3, 1845. Patrick S. Camp- 
bell, long a justice of the peace for this township, 
was a son. Hon. Thomas Campbell, of Coshoc- 
ton, is another .son. 

Thomas Pinkerton emigrated from Pennsyl- 
vania about 1821 and settled upon lot 12, in the 
eastern part of the southwestern section, later 
known as the Jennings lot. He removed to Mi.s- 
souri. Somewhat later, John Rodney and George 
and John Walters arrived from Guernsey county. 
George subsequently returned there, and John 
continued on westward, to Knox county. 



Edward McGarvej' and Vincent Dewitt were 
two other early settlers in the western part of 
the township. The former was an Irishman, and 
by trade a weaver. He settled here about 1816. 
Dewitt came about 182-5, from Sluskincum 
county. 

S. H. Loveless and Archibald Leach, both from 
Jefferson county, came together, in May, 1827, 
and entered the northwest quarter of section 10; 
Loveless the western half, and Leach the eastern. 
Both families are still represented in the town- 
ship. About the time the Ohio canal was built, 
settlers began to arrive rapidly, and in a few years 
thereafter the land was all taken up. 

Adams township contains the oldest person in 
the county. Mrs. Catherine Albert, residing in 
the northwestern part of the township has been 
a centenarian for several years. She is now sup- 
posed to be in her one hundred and fifth year. 
Originally from Pennsylvania she spent a good 
portion of her long life in eastern Ohio. She 
then came with her husband, John Albert, to 
Crawford townsliip. The}- were among the ear- 
liest settlers there. About forty-five years ago 
she removed to this township and has resided 
here since. For one of her age she is a lady of 
remarkable activity. 

Milling operations have not been very exten- 
sive. A saw mill was erected by John Baker on 
Evans creek a mile or more south of Bakcrsville 
in 18.34. It has since been in the ownership of 
Samuel Gorslin, Andrew Hock, Joseph Stone- 
hocker and Samuel Werts. Sawing ceased there 
six or eight years ago and the mill has been torn 
down recently. 

George Werts in 1837 or 1838 built a grist mill 
in what is now Bakersville. Several years before 
he had erected a saw mill at the same place. Sir. 
Werts sold the mill to Jacob Mizer. They were 
removed many years ago and the bridge now oc- 
cupies the spot where they stood. 

The whisky consumed in Adams township was 
chiefly of " foreign " manufacture. The only dis- 
tillery known to have been operated here was 
owned by Joseph Duftee. It stood in the north- 
ern part of the township, and was operated for a 
few years only beginning about 1840. 

Oil is found oozing from the surface of the hill- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



457 



side, near a spring on Robert Corbit's place. 
Wells have been twice sunk here in search of 
the oil in paying quantities, but each time with 
ill success. It is often skimmed from the surface 
of the spring by the neigliboring farmers and 
used by them for lubricating machinery. It is 
found to be a superior article for this purpose. 

The earliest physician who settled in this town- 
ship, of whom any account is had, was an eccen- 
tric, though tiilented, individual named Kellis 
Hord. He moved here about 1S36, from Vir- 
ginia, where he had been engaged in practice. 
While still in that State he lost three children by 
scarlet fever, and through his grief and disgust at 
his inability to save them he threw his medical 
works into the lire and determined to relinquish 
his profession forever, and it was rarely that his 
services could be brought into requisition. Only 
in a great emergency, as in the case of a broken 
limb, and under urgent solicitation, would he 
apply the medical knowledge of which he was 
master. He possessed great mechanical powers, 
which he was fond of exercising, and many were 
the devices which he invented. He owned a 
small tract of land in the northern part of sec- 
tion 12. Here, at Raccoon Spring, he constructed 
a diminutive over-shot water-wheel, which fur- 
nished the motive power for a turning lathe. He 
was fond of grafting fruit trees, and afterward 
started a nursery above Balcersville. He moved 
to Columbus, and later died at Cleveland while at 
work on one of his inventions. 

The ne.xt resident practitioner was Dr. William 
Miller, who came from Pennsylvania. He re- 
mained here for five or six years, and then re- 
moved to Illinois. He is described as a clever 
little gentleman, always ready and attentive to 
his profession 

Since Bakersville h;vs been laid out, quite a 
number of physicians have taken up their abode 
there. Dr. John Conoway was the first. He 
came from Harrison county, about 1850, and after 
a practice of six years sought a western field of 
labor in Iowa. He was succeeded in 185G by Dr. 
R. C. Chapman, who was born in Washington 
county. Pennsylvania, and had read and prac- 
ticed medicine in Tuscarawas county previous to 
his coming here. He remained a half score of 



years and returned to Tuscarawas county. Dr. 
B. W. Chapman, his brother, came in 1866, and 
has since been in continual practice here. Two 
other physicians now reside in the village, Drs, 
E. P. Steward and G. W. Rice; the former came 
about 1870, from Harrison county, the latter from 
Tuscarawas county, in 1880. The following phy- 
sicians also have had a residence here: Drs. 
Maxwell, Michael Tolen, Michael Conoway, Sam- 
uel Gorsline, Isaac Busby and William Craven. 

The first school-house in the township was 
built about 1825, on the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 18, Robert Corbit's homestead. It was the 
usual log cabin, its dimensions about twenty- 
two feet square, built in the rough, ruile style 
prevalent in pioneer times ; a puncheon floor, 
paper window-panes, a huge lire-place occupying 
one entire end of the building, were some of 
the features of this, as of nearly every other 
school-house of that age. No portion of the lum- 
ber composing it was sawed. Perhaps the most 
finished piece of workmanship was the door. 
The split, ash boards, from which it was made,, 
had been shaved with a drawing knife to a toler- 
able degree of smoothness. The merest rudi- 
ments of an education could be obtained here at 
first. Reading and spelling often constituted the 
entire curriculum of study. Few of the earliest 
school-masters possessed a knowledge of arith- 
metic. School-books were rarities, and the few 
that could be collecled were of a motley descrip- 
tion. A single leaf sufficed Lewis Corbit during 
his first term at school. His father had but the 
one reader in his possession, and this an older 
sister of Lewis must have ; she had attended 
school before, howev#r, and had made stmie ad- 
vancement, consequently the first leaf, containing 
the alphabet, could be spared. This was torn 
out and carfully pasted on a paddle for Lewis' 
use. 

This was the only school held in the township 
for many years, and the attendance was accord- 
ingly very large at times. Among the families 
represented in the school may be mentioned the 
McFarlands, Evans, Richmonds, Norriscs, Jones, 
Corbits, Pinkertons, Powells, Dclongs, Shays and 
Lemons. It was noted for the number of grown- 
up young men who attended — great, strapping 



458 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



fellows, who weighed two hundred or two hun- 
dred and twenty-live jiounds. 

John Berwick was the first teacher. He was 
succeeded b.y Thomas Pinkerton, one of the early 
settlers of the township. Henry Belong was 
probably the next teacher. He was of Welsh 
birth, and had been a glass-blower at Wellsburg, 
Virginia, for a number of years before coming 
here. He possessed a fair education, and taught 
several terms. James Jones, another settler fol- 
lowed Belong. Though a strictly temperate man 
himself, one of the few who abstained entirely 
from the use of the popular beverage of the day, 
he could not avoid treating his scholars to the 
customary holiday allowance of two gallons of 
whisky. George Lemons and Thomas Campbell 
also taught here later. Until 1832, when the 
township was organized, there was probably but 
this one school within its limits. In that year, 
however, the trustees divided the township into 
three school districts; the first beginning at the 
southeast corner of the township and ending at 
Kobert Taylor's north line; the second begin- 
ning at Robert Taylor's north line and e.'stending 
to the north line of the township; the third com- 
prising the western half of the township, the mil- 
itary line being the division between the east and 
west. This division wonld indicate that the east- 
ern half of the township was more thickly set- 
tled at this time than the western half. Another 
district was soon after formed, and others as they 
became needed, until there were eight, the present 
number. 

The religious advantages of the earliest settlers 
were as scanty as the educational. Religious 
services were first held at irregular periods by 
itinerant preachers, who visited this region for 
this purpose, or hajiijened along by chance, as the 
case might be. The Methodists and Baptists were 
earliest in the field. Of the former denomina- 
tion, Jabob Meek was among the foremost to con- 
duct meetings, probably the first in the township. 
He was a farmer, living in Guernsey county, 
about six miles below Newcomerstown. He 
preached regularl_v once a month, either in the 
school-house or at Robert McFnrland's house, 
beginning about 1820. These meetings led to the 
formation of the Taylor Methodist church a few 



years later. Jacob Mills was another early itin- 
erant exhorter of this persuasion. He w;is a 
homeless bachelor from Virginia, who had no 
disposition for manual labor, but traveled from 
place to place, and gladly exchanged his religious 
services for board anfl lodgment. 

William Spencer, a worthy farmer, residing 
somewhere in the western part of the county, is 
said to have been the pioneer propagator of gos- 
pel truth in behalf of the Baptist church. He 
was holding meetings at the school-house as early 
as 182S, and succeeded in gathering about him a 
cluster of Baptists which formed the nucleus of the 
B.iptist congregation organized some years later. 

The Methodist Episcopal church has always 
been the most vigorous denomination in this 
township. Of the four congregations now exist- 
ing, three belong to this church. The oldest of 
these is the Taylor church, located in the south- 
eastern part of the township. It was organized 
about 1832. Meetings were held for several years 
at the houses of its members and at the school- 
house; then a hewed log church was built on the 
old Richard Taylor farm. Its early active mem- 
bers included the names of Richard Taylor, Wil- 
liam Currie, S. H. Loveless, Thomas Hayes and 
Robert McFarland. In time the building became 
very much dilapidated, many members were 
removed by death, and others ^vithdrew their 
membership and imited with other Methodist so- 
cieties which had in the meantime been estab- 
lished in various localities. These circumstances 
left the church in a very weak condition, and 
services were suspended for several years, then 
about ten years ago an efi'ort was made to resus- 
citate the languishing organization. Tiie present 
frame house of worship was erected on the site 
of the old church at an outlay of about $1,600, 
through the exertions of Ezekiel McFarland, 8. 
M. Dangherty, Elias Hinds, Alexander Loveless 
and others. The reorganization was efl'ected un- 
der the ministry of Rev. S. A. Thompson. Dur- 
ing the first year it was connected with the Port 
Washington circuit; it was then attached to the 
Bakersville circuit, to which it still belongs. Dur- 
ing the winter of 1877-78, under the pastorale of 
Rev. Philip KeLser, a revival was held which re- 
sulted in over forlv accessions to the church- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



459 



Previously the menibershiji h:id been very sniiiU, 
numbering not more than ten or twelve. It now 
amounts to about forty. A Sunday-school, at 
present .superintended by Isaco Dewitt, is held 
during the summer, with a membership of fifty 
or sixty. The cemetery adjoining this church is 
the resting place of many of the earliest settlers 
of the township. 

Wesley Chapel, another Methodist Episcopal 
church, is situated at Powell's Cross Roads, in 
the southwestern jiart of the townshiji. The 
building was erected in 18G0, at a cost of S2,0U0. 
It is a neat frame, thirty-two by forty-two feet 
in size. At the time of its construction. Rev. 
Benjamin Heskett was the pastor in charge. He 
conducted a revival about this time, which re- 
sulted in good to the congregation. He soon 
after enlisted in the service as captain of Com- 
pany C of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
and fell at the battle of Stone River. The society 
was formed about 1843. The greater part of its 
members had been connected with a congrega- 
tion at Evansburgand, when they deemed them- 
selves of sufficient strength, separated from it 
and organized Wesley Chapel. Among the lead- 
ing members, at the time, were James and John 
Powell, Thomas H. and Washington Powell, 
George, Isaac and Andrew Norman, John Son- 
dels and J. R. Davis. John Powell was the first 
cla-ss-leader. The meetings were held in the 
Powell school-house until the churdi \va.s built. 
The church was included in the Newcomerstown 
circuit, at first, but luis since been joined to that 
of Bakersville. The present class-leaders are 
Washington Powell and Thomas Hamilton. The 
Sunday-school is a department of Christian work 
which has been conducted since the organization 
of the church. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Bakersville 
was organized about 1845. The earliest meet- 
ings were held at the liouse of Thomas Hayes. 
.•\fter Bakersville was laid out, (he place of wor- 
ship was transferred to the meeting-house in the 
village, which had been built by Leonard Hawk. 
Services were held here for five or six years, 
when the first church was built The present 
church was built in 1874, dedicated February 7, 
.1875. Stephen Loveless and Thomas Hayes were 
among the early members. The membership is 



now about sixty. Rev. T.J. Roberts is the pastor. 
A Sabbath-school was organized cotemporane- 
ously with the church. It is now under the su- 
pervision of C. C. Hamilton, and is in a prosper- 
ous, healthj' condition. 

The Presbyterian church at Bakersville was 
organized April 2.3, 1833, by Rev. James Morrow, 
of New Philadelphia. Its first house of worship, 
a log church, stood on an elevated piece of 
ground one mile south of the village. The pres- 
ent neat, frame structure in Bakersville, was built 
in 1861. The old church cemetery, ne.ar the first 
church, is still used as the church burial ground. 
During almost its entire history, this church has 
been associated with the Linton town.ship church, 
having the same pastors, except in the case of 
Rev. John Moore, D. D. The early members were 
George Walters, John Walters, James Jones, Mrs. 
Catharine Rodney, Robert Lyons, William Shan- 
non, John Buck and Albert Pillows. The elders 
have been James Jones, George Walters, William 
Shannon, Robert Lyons, John Buck, David G. 
Miller, John Miller, William Hawk and Alexan- 
der Fenton. The last two constitute the present 
session. The number of communicants at this 
time is about fifty. The Sunday-school has been 
a living, active institution for many years. John 
Leach is its present superintendent. 

Several church organizations have formerly 
had an existence in the township, that are now 
numbered with the dead. Among them was 
Evans' Creek Regular Baptist church, which was 
organized in 1845, with about twenty members. 
Joseph Whitaker, Josiah Tipton, Robert Corbit, 
John Lewis, John Camp, James Randies, Mr. 
Bechtal, Simon Porter and Samuel Camp, were 
the prominent members. In ten 3'ears the mem- 
bership was about fifty. From that time the 
number begun to decrease, and in 1865 they 
ceased to be a church. They once had a house 
of worship, which was situated on Robert Corbit's 
place, but it, too, is gone. The ministers that 
furnished pastoral service to this church are as 
follows: R. R. Whitaker, J. G. Whitaker, A. W. 
Odor and J. W. Moreland. 

The Pinkerton Methodist Episcopal church 
stood in the northwest part of the township. It 
was a log building erected about 1836. The so- 



460 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



■ciety lasted only about ten years. Its prinoijial 
member.^ were the Pinkertons — William, John, 
James, Thomas and Matthew— Jacob Norman and 
Jacob Powell. 

A German Reform Church was organized at 
Bakersville very soon after the village was laid 
out. Its original membership was quite small, 
consisting of Philip Myser, Leonard Hawk, 
Peter Hawk, John Myser, Jacob Myser and per- 
haps a few others. For several years the society 
met in the building erected by Leonard Hawk 
for church purposes. It was then moved a mile 
or two north of the village into Tuscarawas 
county where it still exists. A Disciple congrega- 
tion also worshipped in Leonard Hawk's church 
during the same time the German Reform 
Church occupied it. They afterward held ser- 
vices for ten or twelve years in private residences, 
but finally becoming too weak numerically to 
maintain an organization they disbanded. Rev. 
Armstrong was one of its earliest preachers. 
Thomas Wert, the Dewitts, R. C. Chaplin, Mr. 
Shores and Nr. Carnahan were early members. 

A Weinbrenner organization, too, is numbered 
among the defunct religious societies of this 
township. It never attained to any considerable 
strength and lived but ten or twelve years, hav- 
ing been organized about 1836. Its principal 
members were Samuel Camp, Thomas Cordry, 
Vincent Dewitt and James Johnson. During 
pleasant weather services were often held in the 
forest groves, where the shouting proclivities of 
some of the members succeeded in attracting 
large audiences to their meetings. At other 
times the meeting were held at private houses, 
no church building ever having been erected. 
Revs. Beidler, Keller and Logue ministered to 
this congregation. 

Bakersville, the sole village of the township, 
containing several hundred inhabitants, has a 
very pretty location in the little valley of Evans 
creek, in the northeastern part of the township. 
It -nas laid out in the spring of 1848, by John 
Baker; Lane Baker surveying the plat. A vil- 
lage was apparently wanted in this neighborhood, 
for it grew rapidly at first. A solitary log cabin 
had previously occupied the village site, standing 
close to the place now occupied by Joseph Mi- 



zor's stable. The first building was erected by 
Leonard Hawk. It is still standing, occupied at 
present as a dwelling house by C. Smith. It was 
built for a church and was used in part for this 
purpose for several years. One end of the build- 
ing, however, was occupied by Leonard Hawk 
and Samuel Ferdic a.s a store-room, the first in 
the place. 

A select school was begun soon after the vil- 
lage was laid out, and continued two winters. 
It was held in a room rented for the purpose. 
Lewis Travus and James Dunlap were the teach- 
ers. A stone school-house w'as then erected, and 
the youth of the village instructed therein for 
seven or eight years, when the foundation sank 
a little and the building was adjudged unsafe. 
It was removed and the frame which now sub- 
serves the purposes of education placed in its 
stead. It contains two rooms, both of which are 
occupied. 

The first and only postoffice in the township 
was established at Bakersville, by the appointment 
of Stephen H. Loveless, postmaster, soon after 
the village was laid out. The appointment is 
now held by Dr. E. P. Steward. 

A summary of the present business is as fol- 
lows: Dry goods — John H. Loveless, C. C. Ham- 
ilton and Mizer Brothers. Joseph Ripple has a 
grocery. There are three blacksmith shops, two 
wagon shops, two cabinet and three shoe shops. 
A woolen factory has been in operation about six 
years. It was built by the Bakersville Woolen 
Mill Company, consisting of H. J. Stonebrook, 
John W. Peairs, James A. Mizer and Jacob Mil- 
ler Mr. Stonebrook now has entire possession 
of it. It is worked during the summer only, and 
produces a large quantity of woolen goods. A 
steam grist and saw mill is located here. It was 
erected si.x or eight years ago, and is owned by 
Levi Miller. The grist mill has three run of 
buhrs, is run steadily and does a good business 

Bakersville Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, 
No. 79, is the only lodge of this order now exist- 
ing in the county. It was organized December 
7, 1874, with twenty-two charter members. Its 
first officers were: Martin Kugler, Chancellor 
Commander; B. W. Chapman, Vice Chancellor 
Commander; A. A. Peairs, Prelate; A.B.Martin, 
Past Chancellor; Joseph Mizer, Master at Arms; 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



461 



J. H. Loveless, Master of Exchequer ; Levi Mil- 
ler, Master of Finance; J. H. Stonebrook, Keeper 
of Records and Seals. The present membership 
is twenty-four. At one time there were forty 
members, but removals have reduced the num- 
"ber. Only one death has occurred in the lodge 
since its organization, that of Martin Kugler. 

Bakersville Lodge of the Independent Order 
of Good Templars, No. 564, was organized Sep- 
tember 4, 1877, with twenty-seven charter mem- 
bers. Within one week of the date of organiza- 
tion 101 names were enrolled as members. Its 
first elected oflicers were as follows: A. A. Peairs, 
Worthy Chief; Mrs. Kate Chapman, Worthy 
Vice Chief; Levi Miller, Worthy Chaplain; Ed- 
ward Corbit, Past Worthy Chief; Isaac Carnahan, 
Secretary; E. P. Steward, Treasurer; J. Stone- 
brook, Financial Secretary ; D. L. C. Wood, Mar- 
shal; Allie Peairs, Deputy Mar.shal. The active 
membership now amounts to about fifty. 

Each of the above lodges has a hall on the sec- 
ond floor of the Stephen Hawk block. 



CHAPTER L. 



BEDFORD TOWNSHIP. 



Location— Organization— Name— Topography— Early Settlers 
—Indians— First Road— Schools— Mills— Distilleries — Can- 
nel Coal Oil Operations— Churches— West Bedford. 

BEDFORD tow-nship lies in the western part 
of the county. It is bounded on the north 
by Jefferson township, on the east by Jackson, on 
the south by Washington, and on the west by 
Perry, and consists of township 5 in the Sth range 
of the original survey. The northeastern quarter 
is a military section, which was surveyed into 
one hundred-acre lots, in 1808, by William Cut- 
bush; the remainder of the township is congress 
land, opened up for settlement by its survey into 
sections, in 1803, by Sila.s Bent, Jr. The township 
exceeds somewhat the requisite width of five 
miles, making the western tier of sections con- 
siderably larger than they should be. Some of 
the quarter sections here contain nearly 260 acres, 
instead of 160, and the fact led to some unsuccess- 
ful local litigation, in early days, by one or two 
settlers, against their adjacent, more fortunate 



neighbors wlio had secured "fat" quarters. The 
purpose of the suit was to compel a division of 
the surplus land. 

The land whicli forms this township was a por- 
tion of Newcastle township until 1825, at which 
time it was organized by act of commissioners 
into a separate township. The organization was 
completed by the election of townshij) officers at 
the house of Henry Haines. It is not known to 
a certainty who these officers were, as the records 
of the election are not known to exist, but Wil- 
liam McCoy, Herman Anderson and John JIc- 
Nabb are supposed to have been the first trus- 
tees, and Nathan Wright the first Justice of the 
peace. Richard Wood afterwards served the 
township in this latter capacity for an extended 
period of years. Jehu AVright, Michael Heaton 
and John Quigley, were other early "squires." 
The town.'^hip election continued to be held at 
Mr. Haines' residence for four or five years, and 
were subsequently transferred to West Bedford. 

The township received its name from a county 
in Pennsylvania, from which came quite a num- 
ber of the pioneer families. Bedford county fur- 
nished at least fifteen or eighteen early families 
in this township, perhaps many more, besides 
many others to surrounding townships. The 
first settler from there doubtless sent back to the 
friends he had left in the East, a glowing account 
of his western homo and thereby induced others 
to emigrate, the favorable reports of these in 
turn bringing others. A similar emigration was 
instituted years afterwards from this township 
into Hardin county, many of the early settlers 
moving there in their old age. The population 
of the township according to the late census is 
920 

The character of the surface is rolling through- 
out, generally rouglily rolling. The headwaters 
of Mohawk and Simmons' runs are i)ear the 
middle of the town.ship, east and west. South of 
this the water flows in a southerly direction in 
several small streams, the most noticeable of 
which is Wakatomica run. Poplar, chestnut, 
black walnut, hickory and red oak, besides other 
varieties, were the trees composing the dense for- 
ests that held continuous possession of the soil 
seventy-five years ago. Coal in the eastern half 
of the township is abundant; scarcely any is 



462 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



found in the western part. In the east the soil is 
sandy and black loam in places; in the west, 
where much limestone is found, it is a loam with 
clay subsoil. There is very little surface rock to 
be seen. On John Noland's place is a single ex- 
ception. Standing Rock, as it is called, about 
fifteen or eighteen feet high and twenty feet in 
length by ten in width, is rendered doubly con- 
spicuous by the absence of other exposures in the 
vicinity. 

Richard Shelton is regarded as the primitive 
white settler of the township. He came about 
1808, and settled on lot 25 of the military section. 
He was of a roving nature, possessing in a greater 
degree the characteristics of a hunter than of a 
farmer. 

Next in the long line of pioneers was Ezra 
Horton. He was from the Cumberland valley in 
Maryland, and settled in the southwest quarter 
of section 6 about 1809 or 1810, where he remained 
till his death. His wife, Jemima, was noted in 
pioneer circles for her skill in performing the 
duties of a physician. Two of his sons, Thomas 
and David, were engaged in the second American 
struggle for liberty in 1812. Thomas, at the first 
call to arms, enlisted in Captain Meredith's com- 
pany, and served in the vicinity of Mansfield. 
David participated in a more active campaign at 
Fort Meigs, on the Maumee river. 

Henry Haines was the next settler. He left 
his eastern home in Bedford county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1810, for the West, reaching Licking 
county in the fall of that year, expecting to con- 
tinue on to Franklin county, but discouraging 
reports induced him to stop. He was informed 
that Zanesville, some sixty miles distant from his 
prospective home, would be the nearest point at 
which to obtain salt and get his grinding done ; 
also that the proposed location was unhealthy. 
This piece of news prevailed with him, and he 
resolved to settle closer to Zanesville. He wsis 
directed by a Mr. Wolford to this township. Li 
the spring of 1811 he moved here, entering the 
northwest quarter of section 18. For six months 
he lived in a three-sided cabin, the one end being 
entirely open, but by fall he had a substantial 
log cabin ready for occupation. He brought 
with him six cows, and made a large amount of 



butter. Few of the settlers who soon after 
located here were fortunate enough to own a 
cow, and butter, with them, was quite a luxury. 
Mr. Haines availed himself of every opportunity 
to exchange this product of the dairj- for a pig. 
In the course of several j'ears he had a large 
drove of hogs and a fine herd of cattle, which 
had been raised with trifling cost. These he 
drove to Zanesville in several lots, and sold them 
at a fair figure. With the proceeds of these 
sales he paid for his quarter section. He reared 
a family of eight children, and died in 1863, at 
the age of eighty-one years. His brother John 
came with him, and settled the northwest quarter 
of section 14. 

In the fall of 1811 John Wolford appeared, 
settling in the southwest quarter of section 14. 
He had entered it some time prior to his imi- 
gration ; was originally from Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, but had been living a while in 
Belmont county. He afterwards moved to Han- 
cock coimty, and there engaged in milling till 
he died. 

About the same time Elias James from Bed- 
ford county, Penns)'lvania, settled on the north- 
west quarter of section 16. This quarter had 
been entered by a German named Grimm, 
who, at the first indication of approaching In- 
dian warfare, sold it for a trifle to Mr. James and 
vamosed to a more congenial clime in the East. 
Information is had that Mr. Grimm afterward 
settled in Keene township and rose to the dignity 
of an associate judge. 

John McKearns from Bedford county, about 
1812, settled in the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 24. He died in the spring of 1815 of 
"cold plague" as did also his wife and a sister. 
Aaron now lives just across the line in Washing 
ton township. 

Solomon Tipton, formerly horn Wellsburg, 
Virginia, but directly from Belmont county, set- 
tled on the northwest quarter of section 15 prob- 
ably in 1812. He came in the spring and in 
the fall of the same year was drafted into the 
army and entered service. While in the army a 
sad calamity befell his family at home. The back 
wall of his chimney which had been built that sum- 
mer fell over upon two of his children, killing one 
of them and seriously injuring the other. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



463 



Nathan Wright came with his family from 
Bedford county to Perry township in June, 1814, 
and a few months later to the southwest quarter 
of section 25. His oldest son, John, who was 
married, accompanied him. Another son, Na- 
than, is still living in the township and is the old- 
est resident here. He was born February 9, 1798, 
being now in his eighty-fourth year. His mental 
vigor is unimpaired, and he is widely known and 
highly esteemed by all who enjoy his acquaint- 
ance. In his youth he was a deer slayer of note, 
and in his prime an active, intelligent and ener- 
getic citizen. Charles Cessna came with the 
Wrights from the same county. He settled in the 
northwest quarter of section 17, and after a resi- 
dence of perhaps fifteen years moved to Hardin 
county. 

About 1814, Samuel Dillam settled on the mili- 
tary section. He was a roving character, did not 
become a property owner here, and changed his 
place of habitation rcpeatedlj-. 

John Anderson had entered the southeast 
quarter of section 24, and built a little cabin upon 
it, in 1814, which he expected to occupy. He 
returned to Guernsey county, whence he came, 
for his famil)-, and died there, early in 1815, of 
cold plague. 

About 1815, a tide of emigration set in, which 
continued unabated for ten years, and before the 
expiration of that time, the land in the township 
had all been entered. Thomas Smith and his 
son Edward settled, about 1818, in the southeast 
quarter of section 11. Their nationality was 
Irish. Edward had been drafted into the British 
service, while still living on the Emerald Isle, 
and was sent, with the English forces, to Canada, 
near Sackett's Harbor. While he and a fellow- 
soldier were out on the river, in a little boat, 
fishing, they made a successful eflbrt to desert 
the Engli.sh lines. They drifted down the river as 
far as they could, without exciting suspicion, and 
when ordered to return, pulled lustily in the op- 
posite direction. The pickets opened fire upon 
them, and Smith's companion dropped flat in the 
bottom of the boat, to screen himself from the 
flying bullets, leaving his fellow deserter to row 
him out of danger. Smith brought the boat 
safely to the American lines, amid the huzzas of 
the soldiers who witnessed the escape. A 

18 



brother, who subsequently became a blacksmith, 
in Coshocton, and his father, Thomas, had in the 
meantime emigrated from Ireland to America. 
Edward joined them in the East and came, with 
his father to this place, where he remained all 
his life. Daniel, William and James McCurdy, 
three brothers, remotely from the "holy sod," and 
immediately from Jeflerson county, came in 
about 1816 or 1818, and settled in sections 19 
and 20. 

Edward McCoy, a little earlier, came from Bed- 
ford county, Pennsylvania, and settled in the 
southwest quarter of section 17. He died re- 
cently in Monroe township. His brother, Wil- 
liam JlcCoy, accompanied him here. Other early 
settlers, from the s.ame county, were Moses Wol- 
ford, occupying the northeast quarter of section 
24; William Richards, the southeast quarter of 
section 17; Jacob Rine, the southwest quarter of 
section 14; Henry Rine, the southeast quarter of 
section 25 ; Enoch Fry, the northwest quarter of 
section 25; Jacot Adams, Robert Elder, Samuel 
Rose, a fiimous bee-hunter, and Micajah Heaton, 
the northeast quarter of section 16. 

To vary the Bedford township monotony, John 
Hutchinson, originally an Irishman, about 1816, 
came from Wilmington, Delaware, and settled on 
the southwest quarter of section 11. John Mc- 
Nabb, a little earlier, emigrated from Belmont 
county to lot 6, military section; likewise George 
McNabb to the southwest quarter of section 15; 
M.artin Markle to lot 13, from Virginia. He re- 
moved to Illinois twenty-five or thirty years ago. 
Nathan Evans, from near Baltimore, Maryland, 
about 1818, located the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 3; Samuel Duncan, a brother to Matthew 
Duncan, of New Castle township, the southwest 
quarter of section 5. He here ran a little fulling 
machine. His death resulted from the kick of a 
horse. Bennett Browner moved to lot 21, mili- 
tary section, about 1816. He hailed from Vir- 
ginia, was a noted character, and years after 
moved to New Castle township, where he died. 
Joseph Parish came, in 1817, from Belmont 
county and entered the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 8. Hugh Barrett and his sons, John (mar- 
ried), Joseph and Richard, came about 1818 or 
1820, emigrants from Ireland, settling in the north- 
western part of the township. John Richardson, 



4G4 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



one of the floating population, lived a while, at 
an early day, on the military section, and after- 
wards went to Jefferson township. He was from 
Virginia. A son, Joseph, attained to considerable 
prominence subsequently in Eoscoe. Thomas 
Tipton, a brother to Solomon, in 1817, settled on 
the southeast quarter of section 5. 

Thomas Norris came to Ohio in 1813, with the 
expectation of settling in Coshocton county, hav- 
ing relatives on the Tuscarawas river, but his 
children were taken sick with the measles in 
Belmont county, and, once stopped, he remained 
there seven years. He rented a farm of about 
fifty acres, which was cleared and leased twenty 
acres of timber for six years, having the use of 
it during this period in return for the labor of 
clearing it. During his stay here, he accumulated 
means sufficient to enter the south half of section 
7, on which he settled in 1820. He died twenty- 
one years later, at the age of sixty six years. 
Stephen Donley came with hyn, entering the 
northeast quarter of section 6. Joseph Hughes 
came in the spring of 1821, from Belmont county, 
to the southeast quarter of section 6. David 
Lammey, his brother-in-law, owned seventy acres 
of this section, and came out a year or so earlier, 
building .it first a little cabin of saplings, without 
doors or windows, the only entrance being from 
the roof. 

No Indian village existed within the bounds of 
this township, though the savages frequently en- 
camped along the little streams here. Few set- 
tlers had arrived when the Indians deserted this 
part of the country, consequently there was little 
local communication here between the two races- 
One Indian, known as J. Cook, encamped for 
some time in the soutliwest quarter of section 22, 
now owned by Mrs. T. English, on the little 
branch of Wakatomica run, which flows through 
the place. He had a hopeful scion about fifteen 
years of age, whom he was endeavoring to train 
up in the way he should go, by sending him out 
in the woods every morning to shoot game. The 
lad formed the acquaintance of Henry Haines' 
sons, shortly after their arrival, and instead of 
scouring the wild forest paths in quest of noble 
game, as he should have done, he whiled away 
the lazy hours of the day at the cabin of his white 



neighbors, roasting potatoes, scraping turnips 
and getting a civilized meal occasionally. Oir his 
return home in the evening he would report 
"no game " to his waiting sire. J. Cook at length 
suspecting that his son was not as zealous in the 
pursuit of deer, as he should be, followed him 
one day, and found him as usual, playing with 
his white companions. He took him home witli 
him and very successfully applied corrective 
principles of some kind to the boy's wayward 
course, effectively curing his hankering after civ- 
ilized companionship, for he never returned. 

When Sir. Haines was about to put up his 
cabin in 1811, there were no settlers in the vicin- 
ity from whom to receive assistance. He went 
down to the neighborhood of Dresden to procure 
the services of several workmen, if possible, and 
found two men who willingly agreed to come, but 
complained a little of the distance they would 
have to walk. Mr. Haines jokingly advised thera 
to ride two of the ponies belonging to the occu- 
pants of an Indian village close by. Sure enough, 
the men appeared at Haines' door the next morn- 
ing mounted on two horses. They had not been 
here long, however, when two new arrivals put in 
their appearance — an Indian and his half-grown 
son— who had tracked their stolen horses hith- 
er. A jug of whisky mollified their wrath and 
induced them to stay all day. The Indian lad 
rendered some little assistance, but the noble red 
man devoted his attention exclusively to a full in- 
vestigation of the wliisky jug. As evening .ap- 
proached they bestrode their recovered steeds and 
silently wended their way homeward, leaving the 
men to follow the path afoot. 

Wolves were quite an annoyance to the set- 
tlers, particularly to those who owned sheep. 
These had to be kept in tight pons close to the 
cabin during the night, and even then were not 
always safe from the fangs of their old-time ene- 
mies. Squirrels, too, were quite a pest in de- 
stroying the corn and other products of the 
farm. A famous squirrel raid was organized in 
New Castle township, at a time when it comprised 
what are now Bedford, Pike, Perry and New Cas- 
tle townships. The township was divided equally 
into two parts, the settlers of each division vieing 
with each other in their efforts to exterminate 
the mischievous little animal. The hunt lasted 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



465 



three weeks, and during the time it is said more 
than twenty thousand squirrels were killed. 

Two salt licks existed near the township cen- 
ter, one on the northwest quarter of section 18, 
Levi Haines' place ; the other on the northwest 
quarter of .section 1.3, about a mile to the north. 
These were the favorite haunts of deer, generally 
at night. The venison-loving settler might se- 
crete himself in the neighboring thicket any 
evening and be tolerably sure of killing a deer if 
he possessed a little 2iatience. Deer have often 
been killed here at night when darkness shrouded 
them completely from view, the hunter being 
made aware of the game's presence by its tread, 
and knowing by experience the direction in 
which to shoot. 

The first road in the township was the one 
leading from Coshocton to Mt. Vernon. It was 
built in 1810 or earlier, and just grazed the north- 
eastern jiart of the township. The next was the 
one built from Dresden to the mouth of Owl 
creek, in New Castle township. It was made as 
far as the center of Washington township in 
1811, and in 1812 or 1813 completed. It was the 
road which passes through West Bedford north 
and south. 

About 1818 a school was taught in a deserted 
cabin on the northeast quarter of section 6. 
Another, about the same time, was held in an 
old cabin on the southwest quarter of section 18. 
It was taught by Thomas McBride, later of New- 
ark, and William McCoy. In 1824 one was 
taught in the cabin which Henry Haines had 
occupied, on the northwest quarter of section 
18. Mr. Haines bad moved into a new brick the 
year before. William McCoy, one of this town- 
ship's pioneer settlers, taught the first term of 
three months. The three " rs," reading, 'riting 
and 'rithmetic, were the only branches taught. 
The families that sent their children here in- 
cluded the Harrisons, Wolfords, Richards, Mc- 
Curdys, McCoys, and Cessnas. The next year 
another term of three months was taught by 
John Oxley.an individual who was crusty in man- 
ner and harsh in his treatment toward the 
scholars. The school was then abandoned. 
About 1820 a clumsy little log school-house was 
built in the nortfiwest quarter of section 2-5. 
Nathan Wright, Sr., was installed the first teacher. 



Richard Wood succeeded him the next year. 
About 1825 or 1826 a term was taught by John 
Oxley in a deserted loom-house belonging to 
Thomas Norris. The settlers then were obliged 
to manufacture their own clothing, or wear 
buckskin, and many of them chose the latter. 
Oxley afterwards moved to Perry, then Monroe, 
township, where he died. 

Milling facilities were important considera- 
tions with the pioneer settlers in selecting the 
spots for their future homes. In this township 
where the water power could not always be re- 
lied upon, the settlers made provision for getting 
along without it when it became necessary. 
Many of the settlers constructed rude, little hand 
mills, which they could resort to in an extremity 
to grind their corn. Draft horse mills also were 
not rare. One of these was built by Jarcd Par- 
ish and Ben. Nulen about 1825 in the northeast 
quarter of section 23, which was operated ten or 
twelve years. Ben. Nulen afterward built another 
in West Bedford but when he moved to Hardin 
county some years later it was abandoned. 

In the southwest quarter of section IS a grist 
mill was built about 1814 by John Wolford. An 
overshot water-wheel was used, and one set of 
buhrs was run. Mr. Wolford sold to Patrick Eng- 
lish who added a saw mill and afterward sold out 
to Isaac Dickerson The mill was operated till 
about 1865. 

About 1830 Henry Haines erected a saw mill 
on the quarter section adjoining this one on the 
north, on the same stream. Several years later 
he built a grist mill at the same site. Two races 
were constructed from the two forks of the run, 
one aliundred and twenty-five, the other seven- 
ty-five rods long. A large undershot wheel was 
emploj'ed in driving the machinerj'. One set of 
buhrs was connected with the mill, and about 
1850 it was abandoned; the saw mill had been 
taken away some years before. 

In the eastern part of lot 11, of the military 
section, three acres were sold for a mill site, and 
a saw mill erected upon it about 1835, bj' .Aaron 
Kane. He removed to Adams county, Illinois, 
and Harvey Doney came into possession of the 
mill, who subsequently moved to Greene county, 
Lidiana. The water-wheel was of Parker's pat- 
tern, and the saw was a sash-saw, as were also 



466 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



those in all other mills in this township, circular 
saws not yet having come into vogue. 

It is said that Joseph Parish erected a little dis- 
tillery, about 1818, in the northwestern part of 
the township, which remained in operation five 
■or six years. His boys were obliged to pack the 
rye on horses to a little mill on Mohawk run, in 
Jeflerson township, there being no mill closer. 

About 1828, Edward McCoy stiirted a distillery 
on his place, in the northwest quarter of section 
17. He had first built a carding mill, but after a 
few years abandoned this, attached a little pair of 
buhrs for grinding, and erected the distillery. 
His motive power was of a kind not usually found 
here. It consisted of a tramp-wheel, a large wheel 
perhaps thirty feet in diameter, set in an inclined 
position. Cattle were placed upon one side of the 
wheel, and their weight set it in motion. They 
were fastened so that they were unable to move 
along with the wheel, but had to tramp, tramp, 
up the side of the revolving wheel until the mash 
was ground in the mill, which was connected by 
machinery with the wheel. This distillery was 
operated about ten years. 

The next distillery was owned by William 
Richards, and erected several years later. He 
had no mill connected with the distillery, but had 
his grain ground at difJerent little mills around. 
After some ten years' operation, it, too, was aban- 
doned. 

About 1835, Moses Wolford became another 
manufacturer of distilled spirits and, not only 
was whisky made at these little distilleries, but 
also peach brandy, apple brandy, etc., Wolford's 
still was located on the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 24 and, after a period of four or five«years, 
it suspended operations. Probably the last still 
was smallest of all, quite an insignificant atlair, 
run for a few years, and owned b}' John JMetz, 
about thirty-five years ago, in the southern part 
of the township. 

From 1858 to 1860, and to some extent for a 
few years later, a large amount of capital was in- 
vested in coal oil manufactories in this and in 
JefTerson township. Beds of cannel coal, of the 
richest description, from which the oil was ex- 
tracted, lie in the hills in the northea«tern part 
of this and the southern part of Jcflerson town- 
ship. The vein is largest on Simmons' run, 



where it attains a thickness of six feet three 
inches, cannel coal, and three feet bituminous. 
The average thickness of the cannel is between 
three and four feet, with the bituminous in pro- 
portion. It is sporadic, however, liable to swell 
into a deep rich vein, or dwindle away into 
a worthless seam, in a very short distance. The 
bituminous lies over the cannel coal, and was 
little, mined, having no market. 

Previous to 1858, coal oil had been manufac- 
tured to a considerable extent in the east, and 
about that time extensive works were springing 
up in Newark, the manufacturers designing to 
ship the coal from the various mines to that jjlace, 
and there extract the oil. Colonel Metham, of 
Jefferson township, was probably the first person 
in this vicinity to enter the promising field of 
future wealth. He purchased a piece of land 
containing coal, in this township, with William 
Stanton, of Coshocton, as partner, and went to 
Newark to acquaint himself with the minutiae of 
the distilling process. He there met J. E. Holmes 
and found high excitement prevailing. The coal 
he was able to supply could be easily disposed of 
to the various speculators at a fair figure. He 
was the first to .suggest transferring the works to 
the coal fields, and thus save the freightage on 
the coal, Which was a considerable item of expense. 
The suggestion was acted upon, and a number of 
firms came with their works to the coal beds in 
this township. The coal beds were, as a rule, 
leased by the operators from the land owners. 
Three companies were located on the Metham 
and Stanton tract — Captain Stuart, of Steuben- 
ville, with two sets of works, one consisting of 
fourteen, the other of ten retorts; Forsythe & 
Brothers, of Pittsburgli, Pennsylvania, having 
thirty-two retorts, and a Mi-. Edwards, of Mus- 
kingum county, with six retorts. Wilcox & Osborn 
made heavy investments in the coal regions here, 
still owning about 650 acres of land. Judge Wil- 
cox, the senior member of the firm, is a banker 
in Painesville, Mr. Osborn a banker of Chicago. 
On their property Dr. Semple, of Steubenville, 
had a set of works, Sir. Carnahew, of Penn- 
sylvania, another, and Ezra Cornell, of New York, 
a third. Mr. Cornell superintended his works 
here in person. Some of thff companies not only 
distilled the crude oil here, but also, at least, par- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



467 



tially refined it. Others sent the oil to Newark, 
or elsewhere, to be refined. 

The retorts by which the oil was distilled were 
of various kinds, the most common pattern be- 
ing an upright, cast-iron retort, about nine feet 
high and four feet thick. It was filled with coal, 
made air-tight, a,nd heat was then applied on the 
outside. The vapors thus set free were conveyed 
through a worm and condensed. At first, two 
charges were run a day, but this was found to be 
too many, and the number was reduced to one. 
A ton of coal usually produced about forty gal- 
lons of crude oil, worth at first fifty cents per gal- 
lon, but tow.ard the end sold at a narrow margin 
at ten cents a gallon. Mixed with the crude 
lamp oil were lubricating oil, asphaltum and par- 
affine. These, in the early stages of the manufac- 
ture, were regarded and treated as waste pro- 
ducts ; afterward they were utilized, the lubri- 
cating oil first, then the asphaltum and paratfine. 
For a year or two after the war some of the 
works were operated solely for these latter com- 
pounds, the crude oil being relied upon, how- 
ever, to pay expenses. 

The works had scarcely become thorougly es- 
tablished when the petroleum oil wells in West- 
ern Pennsylvania, which developed rapidly and 
produced oil in immense quantities, furnished 
the burning fluid at a figure which made it 
utterly impossible for the manufacturers here to 
compete with them, and the business received its 
death blow. All the costly preparation for a per- 
manent business, by way of machinery, etc., be- 
came at once so much dead capital, completely 
valueless. It is estimated that 1300,000 were lost 
through these enterprises in the two townships. 
This was not felt to any great extent by the 
county, however, for the most of it was foreign 
capital. A few of the retorts were removed only 
a short time ago, but most of them were tiiken 
away during the war, and, it is said, cast into 
shells and used on various b.ittlefields in the late 
conflict. 

It is a noteworthy fact that most of those rich 
beds of coal are now owned by non residents of 
the county, and await only the construction of a 
railroad in the vicinity to be developed to the full- 
est extent. Tlie tract of about G-'O acres of land, sit- 
uated in the heart of this valuable field, owned by 



Wilcox & Osborn, has already been mentioned. 
IMuch of the coal has been purchased by foreign 
capitalists from parties who still own the land. 
One company of seven, consisting of Mr. Thomp- 
son (now deceased), formerly president of the 
Pennsylvania Central railroad, Thoma-s Scott, ex- 
president of the same road, Mr. Shaw, a vice 
president of this ro.ad, Judge R. C. Hurd, of 
Mount Vernon (now deceased). General G. A. 
Jones, of Mount Vernon, now receiver of the 
Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Delaware railroad, 
Samuel Israel, vice i)resident of the same, and 
Colonel P. Metham, now own about 800 acres of 
the coal in this and Jeflerson townships. 

The Dresden branch of the Cleveland, jMount 
Vernon and Columbus railroad, which was par- 
tially constructed in 1873, but then suspended 
operations by reason of the panic, passed through 
this region and would have oll'ered the desired 
outlet to a market had it been completed. The 
road entered the northeastern part of the town- 
ship from Jefferson, and passed up the narrow 
valley of Simmons' run, in a southwesterly direc- 
tion, for about three miles to " Tunnel Hill,'' on 
William Noland's farm, lot 3- of the military sec- 
tion. The comjiany was at work in this tunnel 
when it ceased operations, had it been com- 
pleted, the construction of the balance of the 
road to Dresden would have been comparatively 
easy, as the little valley of ^^'akatomica run could 
be followed the entire distance. 

Limestone abounds in the vicinity of the coal 
beds, and kidney iron ore has also been dis- 
covered. What extent of this iron ore a thor- 
ough investigation might reveal, awaits the future 
to determine. 

A Christian church, vulgarly known as the 
" New Light," was organized in 1823. The pioneer 
settlers, who attached themselves to the organi- 
zation at or closely following its inception, and 
grew to be leading lights in the body, included 
the names of Joseph Hartman and wife, Charles 
Cessna and family, Richard Mood and wife, Wil- 
liam Richards' family, Ira JIarsliall and John 
Haines. Services were held at private houses 
during the infancy of the church, generally at 
Richard Mood's or Joseph Hartman's. It was 
customary also to hold protracted meetings in 



468 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the forest —'• God's first temples." In 1S40, a 
house of worship was erected a short distance 
north of the village of West Bedford, at an out- 
lay of the modest sum of 1300. It was a small 
frame, which still stands the ravages of time. 
Revs. James Mervin and Aishley were the first 
ministers. At a later date, came Revs. Andrew 
Hunger, Adolphus Bradfield, Jacob Hunger, 
William Webb and H. Harrah. In 1864, by 
reason of removals and deaths, the church was 
too feeble to support itself and became extinct. 
During its existence, a Sunday-school had been 
carried on with success and several refreshing 
seasons of great spiritual revival marked the his- 
tory of the church. Its membership at one time 
exceeded fifty. 

The Union Methodist Ejiiscopal church is lo- 
cated in the southern part of the township. It 
was long known as Smith's church, so called from 
one of its principal early members who lived in 
the vicinity of the building, but since his decease 
it has given way to the name mentioned above. 
The first church building, a hewed log afiiiir, was 
erected about 1832. Preaching had been held 
for many years prior in cabins, but, it is under- 
stood, the class was formed not long before the 
erection of the building. Harvey Willson was 
probably the first minister. The early members 
were George and James Smith, William McCoy, 
John Dickerson, Moses Wolford, Jonathan Phil- 
lips, Isaac Dikus, Martin Markleand the families 
of many of these. One of this number, William 
McCoy, built the first church. The present house 
of worship, a frame structure, was built about 
twenty-five years ago. The membership is now 
fifty or more, the minister in charge, A. McCul- 
lough. A Sunday-school is carried on during the 
summer. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in West Bed- 
ford was organized in 183S or 1840. It might 
properly be called a branch of the Union Meth 
odist church, just described, as a number of the 
early members of that society severed their mem- 
bership with it in order to org.anize this one. 
Colonel Roe was mainly instrumental in eflect- 
ing its organization. He was an ardent Method- 
ist and resided at West Bedford but was unable 
to walk to the Union church and, having no con- 



veyance of his own, could not be regular in his 
attendance upon services. 

The society was organized in his log cabin, 
which stood on the lot now occupied by the par- 
sonage. Revs. Kellogg and Joseph Brown were 
on the circuit at that time. The circuit was 
larger than at present, embracing New Castle, 
East Union, Mohawk Village, West Carlisle, Ros- 
coe, Dresden, and perhaps other appointments. 
Other early preachers were Revs. Barker, Blan- 
field, Henry, Whiteman, John McNabb and Wil- 
liam Boggs. William Jones and William Smith 
were the two first class-leaders. Besides these, 
other original members were Mr. Smith's wife, 
Nanc}- (the only original member now connected 
with the church), and his daughter, Mary Ann; 
Mr. Jones' wife Rachel and daughter Susan; 
James Jones, his wife Susan and children ISIary 
Jane and Barrack ; Coe Roe and his wife Julia, 
and Mrs Ellen Renfrew. James Jones had four 
sons who subsequently became ministers of the 
gospel in this denomination, Thomas, Barrack, 
William and Samuel. The second, one of the 
original members, was at the time of the church's 
organization a lad of but ten years of age. Meet- 
ings for a year or two were held in private houses 
on week days, then in 1841, the church was built 
and services held in it on Sundays. The church 
lot was donated by Mrs. Ellen Renfrew. The 
building is a large frame, with a seating capacity 
of about 500, built by George Conn. It was re- 
paired and refurnished several years ago, and, 
notwithstanding its age, still presents a good ap- 
pearance, though the members are at present dis- 
cussing the propriety of erecting a new structure. 
The year the church was built was a noted one 
in the history of the church. A revival that year 
resulted in 500 accessions to the different churches 
in this circuit. During another revival in the 
West Bedford church, several years ago, about 
140 conversions were made. The present mem- 
bership ranges about ninety or 100. Rev. A. Mc- 
Cullough is the pastor. 

West Bedford was laid out September 13,1817, 
by Micajah Heaton. For a long time it was 
known only as Heaton's Town, then its proper 
name came into use. It lies in the southwestern 
part of the township, on the northeast quarter of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



469 



section 16. Mr. Heaton was from Bedford coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, and settled on this quarter-sec- 
tion about a year previous to the laying out of the 
village. His cabin was situated upon the corner 
where James James' residence now is. He kept 
a tavern here for a few years. The travel 
through the town was scanty, and the proprietor 
relied mainly upon the sale of whisky for the in- 
•come of the house. He also received the appoint- 
ment as postmaster, and thereby drew considera- 
ble custom U> his bar. Thomas McBride after- 
ward became postmaster and retained the office 
for an extended term of years. In order to pro- 
mote the growth of the village, the proprietor 
oflTered a town lot to the person who would erect 
the first house in the village. Enoch Fry and 
Samuel Waters competed for the prize, but it is 
iniknown which of tlie two was successful. Lem- 
uel Holmes was the first store keeper. He had 
been a merchant in Baltimore, but had met with 
business reverses and came West about 1818 or 
1819, with his aged father, to retrieve, if possible, 
his broken fortunes. He had but a small stock 
of goods and did not remain here long. He pur- 
chased a farm near Mount Vernon and removed 
to it. William Renfrew and Robert Hay suc- 
ceeded Mr. Holmes in the mercantile business of 
the place. Their store occupied the site of Mr. 
Heaton's cabin. Mr. Renfrew remained in busi- 
ness here quite a number of years, and became a 
prominent and influential man in the extended 
circle in which he moved. When he retired 
from business, he removed to a farm in the east- 
ern part of the township, antl there, undisturbed 
by business cares, spent his remaining years 
amidst the quiet and repose of rural lite. 

\Miile he was still in business, James McFar- 
land, an Irishman, opened a second store. He 
came . here with only $400, rented a little log 
house, stocked it with goods, and also lived in it. 
He remained identified with the village many 
years, and acquired a large fortune through his 
business relations. He removed to Vermillion 
county, Illinois. An important character in the 
village's early days, was William Lynch, the hat- 
ter, who fashioned and furnished all kinds of 
head-ware for his pioneer customers hereabouts. 
Jabcz Heaton, a brother to Micajah, was the first 
blacksmith, opening his shop about 1820. He 



was followed by James Roney, an attentive and 
industrious mechanic, who worked at the trade 
here for many yesrs. In 1820, Isaac Heaton, 
another brother to Micajah, was running a little 
tanner}-. It afterwards passed into the hands of 
John Quigley, who sold it to Thomas McBride 
and William Renfrew. It ceased to exist some 
twenty-five years ago. Another tannery was 
started about 1842, by Pliilip Kemicdy. Patrick 
Thompson operated it awhile, and Thomas Jones 
then iHirchascd it. Several years later he allowed 
it to go down. 

In the past, considerable manufacturing was 
carried on in the village. About 1.840, a thresh- 
ing machine manufactory was started b_v Is;\ac 
and Thomas Lewis and William Lukens. Four 
years later, Dr. E. M. Lewis, who had hud charge 
of the shops for the firm, bought it and in turn 
sold it to John Shields, who gradually discontin- 
ued the business. Patrick Thompson and James 
Roney, about 1851, started a shop of a similar 
kind, but after three years experience quit the 
business. Thompson and Shields have built a 
limited number of windmills here, in years gone 
by. About 1862, John Shields began making re- 
volving hay rakes, and is still engaged in the 
manufacture; about fifty were made the first 
season, but the number has since been reduced. 

In 1858 George Moore erected a large steam 
saw and grist mill just west of the village. The 
saw mill was first set and the material for the 
structure sawed. After the building was finished 
he removed the saw and used the building as a 
grist mill only. In 1863 Patrick Thompson pur- 
chased the property, replaced the sawing appara- 
tus and has carried on both ever since. In former 
times the mill was kept constantly running but 
not so much business is done now. 

The first school in the village was held about 
1822 in a little log cabin which stood near the 
present residence of Mrs. Sarah Movel. Edward 
McCoy, an easy, good-natured man, was the first 
teacher. His pupils were John, Daniel and 
Henry Haines, Owen Marshall, Elijah, Elisha 
and Joseph Musgrove, Absolom Wolf, Conner 
Crawford, Arthur and Robert McBride and Elias 
Norris. Schools continued to be held in the vil- 
lage with tolerable regularity from that day to 



470 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the present, at first not longer than three months 
in a year. About 1846 the West Bedford acad- 
emy was organized, and for many years was one 
of the leadhig institutions of the place. The 
building was erected by a stock company con- 
sisting of James Jones, James and Matthew Mc- 
Farland, William Smith, Charles Barnes, Patrick 
Thompson and others. William Eenfrew do- 
nated the land. After a flattering career of four 
or five years the academy was destroyed by fire, 
but the scliool was transferred temporarily to the 
Methodist church and the energetic citizens pro- 
ceeded at once to erect another. . Its cost was 
about iii!l,200, a fund raised by stock subscription 
as before. Rev. William Grissell the Methodist 
minister at the time was the founder of the in- 
stitution. He was assisted in the instruction by 
two lady teachers from Oberlin The school in 
its day ranked high as a college preparatory de- 
partment. Tlie catalogue showed one hundred 
and ten stuilents in attendance at one session, a 
number of them from Coshocton and Roscoe. A 
bell capjied the building and a fine library circu- 
lated among the students. In the course of time 
the property passed into the hands of the school 
district, the directors buying the stock at a dis- 
count. The village school is still held in the 
building. It is a two-story frame, twenty-four 
feet by forty-eight, and contains three rooms 
only two of which are now used. About eighty- 
eight scholars are now enrolled. They are taught 
by Samuel Moore and W. R. Spencer. 

Wakatomiea Lodge, No. 108, of the Masonic 
Order, is located here. It was organized at West 
Carlisle, February 10, 1840, undername of Wash- 
ington Lodge. Afterward, it was removed to 
West Bedford. The lodge formerly owned a 
one-story frame hall, situated across the street 
from Jones' store, but, in 1875, it erected a third 
story to a building belonging to Patrick Thomp- 
son, and have since occupied it as a lodge room. 
The present oflicers are : Joseph Diekerson, Mas- 
ter; T. W. Thomson, Senior Warden; James 
White, Junior Warden ; John IMcKee, Secretary ; 
Frank Jones, Treasurer; T. W. Hehigle, Senior 
Deacon; INIartin Wolford, Junior Deacon; Frank 
Tredaway, Tyler. The membership is now forty- 



A lodge of Good Templars was located here 
once, but it has perished. 

The population of the village is one hundred 
and thirty-four. Although there have been three 
or four stoi'es here formerly at one time, at pres- 
ent Thomas Jones monopolizes the mercantile 
business. Several blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, 
and a cabinet shop complete the business. C. F. 
Moore is proprietor of the hotel. Two physicians 
are now in practice here, Drs. J. W. Heskett and 
William Litten. Former practitioners were Drs. 
Nelson, William Stanton, Roof, Wattel,Sinmions, 
Smith and Stockdale. 

Zeno was the quaint appellation which Abra- 
hanr Cheney bestowed upon a little town of his 
own creation, in 1833, situated on lot 11 of the 
military section. Its life was ephemeral. Few 
houses were built, these few soon removed, and 
the village plot vacated not many years after its 
formation, the reason whereof is veiled in obliv- 
ion as deep as the town itself. 

Tunnel Hill PostoflSce is situated about two 
miles east of West Bedford, on the Coshocton 
road. It was formed in 1873 by the ajipointment 
of T. W. Thompson postmaster. He still holds 
the position. The postofRce was secured through 
the influence of the railroad officials then en- 
gaged upon the construction of the tunnel a mile 
or so to the northeast. T. W. Thompson owns a 
store here, Leonard Haines a harness shop, and 
Samuel Diekerson a blacksmith shop. 



CHAPTER LL 

BETHLEHEJI TOWNSHIP. 

Name — Boundaries — Streams — Surface — Soil — ' ' Denman's 
Prairie "—Name of the Killtiuclc— Legend of tlie -Wliite 
Woman — Huutinj; Grounds — Mounds— Tlie Morrisoivs— Mrs. 
Kimberly and tlie Deer— Other Early Settlers— Squatters — 
Saw Mill — Bridges and Canal — Schools — Churches. 

BETHLEHEM township was organized in 
1826. The honor of naming it was given 
to William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, who 
was the oldest resident of the township at that 
time. It is liounded on the north by Clark town- 
ship, on the east by Keene, on the south by Jack- 
son and on the west by Jefferson. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



471 



It is watered by the Wallmnding river niul 
Killbuck creek. The WalhoniUiig enters the 
siHithern portion of the township from the west, 
and, pursuing a nearly easterly course, crosses 
tlie line into the southwestern corner of Keene 
townsliip. The Killbuck enters at the northwest 
from Clark township, and, just after crossing the 
line, bears to the west about a mile and touches 
Jefterson township in one or two places; it then 
seeks the Walhonding by a southeasterly course, 
reaching it almost a mile southeast of the town- 
ship center. The northeastern portion of the 
townshij) is drained by a little stream called 
Buckalew run, which enters Killbuck creek near 
its mouth. 

The valleys of the Walhonding and the Kill- 
buck give to the township more bottom lands 
than are found in any one of the surrounding 
townships. That of the Walhonding, having an 
average width of more than a mile, possesses a 
soil of unusual fertility. The valley of the Kill- 
buck, not quite so wide, contains a soil which is 
often a clay and very productive, though not 
equaling in this respect that of the Walhonding. 
The ridge land is mostly of a clayey and lime- 
stone nature, and is, consequently, of good qual- 
ity. Beyond the valleys the surface is rough ; the 
roughest, as well as large.st, section of it being 
found in the northeastern part, where there is no 
stream of any consequence. 

Timber of a heavy growth covered the town- 
ship at the coming of the first settlers, except in 
two localities. In the southeastern corner of the 
township, south of the river, and extending across 
the line a short distjince into Keene and Jacksim 
townships, was an open space of several hundred 
acres, known as Denman's prairie. The soil was 
rich and productive, bearing a luxuriant growth 
of tall, waving grass. The other exception was 
between, the Killbuck and Walhonding, near 
their junction, where there was a scope of several 
hundred acres, covered only with saplings and 
low underbrush. The place is still called the 
plains. The principal growths here were the 
scrub-oak, jack-oak, white-oak, hickory, cherry, 
walnut and wild plum. It has mostly been 
cleared since. About all that is left of this 
young growth is the little grove standing in 
front of the residence of Mr. John Hogle. The 



trees here have now attained a goodly size, being 
a foot in diameter, some of them. 

Killbuck creek received its name from that of 
a noted chief of the Delawares, whose town was 
located on this stream between Millersburg and 
Wooster. Concerning the origin of the name 
Walhonding, which in the Indian tongue signi- 
fies " the White Woman," there appear to be two 
accounts. Along the western banks of the river, 
in the southeastern part of the township, on the 
Denman farm, is a broken ledge of rocks invested 
with a romantic legend. The river here winds 
close to the base of a steep acclivity of ground 
from which, here and there, jut out clifis of .sand- 
stone rock lending an air of picturesque beauty 
to the scene. The tradition, current among the 
people in this vicinity, tells that a beautiful, 
young, virgin captive, loath to endure the indig- 
nities and barbarities of an Indian life, preferred 
stern death instead, and, breaking away from the 
hated camp adjacent, rushed madly towards the 
starm-swollen stream — the Indian braves in hot 
pursuit — and plunged from this overhanging 
rock into its seething waters beneath. Accord- 
ing to one account the cold waters closed over 
her forever, the Indians, on reaching the brink, 
beholding the bubbles of her expiring breath rise 
to the surface ; but from another version, she 
concealed herself beneath a iirojccting rock until 
the Indians abandoned the chase and returned to 
their camp, then cautiously stole away and es- 
caped. The poetic legend is traced back to the 
Carpenters, who came to Coshocton county in 
ISOl, and many people of the present generation, 
who live within knowing distance of the rock, 
give full credence to it and fondly tell to the 
passing stranger the story of the White Woman. 
The chronicles of the earliest white men, who 
saw the beauty of this valley, however, give a 
diilerent account of the origin of the river's 
name. Christopher Gist, a surveyor, in the in- 
terest of the Ohio Land Company visited " White 
Woman's creek " in 1751. In his journal of that 
date he says the white woman who gave the 
river her name was Mary Harris, the wife of an 
Indian chief who dwelt upon its banks. The le- 
gend of this woman is narrated in another chap- 
ter of this volume. 

The valley of the Wolhonding, as also that of 



472 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the Killbuck, before the advent of the pale face, 
was doubtless one of the happiest of the terres- 
trial happy hunting grounds of the untamed, 
forest^roving savage. A hundred years ago two 
villages of the Delawares were located in the 
valley; one three miles, the other ten miles, 
above Coshocton. 

In the forks of the Wolhonding and Killbuck 
was Custaloga's Town. Here was the residence 
doubtless of Mary Harris, after whom the river 
was probably named. Custaloga was a Delaware 
■chief, and the orator of his tribe. He, with 
twenty warriors representing his nation, was the 
first to surrender their prisoners to Colonel 
Bouquet. His speech at the treaty of Fort Pitt 
is full of noble sentiment and Indian eloquence. 

From the name of this town, it is probable 
that it was the residence of this distinguished 
speaker and chief. 

For years after the Indians left Coshocton 
county, wandering red men returned to visit the 
loved haunts of old. In 1822, and perhaps many 
years later, Indians from the Tuscarawas river 
came to the Killbuck during the summer season 
to trap and to hunt. Game of every description 
was abundant. The air at times was black with 
wild turkeys. Deer were often seen in herds of 
forty or fifty. Bears and wolves were numerovis. 
No place was more eagerly sought by the lover 
of the chase than the valleys of Betlilehem town- 
ship, and for many years the sport was enjoyed 
alike by the cabin-dwelling huntsman and his 
dusky neighbor of the forest wigwam. 

Upon John Hogle's farm, or, as it is better 
known, the east reserve of the Kathbone section, 
not far from the Wolhonding, is a large mound, 
having a height of perhaps fifteen feet and a very 
gradual slope. Another mound of a les.ser size 
stands on the Moftiit farm, a short distance north- 
west of the center of the township in the Kill- 
buck valley. These are th# only ones known to 
exist in the township. 

Bethlehem township is made up entirely of 
military land, consisting of four military sections, 
of 4,000 acres each. The first or northeast sec- 
tion was surveyed into forty one-hundred-acre 
lots, by the government, for the accommodation 
of revolutionary soldiers, or other individuals, 
•who held warrants for this number of acres. 



George Skinner, of Franklin county, Pennsyl- 
vania, was the original individual owner of the 
second or northwest section. The third or south- 
west section is known as the John Rathbone 
section. He obtained it in 1825, from Alexan- 
der 0. and Mary E. Spencer, and James C. and 
Sarah Norton, who, it seems, were the heirs of 
William Steele, the original grantee of the sec- 
tion, under patent dated March 20, 1800. Mat- 
thew Denman and William AVells were the pro- 
prietors of the southeast section. All these pro- 
prietors were non-residents. 

The first settlement in the county was made 
on Denman 's prairie, in the eastern part of this 
township, in the spring of ISOO, by Charles 
Williams, '\\'illiam jMorrison and Isaac and 
Henry Hoagland. These little open spaces of 
rich, productive soil, scattered spariftgly, like 
oases, in the unlimited expanse of timber growth, 
were eagerly seized upan by the earliest pioneers, 
and atlorded an excellent opportunity of raising 
the indispensable crop of corn until tillable fields 
could be wrought out of the native forests. Ebe- 
nezer Buckingham soon after, in 1800, settled at the 
mouth of Killbuck, remaining two years only. 
On Denman's prairie, as early as 1801, were 
also Samuel Morrison, Ira Kimberly, George Car- 
penter and James Craig. The wives of Wil- 
liams, the two Morrisons and of Kimberly were 
sisters of George Carpenter, and were noted for 
their physical strength and activity. 

For years previous to their emigration to Co- 
shocton county, they had lived with their father 
on the banks of the Ohio, in the midst of the fierce 
and prolonged Indian warfare which then was 
waged unremittingly along the border. Mr. and 
Mrs. Carpenter, while out in the fields at work 
once, in the Ohio valley, were suddenly surprised 
by a band of Indians. He was shot, and fell mo- 
tionless to the ground. Supposing him to be 
dead, the Indians left him and pursued Mrs. 
Carpenter, who sped fleetly in the direction of 
the fort which had been erected, and succeeded 
in reaching it in safety. Mr. Carpenter, who was 
not fatally wounded, recovered sufficiently to 
crawl away and conceal himself before the In- 
dians returned. He thus escaped the tomahawk 
and the scalping knife. Inured to emergencies 
demanding great endurance and physical action. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



473 



his children were raised to bear the brunts of a 
rugged and shifting pioneer hfe with ease. A 
httle incident which occurred on the Denman 
prairie, while these early settlers were encamped 
here, will illustrate the muscular pccver and hardi- 
hood of these pioneer women. Mrs. Sallie Kim- 
berly was visiting at the cabin of her brother-in- 
law, William Morrison, who at the time was suf- 
fering from some bodily ailment, and in conse- 
quence was unable to move about much. He 
saw a deer across the Walhonding, and, taking 
down his rifle, he shot it. Not being well enough 
to go across for the game himself, he asked one 
of the women to do so. Mrs. Kimberly consented 
to brhig over the deer. The river was deep in 
this place, and not fordable anywhere in the vi- 
cinity, but nothing daunted her. She sprang into 
the stream and swam easily across ; then securely 
tied her large neckerchief around the deer's neck 
and drew it to the water, and, holding one end of 
the cloth by her teeth, she swam over with the 
deer to the opposite shore. 

The Morrisons and the Carpenters afterward 
passed on up the Killbuck, becoming the earliest 
settlers of what is now Holmes county. Kim- 
berly moved two miles further up the valley, to 
the place where the bridge now crosses the river. 
It was long known as Kimberly's ford, afterward 
as Fry's ford. James Craig kept a little grocery 
close by, for a number of years, whisky being the 
chief article of trade; then removed to Coshocton, 
where he and his family died about 1814, of " cold 
plague." 

Isaac Hoagland came from Virginia to the 
Denman section, about the same time the Morri- 
sons did. He afterward moved up to Clark 
township, becoming one of the pioneer settlers. 

About 1806, Henry Carr, horn Hardy county, 
Virginia, settled on lot 11 of the southwest sec- 
tion, now owned by James Richardson. He here 
operated a little still for a few years, bsginning 
about 1810. The distilled spirits he disposed of 
mostly to his scattering neighbors, often exchang- 
ing it for the raw material — corn. One bushel of 
shelled corn was worth a gallon of whisky, and 
many of the settlers would send a bag of corn to 
Carr a.s regularly as they did to mill. 

John Bantum came in 180(3, from near Balti- 
more, Maryland, and settled on that part of the 



Rathbone section, afterwards known as the east 
reserve. He had served through the revolution. 
Joseph Burrell, a son of Benjamin Burrell, who 
was one of the earliest settlers of Keene town- 
ship, settled here early. He was from Frederick 
county, Maryland; died in August, 1874, at the 
age of eighty-four years. 

About 1808, Adam Markley came in from 
Maryland with a large family — eight sons and 
four daughters. John Jlarkley, who was killed 
at an election at Coshocton in 1816, by George 
Arnold, a noted rough from what is now Bethle- 
hem township — then forming a portion of Tusca- 
rawas township — was a member of this family. 
This murder was the first one committed in 
Coshocton county. John Biler accompanied the 
Markleys here. He died soon after his arrival. 
The names of other early settlers concerning 
whom little is now known are, Joseph Bradford, 
Joshua and Peter Woods, James Rich, Stephen 
Willis and Thomas Pool. 

Benjamin Fry was an early settler from Vir- 
ginia. His was a restless spirit, which led him to 
make frequent migrations. He run a little dis- 
tillery awhile, in the western part of the town- 
ship, then moved to Tuscarawas township in 1808, 
and two years later, to a place in Jackson town- 
ship, two miles below Coshocton, where he dis- 
tilled a short time. He next went to Jeflerson 
township, then back again to Bethlehem, settling 
at the site of the bridge. His habitation here 
gave the place the name of "Fry's Ford." Mr. 
Fry raised a large family and lived to an extreme 
old age. He was active and energetic in life, and 
apt to be strong in expression. When ninety-five 
years old, he declared with an oath that unless he 
got away from the Walhonding river, he couldn't 
live five years longer. He accordingly '■ pulled up 
stakes " and moved his entire family to Illinois, 
where he died the next year. 

Michael Hogle settled in the township in April, 
1814. He was born near Plattsburg, New York, 
but emigrated here from Vermont. He settled 
first on the Denman section, south of the river ; 
raised a f.amily of nineteen children, removed to 
Illinois in 184.5, and died there the following year. 
His son, John Hogle, still lives in this township; 
hiis long been a justice of the peace, and is well 
known as one of its best citizens. 



474 



HISTO-RY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



John Merrihew and David Ash came at the 
same time with Mr. Hogle. A little later Niles 
and Ebenezer Coleman came from New York. 
About 1830, these four settlers moved westward 
to Knox county. 

Albert Torrej', a New Englander, settled in the 
northern part of the township about 1814. He 
was a blacksmith by trade, and pursued this vo- 
cation here in connection with farming; said to 
be the first mechanic in Bethlehem township. 
George Shearer, Elijah Ncwcome and Matthew 
Boner , were also early settlers. Newcome settled 
near the center of tlie township, on the D. War- 
ing farm. He afterwards removed to Iroquois 
county, Illinois. 

William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, settled 
about a half a mile north of Newcome, on the 
place which in later years belonged to A. Fred- 
erick. Mr. Speaks was a Virginian, drank noth- 
ing stronger than wine, was well respected, quiet 
in his habits, a member of the Methodist church 
and died in the township at a good old age. 

James Willis, from Virginia, settled on the 
farm now occupied by John G. Frederick. He 
was a famous hunter and engaged more in hunt- 
ing than in tilling the soil. He killed five bears 
in one day. Samuel Ray and Andrew Wilson, 
two soldiers of the war of 1812, were early set- 
tlers. The former owned 500 acres south of the 
Killbuck, adjoining Jefl'erson township; the lat- 
ter, lot 39 of the northeast section. 

Samuel Clark, born in Ireland, emigrated to 
Virginia at the age of eighteen. He there mar- 
ried Rachel Clark, and came west to Coshocton 
county at an early day. He spent a number of 
years on the Miller .section, in Franklin town- 
ship, and about 1820 moved to the Denman tract, 
in tliis townshiji. He here became one of the 
township's most prominent citizens. He was a 
justice of the peace nearly all his active life, and 
was several times county commissioner. Two of 
his brothers, Archibald and Gabriel, and his 
father, Archibald, settled in the township about 
the same time. 

Somewhat later came Nathan Spencer, from 
Hardy county, Virginia. To "draw it mildly," 
he was a rough, rollicking, boisterous kind of a 
man, fond of cards, whisky, company and sport 
He had a frolic of some kind about once a week 



at his place, which was situated near the town- 
ship center— the Samuel Mof&t farm. He mar- 
ried a daughter of William Speaks, and termin- 
ated his career here by moving to Missouri. 

Many of the settlers who cleared the first fields 
in Bethlehem township, as on military lands else- 
where, were only squatters, possessing no right 
whatever to the soil they cultivated. When the 
land would belong to a capitalist he would often 
wish to retain it for years until it could be sold 
at a greatly enhanced price. There was little or no 
opportunity to lease it, and oceuiiancy by squat- 
ters was encouraged rather than forbidden, as the 
improvements that would be made on the place 
were advantageous to the proprietor. An instance 
of this kind of settlement was on the Kathbone 
section. Men began to settle here as early as 
1806, and a constant stream of emigration was 
flowing in from that time on, while very little if 
any of the land was sold before 1835. 

The survey of this section was made about 
1834. It was stirveyed into thirty lots, varying 
in size from 100 to 150 acres. These lots in- 
cluded all of the section except two tracts on the 
river, one of 192, the other of sixty-nine acres, 
reserved as mill sites. The western reserve in- 
cludes an island, in the Wolhonding, of nineteen 
acres in extent. These reserves were well se- 
lected for the construction of dams, but the 
building of the Wolhonding canal destroyed 
their value for this purpose, as excellent water 
power might be obtained at the locks of the canal 
at a comparatively trifling expense. 

Bethlehem township is distinctively a rui-al 
district. No village or hamlet exists on its soil, 
nor has the establishment of one ever been 
attempted. The various industries common in 
early days also have had a very meager represent- 
ation here. Shortly after the arrival of the 
earliest settlers, one or two little still-houses 
found lodgment in the township for a very lim- 
ited period. One saw mill embraced the extent 
of the milling interests. It was erected ' by 
Thomas H. Miller, near the mouth of the Kill- 
buck, about 1830, and worked a very few years. 
Perhaps the chief industry was the rafting of 
logs down the Killbuck. A great amount of this 
was done. The logs were usually poplar, oak, 
walnut or sycamore, and were rafted at first to 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



475 



Zanesville, afterwards to Roscoe and Coshocton. 

One bridge, located near the northwestern 
corner of the township, crosses the Killbuck. 
The only bridge across the Walhonding in Beth- 
lehem township is at " Fry's Ford." It was 
erected in 1SG8-9. John Sharke, of Newark, was 
the contractor for the masonry, which cost i&,- 
709. The superstructure, of wood, contracted for 
by John Hesket, cost $6,100. In early times a 
ferry was kept here by William Kimborly, John 
Kimherly and Thomas Clark successively. A 
large flat boat, of sufficient size to hold four 
horses and a loaded wagon, was used. 

The Walhonding canal passes through the 
township along the river valley. It enters from 
Jackson township on the south, crosses the river 
by a dam in the western part of the township, 
and continues up the northern side of the river 
into Jefl'erson township. It contains two locks 
in this township, one about a half mile above the 
dam, the other about the same distance below it. 

It is affirmed that a school was taught on the 
prairie up the Wallionding in 1802 or 1S03, 
but who the teacher was, and who there learned 
to read their A, B, C, it is impossible now to tell. 
What would we not give to be able to call back 
to memory the picture of that school. Yes, we 
should like to hand down to future ages, and im- 
mortalize the name of the first pedagogue of 
Coshocton county. What a tale might be told of 
school-boy feats, could we only bring the past in 
solemn review before us again. We have mpt 
with but a single individual" Mr. Alvah Bucking- 
ham, of Putnam, who recollects having attended 
this school. All recollection, except this simple 
fact, has faded from his mind. 

An early school was taught by Charles Elliott, 
who afterward became a famous Methodist min- 
ister, editor and president of the Wesleyan Uni- 
versity of Iowa The school was situated in the 
southeastern part of the township, Mr. Elliott re- 
siding at this time in Keene township. 

A school-house Wixs built about 1S'21, near the 
township center, close to the banks of Killbuck. 
Matthew Boner was the first teacher. With all 
his pedagogic arts, however, he could not pre- 
vent the most of his pupils giving greatest atten- 
tion to a pet deer, belonging to Martin Spencer, 
that would frequent the school yard. 

About the same time a cabin for school pur- 
poses was erected in the northern part of the 



township, about a half mile east of Archibald 
Clark's residence, near where the school-house 
now stands. It was built in regular primitive 
fa^^hion, rude, but substantial. "King" Cole and 
Walter Truat were among the first to rule over 
the " future presidents" who attended school 
here. 

A few years Later Michael Hoyle built a school- 
house, at his own expense, where school was kept 
for a number of years. Leander Hoyle and James 
Madden were among its first teachers. 

To the Methodist Episcopal church is due the 
earliest propagation of religious sentiment in this, 
as in nearly every other township in the county. 
In days when the country was sparsely settled, 
the merest nucleus for a religious organization 
could be found only here and there in the broad 
range of developing lands, yet they were fostered 
and nurtured with a self-sacrificing zeal that in- 
sured success from its very intensity. The local 
preachers know no rest, but were constantly in 
the saddle or the place of worship. Services were 
held on every day in the week, so numerous 
were the appointments that must be filled by one 
preacher. It was about 1820, that a class was 
formed in Bethlehem township. Its early mem- 
bers were Samuel Clark, Rachel his wife, and his 
daughter Nancy; Archibald Clark, his wife Susan 
and daughters Catherine and Jane; Mrs. Chris- 
tina Lowman and her daughters Mary and Han- 
nah; Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Meigs and Eleanor, 
his wife ; Mrs. Willis and William Speaks. The 
circuit of which this congregation formed a part 
extended from Millersburg to Dresden, and as 
far east as Evans' creek, near Newcomerstown. 
For a long time preaching was held on week 
days only. The society never became sufficiently 
strong to erect a house of worship, and services 
were held in dwellings and school-houses until 
about 1870, when the society united with the 
Warsaw congregation. 

The Mount Zion Methodist Protestant church 
is located in the northwestern part of the town- 
ship, on lanil donated to the society by John C. 
Frederick. The building, a hewed log weather- 
boarded structure, was erected about 1850. At 
that time John C. Frederick, George Parks, Abra- 



476 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ham Mowrey and William Clark, were the prin- 
cipal members. The church was organized sbout 
three years before, just over the line in Jeflerson 
township, and the early meetings were held in 
the Tabor Evangelical church of that township. 
Eevs. A. Robinson, William Holland, John Han- 

by, William Chandler, Lawson, William 

Baldwin, William Woodward, William Nicker- 
son, J. P. King, William Bradford and John ]Mur- 
phy have been pastors of the church. The pres- 
ent pastor is Rev. John Baker, who has charge 
also of the congregation at Big run, Monroe 
township, the Pleasant Valley church of Holmes 
county, and Prairie chapel of this township. The 
membership of Mount Zion is now quite small. 

The Bethlehem Evangelical or Albright church, 
is a religious organization composed of a few 
German settlers, most of whom live in Clark 
township. The building is situated witliin a few 
rods of the northern line, and within a few feet 
of the central line of the township running north 
and south. The society was formed about 1854, 
under the ministerial charge of Rev. Jacob Resch- 
ler ; the church, erected some four years later, 
has been undergoing repairs during the last win- 
ter. Revs. Henry Futheroe and John Smith, are 
the present pastors. The membership, through 
removals and deaths, has been reduced to four- 
teen. A Sabbath-school, organized in 1854 by 
John Gamersfelter, still the leading member of 
the church, is now in as feeble condition as the 
church. 

Prairie chapel is a Methodist Protestant church, 

situated in the southeastern part of the town- 
ship. The class was organized in 1861, with 
Zachariah Clark as leader. It owes its formation 
to Rev Samuel Frederick, who was at that time 
a mere lad and a member of the Mount Zion 
Methodist Protestant church, of this township. 
He conducted a series of revival meetings at the 
old school-house which stood on the site of 
Prairie chapel, and notwithstanding his extreme 
youth, the meetings were attended with great 
success. From the conversions which followed, 
the society was organized. Among the members 
who united with the church in its infancy, were 
Mrs. Elizabeth Baird, Zachariah and Susan Clark, 



Louisa Baird, George Baird, Mrs. Mina Boring, 
William and Dian IMaxwell, Isaac and Susan 
Fivecoats, George and Mary Thompson, and 
Daniel and Mary Benning. Eev. Frederick con- 
tinued to labor here four )-ears,and since his pas- 
torate the ministers have been as follow : John 
Baker and William Robinson, one year ; William 
Wilkerson, one year; W.L.Baldwin, six years; 
J. D. Murphy, one year ; William Bradford, one 
year; William Woodford, two years; Thomas 
Scott, one year; J. P. King, one year; John 
Baker, present incumbent. The membership is 
fifty-four. The church, a commodious frame, 
was dedicated August, 1877. It was erected at a 
cost of $1,272. A Sabbath-school, under the man- 
agement of James Slaughter, is in very flourish- 
ing condition. 



CHAPTER LII. 



CLARK TOWNSHIP. 



Location— Topographical Features— Organization —Name — 
Early Settlements —Indians — First Schools— Mills— Hel- 
mick—Bloomfield— Churches — Population. 

CLARK township is the middle one of the five 
northern townships, touching Holmes coun- 
ty on the north. Mill Creek township on the east, 
Bethlehem on the south, and Monroe on the west. 
Its surface is broken and hilly, except along the 
streams, where the alluvial deposits broaden into 
fertile valleys. The soil in the bottoms is usually 
a heavy clay, and sometimes of a gravelly con- 
stituency ; on the hills, it is in jilaces clayey, but 
generally sandy. The whole township was heavily 
timbered when first the settlers began to occupy 
its territory, and among the varieties of wood 
most abundant were red, white and black oak 
beech, sugar, chestnut, hickory and poplar. A 
vigorous growth of the last mentioned variety 
flourished on the hills, and large C[uantities of it 
were rafted down the Killbuck in early daj'S, to 
Roscoe and Zanesville. Wheat and corn are 
largely grown, and much of the hillside lands is 
devoted to pasturage. Killbuck creek, which per- 
petuates the name of a famous Indian chief, is the 
main stream that courses through the township. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



477 



It enters fnmi the north, flows circuitously about 
and crosses into Bethlehem township at a point 
almost dircetly south of its point of entrance. 
Three wooden bridges sjian its waters witliin the 
limits of the township. 

Its principal tributary is Doughty's fork, com- 
memorative of the name of another Indian 
brave well known to the first pioneers. He 
doubtless pitched his wigwam upon the banlcs of 
this stream ; but not here only, for Captain 
Doughty was familiarly known to the early set- 
tlers on Will's creek in Linton township, and 
also in Virginia township and elsewhere. The 
stream that bears his name enters the northeast- 
ern part of Clark township from Holmes county 
and unites with Killbuck a short distance west of 
the township center. Smaller streams than these 
are Big run and Hoagland's run, both western 
tribtitaries of Killbuck, and Buckalew run which 
enters Bethlehem township and flows into Kill- 
buck near its mouth. 

The northern half of the township consists of 
military land ; the southern half is congress 
land, which was surveyed into sections for settle- 
ment in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. Of the military 
portion, the western half or second section was 
survej-ed into forty 100-acre lots by William Cut- 
bush in 1808, and located by diflerent settlers in 
tracts of 100 acres or more. The northeast 
quarter of the township, or the first military 
section, a body of 4,000 acres, was granted by 
President John Adams to Jonathan Burrell, of 
New York City, by patent, dated March 2!», 1800. 
It was located for him by John Matthews, who 
received in compensation 284 acres from the 
northeast corner of the quarter. Li 1S07 Sir. 
Burrell disposed of the remainder of the section 
to Philip Itskin, of Baltimore, Maryland, who 
sold it in parcels to various persons. 

The township was organized with its present 
limits in 1829. At the coming of the first settlers 
it was a part of Mechanic township. The adjoin- 
ing township in Holmes county still bears this 
name. When Monroe towmship was formed, in 
1824, it became a portion of it, and when Bethle- 
hem was organized, in 1826, the southern part of 
what is now Clark was united to it. When this 
territory yet belonged to Mechanic township, the 
elections were held for a few years at the cabin 



of John Craig, near Bloomfield. The new town- 
ship of Clark, in 1829, was organized at the house 
of Peter Buckniaster. Only fifteen or twenty 
votes were cast. ]5enjamin Patterson was elected 
clerk, and William Craig justice of the peace. 
John Duncan was the second justice, and was suc- 
ceeded by Joel Glover, who served his township 
as '"squire" for twenty-one years. He was 
elected to his first term by a majority of one vote 
only. The township elections continued to be 
held at dwelling houses until the erection of the 
present township house, on the farm of Nicholas 
Mullet, some twenty years ago. 

The townshiji was named in honor of Samuel 
Clark, then a county commissioner, who was 
among the earliest and most highly esteemed cit- 
izens of the Killbuck valley, a resident, however, 
of Bethlehem township 

The first settlement in the township was made, 
probably, about 1815, though it is impossible to 
be exact, as the recollection of no one now in the 
township extends back beyond 1817 or 1818. 
IsiUic Hoagland was among the first arrivals, and 
probably was the first to settle permanently in 
what is now Clark. Has was also among the 
foremost pioneers of this county, coming in 1800, 
with Charles Williams, to " the prairies," in Beth- 
lehem township, and the next year occupying, 
with him, the first house built in Coshocton. He 
was a soldier in Captain Adam Johnson's com- 
pany, which did service on the frontier, in 1812. 
It is not know^n when he moved to this township. 
His farm near the Killbuck comprised the 
southwest quarter of section 16. Both he and 
his wife, a Carpenter, sister of Charles Williams' 
wife, died and were buried upon this place. They 
had a large family of children, some of whom 
died here, the others removing to the West, 
chiefly to Illinois. Mr. Hoagland is remembered 
as a genuine frontiersman, and wore the hunters 
garb up to the time of his death. Dressed in an 
old linsey hunting-shirt, belted around the waist, 
and fringed below, he spent much time in roam- 
ing the wilderness, in quest of game. In stature 
he was t;ill and, like most other settlers of that 
day, was unlearned in things pertaining to books. 

A settlement w\as formed very early in the 
northeastern part of the township. Arthtir Cun- 
ningham, of Virginia, settled a short distance 



478 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



from Bloomfield, on a 300-acre tract, and in ISIS, 
about twenty-five acres of it was cleared. He 
.sold it, however, about 1817, to William Austin, 
and removed elsewhere. Mr. Austin came from 
Chautauqua county, New York, with his only 
daughter, Lucy, a servant. Shurey Odlc, and a 
negress. Two sons remained in New York. Mr. 
Austin's sojourn here was brief, for he died in 
1819. In this year William McBride came from 
Virginia to the Austin farm, and remained there 
until 1824. He then removed to Warsaw, but the 
year following he was drowned in the Walhond- 
ing, at Fry's ford, while attempting to cross the 
river on a horse His widow survived him many 
years, terminating her earthly career at the house 
of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Buckalew, in Mon- 
roe township. 

John Craig settled on the location lot of the 
first section in 1818. He was born in Ireland, 
and emigrated to Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, from his native land when a youth of six- 
teen years. Thence he moved to Jefferson county, 
Ohio, and from that county here. A daughter, 
Mrs. Mary Dougal, had removed with her hus- 
band to Richland county. His son, William 
Craig, accompanied him to this township. They 
first built a house near the southeast corner of 
the township, but the next year, 1819, William 
erected a cabin for himself on the spot now occu- 
pied by the dwelling of Washington Lawrence, 
in Bloomfield. Both were engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. John Craig died in 1824; aged 
sixty-two years. William died August 17, 1853, 
having almost completed his seventieth year. 
John Craig served as justice of the peace from 
1819 to 1822, when this territory belonged to Me- 
chanic township. William, as stilted above, was 
the first justice of Clark township. His son 
Charles, also, has now for many years served the 
township in this capacity. 

Abraham Miller settled upon the southeast 
quarter of section 16 in 1818 or 1820. He was 
the son of George Miller, a pioneer of Lafayette 
township was originally from Virginia and had 
been a member of Captain Adam Johnson's com- 
pany in 1812. He was yet a young man when 
he came to this township and remained in it till 
his death. He had married a Miss McNeal, and 
his brother-in-law, Archibald McNeal, an Irish- 



man, moved to his farm and lived there with him 
the remainder of his life. 

Parker Buckalew came in about 1817 from 
Virginia, settling on the northwest quarter of 
section 25, where he remained the rest of his life, 
tilling the soil as an avocation, though spending 
much time in hunting, of which he was very fond. 
He was well respected by the community in 
which he lived, and upon his death was buried on 
the home farm. His children are still living in 
this vicinity. His brothers Samuel, James and 
John, afterward took up a residence in this town- 
ship. 

Eli Fox entered the township in 1820, locating 
in the eastern part of sectior^ 18. He was origi- 
nally from Hartford county, Connecticut, and 
came to Zanesville at an early day. By trade he 
was a ship-carpenter, and after his emigration to 
Ohio devoted much attentio.. to milling. He 
rented the mills of Mr. Dillon, at East Zanesville, 
and operated them for some years, then pur- 
chased property and lived a short time in Gran- 
ville township. Licking county. Not liking this 
country he returned to Zanesville and leased a 
piece of land near by. Soon after, he obtained 
the contract for building the first bridge across 
the Scioto, at Chillicothe. A little later he re- 
solved to seek a more unsettled neighborhood 
and erect a mill. With this purpose in view he 
came to this township in 1820. He brought with 
him Piatt Williamson, William Barl and a Mr. 
Brooks, to assist in its erection. The mill was 
built about one-fourth mile above Helmick. In a 
few years it was burned, but was replaced by an- 
other on the site of the present mill at Helmick. 
Mr. Fox boarded with Piatt Williamson the first 
year, and in 1821 removed his family from Zanes- 
ville to his new home. He spent the remainder 
of his life here, and hisdescendents still cultivate 
the soil of the old home place. 

Piatt Williamson was a native of New Jersey. 
In December, 1819, he emigrated to Zanesville, 
where he remained a year. He was a blacksmith, 
and followed this occupation in Zanesville. For 
one year after his arrival at Clark township, he 
remained in Mr. Fox's employ, performing the 
work connected with his trade necessary to the 
construction of the mill. He then bought SO 
acres of land from Mr. Kinney, and the next 



51 
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I 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



481 



year entered 80 more. From this time until his 
death he carried on his trade and farming to- 
gether. When a lad of seventeen, an apprentice 
in a blacksmith shop under an older brother, 
near Jersey City, he enlisted in the army during 
the war of 1812. His children are still residents 
of the township. 

William Barl was also a New Jersey man by 
birth and a resident of Zanesville prior to his re- 
moval hither. He lived on section 18 and hunted 
and trapped a great deal. After a few years' stay 
in this township he removed to the vicinity of 
Marietta. Brooks remained here but a short 
time and returned to Zanesville. 

Andrew Weather wax, a glass blower by trade, 
removed from Albany county, New York, to this 
township in 1821 and settled upon the southwest 
quarter of section 2.5, purchasing the land from 
James Buckalew. After his arrival he followed 
his trade a while in Zanesville, but devoted most 
of his time to farming. He died while visiting 
his sister in Bedford township in June, 1872, 
aged eighty-four years. His brothers Leonard 
and Adam settled here some ten or twelve years 
after his arrival. 

William Estap was another early settler. He 
came into this township from Holmes county, 
purchased and occupied ninety acres about a mile 
west of Bloomfield, then a tract of two hundred 
acres two miles south of this village. He after- 
ward removed to Monroe townshijj. 

Isaac Purdy, from Pennsylvania, settled upon 
lot 11, section 2, prior to 1822. He tilled the soil 
here the remainder of his life. Jacob Frazier 
was another settler, who was a tax payer on real 
estate in section 25 as early as 1822. He was a 
shoemaker and followed this calling in this vicin- 
ity for a few years in connection with farming. 
He removed subsequently to Muskingum county 
and there died. 

William Shepherd settled in section 24 proba- 
bly as early as 1820. He was from Virginia.and, 
unlike the other settlers who made this town- 
ship their home, came provided with bountiful 
means, driving a six-horse team and possessing a 
comfortable cash-box. But this proved a hin- 
derance rather than help to him in developing his 
backwoods home. He was not spurred by neces- 
sity to exertion, and having no settled taste for 
19 



hard work, he lived at ease until his available re- 
sources were exhausted, and then found that the 
sturdy blows of his neighbors had wrought a 
transformation in the value of their farms not 
discernable in his. A brother, Samuel, and a 
sister, Nancy, lived with him. He died in this 
township. 

Isivac Johnson settled on eighty acres in the 
southeast quarter of section 23 about 1827. His 
mother was a sister of Isaac Hoagland, and he 
was the brother of John and Henry Johnson, 
the two lads who daringly killed their Indian 
captors in Jefferson county and escaped unhurt. 
Mr. Johnson subsequently dwelt for a time in 
Bethlehem township, then emigrated to Indiana. 

George Lowman came to the southeast quarter 
of section 24 about 1825, from Maryland. A few 
years later he removed to Wabash, Indiana. 

Jonathan Maxon, Thomas Endsley, Benjamin 
White, Daniel Fulton and John Bise were other 
early settlers. Mr. Bise came in 1825 or 1826, 
settling upon the west half of the southeast 
quarter of section 23. In 1829 he sold this place 
to Joel Glover and removed to Muskingum 
county. 

Mr. Glover is one of the few pioneers who still 
survive. He was born in JefTerson county in 
1808 ; removed to Crawford county in 1826, and 
three years later to the place he now occupies. 
Wh.n he entered the township he moved into a 
deserted school-house, located on the place he had 
purchased. It was about fourteen by sixteen feet 
in size, built of split poplar logs, with a rude fire- 
place extending across one end of the room. In 
lieu of windows, a log had been removed from 
each side, to admit the light, and over this open 
space strips of oiled jiaper had been pasted. 

The usual wild animals prevailing in this State 
in pre-colonization times, were numerous in 
Clark township, and the earliest white arrivals 
had abundant opportunities to gratify that love 
of hunting which is common to backwoodsmen. 
Deer, bears and wolves, and occasionally- a "pain- 
ter," were the types of game the country aflbrded. 
Bill and Tom McNeal, sons of Archibald McNeal, 
on one occasion tracked a bear to a tall, hollow 
oak stub, in which it had taken refuge. The 
most feasible plan of obtaining the game was 



482 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



adopted; accordingly Bill clinied a hickory tree 
close by, and, having reached the proper height, 
crossed over and sat astride the hollow stub; his 
musket was handed him by Tom, who, at the 
foot of the tree, watched and waited, while Bill 
thrust the muzzle of his gun into the hollow 
tree and fired. The shot took effect, but only 
irritated the bear, and before Bill could realize 
his situation, the wounded bear was at the top of 
the tree. He had just time to drop his gun, seize 
a branch of the hickory tree and swing himself 
away from the bear's clutches. The bear hastily 
descended the tree and ran away. Tom shot and 
wounded bruin as he ran. The two young hunt- 
ers followed up their game for about a mile, 
and discovered the bear behind a log, plugging 
its wounds with hair. This time both discharged 
their gun.s simultaneously and the bear fell dead. 
No Indian village is known to have been lo- 
cated in the township, but hunting parties of the 
red-skins frequently encamped on the Killbuck 
and Doughty fork. An Indian camp, built of 
split logs, and having only three sides, stood in a 
bend, on the north side of Killbuck, in the north- 
east quarter of section 17. The fourth side was 
wholly open, and when the camp was occupied 
at night, a log fire must be built across the open 
side, to protect the sleeping inmates from prowl- 
ing animals. Tom Lyon was an Indian brave, 
who was wont to encamp on the banks of the 
Killbuck, with several other Indians. He was a 
tall, slim savage, and when irritated or intoxi- 
cated, taunted the white settlers who chanced to 
be within his hearing, by telling of the many 
pale-faces he had slain. He had taken ninety- 
nine scalps, he said, and wanted one more to 
make it an even hundred. Becoming enraged 
at Abram Miller, one day, he boasted that he 
had shot Miller's grand father, in Virginia. John 
Hoagland, a lad of fifteen years, the son of Isaac 
Hoagland, was so incensed at the idle boasts of 
the Indian, that it was with difficulty he was re- 
strained from shooting him. Lyon frequented 
his old haunts on the Killbuck, until about 1825, 
when lie bade them a final adieu, and started 
westward, in search of happier hunting grounds. 

Little can be said of the early schools in this 
region. The schools were few in number, held 



for terms of two or three months only in deserted 
cabins, or whatever buildings could be obtained 
for the purpose. The son of one of the earliest 
settlers relates that the "schooling" of his boy- 
hood was as follows : The first school he attended 
was taught in an old cabin on Abe Miller's farm 
bj' Alexander Young. It was two months in 
duration. The next was one held on what is now 
J. J. Gamersfelter's land, in the southern part of 
the township. Adam Clark was the teacher of 
this school. The third was taught at the same 
place as the first, by Leonard Hogle; then one 
just south of this on the Opdyke place, taught by 
Mary Bassett The fifth and last was on Piatt 
Williamson's place, and was presided over by 
Durius Snow, a venerable, itinerant preacher of 
Monroe township. These five terms of two or 
three months each scarcely amounting to one 
year in all, constituted the extent of his school 
privileges between the ages of eight and twenty- 
one years. The greater number of the neighbor- 
ing children were equally limited in educational 
advantages. Other schools had been held not so 
remote as to render attendance impossible, but 
the tuition of the subscription schools, small as it 
now appears, was an item of expense that could 
not well be allowed every year by the majority 
of the settlers. The text books usually employed 
were the spelling-book and the new testament. 
When the first was completed, the pupil must 
continue his spelling lessons in the testament, 
and half the book would be spelled sometimes 
before the pupil was able to read a verse correctly. 
One of the earliest schools in the township was 
taught just west of JBloomfield, about 1828, by 
George Elliott. 

The first, and for a long time the only, mill in 
the township was the one erected by Eli Fox. A 
saw-mill was first erected, and a little later a large 
grist-mill, containing one run of buhrs, afterward 
two. The buhrs were rude, rough stones, inca- 
pable of reducing the grist to impalpable fineness^ 
but they answered their purpose very well in 
those days. In 1829 the mill was burned. In a 
few years Mr Fox built a saw-mill about one- 
fourth of a mile farther down the stream, at Hel- 
mick, and some time after the grist-mill was re- 
built at the same place The mill was afterward 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



483 



operated by James Clark, Albert and G. W. Sew- 
ard, Absalom Petit and Benjamin Beck Mr. 
Beck is the present owner, and has owned it for 
about ten years He has rebuilt the saw-mill, 
constructed a new race, refitted the grist-mill, 
and is doing a good custom trade at present. Mr. 
Beck is also proprietor of a store located here. 
He is a resident of Holmes county, and the store 
is managed by Eugene Henderson. It was opened 
by Mr. Nelson, and by him transferred to Mr. 
Terrell. J. P. Henderson and William Jack were 
the next owners, and sold the property after a 
time to Mr. Robinson, W'ho disposed of it to Oli- 
ver and Saul Miller. Saul retired, and after a 
while it was purchased from Oliver Miller by the 
present owner. 

A postoffice designated Helmick is located at 
the store. It was named in honor of William 
Helmick, of Tu.scarawas county, formerly the 
•congressional representative of this district. It 
was through his influence that the office was ob- 
tained. Absalom Petit was the first postmaster. 
Since the store was started the appointment has 
been held by the merchants successively operat- 
ing here. A large amount of business is trans- 
acted at Helmick, much greater than the exter- 
nal appearance of thing,* would indicate. No 
village is situated near this point, it is readily ac- 
cessible from all directions, and the postoffice, 
mills and store supply the wants of most of the 
farmers within a radius of several miles. 

Two mills are at present located on Doughty's 
fork. One of these a combined saw and grist 
mill is situated a short distance below Bloom- 
field and is now owned by Michael Kaiser. A 
sawmill and a small "corn-cracker " were built 
on this site many years ago by Jacob Haviland. 
The property after a time came into the posses- 
sion of John Duncan, who refitted the saw mill 
and built a large carding mill. The woolen fac- 
tory remained in operation a number of years 
and was finally torn away to be replaced by a grist 
mill. Years later Benjamin Beck purcha.sed it, 
and several years ago he sold it to the present 
owner. 

About one and a half miles below this John 
Crosley built a saw mill and soon after a grist 
mill, containing one run of buhrs. A second pair 
•was afterward added. The building was a rugged 



and rough frame structure and the floor was 
bolted by hand. A large undershot water-wlieel 
furnished the power. Crosley sold to George 
Croy, who erected a new building. John Powers 
was the next owner and he made extensive im- 
provements in the machinery, purch ising and in- 
serting new buhrs and new bolts. Mr. Kaiser, the 
next possessor, carried on a little distillery in 
connection with it for a while, but this was soon 
abandoned and the mill also gradually suspended 
operations. It has been purchased by Ed. Buck- 
alew and only the saw mill is now running. 

On the southwest quarter of section 14 on 
Hoagland's run a little saw mill was built years 
ago by Leonard Weatherwax. His .son John next 
operated it and after him Williamson McLaugh- 
lin, the present owner, obtained it. It still does 
a limited amount of sawing but not so much as 
formerly, for steam jiortable mills have super- 
seded water mills here as elsewhere. 

Bloomfield is the only village in the township. 
It lies in the extreme northeastern corner. No 
village plat was laid out here, but the town has 
had a natural growth, beginning about forty 
years ago. The main street forms the line be- 
tween this and Holmes county, and some of the 
buildings are across the line in the other county. 
There are twenty-eight dwelling houses, mostly 
in this county. Some of them are handsome 
structures, and almost all are neat and tasty, indi- 
cating thrift and enterprise on the part of the in- 
habitants. Few, or none of the dilapidated struc- 
tures, usually met with in a country town, are to 
be seen here. Bloomfield is so situated as to be 
unaffected by railroads, there being none nearer 
than Millersburg, and is in possession of a whole- 
some country trade. The village contains two 
general stores, owned by A. J. Doak and J. J. 
Myser, the latter in Holmes county. A hardware 
and tin store was opened about a year ago, and 
now owned by Leslie Chase. Two steam .saw and 
planing mills do an extensive business. The one 
in Coshocton county, owned by Henry Reynolds, 
has been in operation about four years. That of 
John Conkle & Co., located on the Holmes county 
side, was started since. The three blacksmith 
shops of J. Luke & Brothers, W. D Doty and 
Isaac R. Thompson, are in this county. The 



484 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



first two manufacture carriages and wagons also. 
Two shoe shops and one harness shop are in 
Holmes county. 

The first buildings in this vicinity were the 
cabins of the Craigs, built over sixty years ago; 
then one was built in Holmes county by Aaron 
Purdy. James Kerr, about 1835, erected a cabin 
on the spot now occupied by Doak's new store- 
house. The first store was opened across the 
line about 1842, by Aaron Purdy, and afterwards 
kept by James Kerr. But it did not remain in 
operation long. Teachout & Towsley started the 
first store on this side about 1845, in James Kerr's 
house. Charles Poe, about 1846, built a house 
where Doak's old building stands, and commenced 
mercantile business there. He died soon after, 
and Patrick Foley, Robert Graham and the pres- 
ent merchant, have successively operated here in 
this line since. 

After Purdy and Kerr ceased merchandising 
on the Holmes county side, John Fisher kept 
a tavern in the building, for awhile. The first 
tavern had been opened years before, by Wil- 
liam Edgar. O. Williams is the present hotel 
proprietor of the village, the hotel being in 
Holmes county 

The first postoffice in diis neigborhood was 
Clark's, and William Craig was the first post- 
master. William Tidball then kept it, about a 
mile south of the village. Subsequent postmas- 
ters have been William Craig, Samuel Tidball 
and A. J. Doak. The original name, Clark's, is 
still retained. A daily mail is received, the 
office being on the Millersburg and Coshocton 
route. 

The two physician of the village have had an 
almost life-long residence here. Dr. J. Beach 
has been in continuous practice since 1849, and 
Dr. J. G. Carr since 1854. They were classmates 
while attending medical lectures at Cleveland, 
and Dr. Beach settled here at once, upon com- 
pleting his course. Dr. Carr practiced five years 
at East Union, prior to locating at Bloomfleld. 
Other former practitioners here were Drs. Smith, 
Caskey, Cowan and Barton. 

A cheese factory was started at Blnomfield, in 
18CG, by George Craig, William Renfrew, Solo- 
mon Snyder and Robert Graham. For three 
years it was carried on extensively; then Mr. 



Craig disposed of his interest, and tlie fac- 
tory was removed about a mile west of town, 
where the manufacture was continued a while 
longer. 

The village does not contain a school. The 
adjoining district schools in the two counties are 
each about a mile from town. During Rev. 
Duncan's pastorate of the Clark Presbyterian 
church, he held a " select school " in the village, 
the only school ever kept there. 

The Bloomfield Methodist Episcopal church 
was built during the summer of 1871, and dedica- 
ted January 14, 1872. Its cost was about $2,500. 
The congregation was not organized until after 
the erection of the building. Its members had 
previously been connected with Elliott's church, 
situated four miles north of Bloomfield. The 
original class was composed of twenty members, 
including Enos Casey and family, John Casey, Dr. 
J. G. Carr and wife, William Duncan and family, 
J. A. Evans and wife, and W. D. Doty and wife. 
Three other congregations are connected with 
this charge — Elliott's, Wolf Creek and Killbuck, 
all in Holmes county. Rev. A. E. Thomas was 
pastor 1870-72, and under his labors thirty-three 
were addetl to the Bloomfield church. Following 
him, the ministers in charge have been, Edward 
Bache (supply), one year; Stephen R. Clark, one 
year ; W. W. Smith, one year ; George E. Scott, 
one year; C. Craven, two years; M. L. Wilson, 
q_ne year, and J. Sanford, present incumbent, two 
years. The present church membership is about 
seventy. It was organized in March, 1872, with 
E. J. Pocock as superintendent. He was suc- 
ceeded by W. D. Doty, who resigned, and his un- 
expired term was filled by J. A. Evans, assistant 
superintendent. J. A. Doak was next elected, 
and is now serving his third year in this capacity. 
Since its organization, the school has not missed 
holding meeting a single Sunday. The enroll- 
ment of its membership is about 100. 

Near Bloomfield is the Clark Presbyterian 
church. It was organized March 22, 1834, by 
Rev. N. Conkling, with a membership of twelve, 
including George Watherwax and wife, Thomas 
Guthrie and wife, Nelly Kerr, John P. Kerr, Wil- 
liam Craig and wife and Robert Guthrie and 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



485 



wife. These had mostly emigrated from Western 
Pennsylvania. Before the congregation was or- 
ganized, occasional services had been held here 
by Kev. Conkling and others. For three years 
the services were held in the house or barn of 
William Craig. The first church building was 
erected in 1837 by George Weatherwax. Its cost 
was about $200. The site of the building, origin- 
ally donated, was deeded to trustees May 10, 184G, 
by William Craig and wife, in consideration of 
one dollar. In 1S67 a new edifice was erected on 
the same site. It is a good sized and neatly 
built frarne structure, erected by Jacob Miller, 
and costing $2,250. The ministers of the church 
have been: Nathaniel Conklihg, 1834-38; Revs. 
AVashburn, Turbit and George Gordon were sup- 
plies from 1838 to 1845; S. M. Templeton, 1845- 
47; Samuel Hanna, 1847-51; John M. Boggs, 
1851-56; R. AV. Marquis, 1857-72; A. S. Milhol- 
land, 1873-75; T. D. Duncan,- 1875-79; J. A. E. 
Simpson, April, 1880, present pastor. Before Rev. 
Marquis' pastorate, this congregation was con- 
nected with the Keene church; since then it has 
formed a separate charge. The elders of the 
church have been John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, 
Robert Huston, George Weatherwax, Thomas 
Shannon, William Weatherwax, George R. Alt- 
man, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. 
The last five compose the present session. The 
present membership of the church is about 150. 
A Sunday-school has been in successful opera- 
tion for more than forty years. It was formerly 
conducted only during the summer, but at pres- 
ent the whole year. The average attendance 
through the entire year is about forty. Albert 
Altmanhas recently been elected superintendent 
succeeding John T. Crawford, resigned, who had 
had charge of the school for about four years. 

Clark Township Regular Baptist Church, situ- 
ated near Helmick, was organized June 19. 1833, 
by T. G Jones and E. Otis, with eleven members. 
Shortly after the organization, the church licensed 
one of her members, Benjamin White, to preach, 
and in June, 1834, he was ordained as an elder, 
and called regularly to the pastorate, in which 
relation he continued about nine years. Of the 
early members may be mentioned Edward Mat- 
tox and wife, Benjamin White, Piatt William- 



son and wife, Jacob Mattox and wife, Sylvanus 
Haviland and wife, William Baldwin and wife, 
Collin Smith and wife, Mr. Moody, William Pugh 
and wife and William and Isaac Cross. The ear- 
liest services were conducted at the house of Ed- 
ward Mattox, until the church was erected, in 
about the year 1840. It stood about two miles 
northeast from Helmick, in section 12. It w^as a 
rough frame building, of medium size, erected 
with a small outlay of money. Immediately after 
this meeting house was built a .series of revival 
services were held with great success by the pas- 
tor and Rev. Elijah Freeman. They resulted in 
twenty-five or more accessions to the church. 
After Elder White closed his labors as pastor of 
the church, a division arose in the councils of the 
congregation, owing to the desire of some for a 
removal of the church location, and in a short 
time two branches separated from the church 
and held services elsewhere, one at Baldwin's 
school-house, some distance southeast from the 
church, and one at Piatt Williamson's. By re- 
movals these branches became too weak to main- 
tain separate organizations, and they were united 
as before, Elder White again becoming pastor of 
the church. The present house of worship was 
erected in 1868, on land donated for this purpose 
by Amos Fox. It was constructed by Isaac Wil- 
liamson, is thirty-four by forty-four feet in size, 
with a seating capacity of three or four hundred 
persons, and represents a cash outlay of about 
$1,300. The pastors in order have been B. White, 
Elder Ammerman, H. Sampson, J. W. Dunn, 8. 
W. Frederick and Howard Clark. The last men- 
tioned has been ministering to this people for the 
space of about three years. The estimated mem- 
bership of the church is thirty. 

The Sunday-school, held only during the sum- 
mers, has been an efficient aid in the church 
work almost from the organization of the society. 
It now has a membership of fifty, and is under 
the supervision of William Williamson. 

Two organizations of the Evangelical associa- 
tion belong to this township — Hopewell church 
and Salem church. The former is situated near 
the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of 
section 17. The society was organized about 
1863 in the school-house adjoining. A Methodist 



486 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



class, including some of its members, had been 
formed a few years before by Rev. Henry Law- 
son, and the failure to fill appointments for ser- 
vices produced its decline. The first meetings 
were held in the school-house. During an early 
revival, this becoming too limited to contain the 
the congregation, the services were transferred 
to the lower rooms in Johnson Williamson's 
house. Amongst the earliest members, were 
Jackson Miller and wife, Johnson Williamson 
and wife, William McLaughlin and wife, Lizzie 
and Rose Orney, Susan Mullet, Josiah Green, 
Peter Buckmaster and wife, and Nelson Bartlett 
and wife. In 18(39 the congregation erected a 
substantial and commodious frame house of wor- 
ship, at a cost of about $1,100. Jacob Rasselar 
and George Hossenflaug were the first ministers. 
Revs. H. T. Strouch, Shultz, Strome, William 
King, J. S. Hawks, W. H. Engle, C. Haldeman, 
John Duly, Elisha Pier, J. J. Conaghy, F. R. 
Tuthero, Otto Spreng, J. W. Smith and J. R. Rein- 
hart, have since served in this capacaty. The 
present membership is ninety-four. 

A Sundy-school is in constant and successful 
operation, under the present superintendency of 
Elisha Pier. It has a membership of about forty. 
Its organization dates contemporaneously with 
th.at of the church and soon after its formation ; 
under the m.anagement of John Smaile it at- 
tained an unrivaled degree of prosperity, its mem- 
bership at one time very closely approximating 100. 

Salem church is located on lot 8, of the second 
quarter, close to the northern line of the township, 
and its membership probably is as strong in the 
adjacent county as in this. It was organized as a 
German class, in 1862, with a membership of 
twenty-six, including John Dobbert and wife, H. 
Scheibe and wife, Gottfreid Soheibe and wife, 
Valentino Scheibe, Jacob Mullet and wife, Her- 
man Rodhe and wife, Fritz Grafe, Joseph Lint 
and wife, and Francis Schueberger and wife. 
Rev. William Pfeiffer was the first minister. The 
church belongs to the same circuit that includes 
Hopewell Church. The early meetings were held 
in an old log church, near the present church, 
formerly occupied by a United Brethren congre- 
gation, which for a few years maintiiined an or- 
ganization here. In 1871, the church building 



now in service was erected, at a cost of $1,000. It 
is a frame building, the dimensions of which are 
twenty-five by thirty-five feet. In 1876, an Eng- 
lish class was organized, and the two h.ave since 
been carried on separately. The German class 
cont;iins sixteen members at present; the Eng- 
lish class, fifty-five. The services are now usually 
conducted in English. 

A Sunday-school was started soon after the 
church was built, and has maintained a success- 
ful existence since, during the summer months. 
Michael Kaiser is its present superintendent. In 
membership it numbers seventy-three. 

A Disciple churdi stands close to the western 
line on lot .37 of the second section. It is a mod- 
est frame structure erected in the summer of 
1874 at a cost of $450 and dedicated December 
27 of the same year. Prior to this, services had 
been held for sometime in the adjoining school- 
house. Its early membership included the names 
of ^ohn Foster and wife, Jackson Stover and wife, 
Sarah McNeal, Catherine Foster, Nancy Smith, 
Ingabew Hughes, Mrs. Martha Buckalew and 
Mary Woolum. Rev. Urias Huffman was the 
founder of the church. He was succeeded in a 
ministerial capacity by Thomas Stewart, who had 
charge of the church for about two years, and 
was succeeded by his predecessor. During the 
last few months services have not been regularly 
conducted. The membership is quite small at 
this time. A Sunday-school was organized in the 
spring of 1875 and has been held every summer 
up to this date. 

The population of Clark township in 1830 wa& 
246; in 1840 it had reached 703; in 1850, 833; in 
1860 it had fallen to 796, but in 1870 it had in- 
creased to 867, and in 1880 still farther to 1012. 



CHAPTER LIII. 

CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP. 

Locatiou— Survey— Soil— Settlers — Population— First School — 
Industries — Churches — New Bedford — Chili. 

CRAWFORD township is situated in the north- 
eastern part of the county. It is bounded 
on the north by German township. Holmes 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



487 



county, on the east by Buck's township, Tuscara- 
was county, on the south by \^'hite Eyes, and on 
the west by Mill Creek township. The first, or 
northeast quarter, is a military section, which 
Wiis surveyed in forty 100-acre lots by A. Holmes, 
in 1818. The remainder of the township consists 
of congress laud, surveyed in 1803, by Ebenezer 
Buckingham. It was organized as a township in 
1828. The name is said to ha\^ been given in 
honor of Associate Judge Crawford, who held a 
considerable tract of land in it. 

The soil in the southern part is clayey, with 
limestone a.s the usual surface rock; towards the 
north it partiikes more of a sandy nature. Like 
the surrounding townships, the surface is one in- 
terminable range of hills e.xcept where the small 
streams course through its length. White Eyes 
creek, wliich rises near the northern line and 
flows southward, and its many little branches!, 
carry off the waters of its abundant, gushing 
springs. 

No one is known to have preceded Jacob !Miser 
in the permanent occupancy of this territory. 
He was tlie first of a group of Pennsylvania Ger- 
mans who came into the dreary wilderness that 
shrouded the hills, and by unflagging industry, 
converted it into pleasant hillside farms. Mr. 
Miser came about 1815, and settled upon the 
southwest quarter of section 22, where his son, 
Samuel, still lives, and remained there till he died. 
He at first could provide his family only with a 
rudely constructed camp, and afterward went 
eight miles for assistance in raising his first cabin. 
Philip Fensler, his father-in-law, had entered 
some land in the township previously, but did 
not remove to it till about a year after Miser 
came. He had served in the war of 1812, and 
owned a little property in Virginia. He disposed 
of this to advantage, and with the proceeds 
and his army wages, entered several quarters of 
land, among them the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 2:5, Upon which Chili is built. Mr. Fensler 
remained in the township till his decease. His 
son John continued on the place for some time, 
then went West. The Fenslers were accompa- 
nied or .speedily followed by several other fami- 
lies, all of whom located in the southern part of 
the township. William SuU settled on the south- 



west quarter of section 23; William Gotshall, who 
was directly from Harrison county, the southeast 
quarter of section 22, where he spent the remain- 
der of his life; his brother, George Gotshall, who 
afterward removed to Indiana, the northwest 
quarter of section 21 ; Jnhn Albert, tlie northwest 
quarter of section 22. He w;is from Pennsylva- 
nia, and subsequently removed to Adams town- 
ship, where his widow, now said to be a centena- 
rian, stillsurvives. Daniel S. Salsberry, originally 
from Pennsylvania, but immediately hailing from 
Jefferson county, came about 1817, to the south- 
east quarter of section IS. William Farver 
at this time owned the southeast quarter of section 
21, and not many years later, his son John occu- 
pied it. The veritable John Smith, too, ranked 
among the foremost settlers. His freehold con- 
sisted of the northeast quarter of section 23. 

From this time on the settlement of the town- 
ship was slow. As late as 18.35 there was still un- 
entered land. The rough character of the sur- 
face held out no enticing allurements of a life of 
ease, and those who located here did so expecting 
to endure innumerable discomforts and to reap 
no bounteous rewards for their toil. Other early 
settlers were Jacob Rinehart, John Gonser, Adam 
Miller, George Lower, Benjamin and Daniel 
Lower, Mr. Stomnii Mr. Shauwecker, and others. 
In 1828 David Everhart settled in the wilderness, 
on the southeast quarter of section 20. He was 
from Pennsylvania, and about 1820 or 1821 had 
come to White Eyes township, where he lived 
till he came here. His farm in this township he 
had received from Philip Fensler, a,s a compensa- 
tion for clearing forty acres of land in White 
Eyes township. 

Beginning about 1832, quite a number of set- 
tlers from Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
poured into this and the adjoining township in 
Tuscarawas county. Among them was William 
Doak. Very few of them are now living here. 
The Lorentzs, Himebaughs, Crawfords and Win- 
kleplecks were also old and well known families 
of this township. A little later a German popu- 
lation began to take possession of the soil, 
usually in small tracts, of forty or eighty acres 
each. The hills are now densely settled with 
this thrifty people, other nationalities having 
scarcely a representation in the township. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



In 1830 the population . was 442. From this 
date it increased rapidly, reaching 1,134 in ]s4n; 
ten years later the maximum point of popula- 
tion was reached, 1,552; an almost imperceptible 
decline reduced it to 1,-516 in 1860; in 1870 it had 
fallen to 1,245 ; during the last decade, however, 
this loss was partially recovered, and in 1880 the 
population was 1,431. 

Game w;is abundant among the hills for many 
years after the first .settlers arrived. Wolves in 
large packs prowled through the forests and 
made the raising of sheep an impossibility for a 
long time. The bears acquired a keen relish for 
pork, and frequently dined upon their favorite 
dish. In unison with their wild surroundings it 
was not uncommon for the pioneers to make pets 
of bear cubs, and they would even attempt some- 
times to domesticate the young of the panther, 
which was occasionally seen. In several instances 
did children narrowly escape death from attacks 
of these half-grown savage pets. 

A school was a novelty for a long time after the 
whites settled this township. The first one was 
taught about 1820, by Jacob Seidler, in a little 
cabin which stood in the woods where Chili now 
stands, just north of the bridge. It was the usual 
subscription school, and was only three months 
in duration. The Smiths, Misers, Sondals, Ra- 
venscrofts and others from this and Wliite Eyes 
township attended here. This one short term 
was all the school instruction that some of the 
aged fathers and mothers of to-daj' received, all 
they had an opportunity of receiving. For a 
number of years after, school was not again 
taught in this neighborhood, and then only at ir- 
regular periods. The teachers were usually little 
in advance of their pupils in point of knowledge, 
and consequently the progress of the latter was 
very slow. It is said that Joseph Townley was 
the first early efficient teacher in the township. 
He taught, about 1835, near the Lutheran church, 
just above Chili. 

John Smith built the first and only mill, on the 
northeast quarter of section 23. It was a little 
log structure at first, with one, afterward with 
two, run of buhrs, setin operation very early and 
continued many years. Mr. Gonser began the 



construction of a saw-mill near New Bedford, 
but the dam was swept away before it was fin- 
ished, and never was replaced. 

Distilleries were operated for a short time by 
Frank Lambrecht, John Bickle, Yost Miller, 
John Smith, John Gardner and Andrew Eich- 
meier. 

The religious sentiment of the people is em- 
bodied in five societies, four of which conduct 
services in the German language. Beside these, 
two others, one just across the line in Holmes 
county, the other, just over the line in White 
Eyes township, both German, possess considera- 
ble memberships from this township. Geograph- 
ically, two are in New Bedford, two in or near 
Chili, and one in the eastern part of the township. 
One is an English Lutheran, one a German 
Lutheran, one a United Brethren, one a German 
Reformed, and one an Evangelical Protestant 
church. Beside these, a United Brethren church 
(Germim), now defunct, formerly existed on the 
southeast quarter of section 12. The house of 
worship was erected about 1852. The society 
was formed by the separation of its original 
members from the adjoining German Reformed 
church and subsequent organization of a new 
body. Rev. Miller was the first minister. The 
membership was at no time very large. Among 
the early prominent members were Peter Len- 
hart, Peter Lower and John Miller. The earliest 
meetings were held in Mr. Lenhart's and Mr. 
Miller's barns, and, in fact, wherever room could 
be obtained. Regular services were suspended 
six or eight years ago, owing to the reduced 
membership. 

A short distance east of this, near the north- 
west corner of the southeast quarter of section 
11, stands the German Reform chuixh which was 
built in 1845 or 1846. It is a log building and is 
about to be replaced by a substantial frame struc- 
ture. Rev. Jacob Seidle was one of the earliest 
ministers, holding services in the school-house 
before the church was built. Rev. Zohner was 
the first preacher in the church building. The 
present pastor is Rev. Schodd. Jonathan Price, 
John Eichmeirer and Mr. Buser, were prominent 
members during its early days. At present the 
membership is small. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



489 



St. John's Evangelical Lutheran (German) 
church, located in New Bedford was organized in 
1854 by Rev. G. Doepken. He remained in charge 
of the congregation nineteen years, at the end of 
that time removing to Marietta. Rev. C. Lembke 
succeeded him and ministered unto this people 
two and a half years. Then, in 1876, Rev. O. Pri- 
wer obtained the pastorate and still has charge of 
the congregation, which now includes more than 
sixty families. A German Sunday-school is held 
during the summer. The meeting house is a 
commodious frame, which Wiis built in 1855. The 
church owes its existence to a dissension in the 
German Reform church, a short distance north- 
west of this in Holmes county, in consequence of 
which many members withdrew and became the 
founders of this society. The prominent early 
members were Frederick Schmalz, George Lebe- 
gul, Christian F. Baad, .\dam Baad, Gottlieb Rott- 
man, David Schlegle, Conrad Scheetz, George 
Gonser, Gottfried Baad, George J. Kleinknecht, 
Jacob Senunlar, Frederick and Jacob Lauten- 
schlager, Sebastian Trautwein, Jacob Brandle 
Gottlieb Ruesz and Joseph Rumbolt. The church 
is in connection with the Joint Synod of Ohio. 

From another distraction in the aforemen- 
tioned Holmes county German Reformed church 
sprang the United Brethren church of New 
Bedford. It was organized about 1848, by Rev. 
March, with a large membershp. George Smith, 
George Schultz and John P. Lower were included 
in the number. Revs. John Dilly and John 
Crone have been prominent pastors of this so- 
ciety. Rev. Schluser is the present pastor. The 
membership is small. The church building is 
a large, substantial frame, which was erected 
about 1848. A Sunday-school is held during the 
summer. 

The Evangelical Protestiint (German) church, 
near Chili, was organized in January, ISSO, with 
about fifteen families, among which were those 
of Henry Ehrich, Martin Sunkle, John and Ga- 
briel Lorenz, John Shcjemaker and Valentine 
Huprich. The membership has slighty increased 
since. Rev. Hafl'elc was the first and present 
pastor. The church, a large frame building, was 
erected in the fall of 1879, at a cost of over 



$1,200. The original members had formerly 
held allegiance to the German Reformed church, 
several miles east of Chili. A Sunday-school 
was organized several years ago in the Chili 
school-hou.se. From the start it has been under 
the management of Henry Ehrich, and now 
contains about fifty members. 

The remaining church at Chili is the Evangeli- 
cal English Lutheran ciuirch. It was organized 
in 18.32 by Rev. E. Greenwald, who was settled 
at New Philadelphia. He preached the first ser- 
mon November 12, 1832. Rev. J. B. Reck suc- 
ceeded him in 1835, but, after a few years, the 
care of the church again devolved (in 1838) on 
Mr. Greenwald. In 1840 Rev. E. C. Young took 
charge of the church, and in 1846 Rev. E. Mels- 
heimer, who died in 1849. In 1850 Rev. A. N. 
Bartholomew became pastor, and, in 1859, Rev. 
M. M. Bartholomew. Rev. S. S. Lawson took 
charge in 1862, and Rev. David Sparks in 1864. 
He remained several years and was succeeded 
by Rev. J. M Myers, who severed his connection 
with the church in 1878. After a vacancy of 
about a year, Rev. John Y. Marks, in May, 1879, 
was elected to the pastorate and is still the minis- 
ter. The elders have been Andrew Eichmier, 
Jacob Miser, Henry Grimm, John Smith, A. 
Winklepleck, William Stall, Frederick Everhart, 
Michael Grile, John Gardner, William Doak, 
Anthony Stall and Samuel Mi.scr; the deacons, 
Joseph Miser, George Winklepleck, Charles Gil- 
lespie, Frederick Everhart, George Ringer, Henry 
Everhart, Jesse Eichmier, Frederick Barrick, 
Thomas Christy, Peter Helmreich, Robert Doak, 
John Bowman, Israel Barrack and Henry Ren- 
ner. The number of communicants, in 1833, was 
sixteen; it is now about one hundred. Not long 
after the society was organized, a log church was 
erected on land donated by Philip Fensler. Then, 
in 1855 or 1856, the present frame structure was 
erected. It was repaired and enlarged in 1874, 
at a cost of over 1600. 

New Bedford is situated in the northwestern 
part of the northwest quarter of section 3, one 
corner of the town plat touching the Holmes 
county line. It consists of iifty-live lots, and was 
laid out in March, 1825, by John Gonser, while 



490 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the country around it was scarcely at all settled. 
Just over the line, in Holmes county, a little vil- 
lage had been laid out and named Wardsville, 
and New Bedford was launched into existence as 
its rival. In his laudable endeavors to found a 
village, Mr. Gonser was ably seconded by his 
three sons, Henry, David and Adam, each of 
whom erected a house for himself in the town 
plat. The Gonsers were from Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, hence the name of the village. It 
now contains a population of 134. Many of its 
buildings are newly erected, of ample propor- 
tions, and tine; appearance. 

The first merchandising was done by David 
Burget, who, about 1828, opened his little stock 
of goods in a building on lot 22, which is still 
standing, occupied by John Luke. He remained 
in business in this village until 1864, during 
which time he accumulated considerable proper- 
ty. He then removed to Cleveland, where he has 
since been leading a retired life. John Winkle- 
pleek was the second store-keeper, coming about 
ten years after Burget. He remained but a short 
time, removing to Chili. George Bell and David 
Gonser trathcked in succession for a short time 
each, and in 1846 Lewis Helman, a Jew, from 
Europe, brought a large stock of goods into town, 
and conducted an extensive and very profitable 
business for five or six yers. He then sold out 
to Levi Dectz, and is said to have returned to 
Europe. There have been two stores here ever 
since. George A. Rinner and Adam Long are 
the present proprietors of one. and. George Bow- 
man and G. F. Shauweker the proprietors of the 
other. 

The remaining business of the town is as fol- 
lows: One hardware store, Brown ifc Croft; three 
groceries, C. C. Hinkle, Jacob Roth and Tacob 
Welling; one jeweler shop, Noah Snyder; two 
wagon shop.s, Jacob & John Engle, and Gottlieb 
Swigert; one marble shop, Jacob Goetz; one 
dress maker. Miss Maggie Senft ; one milliner, 
Miss Samantha Luke ; one saddler shop, Samuel 
Snyder; two slioe shops, Adam Diefenbaugh and 
H. H. Geiger; two blacksmith shops, George 
Rosencopp, and Jacob Dreshcr and George Price. 

The lir.st public tavern was kept by Mr. Parnell, 
about 1.S2'^. Others, who have since acquired a 
name in this capacity, have been John Luke, 



John Bowman, Robert Nickerson, Mrs. Bowman, 
and J. E. Fleming. There are now two hotels: 
Commercial House, C. C. Hinkle, and JIansion 
House, S. S. Snyder. 

David Burget was the first postmaster. He 
filled the position tor a long continued term, and 
was succeeded by J. E. Fleming. A. Doak and 
Jackson Bowman successively followed, and the 
mail matter then passed into the hands of Henry 
H. Geiger, the present postmaster. A tri-weekly 
mail between West Lafayette and Millersburg, 
and another between Millersburgh and Philips- 
burgh, pass through this place. 

I. D. Luke is a practitioner of law, and Drs. F. 
G. Guittiird and S. P. Snyder the physicians. 
The former has had an uninterrupted residence 
here of about twenty-eight years ; the latter is a 
late accession. Dr. John Busby was an old and 
prominent physician of the place, having C. 
Steward associated with him in business for a 
whie. Other practitioners have remained in the 
village but a short time. 

The present school-house was erected in 1877, 
asa one-story builduig, containing only one room. 
Miss Samantha Luke was the first teacher therein. 
In the fall of 1880, a second story was added. The 
building now presents a very neat appearance, 
and is nicely fitted up with modern school furni- 
ture of the most approved pattern. Miss Eliza- 
beth Boyd and Miss Caroline Shauwecker were 
the teachers during the winter of 1880-81. 

New Bedford Lodge, No. 446, of the L O. 0. F., 
was instituted June 29, 1870. George C. Rinner, 
D. D. Funk, Peter Lenhart, Jacob Lenhart, C. G. 
Baad, Ferdinand Sedlemyer and Gottlieb Stein 
were the charter members. The oBicers at pres- 
ent are as follows: Jacob Engle, Noble Grand; 
Christian G. Baad, Vice Grand; F. J. Guittard, 
Treasurer; Noah Snyder, Recording Secretary; 
Benjamin M. Snyder, Permanent Secretary. 
In 1874, the lodge leased for fifty years the upper 
story of the building on the northwest corner of 
the square, and have there a nicely furnished 
hall. The present membership is twenty-seven. 

The village of Chili, located upon the south- 
east quarter of section 23, approaches within a 
few feet of the White Eyes township line. The 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



491 



" inner history " of its foundation is said to be as 
follows : James Evans had shortly before erected 
a saw mill in White Eyes township a short dis- 
tance below where Chili stands. Being an enter- 
prising kind of a man, he desired a market for 
the lumber which he was preparing, and urged 
upon Mr. Fensler, the owner of the adjoining 
quarter-section, the feasibility of laying out a 
town. Repeated argumentation at length pro- 
duced conviction in Mr. Fensler's mind that it 
was the proper thing to do, and he forthwith set 
about to lay out the town, much to the satisfac- 
tion of Mr Evans, dehghting in the prospective 
sale of his lumber. The plat was surveyed March 
7, 1834, by James Ravenseraft, and consisted of 
twenty-nine lots. To the surveyor was given the 
honor of naming the town. He called it Chili 
(universally called Chi-li hereabouts). David 
Zellers, a blacksmith, built the first house, and 
directly afterward his blacksmith shop. Willis 
Butler, from Tuscarawas county, was proprietor 
of the first store. His stay was short, and he re- 
turned to his former residence. Robert Porter 
succeeded him, and he in turn was soon super- 
seded by John Winklepleck, who was engaged 
in business here for many years, up to the time 
of his death. In the line of dry goods, two 
firms are now engaged in business, John Lorenz, 
and Lenhart & Stein. Gottlieb Feller conducts 
an excellent tannery, established many yearg ago 
by Henry Warnes, and with it a harness and sad- 
dlery shop. Allen Turner has a cabinet shop, 
Philip Gebhard a wagon shop, Philip Neiss and 
John Hawk each a blacksmith shop, and Henry 
Ehrich and Charles Klein each a shoe shop. 
Solomon DeWitt provides hospitable entertiiin- 
ment for the wayfarer. Ernest C. Volz and 
Aaron Busby are the two doctors. Dr. Thomas 
Pinkerton was the first resident physician. Quite 
a number have intervened between him and the 
present practitioners; among them Drs. Chap- 
man, B. Blackburn, John Beaver, Knight, Bushy 
and Fell. During its existence of nearly half a 
century, Chili hiis lost only one building by fire, 
and it was a small cabin of little value. The 
population at present lacks only a few names of 
amounting to 100. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

F K A N K L I N TOWNSHIP. 

Boiinclaries — Physical Feature.^ — Canal and Rjiilroad — Early 
Settlers and Settlements- — Major Robinson's Captivity — 
Indian.'!— Schools and Churches— Taverns— Distilleiies and 
Mills— Postoifices— Coal— Oil. 

THE early records of this township, yet pre- 
served, contain an account of its organiza- 
tion. The first entry consists of the following 
notice : 

Whereas, The commissioners of Coshocton 
county, Ohio, hath this day erected a new town- 
ship oft' the south end of Tusearawas\township in 
said county, to be known by the nam^ of Frank- 
lin, and consisting of the fourth township in the 
sixth range and the east half of the fourth town- 
ship in the seventh range; therefore, the quali- 
fied electors of said township of Franklin are 
hereby notified to meet at the house of John 
Wamsley.in .said township, on Saturday, the ]7th 
day of September, and elect necessary township- 
officers, according to law. 

MORDECAI ChALFANT, 

James Meskimen, 

Commissioners. 
Coshocton, September 6, 1814. 
At the appointed time antl place John Wams- 
ley and Jesse Campbell were elected judges, and 
Israel H. Buker, clerk of the election, and were 
duly sworn into office. The report of the first 
election, as made by them, is as follows : 

We do certify that the number of electors 
amounted to twenty-two, and that Israel H. 
Buker had twenty-two votes for township clerk. 
Michael Miller, John Wamslcy and Benjamin 
Robinson had each twenty-two votes for trustees. 
Videntine Johnson and josejih Scott had each 
twenty-two votes for overseers of tlie poor. James 
Robinson and Jacob Jackson had each twenty- 
two votes for fence viewer . Jfichael Miller Val- 
entine Johnson and Benjamin Robinson had each 
twenty-two votes for supervisors. Lewis Rodrick 
had twenty-two votes for constable, and James 
Robinson had twenty-one votes and Benjamin 
Robinson one vote for township treasurer 

At the next election, October 11, 1814, thirty-six 
votes were cast. Thomas Worthinglon received 
the entire number for governor; James Caldwell 
had thirty votes for representative in congress; 
B. Wells had six votes for the same; Charles 
Williams received thirty votes and Wright War- 



492 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ner two votes for State representative ; James 
Miskimen received thirty-two, and Isaac Draper 
two, votes for county commissioner. A re-elec- 
tion of State representative being ordered for 
January 4, 1815, thirty-nine votes were cast in 
this township. Of these Charles Williams re- 
ceived twenty-seven and Lewis Vail twelve. 

The east half of township 4, range 7, was with- 
drawn at the formation of Virginia township, and 
the township now consists of township 4, range 
€. It is in the southern tier of townships, and 
touches Jackson, Tuscarawas and Lafayette town- 
ships on the north; Linton on the east, and Vir- 
ginia on the west; Sluskingum county bounds it 
on the south. 

The surface is diversified by hill and vale. The 
Muskingum river, by a gently winding course, 
traverses the western part from north to south 
through a rich and fertile valley. Level bottom 
lands, for the most part, stretch away for a dis- 
tance on either side, with low hills rising beyond; 
but, at times, the hills rise almost precipitously 
from the river's bank, on one side or the other. 
Farther east the land becomes rougher, and, 
along the eastern line, breaks into rugged hills. 
Will's creek, a stream of considerable size and of 
very irregular course, is the principal tributary 
of the river in this township. Entering the south- 
west corner of the township from Linton, it dips 
down into Muskingum county; appearing again 
near the middle of the southern line, it crops 
northward about one and a half miles to Frew's 
mill, there bends sharply to the south and, by a 
circuitous route, reaches the river in the south- 
west corner of the township. The other streams 
are inconsiderable and thread the town.ship in 
various directions. The soil in the river bottoms 
is a rich loam, and seems incapable of wearing 
out. Year after year, almost beyond the recollec- 
tion of men, corn crops have been successively 
raised with no apparent decrease in the yield. 
Upon the hills the soil is generally sandy. The 
timber is of the varieties usually found in this 
region. Upon a knoll in the eastern part of the 
township (section 20) are found a few scrubby 
pines. 

The Ohio canal passes through the western 
part of the township; entering from the north, 
west of the river, it follows the vallev and crosses 



into Virginia township, about a mile north of 
I the southern line. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati 
and St. Louis railroad entei's the township east 
of the river, from the north, crosses the river at 
Franklin station, and continues in a course 
nearly parallel with the canal. The road has 
three flag-stations in the township: Rock Run, 
Franklin and Conesville. A single wagon bridge 
spans the Muskingum, near Conesville. The 
river is fordable, however, in one or two places. 

Franklin was among the first settled town- 
ships in the county, and here, as elsewhere, the 
earliest settlements were made along the river. 
The eastern half of the township is congress 
land; the western half belongs to the military 
lands, and consists of two sections, of 4,000 
acres each. Many military sections were pur- 
chased by non-residents of the county, with a 
view to speculation, holding them until a rise in 
value permitted them to dispose of their prop- 
erty' in small tracts at a large profit. These two 
sections, however, were purchased by two Vir- 
ginians, who emigrated to the wilderness and 
made it their homes. The northwest or second 
section was owned and settled by Michael Miller, 
the southwest or third, by William Robinson. 

Major William Robinson was born in 174.3. 
During Dunniore's war, he was captured by the 
Indians and became the object of the magnanim- 
ity of Logan, the celebrated chief of the Mingoes, 
at a time when he was smarting under the cow- 
ardly wrongs inflicted upon his family by the 
white men. Howe's Historical Collections of 
Ohio gives the following account of his capture: 

On the 12th of Jidy, 1774, Major Robinson, then 
a resident on the west fork of Monongnhela river, 
was in the field with Mr. Colburn Brown and 
Mr. Helen, pulling flax, when they were sur- 
prised and fired upon by a party of eight Indians, 
led by Logan. Mr. Brown was killed and the 
other two made prisoners. On the first alarm, 
Mr. Robinson started to run. AMien he had got 
about fifty yards, Logan called out in English, 
"Stop. I won't hurt you!" ''Yes, you will," re- 
plied Robinson in tones of fear "No, I won't," 

rejoined Logan, "but if you don't stop, by 

I'll shoot you." Robinson still continued his 
race, but stumbling over a log, fell and was made 
captive by a fleet savage in jiursuit. Logan im- 
mediately made himself known to Mr. Robinson 
and manifested a friendly disposition to him, told 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



493 



him that he must be of good heart, and ^o with 
him to his town, wliere he would probably be 
adopted in some of their families. When near 
the Indian village, on the site of Dresden, Mus- 
kingum river, Logan informed him that he must 
run the gauntlet, and gave him such directions, 
that he reached the council-house without the 
slightest harm. He was then tied to a stiike for 
the purpose of being burnt, when Logan arose 
and addressed the assembled coimcil of chiefs, in 
his behalf. He spoke long and with great energy, 
until the saliva foamed from the sides of his 
mouth. This was followed by other chiefs in ojj- 
position, and rejoinders from Logan. Three sep- 
arate times was he tied to the stake to be burnt, 
the councils of the hostile chiefs prevailing, and 
iis often untied by Logan and a belt of wampum 
{ilaced around him as a mark of adoption. His 
life appeared to hang on a balance ; but the elo- 
quence of Logan prevailed, and when the belt of 
wampum was at last put on him by Logan, he in- 
troduced a young Indian to him, saying, " This is 
your cousin, you are to go home with him and he 
will take care of you." 

From this place, IMr. Robinson accompanied 
the Indians up the Muskingum, through two or 
three Indian villages, until they arrived at one of 
their towns on the site of Newcomerstown, in 
Tuscarawas county. About the 21st of July, Lo- 
gan came to Robinson and brought a jiieee of 
paper, saying that he must write a letter for liim, 
which he meant to carry ami leave in some house, 
which he should attack. Mr. Robinson wrote a 
ncjte with ink, which he manufactured from gun- 
powder. He made three separate attempts be- 
fore he could get the language, which Logan dic- 
tated, sufficiently strong to satisfy that chief. 
This note was addressed to Colonel Cresap, whom 
Logan suppo.scd was the murderer of his family. 
It was afterward foimd, tied to a war club, in the 
cabin of a settler who lived on or near the north 
fork of Holston river. It was doubtless left by 
Logan after nuirdering the family. A copy of it 
is given below, which, on comparison with his 
celebrated speech, shows a striking similarity of 
style : 

"Captain Cresat: — What diil you kill my 
people on Yellow creek for? The white people 
killed my kin. at Conestoga, a great while ago, 
and I thought nothing of that. But you killed 
my kin again on Yellow creek, and took my 
cousin prisoner. Then I thought I must kill too; 
and I have been three times to war since ; but 
the Indians are not angry; only tnyself. 

•'July 21, 1774. Captain John Looan." 

Major Robinson, after remaining with the In- 
dians about four months, returned to hishome in 
Clarksburg, Virginia, of which he was one of the 
proprietors and the first merchant. He soon 



after married Margaret Sea, and engaged in agri- 
cultural and;mercantile pursuits. In 1801 he emi- 
grated to Franklin township. The Robinson 
section was granted to William Etlgar, Jr., by 
John Adams, President, under deed, dated April 
2, 1800, and by Edgar transferred to Robinson, 
October 27, 1800. Mr. Robinson had, doubtless, 
passed through this tract in 1774, while on his 
way from Dresden to Newcomerstown. In the 
spring of 1801 he and his son Benjamin came out, 
cleared off a patch of ground, planted the first 
crop of corn, then returned and brought out his 
family. He had ten children — four sons — John, 
Benjamin, William and James — and six daugh- 
ters — Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Margaret 
and Catherine. They all settled in this township 
except the oldest son, William, who remained in 
Virginia. Sarah was married to Mr. Bar- 
clay; Mary to John Wamsley, Elizabeth to 
Obadiah Davidson, Rebecca to Valentine John- 
son, Margaret to James Tanner, and Cath- 
erine to Joseph Scott. All these settled on 
the Robinson section in 1801, or soon after. Tan- 
ner emigrated in 1803. His wife's health being 
delicate, she was unable to endin-e the hardships 
of pioneer life, and died about two years after her 
arrival here, this being probably the first death in 
the township. Mr. Tanner subsequently mar- 
ried Nancy Taylor, daughter of William Taylor. 
Other families from Clarksburg, Virginia, fol- 
lowed the Robinsons here and settled in their 
midst, thus forming quite a little colony from 
their old home. Among these were the John- 
sons, William Taylor and Jacob Jackson. The 
Johnsons were a brother and three sisters of Val- 
entine Johnson— James, Nancy (Robinson), Cath- 
erine (Powclson), and Amelia (Shoemaker). 
They all settled on the Robinson section. Colonel 
Robinson died in the fall of 1815, surviving his 
wife about six months. 

James Robinson, the youngest child, was born 
in Clarksburg, Virginia, 1787, inherited the home- 
stead, where he remained until his death, in 
1856. During this time he was one of the active 
and public spirited men of the county. He 
served one term as associate judge and two terms 
as State representative; but his time and enthu- 
siasm was absorbed principally in agricultural 
and kindred pursuits. He engaged in stock deal- 



4&t 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ing, and several times crossed the mountains 
with droves of cattle. He was actively interested 
in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he 
■was a staunch and steadfast adherent. His house 
was the principal place of meetings in this neigh- 
borhood in anti-church days, and many times ]50 
or more people would here assemble, coming 
from a distance on horseback, and themselves 
and horses would be provided for through his old 
time hospitality. He was twice married, i.i 1811 
and in 1815. By his first wife he had two sons; 
by the second .seven daughters and five sons. Of 
these, two sons and one daughter are all that now 
remain. 

James Wilcox was among the earliest occu- 
pants of the township. He came from New Eng- 
land about 1801, and for a number of years was 
the only Yankee hereabouts. He was a stone 
mason, and was employed in digging wells, etc , 
for the early settlers ; he cleared off a considera- 
ble tract of land for the Robinsons, and after- 
"ward moved to Adams township, Muskingum 
county, where he was known as one of its earli- 
est settlers. Several grandsons now live in Frank- 
lin township. 

Michael Miller came from Hamp.shire county, 
Virginia. All the authorities seem to fix the year 
1801, as the date of his arrival. His family con- 
sisted of seven children, Barbara, Charles, Patrick, 
Edward, John, Isaac and McCarty. In the course 
of a few years a number of families from Hamp- 
shire county found their way to Miller section. 
Among the earliest and most prominent of these 
was Philip Hershman. Jasper Hill and Arnold 
Kane came about 1808, from the same place, and 
both were renters on Miller's land. Daniel Haw- 
kins came about the same time from New Jer- 
sey. Matthew Pignian emigrated from Virginia, 
perhaps as early as 1803. After remaining on the 
Miller section a number of years as a renter, he 
entered a farm in section 1. Abraham Thomp- 
son, from Virginia, settled on the place Micliael 
Lopp now owns. 

Lewis Rodruck entered the township in the 
spring of 1809. He was born in Maryland, Sep- 
tember 28, 1772, and moved here from Virginia. 
He leased a place from William Robinson, raised 
a crop or two with his sons, Levi and Yale, and 
in 1811 brought out from Virginia the rest of his 



family. After staying a few years on the Robin- 
son place, he purchased and moved to a farm in 
the southern part of the township. He was the 
first class leader of the Methodist church, and after- 
ward became a minister in the Dunkard church, 
preaching about forty years. His death occurred 
in 1SG6, at the advanced age of ninety-four j-ears. 

George Littick came about 1811, and entered 
land in the northwest quarter of section 12. He 
was born in Germany, in 1759; left an orphan in 
early youth, he was bound as an aj)prentice to a 
baker, but cruel treatment crused him to run 
away and cross the ocean at eighteen years of 
age; arriving in this country, he was obliged to 
work three years to pay his passage way. He 
died in Franklin township, December 25, 1847. 

The township gradually settled up toward the 
east, but the uninviting hills made the settlement 
necessarily slow, so long as there were better 
lands to occupy. It was not until 1836 that all 
the land in the township was entered. Several 
years before this there was an influx of Germans 
from Muskingimi county, and a few years later 
the French began to arrive and people the hills. 
Philip Kromnaker was the first Frenchman to 
locate here, in 18.35. During the ne.xt fifteen 
years a constant stream of emigrants from France 
flowed in, and in 1850 the French element pre- 
dominated in the eastern part of the township. 
They emigrated principally from the province of 
Alsace, ceded a few years ago to Germany, coming 
mostly by water to Zanes\nlle, by way of New 
Orleans. They are a frugal and industrious class 
of people, and have transformed some of the 
wildest and roughest lands of the county into 
l^rosperous and happy homes. Many have since 
removed to other parts. 

The early records of the township have been 
lost or destroyed. A partial list of the first offi- 
cers is as follows : John Wamsley, clerk ; James 
Robinson, treasurer; Lewis Rodruck, constable. 
William Taylor and Abraham Thompson also 
held first offices, probably as trustees. 

It was not uncommon, prior to 1812, for stroll- 
ing Indians to appear at the cabins of the early 
settlers. Mrs. James Rice, daughter of Joseph 
Scott, recollects that a young Indian brave, while 
visiting at her father's cabin, became angry at his 



HISTORY OK COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



495 



squaw for some cause and beat her severely in 
the face with an ear of corn till she bled pro- 
fusely. This mark of affection the squaw re- 
ceived witliout flinching and with the fortitude 
characteristic of the Indian race. Still more en- 
raged, the Indian seized a cooper's wooden horse 
standing by, and hurled it forcibly at his wife. 
This time she dodged, and the missile barely 
missed Mrs. Rice, then a little girl three or four 
years old. At another time an Indian lad ap- 
peared, begging meat. Her father, at heart a 
hater of the whole Indian race, on account of in- 
juries received by relatives at the hands of the 
savages, with grim humor presented the boy a 
very large piece of raw meat, and then com- 
pelled him to eat it; a feat which the lad accom- 
plished only after manifest suffering. Mr. Scott 
then gave him some meat to take home with 
him. The young Indian complained of the 
treatment he had received to his friends, but 
they regarded it as an excellent joke, and ridi- 
culed him, and often afterward used to laugh 
with Mr. Scott about it. 

Israel H. Baker was in all probability the pion- 
eer school-teacher of this town.?hip. He was a 
native of Massachusetts, began teaching here 
about 1806, and continued it for many years in 
different parts of the township, wherever he could 
get pupils. A Mr. Patterson and Mr. Roberts, 
also, figured among the earliest teachers,* A lit- 
tle later came Abram T. Jones and William J. 
Robinson. 

There are now six school districts within the 
township, four east, and two west, of the river. 
District No. 6 was formed in 1876, a short dis- 
tance northeast of Coalport. 

The Methodist Episcopal church was the first 
to form a religious society within the township. 
In 1812, Rev. John Mitchell organized a class in 
the Robinson neighborhood, now called the 
Bethany church. The details of its early history 
are meagre. For a long time services were held 
at the houses of the members, and afterward in 
the school-house which stood north of the site of 
the Methodist Protestant church. Rev. Ruark 
and Joseph Pigman were among the earliest 
preachers. Among the original members may 



be mentioned James Robinson, Lewis Rodruck 
and wife, John Wamsley and Wilham Davidson. 
Their present church edifice was erected in 1870, 
about a mile northwestof Will's creek, where the 
old building stood. It is a nicely finished frame, 
costing about $3,000, and has served as a model in 
constructing several churches since. The pres- 
ent membership is about fifty. A successful 
Sunday-school is in operation under the manage- 
ment of Ira Wilcox and Dr. Henderson. 

The Bethel Methodist Episcopal church, situ- 
ated west of the river, was organized in 1864, at 
the Conesville school-house, by Revs. A. S. Mof- 
fatt and John Blanpied, the two ministers of the 
Dresden and Roscoe circuits, then united. The 
need of religious services in this vicinity had 
long been felt. Occasional preaching had been 
held in the school-house previous to the organi- 
zation of the church, but there was a demand for 
a permanent church, and this demand gave rise 
to the Bethel church. Francis Wolfe, Ben. Wol- 
ford, James Davis, Henry Harris, C. W. Uffner, 
C. W. Darnes and others were instrumental in 
effecting its organization. The pastors have 
been as follows: Revs. Moffatt and Blanpied, 
one year; B. F. Bell, one year; J. H. John- 
son, two years; S. R. Squire, two years; J. R. 
Reasoner, two years; W. Ben. Taggert, three 
years; John Phifer, three years; S. Barcus, two 
years. Rev. Williams is the present pastor. 
Services were held in the school-house until 1874, 
when the present house of worship, a neat, sub- 
stantial brick of goodly dimensions, was erected 
at a cost of $2,500. The present membership in- 
cludes about sixty souls. Contemporaneous with 
the organization of the church was that of the 
Sunday-school. For four years previous, how- 
ever, a union Sunday-school had been successfully 
conducted. During the twenty years just past, 
the average enrollment has exceeded 100. Lon 
Myrice has charge of the school. 

The Methodist Protestant church was organized 
in 1831 in the scliool-house which stood on the 
lot adjoining the present church building, by 
Rev. Israel Thrapp. The organizing members 
were six in number — George Littick, Abram 
Jones, Charles Borough, Isiwc Shambaugh, Wil- 
liam Davidson, and one other. Several years 
later the school-house was burned, and a church 



496 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



building was erected. This, two, was consumed 
about 1850, after which preaching was transferred 
to a frame school-house close by, and held there 
until the completion of the present .building, in 
1857. Among the pastors who have supplied this 
charge were G. W. Hissey, Joseph Hamilton and 
John Woodward. W. S. Wells fills the pulpit at 
present. The church membership is eighty-two. 
A Sunday-school has long been successfully car- 
ried on, superintended at present by Seth M. 
Cullison. 

The German population is principally Lutheran 
in religious sentiment. In or about the year 1839 
a German Lutheran church was built in the 
southeastern part of tlie township, on section 21. 
Here the Germans were accustomed to meet 
once a month for religious services. But the 
church never flourished. Schisms arose and di- 
vided the members. The meetings were grad- 
ually discontinued, and finally ceased. The 
stout structure of the old log building is still 
standing, doorless and windowless. 

Many of the German settlers emigrated from 
Muskingum county and had there belonged to 
the Lutheran church near Adamsville. After 
their settlement in this township they were oc- 
casionally served as members of the old church. 
When they had become sufficiently strong in 
number, a church organization was effected June 
18, 1853, at George Struts' house, under the name 
of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church. George 
Shurtz was elected elder; John J. Werts and 
Daniel Ganmer, wardens. Early in 1855 Har- 
rison Wagner, Solomen Werts and Elijah Wag- 
ner, were elected trustees. Other original mem- 
bers were George Vinsel, Jesse Ganmer, John 
Miller, William W. and Charles Adams. Kev. 
Samuel Kummerer was chosen first pastor. The 
early meetings were held in Ganmer's school- 
house. The church was erected in 1858, and 
dedicated December 5, the same year, by Rev. A. 
N. Bartholomew, the second pastor. It is a 
frame building thirty by forty feet, costing about 
Sl,200. The regular ministers since, have been 
J. P. Hentz, and J. Weber the present incum- 
bent. The membership is now about 100. A 
Sunday-school has been held regularly during the 
summer season since the formation of the church. 



With the advent of the French, came the ma- 
terial for the St. Nicholas Catholic church. Its 
organization was effected in 1856, by Father 
Bainter. The principal original members were 
Anthony Wimmer, Sr., Nicholas Roger, Wendal 
Striisser, Matthias Factor, Nicholas Erman, Jo- 
seph Salrin and John David. The first meetings 
were held in Mrs. Margaret Factor's house, and 
in 1857, the present house of worship, a log, 
weather-boarded building, was erected. The la- 
bor was performed and the material furnished 
by the members, each contributing three logs for 
the structure. Rev. Bainter remained in charge 
but a short time after the completion of the 
church, and was succeeded successively by Revs. 
Serge de Stchonlepnikoff, Andrews, Northmeyer 
and John M. Jacquet. Tlie membership in- 
cludes about twenty-five families. A Sunday- 
school has recently been started, and is now in 
successful operation. 

About 1824, a Dankard minister, Schofield by 
name, began preaching on Will's creek, in the 
southern part of the township. No church 
building was ever erected in this township, 
but services were conducted many years, by 
Lewis Rodruck, at Philip Hershman's house. 
The society now has a church in Keene township. 

The only tavern ever kept in the township 
was one kept by John Wamsley, west of the 
river, on the farm now owned by Charles Mar- 
quand. It was about the year 1810, that he hung 
out this sign of the Black Horse, offering enter- 
tainment to the wayfaring stranger. It was the 
only thoroughfare between Zanesville and Co- 
shocton at that time, no road east of the river 
having been yet opened ; and, in those days of 
slow travel, it was doubtless a welcome sight to 
the weary traveler. But it has long since filled 
the measure of its usefulness. It continued 23er- 
haps thirty years, then, like most other early 
country taverns, passed away. 

Distilleries here, as elsewhere, prevailed in 
e.arly days. Several little mills were built along 
the brooklets in the township, wliere a little corn 
was ground and whisky distilled. One of these 
was on Robinson's run, close by the school-house, 
where the run crosses the road. In 1847, a large 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



499 



distillery was erected by Beebe S. Cone, H. 
Schniuescr, and two others, west of the river, on 
■what is now James Johnson's farm. It was a 
large building, about forty by fifty feet, with 
a capacity of 400 to 500 bushels per day, and 
was run by steam power. It was destroyed 
by fire, in 1S57, and several years later partially 
rebuilt, by James Beebe, and conducted on a 
somewhat smaller scale ; but a few years later, 
the fiery element again reduced it to ashes, this 
time effectually. 

Frew's mill, the first and only one of any con- 
sequence in the township, was built on Will's 
creek about 1814 or 1815, by the Parker brothers, 
Zebulon, George and John. The land upon which 
it was built belonged, at that time, to James Mon- 
roe, of Muskingum county, and at the expiration 
of the Parker lease it fell into his possession. He 
shortly afterward transferred it to John Frew, 
whence its name. The Frews retained it thirty 
or forty years. It is now operated by D. G. 
Cooper. At this mill Zebulon Parker made all 
his experiments in perfecting the celebrated 
Parker water-wheel, now in extensive use in 
this county. 

Franklin township has three postofiices. Wills 
Creek, Franklin Station and Conesville. Wills 
Creek is a little %'illage of about fifteen houses, 
scattered irregularly about the bend of the stream, 
the name of which it bears. It was never laid out, 
and owes its existence to Frew's mill, located there. 
Its business consists of a store, two blacksmith 
shops, two wagon shops, one shoe shop, and the 
mill. A saw-mill was formerly operated in con- 
junction with the grist-mill. A steam saw-mill, 
built in 1851, was also carried on about ten years. 
AVills Creek receives a tri-weekly mail from Co- 
shocton. A. M. Henderson, the only practicing 
phj-sician in the township, resides here. 

The other two postoffices are situated oil the 
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad. 
Close by Franklin Station is a small mining 
town, Coalport, containing about twenty houses, 
a store and a blacksmith shop. The name indi- 
cates its origin. Most of the families living here 
are those of miners emploj-ed by the Coalport 
Coal Co., whose mines are in Jackson township. 
A horse railroad connects the mines with the 
canal at Coalport. 

20 



^ Conesville of to-day is merely a railroad stii- 
tion, with a country store attaclied. The name 
was formerly applied to a collection of some six- 
teen or eighteen houses which sprang into ex- 
istence about Cones' distillery for the accommo- 
dation of the families of the men employed 
there. While the distillery was in operation, 
James Johnson built a cooper shop there, em- 
ploying about eight workmen. This also helped 
give the little town a boom. A store was estab- 
lished and everything for a while looked lively; 
but its existence was ephemeral ; it rose and fell 
with the distillery. All the houses have been 
removed and nothing remains to mark their for- 
mer existence here. Before this time, about 
1840, alVIr. Delaney laid out in the same locality 
the plat of a village to be called Delaneysville 
but nothing ever came of it. 

The coal beds of this township are little devel- 
oped. They may be found on nearly every farm 
in the eastern part of the township, but "only a 
few are worked, and these few for home con- 
sumption only. A single mine, that of Mr. James 
Fitch, is worked regularly. It is situated on the 
line between Franklin and Tuscarawas town- 
ships, but the greater part of it lies in the latter 
township. The mine was opened about twenty- 
five years ago, and the supply is now almost ex- 
hausted. About 4,000 tons are mined annually. 
It finds a ready sale, and is shipped mostly to 
Newark. 

Iron ore is found in some parts of the town- 
ship. Josesh R. Tingle has discovered on his 
farm several veins of a brown hematite ore which 
assays 45 per cent of metallic iron. 

Petroleum oil of superior quality, is found in 
small quantities along a little run in section 11, on 
the place now owned by Prosper Royer. It oozes 
from the surface of the ground freeh-, in early 
spring. Philip Hershman first noticed it, when 
the land where it is found was still unentered. He 
would collect and use it for medicinal and other 
purposes. Wells have been sunk several times, 
at great expense, in search of the oil in paj-ing 
quantities, but they have heretofore proved un- 
successful. The land has recently been leased to 
an experienced oil merchant, and search for hid- 
den oil, will again soon be instituted, with what 
success the future only can determine. 



500 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The oldest person now living in the township, 
is Mrs. Catherine Miller, now in her ninety- 
third year. She is the widow of Patrick Miller, 
and the daughter of Arnold Kane. George A. 
McCleary is another pioneer who still survives." 
He was born February 4, 1798, and emigrated to 
this county in 1814; he has lived in Franklin 
township fifty-seven years, and has been one of 
its leading, active citizens, representing the 
county in t|he Ohio legislature. 

About 1835, when the road between the Kobin- 
son and Miller sections was opened east of the 
river, a mound, perhaps twenty-five feet in diam- 
eter and five in height, was in the road and was 
leveled to the ground in consequence. In it 
were found the remains of five or six shiletons. 
They were arranged like the radii of a circle, 
having the head nearest the center. A small 
mound was still to be seen west of the river and 
near tlie line between the lands of George Wolfe 
and Charles Miller. 



CHAPTER LV. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Size— Location— OrKftnization— Streams— Canals— Settlement 
—Mills— Roscoe— Its Growth-Business-Schools— Physicians 
-Fire Losses, etc.— Fourth of July Celebration— Churches. 

OF the townships of Coshocton county Jack- 
son is second in size, Linton slightly ex. 
ceeding it in area. It includes the fifth township 
of range 7, according to the original survey, and 
that portion of township 5 of range 6 which lies 
•west of the Walhonding and Muskingum rivers, 
embracing a little more than the one-fourth part 
of it. The former is composed wholly of congress 
land, which was surveyed into the usual half 
sections, of 320 acres each, by Silas Bent, Jr., in 
1803, many years before it was required for 
actual settlement. The land east of this, the 
eastern part of the township, consists of the frac- 
tions of the two western military sections of Tus- 
carawas township proper which lie west of the 
Muskingum and Walhonding rivers, the upper 
one of which is the Bowman section, the lower 
one the section. An account of them is 



given in the history of Tuscarawas township, and 
need not be repeated here. 

Jackson township was organized in 1828. The 
eastern portion of it was taken from Tuscarawas 
township; the full original township west of this 
had previously been within the civil jurisdiction 
of Washington township. It was named in honor 
of the nation's military hero, who was just then 
passing through his first presidential campaign. 
A temporary separation took place between the 
two portions of the township shortly after its or- 
ganization, owing to the dissatisfaction of settlers 
in the western part. It seems that at that time 
each township was obliged to suj^port its own 
paupers, the custom being to auction them oft' for 
support to the lowest bidder. As it happened, 
quite a number of poor lived along the river bot- 
toms, and the maintenance of them bore heavily 
and mainl}- upon the pioneers in the west, who 
were as yet barely able to provide for themselves; 
hence their petition for divorce, which was grant- 
ed by the county commissioners, and the eastern 
part re-united to Tuscarawas township. This 
condition of things did not last long, however. 
After two or three years of civil isolation from 
Roscoe, the advantages of union and the incon- 
veniences of separation became manifest. The 
township, as it now existed, was wholly rural in 
its character, and the elections must be conducted 
at some lonely country cabin, where there was no 
whisky, no jolly crowd, no bustle or activity. 
Roscoe was rising in power and beginning to re- 
gard itself a rival of Coshocton rather than a mere 
appendage, and was anxious to become an inde- 
pendent local center. The desires of the two 
parts became harmonized, and at their mutual 
request they were re-united. Since then the 
hounds have been as they now exist. On the 
north are Bethlehem and Keene townships, on 
the east Tuscarawas, Franklin and Virginia on 
the south and Bedford on the west. 

No streams of much importance belong to Jack- 
son township except the Muskingum and Wal- 
honding rivers which form its eastern boundary. 
Into these flow several small runs which drain 
the ^rface in the eastern part of the township. 
A branch of Simmon's run, flowing northwest, is 
found near the western line and toward the south 
several trickling streams carry the outgushings 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



501 



•of numerous springs through their channels into 
Virginia township. The surface is rougli and 
Lilly except in the eastern part along the river 
and on this account the township was settled very 
slowly. The soil of the greater part is of good 
quality, usually sandy in character, and may be 
made to yield excellent crops. In population 
Jackson ranks next to the township containing 
the county seat. It contains 1,968 inhabitants. 
Linton township follows closely upon its heels 
with 1,918. 

Jackson has perhaps been more closely identi- 
fied with the canals of the county than any other 
township. The Ohio canal enters it from the 
south, and passes up the valley to upper Roscoe 
where it forms a junction with the Walhonding 
canal and crosses the Walhonding river into Tus- 
carawas township. The Walhonding canal pur- 
sues a northwesterly course up the valley of the 
river the name of which it has assumed, and 
passes into Bethlehem township. 

The earliest settlements in the township were 
made along the river bottom, in the eastern part 
of the township. Here several settlements were 
made which rank among the earliest in the coun- 
ty, although the land beyond in the west was not 
generally settled for twenty years thereafter. It 
has been found imjjossible to fix exactly the date 
of the arrival of the foremost settlers, or perhaps 
even to mention the names of them all. Kev. 
Calhoun, writing thirty years ago, states that 
William Hoglin, about 1806, -nas living for a 
while in what is now Eoscoe. This was proba- 
bly the year in which Thomas Cantwell settled 
here. He was Irish by birth, a shoemaker by 
trade, and came from near Charleston, Virginia. 
He cleared a little patch of ground just south of 
what is now Eoscoe. The little stream upon 
which he settled is still known as Cantwell's run. 
Henry Miller was probably here as early as 
Cantwell, perhaps sooner. He had been a revo- 
lutionary soldier; emigrated here from Virginia, 
and was a brother to IMichael Miller, one of the 
earliest settlers of Franklin township. He had 
six sons, Nicholas, John, Michael, Thomas, Obed 
and Alfred. The eldest became one of the first 
settlers of Kcene township. The other boys re- 
mained with their father for many years in the 



northeastern part of this township, on what is 
now the Haight farm. Thomas subsequently 
moved up on the Killbuck, where he died. John, 
Obed and Alfred moved to Indiana. Michael 
died in this count\'. One of the earliest orchards 
in the county was planted by the Millers, on this 
farm. Asa Hart, from New Jersey, had emigrated 
to the township prior to the war of 1812. It was 
not, however, nuich before 1816 that the township 
began to be permanently settled. Beginning with 
that date and extending over a period of twenty 
years cabin after cabin slowly rose in the midst of 
the vast wilderness which then covered the town- 
ship, and which in time melted away beneath the 
sturdy strokes of the hardy backwoodsmen and 
left behind pleasant hill-side farms, many of 
which are now furnished with all the conveni- 
ences and improvements of modern farming. 

Samuel Brown was from Salem, Massachusetts. 
He first located, in 1814, at Eock run, three miles 
south of Coshocton. In 1816 he settled on a tract 
about a mile and a half west of Eoscoe, and, after 
clearing a few acres and building a cabin, sold his 
claim to John Demoss. He then built a saw naill 
on Cantwell's run, which had head gf water 
enough to run the mill on an average three days 
in the week. For a number of years (until he 
united with the church) he depended on Sunday 
visitors to give him a lift in getting enough logs 
on the skids to keep the mill at work. The 
neighborly feeling, mellowed with a good supply 
of neighbor Sible's corn juice, sweetened with 
neighbor Craig's maple sugar, was always equal 
to the demands thus made. Later in life Mr. 
Brown engaged in the making of brick. He re- 
mained in the \icinity until he died, in February, 
1871, aged eighty-four years. He was for many 
years a useful and highly esteemed citizen. 

About 1815 a man by the name of Craig bought 
forty acres of land and built a cabin a little south 
of Eobert Crawford's residence, on the tract now 
owned by Burns & Johnson. He was one of 
the most successful makers of maple sugar, an 
article largely made and in universal use in early 
days in Coshocton county for sweetening cofTee, 
tea, whisky, etc. ISIr. Craig died about 1826, and 
his family removed from the county. 

About 1814, a man named Sible built a small 
distillery on the farm just south of Eoscoe, now 



502 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



owned by John G. Stewart. A little later he put 
up a little mill on Cantwell's run, about a third of 
a mile up. It was called a thundergust-mill, as 
it only run with full force after a heavy shower. 
"Sible's corn-juice" was very popular in that day, 
and the business done by him and his neighbor, 
Samuel Brown, was enough to warrant the idea 
of a town, and doubtless led James Calder to lay 
out, in that vicinity, Calder.>5burg. 

Theophilus Phillips was from the state of New 
Jersey. He lived in Zanesville several years, and 
in 1815 entered and settled upon the farm now 
best known as the Dr. Robert's farm, in the west- 
ern part of the township. In 1816 he sold this, 
and built a cabin in what is now Roscoe, and 
having lived in that a few years, he built, in 1821, 
the first brick house in the vicinity, using it for 
a tavern for a number of years. He moved to 
Indiana about 1845, and there died in 1868, being 
seventy-four j'ears old. 

Abel Cain was another early settler, coming 
from the State of Pennsylvania about 1816. Af- 
ter the township, was organized, he, and a Mr. 
Payne were elected fence viewers for a long se- 
ries of years. Mr. Cain was a very tall, power- 
fully built man — a splendid specimen of the 
pioneer type of mankind, while Mr. Payne was 
exceedingly diminutive in size. It was the stand- 
ing joke that Mr. Cain was to inspect the top of 
the fences and see that they were properly kept 
up, while Payne was to look after the "hog holes " 
underneath. Mr. Cain died here, and his child- 
ren removed to Illinois. 

Jonathan Butler entered the northeast quarter 
of section 1. The most of this farm lies in the 
Walhonding valley, and it was among the first to 
be entered. Mr. Butler came to the township at 
a very early day, just how early it is impossible 
to say. He afterwards moved to Schuyler county, 
Blinois. 

James Huffman, in 1817, settled in the western 
part of section 24. He was a blacksmith by 
trade, and, after the country became somewhat 
settled, he pursued this calling, in his backwoods 
home, in connection with farming. Mr. Huff- 
man remained in the township all his life; after 
his death, his two children moved away. A 
brother, Joseph, accompanied James here. He 
was at the time unmarried, and lived with his 



brother James for a number of years, then set- 
tled in section 17. 

The Fosters were among the first settlers in 
the western part of the township. There were 
six brothers: Samuel, Moses, William, David, 
Benjamin and Andrew. Their father,- John 
Foster, entered eighty acres apiece for them, 
most of it in section 6. The family was origin- 
ally from Virginia, but had lived a number of 
years in Harrison county, prior to their emi- 
gration here. Samuel and Moses came out first, 
in 1816, the others following soon after. Andrew 
moved West, stopping for a time in Indiana, 
then continuing onward in the same direction. 
The others remained citizens of the township 
till they died. William was the last surN-ivor. 
He died about two years ago. 

Abraham Randies, from Loudon county, Vir- 
ginia, had settled in Harrison county, prior to 
the war of 1812, where he remained till he re- 
moved to Jackson township, in 1817. Three 
younger brothers, Enoch, Isaac and John, and 
their father, James, came with him. Abraham 
and his father, together, entered the northeast 
quarter of section 5. Abraham afterwards re- 
moved to the Killbuck, in the northern part of 
the county, where he died. His son, John Ran- 
dies, now lives in Roscoe, and is one of the oldest 
men in the township. 

John Demoss, his wife and son Lewis, Thomas 
Ramphey and family, and Crispin Tredaway, his 
wife and son Thomas, crossed the Allegheny 
Mountains in wagons from Harford county, 
Maryland, in the fall of 1817, and settled in this 
township. Tredaway remained a few years, then 
moved across into Jefferson township, where the 
son Thomas still lives. Mr. Demoss first settled 
in the western part of the township, on Simmons' 
run. There he remained five years, then moved 
to a tract of land about a half mile west of Ros- 
coe. He had been a sergeant in the war of 1812, 
participating in the engagement at Baltimore. 
He died in this township, March 4, 1840. His 
son Lewis is still engaged in active business in 
the to^^^lship, at the Empire mills. 

Thomas Smith, an Irishman, came about 1816, 
and located the southeast quarter of section 17. 
He died about 1825, and his family sold otit and 
moved away. Matthew Stephens came a little 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



503 



later. Ho owned a portion of the northeast 
quarter of section 15. 

Philo Potter was among the earliest to locate 
here, but did not become a property owner. He 
was quite an old man when he arrived here from 
the East. Was a hearty, good-natured, slow-going 
creature, and spent the balance of his declining 
years in the township. 

John Loder eanie April, 1820, from Allegheny 
county, Pennsylvania, and entered the northeast 
quarter of section 14. His son, Aaron Loder, is 
one of the oldest citizens now in Jackson town- 
ship. William Dunshee came from the same 
county, but remained here only a few years. 
Benedict Dunfee, an Indian ranger, who had 
been in the United States service at Wheeling, 
Virginia, came a little later. James Hardin, 
from New Jersey, came out with John Knoff, 
about 1820, lived in Caldersburg a while, then 
moved to the Solomon farm. 

Abraham and Jacob Courtright, two brothers 
from New Jersey, were here as early as 1815. 
Joshua Boring was another early settler. At a 
later day he moved to Keene township. 

One of the early institutions of Jackson town- 
ship was a brush dan^ built across the Walhond- 
ing by the Millers, at the site occupied later by 
the dam of the Ohio canal, which was swept 
away in a freshet several years ago. It was a 
very crude affair, being built of logs, brush and 
straw, and had to be repaired incessantly. 

About 1S29 Joseph Huffman constructed a lit- 
tle horse mill in the southwestern part of the 
township, which served the pioneers in the vicin- 
itj' for five or six years. The buhrs used at first 
were very small, perhaps a foot in diameter. 
They were set on edge, one being stationery, the 
other set in motion by means of a spindle. The 
capacity of the mill was but about ten bushels of 
meal per day. After some little time, Mr. Hoff- 
man bought a larger pair of buhrs, which had 
been used in grinding the plaster for the cement 
used in building the canal locks. 

Charles WilHams erected a little mill on the 
run just below Roscoe, at a very early day. 

John Carhart, as early as 1824, w;is running a 
tannery on the Haight farm, north of Koscoe. 
About 1840 he removed it to Roscoe. John A. 
L. Houston had owned it before Carhart. Wil- 



liam Starkey, who came from Virginia in the 
spring of 1815, worked for a time in Carhart's 
tannery. 

The village of Roscoe lies just across the Mus- 
king river from Coshocton, partly in the narrow 
valley that here skirts the river and partly on the 
steep blufl' that rises just beyontl. From this 
blutt'a commanding prospect of the surrounding 
country is presented. A fine bird's-eye view of 
Coshocton is obtained and the Muskingum, Tus- 
carawas and Walhonding rivers which meet al- 
most at the foot of the hill, may be traced for 
miles through broad and level. valleys fringed 
with wooded hillsides. In point of poulation, Ros- 
coe ranks second in the county. The school dis- 
trict to which it belongs contains six hundred 
and eighty souls, but the village proper perhaps 
not more than six hundred. Previous to the con- 
struction of the Ohio canal it w:is an ordinary 
little village with a tavern or two, a dry goods 
store and the few little industrial shops common 
to every collection of houses; but with the oj^en- 
ing of this highway of commerce and the water 
power facilities it afforded, an impulse was given, 
to commerce, merchandizing and manufacturing 
which placed the village as a business center in 
the front rank in Coshocton county. When the 
railroad was built through Coshocton it drew to 
a great extent tlie business to that place, and the 
luster of Roscoe 's name suffered in consequence. 
Though it is still a live business place, and con- 
tains several of the largest industrial establish- 
ments in the county, its business transactions are 
unequal to those of thirty or forty years ago. 

Caldersburg, the former name of this village, 
was laid out in January, 181G, by James Calder. 
The original plat consists of sixty-seven lots, 
lying in what is now the lower part of town. In 
1831, a large addition was made by Ransom & 
Swayne; in 1844, another by Ransom, Swayne & 
Medberry. In 1849, Samuel Hutchinson and 
John Frew each made an addition ; the former 
is known as Hutchinson's, the latter as the cen- 
tral addition. Mr. Colder, the founder of the 
village, was a Yankee, who liad come to Coshoc- 
ton about 1811, and tliere engaged in business 
and failed. A tract of land lying west of the 
Muskingum river was saved from the wreck of 



504 



HISTOHY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



his fortunes, and he moved across and laid out 
the town. It is said that he brought with him a 
remnant of goods, which he closed out at liis new 
home. The cabin he occupied, probably the first 
in the village, was built on lot S, Main street, was 
owned by Philip Hoop. No vestagc of it now 
remains. Calder afterward moved to the Rick- 
ett's farm, two miles west of Roscoe, on the New- 
ark road, where his Yankee ingenuity was dis- 
played in the making of shingles, etc. 

The second building was a large log tavern, 
perhaps twenty-four by fifty feet in size, one and 
a half stories high, erected on lot 20, at the 
northwest corner of Main and White Woman 
streets. William Barcus was the proprietor of 
this primal Jackson township hotel. He came 
here from near Cadiz, and remained in possession 
of the tavern up to the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1829 or 1830. The travel through 
Caldersburg must have been considerable, for 
Mr. Barcus soon had opposition. In 1821 a brick 
tavern was built by Theophilus Phillips, who had 
previously settled in the township, just across 
Main street from its rival. This was the first 
brick structure in the township. 

In 1825 the first regular store was opened by 
James Le Retilley and William Wood. The 
former was born in the Isle of Guernsey, in 1788. 
He came to this country in 1806, settling in 
Guernsey county, where there was a settlement 
of people from his native island. Removing to 
Muskingum county, at a point ^ibout ten miles 
below Coshocton, he engaged in the manufacture 
of salt, along with George Bagnall, who was from 
Nova Scotia. They made about six bushels a 
day, selling it for three dollars a bushels, or ex- 
changing a bushel for twelve bushels of wheat. 
Their salt was carried to remote points, some of 
it by canoes and pirogues up the Killbuck almost 
to Wooster. In 1825, the Kanawha and lower 
Muskingum salt coming into market, rendered 
the business of Retilley & Bagnall unprofitable, 
and it was abandoned. The same year Mr. Retil- 
ley moved to Caldersburg, his partner following 
him a year or two afterwards. Mr. Retilley was 
one of the associate judges of the county and an 
active adherent of the Methodistchurch in Roscoe. 
He died in December, 1850, aged sixty-two years. 
His descendants are still well known in this 



vicinity. Mr. Woods had also lived in Muskingum 
near Mr. Retilley's residence. He was a single 
man when he came to Caldersburg, but shortly 
after married and went west. George Bagnall 
purchased his interest in the store, and the firm 
did a flourishing business here for an extended 
period of years. The store was located for several 
years in a little log cabin which stood just west 
of the brick tavern ; it was then removed to the 
old Barcus tavern stand. The goods were brought 
by team from Pittsburgh. The teamsters, in going 
for the goods, conveyed large quantities of veni- 
son to the east, which had been received at the 
store by way of trade. Deer were then quite 
numerous in the forests, and the farmer, in wend- 
ing his way to town through the bridle path, was 
reasonably sure of shooting a deer upon the way. 
This he would cut up, hang the forequarters 
upon some overhanging bough beyond the reach 
of wild animals, to take home on his return, and 
bring the remaining "saddle" of venison with 
him to town, receiving for it, at the store, fifty 
cents. After the canal was built, this firm erected 
a warehouse and became the first dealers in grain, 
shipping heavily to Cleveland. 

Prosperity for Caldersburg, as it was still called, 
began to da'mi with the construction of the Ohio 
canal. A canal at that time brought the same ad- 
vantages to a town situated on its route that a 
railroad does now, and a place fortunate enough 
to secure a canal through its borders was univer- 
sally conceded to be on the highway to conmier- 
cial success. Coshocton expected the canal, but 
it seems that less expense attended its building 
west of the Muskingum, and it accordingly passed 
through Caldersburg. Leander Ransom, an en- 
gineer in the construction of the canal, recog- 
nized the advantageous site for a thriving town, 
and with Noah H. Swayne, the late United States 
Justice, then a lawyer in Coshocton, purchased a 
tract north of the village and laid out, in 1831, an 
extensive addition to the old town, changing the 
name to Roscoe, in honor of a then famous Eng- 
lish author, William Roscoe. \V\\en the Wal- 
honding canal was projected a few years later, 
the outlook for the town was still brighter. 
Added to this, its water power was unsurpassed. 
Steam had not yet come into general use as a 
motor of machinery, and those towns that af- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



505 



forded an excellent water power had hitherto 
been the ones to achieve eminence as manufac- 
turing points. The canals bring together in Ros- 
coe the whole water power of tlic Tuscarawas and 
Walhonding. The water of the latter, standing 
in the canal at this place thirty feet above the 
level of the Muskingum, furnishes a power capa- 
ble of performing almost anything desired. No 
less sagacious personage than Charles SI. Gid- 
dings, at that time one of the most prominent 
business men of Cleveland, j)redicted that in a 
few years the place would contain 10,000 or 15,000 
inhabitants. He and one or two others pur- 
chased more than 100 acres of land in the vicin- 
ity, with th(? expectation of speedily disposing of 
it in town lots at a handsome profit. That this 
glowing outlook was never realized was due to 
the decline of canal transportixtion. They were 
unable to compete with their newly-arisen com- 
petitor, the iron horse. A revolution in the trans- 
portation of freight was inaugurated just as the 
village was blooming into a rich promise under 
the old regime. 

For a time it grew rapidly. In commercial 
operations and business importance it was un- 
doubtedly first in the county. It became a great 
wheat depot, and in point of shipment and trans- 
shipment ranked fourth or fifth among the towns 
along the entire route of the Ohio canal, from 
Portsmouth to Cleveland. Its population in 
1840 was 468, while that of Coshocton was 625 
During that year, a.s perhaps a little later, there 
were in Roscoe five dry goods stores, two grocer- 
ies, two forwarding houses, one fulling, two saw, 
and two flouring mills ; while Coshocton at the 
same time contained six mercantile stores, one 
woolen factory and one flouring mill. 

An industrial enterprise closely allied to the 
canal, was a boat yard, owned and run for a few 
years by J. Blaisdall, a ship carpenter, now living 
east of Cleveland. A number of subst^mtial 
canal boats were built here. The " Renfrew," 
one of the earliest water-crafts on the canal, was 
built in Roscoe by Thomas B. Lewis. 

An extensive distillery business was begun in 
1831-2 by William Renfrew and Robert Hay. 
The firm soon after became Love & Hay. A 
large structure was reared upon a heavy, stone 
foundation, situated on the canal a short distance 



below Adams it Gleason's saw mill. After it had 
bean in operation about ten years, the building 
with its contents was destroyed by fire, the loss 
amounting to 1*30,000 or $40,000. It was then re- 
moved to Coshocton and for years was one of tlie 
leading industries of the county seat. 

In 1836 a large flouring mill was built by Ar- 
nold Medberry, Leandcr Riinsom and John 
Smeltzer. In 1853, being then under the con- 
trol of Mr. Medberry, it wa.-« burned. In 1840 
the Union mill was built in lower Roscoe by the 
Union Mill company, consisting of R. M. Lamb, 
Dr. S. Lee and John Frew, of Coshocton ; AVil- 
liam and John Carhart, James LeRetilloy and 
James Bagnall, of Roscoe, and Peter Marquand, 
ol Wills creek. Becoming embarrassed, the 
company sold this mill to D. N. Barney & Com- 
pany, of Cleveland, and it was by them sold to 
Arnold Medberry. It was burned in the spring 
of 1853. These two mills had two run of buhrs 
each, and were considered in their day among 
the first mills in Ohio. Their capacity together 
was five hundred barrels per day. 

The Empire mill, now doing business here, is 
one of the largest and finest in the State. It was 
built in 1858, b}' Arnold Medberry, who died in 
the summer of 1801. The mill was then pur- 
cliased by Samuel Lainberson and Lewis Demoss, 
who subsequently sold a one-fourth interest to F. 
E. Barney, and a like share to D. L. Triplett, 
since which time business has been transacted 
under the firm name of Barney, Demoss & Co. 
The mill stands at the jimction of the Walhond- 
ing with the Ohio canal, and its water power can 
not be excelled. The building is a six-story 
frame of imposing dimensions, containsseven run 
of buhrs, and has a capacity of eighty thousand 
barrels per year. It is fitted up with the most 
recent improvements in milling machinery and 
fixtures — 112,000 having been expended for this 
purpose alone during the last year — and produces 
flour equal to any made in the State. This may 
be believed when it is known that the flour is 
sent to all parts of the world. Just preceding 
this writing, an extensive shipment Wixs made to 
Glasgow and London No custom work is now 
done. Employment is given to thirty persons. 

The Star mills, built in 1880 by James F. AVil- 
liams, is situated on the Ohio canal. The main 



506 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



building is thirt)' by forty feet, contains tliree 
run of buhrs and is doing a fine business both by 
way of custom worlc and exportation of flour. 

A carding mill was started in ISS? in upper 
Roscoe by Samuel MofTat. After a few years it 
was burned down and another built by C: S. Mil- 
ler and S. Mofliit. Miller died in 1848 and in 1855 
the jiroperty passed from the hands of his wid- 
ow to Thomas Wilson. With this enterprise 
Wilson McClintick, afterward removing to But- 
ler, Missouri, was for some years identified. The 
building was a frame one, stood a little above the 
planing mill and was burned down in 1867. Wil- 
son proceeded promptly after the fire to build the 
large brick mill, thirty bj' forty feet in size, now 
operated by him upon a site a little west of the 
old one, drawing water from the Walhonding ca- 
nal instead of the Ohio canal. 

The saw mill, now run by Adams and Gleason, 
was erected in 1832. It was probably built by 
Arnold Medberry or if not came into his posses- 
sion very shortly after. A planing mill was at- 
tached by James W. Beebe about 1871, since 
when both saw and planing mills have been op- 
erated conjointlj'. An immense business is done 
here, covering all kinds of lumber, b}' far the 
greatest in the country. 

Madberry, Ransom & Co , about 1831, built a 
large hotel in which J. H. Board was installed 
first proprietor. He was succeeded by H. V. 
Horton and by Mrs. Rebecca Johnson and others. 
The building was remodeled, almost entrrely re- 
built, by Matthew Stewart about 1840, and several 
years later it burned to the ground. Mr. Med- 
berry replaced it with a new brick, still in use, 
with which Charles Simmons and others have 
since been connected. Mrs. Hutchins is the pres- 
ens hostess. Several other hotels have flourished 
here but they have now passed away. 

Roscoe has been peculiarly unfortunate in her 
fire losses. The little town seems to have been a 
special object for the fury of the fire fiend, for 
nearly every building of any note that has had 
an existence here, has been long reduced to 
ashes. The long list includes two large flouring 
mills, two carding mills, one large distillery, one 
church, two hotels, one school-house and one dry- 
goods store, besides many other smaller buildings. 

The number of merchants, who have been act- 



ively identified with the interests of Roscoe, has 
been a large one, including the names of John 
Smeltzer, Robert L. Lamb, Joseph Johnson, 
Hickox tt Wallace, John Frew, Burns & MoSIit, 
Seth McClain, McClain & Brown, A. Medberry 
& Co., Samuel Burrell and others. None were 
more prominent than Mr. Medberry. The fol- 
lowing sketch of him is taken from Hunt's His- 
torical Collections: 

Arnold Medberry was born in New Berlin, 
Chenango county, New York, March 24, 1S06. 
He came to Roscoe in the fall of 1832, and re- 
mained a citizen of that place until his death, 
August 12, 1861. During this time he was one 
of the most prominent business men of the region. 
His farming, milling, merchandising and connec- 
tion with the public works, were features of the 
locality where carried on. Indomitable energy 
and ceaseless activity were his characteristics. 
He was undaunted before that which would have 
made many quail. He thought nothing of taking 
his buggy, riding thirty miles to Mount Vernon, 
and there taking the cars, thus reaching Cleveland 
in a few hours. Losing two fli>ur-mills by fire, 
he, within a few hi airs, had matters all arranged 
for building yet a third. A zealous pohtician, he 
yet had little desire for office. He was, however, 
postmaster of Roscoe for many years, and was 
also county conimissicmcr. When the public 
works of the State, with which from the first he 
had been thoroughly acquainted, were offered for 
lease, he was one of the principal lessees, and 
continued in that relation until his death. A 
single anecdote illustrates his keen discernment 
and disposition to have the best in every line at- 
tiiinable. A wagonmaker, having built him a 
wagon, called for his inspection and acceptance 
of it. He discovered, by close examintion, a few 
places sto]iped up and made to appear smooth 
and good by putty. The wagonmaker protested 
that there was no real defect, that in fact the 
parts where the putty was were as strong as any, 
and would do just as good work. "Very good, 
then," said Medberry, with his accustomed 
twinkle of the eye, " just you keep this wagon, 
and make me another all out of putty, and we 
will then see whether putty is as strong as oak." 
Severe requirement was the rule with him in his 
relations to his employes, and what he thus de- 
manded he was ready to yield to those having 
rightful claims. His personal appearance was 
fine, his manner calm and stately, but. withal, 
kind. His wife, who had been Miss Phcebe Den- 
man, survived him several years, dying at the 
home of her daughter, in Kansas. His two sons 
died in each case iis they were approaching man- 
hood. Two of his daughters are living in Kansas, 
the other in Columbus. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



507 



Tlie mercantile business is at this time repre- 
sented as follows: ^Moore & Caton, dry goods; 
Wright, Biggs & llcCabe, dry goods; Martin 
Hack & Co., dry goods; Leander Miller, gro- 
ceries; J. R. Stanford, groceries; Abram Rose, 
groceries; Le Retilley & Ferguson, drugs; Mrs. R. 
Hooker, drugs; Harrison ifc Johnson, hardware 
and tinware; Relda Lockhart, millnery. 

The earliest school in Roscoe of which any- 
thing is known, probably the first, was held in 
the upper story of the Calder building, where 
John Snielzer afterwards kejit store. It was 
started about 1826, and held in this room only 
two winters. During the first winter it was 
taught by John B. Turner. He was a plasterer, 
by trade; moved here from Zanesville; soon 
after became county treasurer, and sulisequently 
moved to Indiana, where he took a prominent po- 
sition in the administration of public all'airs. 
Henry Colclazer taught the second winter. He 
was from Georgetown, D. C, and was a very well 
informed man for those times. He subsequently 
became a Methodist Episcopal minister and, 
when last heard from, was living in Detroit, 
Michigan. A little cabin, standing on the hill, 
became the next fount of learning for Roscoe's 
youth. It had previously been used as a dwell- 
ing house and, after it had subserved its pur- 
poses as a school building, was converted into a 
tannery and used as such until very recently. 
Bashcba Lightener was the school mistress in 
this building for two winters. William Mc- 
Gowen ne.Kt taught, in a little brick, which stood 
near Dr. Johnson's present residence. Next, 
Mr. Brown's house, then the Methodist church, 
were each temporarily utilized for school pur- 
poses. A brick school-house was erected about 
1835, and school held in it till transferred to the 
present brick structure, erected about 18-50. The 
school at present contains three departments. 
During the past year, the teachers in charge have 
been, Messrs. L. W. Martin and George Hill and 
Miss Anna Waddle. The school enrollment, at 
the opening of the year, was 132. 

Dr. M. Johnson, the only resident practitioner 
now in the village, has perhaps been longer in a 
continuous practice than any other physician 
nov/ in the county. He settled here in 1833, and 
has been in constant practice ever since. He 



came as the successor of Dr. William Emerson, 
who died of pneumonia, June, 1833. He was the 
son of Timothy Emerson, of Keene township; 
had read medicine with Dr. Samuel Lee, of Co- 
shocton, and, after attending lectures in Cincin- 
nati, opened an office in Roscoe about 1828. He 
was probably the first physician in the place. 
From that time to the present quite a number of 
physicians have had a residence here ; generally 
a brief one. Among them was Dr. Edward 
Cone, now residing in Washington to^^^3ship, 
who has changed his occupation several times 
since. He has been a INfethodist preacher, far- 
mer, and recently reports himself a " grower of 
peaches and apples on sheep lands." Josiah Har- 
ris, still practicing in Coshocton, was here from 
18.37-40. Dr. Barger, the father of G. H. Barger, 
Esq., of Coshocton, from 1835-37. Drs. J. W. 
Brady, McBride, O. Farquhar, an Uriscopian; 
Peck, and others, have also resided here. 

The first postmaster was James Le Retilley. 
He received the appointment about the time 
Jackson township was organized. Mr. Retilley 
was succeeded by Arnold Medderry, and since 
then quite a number of changes have been made 
in this office. The present incumbent is Mrs. R. 
Hooker. 

Lodges of the Masonic order and of the Sons 
of Temperance have been established here, but 
both have been defunct for these many years. 
The former was organized about 1848, and dis- 
banded in 186.5, uniting at that time with the 
Coshocton lodge. The latter was organized 
about 1846, and survived for the brief space of 
three years. 

A very neat little township hall, twenty-six by 
forty-fis-e feet in size, was built in the fall of 18S0, 
at a cost of |1,550. 

Besides the buildings already mentioned, there 
are here at present a foundry, a tannery, a brew- 
ery, a leather shop, and various other small in- 
dustrial estiiblishments. 

There is one other postofiBce in Jackson town- 
ship. It is called Tyrone, and belongs in the 
southwestern part of the township. Joseph D. 
Smith has been postmaster for about twelve 
years. The ofliee was established about 18.50, and 
the former postmasters have been James Waddle, 
Aaron Reed, Catherine McCoy, Hiram Riden- 



508 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



baugh and John H. Forrester. It has been re- 
cently discontinued. 

Pleasantville was laid out at an early day by 
Elijah Graves, in the southeast quarter of section 
24, but it never came to anything. 

About 1825, a noted Fourth of July dinner was 
served at what is known as Falling Off Kock, one 
and a half miles west of Roscoe. The rock rises 
perpendicularly about thirty feet, and down this 
declivity a little rivulet dashes only after a storm. 
Beneath is a cave extending back about forty 
feet, and from it a fine spring of water issues. 
James Calder and several others, deeming it a 
pleasant spot for celebrating in a quiet way the 
national birth day, issued a general invitation 
and prepared the cave for the reception of the 
public. A large crowd, for those times, gathered 
at the place, from Coshocton, Caldersburg and 
elewhere at the appointed time and partook of 
the bounteous provision there spread before 
them. Lewis Demoss was the only participator 
in this affair who is now known to survive. 

The Roscoe Methodist Episcopal church is the 
only religious society now in active operation in 
this village. From 1820 to 1826, there had oc- 
casionally been a sermon preached in Roscoe 
(then Caldersburg) in the dining-room of the 
tavern kept by William Barcus; but in 182G two 
Methodist ministers were appointed by the annual 
conference to the circuit in which Roscoe was 
embraced, and in the spring of that year the first 
class was formed by those ministers (their names 
were Abner Gough and H. 0. Sheldon). The 
persons forming the class were Theophilus Phil- 
lips, Mrs. Samuel Brown, James Le Retilley and 
wife, Mrs. William Barcus, Rachel Le Retilley 
and Joseph Shoemaker and wife. Meetings con- 
tinued to be held in the same tavern until about 
1828, about which time Samuel Brown joined, and 
the meetings after that were held at his house 
until 1831, in which year they built a neat little 
brick church, twenty-four by forty feet, in the 
lower part of the village on the brow of the hill. 

A little incident in regard to Samuel Brown : 
He was, by his own account, a very wicked man 
then. There was to be a love feast lield on Sun- 
day morning, and he went along with his wife to 
carry the child, not intending to stay in; but 



when they got there it was about time to close 
the door, as it was the custom in those days. So, 
when he stepped in to hand the child to his wife, 
they closed the door and drew a bench against 
it, so that he could not get out, and was compelled 
very reluctantly to remain, and during the exer- 
cises he became powerfully convicted, and then 
and there joined the church. 

In 1853, the old church being too small, they 
concluded to build a larger one. The old one was 
torn down, and one erected forty by sixty feet on 
the site of the present church; and in March, 
1874, it was burned and rebuilt the same year at 
a cost of SS,000, exclusive of materials out of the 
old building. It is a handsome brick of the same 
size as the old one, with brick tower and a fine 
bell The windows are of stained glass, and the 
pulpit and pews are very neat. It was dedicated 
December 27, 1875. The present membership is 
one hundred and twenty. 

The Sunday-school is an attractive and import- 
ant auxiliary of the church. It was organized in 
1830 in the village school-house by the election o' 
the following officers: James Le Retilley, Sr., 
superintendent; Thomas Colclazer, secretary; 
John Brown, librarian. A library was formed 
directly after the organization but comprised a 
class of books much better adapted for mature 
minds than juvenile readers, consisting almost 
exclusively of weighty doctrinal works, books of 
sermons, etc. The school has enjoyed a prosper- 
ous existence of more than fifty j'ears and now 
has an average attendance of about one hundred 
and twenty. During the winter the meetings are 
held in the afternoon at two and a half o'clock ; 
in summer at nine o'clock in the morning. John 
W. Barkhurst now has charge of the school. 

A Presbyterian church, formerl5r*located here, 
has become extinct. It was organized April 25, 
1847. Rev. H. Calhoun supplied it for eleven 
years, and it received a part of the time of Revs. 
Henderson, Wallace, and other pastors of the 
Second church of Coshocton. At its organization 
there were fifteen members, among whom were 
George Bagnall, James Hill, Wilson McClintick, 
Mrs. Phoebe Medberry, Sirs. Charlotte Ransom 
and Peter Thurgood. Under the care of Mr. 
Calhoun and also, at a later day, under the labors 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



509 



of Kev. C. W. Wallace, Rov. S. P. Hildrcth and 
Kev. H. C Mc Bride, considerable accessions were 
received to the church. A good frame building 
was erected in 1853, chiefly through the spirited 
exertions of Mrs. P. W. Medbcrry. The elders 
have been James Hill, George Bagnall, T. Carna- 
han, S. Sayre. The church membership became 
greatly reduced through removals and deaths, 
and, .about 1873, services were discontinued. A 
flourishing Sunday-school was long kept up un- 
der the superintendency of John Carhart, Sr. 

The Warner Methodist Episcopal church, lo- 
cated near the center of section 21, about three 
miles northwest from Roscoe, Was so named in 
honor of the late Dr. Warner, of the North Ohio 
conference. It was organizeil in the year 1870 by 
Rev. S. R. Surie. During the same year a neat 
frame building was erected at a cost of $2,000. 
The principal members were William Biggs, 
John B. Markley, John Peoples, Richard Eckels, 
Joseph Stnbbs, William Austin, James Davis, 
William Shearn, Christopher Hall and E. D. 
Wolford. The present membership is si.xty-six. 
A Sabbath-school was organized in 1870, and has 
now a membership of fifty-six. 

The Branch Methodist Episcopal church was 
formed at the residence of EU Smith, January 3, 
1839, by Revs. Martin P. Kellogg and Joseph S. 
Brown, then the preachers on the Roscoe circuit 
of the Ohio conference. The class, as organized, 
consisted of the following members: Ebenezer 
Taylor and Margaret, his wife, Benjamin Taylor, 
Nancy Taylor, Joseph Smith and Elizabeth, his 
wife, Julia Ann Ogle, Eli Smith and Katherine, 
his wife, Mindwcll Roberts, Jonathan Thomas 
and Mary, his wife, and Maria Holbrook. Di- 
rectly afterwards steps were taken to erect a 
house of worship. Joseph Smith, David Middle- 
ton, Robert Ransom, Ebenezer Taylor and Thom- 
as McLain were ai)pointcd trustees, and a frame 
building, twenty-eight by tliirty-two feet was 
erected. The present church edifice was built in 
1872. It is located in the southwestern part of 
the township, within a mile of the township cor- 
ner. It is a large frame structure, forty by fifty 
feet, which will comfortably seat a congregation 
of 500. The cost of this building was $2,300; it 
■was dedicated February 10, 1873. The present 



membership is forty-two. Rev. J. Williams is 
pastor. The church has always been connected 
with the Roscoe circuit. The Sunday-school, 
held only during the summer, last 3'ear had an 
average attendance of sixtj'-cight. 

Pleasant Hill Regular Baptist church, located 
on William McCoy's land, about five miles west 
of Roscoe on the gravel road, was organized as a 
branch of Mill Creek church, abt)ut 1845, with a 
membership of perhaps forty, and called Crooked 
Run church. .Vmoug its principal early mem- 
bers were David Tracy, Samuel C. Heney, Abra- 
ham Randies, John Tracy and Aaron Loder. The 
earliest meetings were held in private houses, and 
in a vacated cabin which was rudely .and tempora- 
rily furnished for this purpose. Services were 
continued here but a short time, however, for a 
meeting-house was built on Aaron Loder's farm 
soon after the society was organized. The society 
advanced steadily for a few years, then declined, 
and in about fifteen years became virtually ex- 
tinct. In 1862, they were organized, and the church 
re-named Rock Hill. Some progress was made, 
and in 186S a comfortable frame house of wor- 
ship was built — the one now in use — and named 
Pleasant Hill. The first pastor was probably 
William Mears. Other ministers who have since 
served the congregation are Revs. L. L. Root, H. 
Sampson, J. G. Whitaker, R. R. Whitaker, W. S. 
Barnes, A. W. Odor, S. W. Frederick, E. B. Senter 
and J. C. Skinner. Rev. A. W. Odor w.as recalled, 
succeeding Rev. Skinner, and filled the pulpit 
during the last year. At present there is no reg- 
ular pastor, but the congregation is still served 
occa.sionally by Rev. Odor. The present mem- 
bership is ninety-four. Allen Marshall, Joseph 
Askren and Aaron Loder are the deacons. A 
Sunday-school is conducted during the summer. 
Its membership last year was seventy-three. 

The Valley Presbyterian church was organized 
on the road from Coshocton to Newark, six miles 
west of Coshocton, in 1817, and a squared-log 
church built. Rev. P. H. Jacobs, of Coshocton, 
and Rev. C. C. Bamberger supplied it from 1847 
to 1860. The neighborhood had at first a few 
Presbyterian families, including those of John 
Smith, John McCullough, John Graham, Thomas 



510 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Smith and William Crooks, but death and re- 
moval to the west soon eilaced these, and, as the 
territory was occuijied from the start by other 
denominations, this retired from the field. In 
1S63, the old organization having become extinct, 
a second effort was made, kut with no better suc- 
cess than before. To this second congregation 
Rev. John Moore, D. D., while settled in JefTerson 
church, ministered. The church never numbered 
a score of members, and soon jierished a second 
time. Rev. Akey was the la.st minister in charge. 
The Disciples, for a number of years, had a 
society in the southwestern part of the township. 
A frame church, aboiit thirty feet square, was 
built in 184.5, or shortly before, in which services 
were held for perhaps fifteen years. Then the 
society became too weak to maintain its organi- 
zation and perished. Werley Graves, Zachariah 
Ogle, William Richards, Samuel Wellman, Joseph 
and Uriah Huffman were the principal members. 
The last named subsequently became a minister 
of this denomination. 

Blooming Grove Methodist Episcopal church 
is located in the northwestern corner of the 
township. In 1849 Rev. W. C. Huestis, of Roscoe 
circuit, preached occasionally in this neighbor- 
hood. He was followed by Rev. T. H. Wilson, 
who succeeded in organizing a society February, 
1850. It first met in Antioch church, a house 
close by, belonging to a sister denomination, but 
in the year 1851, under the pastoral administra- 
tion of T. H. Wilson, the church was erected and 
dedicated by him in August of the same year. 
Moses Finley was the architect and builder. At 
the close of Rev. Wilson's two years labors, the 
membership amounted to ninety-nine. Of the 
first members may be mentioned Simon Slurray, 
Ruth Murray, Thomas James, Sarah A. James, 
Nathan Price, Nancy Price, Joshua Fry, !Mary 
Fry, Samuel Neldon, Jane Neldon, Janles Shaw, 
Sr., Sarah Shaw, Eijhraim Deviney and Dorintha 
Deviney. S. Murry was the first steward and 
Nathan Price and Samuel Neldon the first class- 
leaders. Of the first mentioned ninety-nine 
members there are but about seven in fellowship 
with the church at the present time. The mem- 
bership now numbers 102; the present pastor is 
Rev. J. Williams. A Sunday school was organ- 



ized by Rev. T. H. Wilson, in May, 1850. This 
branch of christian work has been continued to 
the present time. The last reports show a mem- 
bership of seventy, with John Demoss as super- 
intendent. 

An old church building, known as the Antioch 
church formerly, stood on the north line of the 
township, very near to the extreme northwest 
corner. It was built many years ago by a feeble 
and short-lived christian society, and was after- 
ward occupied for a brief period by the All- 
brights and the Methodist Protestants. 



CHAPTER LVI. 

J E F F E R S O X T O W X S H I p. 

Primntive Race— Flint Jfining— Other Remains— Topography 
-Organization— Early Settlers— Whisky-Mills — Schools — 
Coal Oil Spec\ilations— Warsaw— Mohawk Village— Postof- 
tices— Churches. 

WITHIN the limits of Jefferson town- 
ship are evidences that clearly point 
to the existence here, in ages past, of a 
race of people concerning which little is 
now definately known; evidence not only 
of their mere inhabitancy here, but of extensive 
mining operations, as well, for the material from 
which their rough weajions were fashioned; exi- 
dences that the vein of tlint-rock which lies em- 
bedded in the geological strata underlying the 
township was mined by these pre-historic people 
from most of the many hills that cover the farms 
of Cononel Pren Metham, R. B. Whitaker and 
Mrs. Criss, located in the southern central part of 
the township. The veins of flint are in width 
from four to six feet; sometimes located close to 
the top of the hill ; at other times near the base. 
Opposite the seam where the flint has been mined 
the ground is thrown back forming a kind of 
ridge or embankment, which has lead some, who 
have noticed them, to believe them to have been 
fortifications; but a careful examination by Col- 
onel Metham and others jiroduced convincing 
testimony that the mining of the flint, concealed 
in the heart of the hills, was the cause of the dis- 
turbed condition in the natural slope of the hill- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



511 



side, for wherever these ajiparcnt cinbanknients 
or ridges have been examined, as most of tliein 
have, the fliint bed is invariably present; more 
than that, in the cave-Uke openings from \yhich 
the flint has been tjikcn, ashes and charcoal are 
always found ; also large, hard river rocks, greatly 
scarred and dinged. The tlint vein is a consid- 
erable distance above the drift formation and the 
presence of these bowlder rocks here can be ac- 
counted for only by supposing them to have been 
brought here by human agency. Moreover their 
much battered up ajipearance indicates usage for 
some purpose. 

The process of obtaining the flint that seems 
most prdbable from these facts, is the one sug- 
gested by Colonel Metham. Large fires were 
built in these underground excavations, close to 
the solid wall of flint, until the latter became 
thoroughly heated, when the expansion would 
produce fissures or cracks in the wall ; or jierhaps 
these were produced by sudden contraction 
caused by casting water against the heated sur- 
face. The large, scratched bowlders were then 
used by the pre-historic miners in lieu of ham- 
mers, to break ofT fragments from the cracked 
wall, by hurling them against it. The jiieces 
thus obtained, were then carried elsewhere to 
be worked into arrow points, spear-heads, etc. 
At the summits of many of the hills are found 
large beds of these flint fragments, where per- 
hajis they were broken into smaller pieces from 
which the darts were fashioned at the ''arrow- 
makers." That these shops w^ere abundant in 
this vicinity is made manifest by the numerous 
piles of spawls or flint chips, togother with large 
quantities of the arrow-heads, some in a finished, 
others in an unfinished state, which arc found 
very plentiful, usually near a rock-bed. Small, 
hard stones, genei;ally granitic, much worn and 
nicked, are found also among the chips. They 
were probably used in chipping ofT the flints. In 
quarrying a bed of sandstone rock near his house, 
Colonel Methan discovered in a crevice a large 
"nest" of these flints, a portion of them beauti- 
fully finished, others rude and incomplete. 

The extent of this mining was prodigious. 
Colonel Castell, who was engineer of the Dresden 
branch of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Dela- 
ware railroad, examined the remains and esti- 



mated that the amount of work indicated by these, 
if performed at present, would require an expen- 
diture of not less than $1,000,000. 

" Here the ancient arrow-maker 
Mafle his arrow-heads of quarts rock— 
'Arrow-heads of clialcedony— 
Arrow-heads of chert and jasper- 
Smoothed and sharpened at the edges, 
Hard and polished, keen and costly." 

About six j'ears ago, a considerable amount of 
capital was expended by Mr. Swaim, of Tusca- 
rawas county, and others, in jirospecting for 
mineral wealth among these hills. None was 
found. Close to the si)ring, situated about forty 
rods south of Colonel Metham "s residence, is 
found a bed of broken-up river and sand-6tone, 
none of the pieces larger than a man's fist. 
Traces of several fluke-like cliannels through the 
bed were discernable, in which were streaks of 
ashes, charcoal and soot. A careful analysis of 
the soot wiis made, with the hope of finding 
mineral depsoits of some kind, but none were re- 
vealed. About the only "find" in the vicinity 
was a small fragment of ancient pottery. The 
conjecture that this may have been a pottery 
furnace is scarcely warrantable; for, if so, re- 
mains of pottery should exist in greater abund- 
ance. Similar beds are found in several other 
localities, one on the same farm, one on Wash- 
ington Darling's farm, north of the river, and 
another on Joshua Clark's place, in New Castle 
township, all adjacent to a spring of water. 

On the peak of the hill which rises east of 
Colonel Metham's residence is a stone mound, 
about eighteen feet in diameter and five in depth. 
Several inefifectual attempts were made to ex- 
plore it, before 1855, at which time Rev. Boggs 
and Colonel Metham made a thorough investi- 
gation of it. It was found be a sepulchral mound, 
containing the mortiil remains of one of the de- 
parted great. The mound was a solid piece of 
masonry, composed of horizontal layers of sand- 
stone, the crevices in which were filled with 
pounded-up sandstone. Near the base of the 
mound, a stone sepulchre was found. The bot- 
tom of it consisted of a large, flat sandstone ; slabs 
of the same material, placed upright upon their 
edges, constituted the sides and ends. Across 
the top were other flat stones. Encased in this 



512 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



enclosure, was found a portion of a human 
skeleton, consisting of pieces of the skull, the 
thigh hone, teeth, and a few other fragmentary 
bones. From a careful examination of the 
thigh bone, the length of the skeleton was esti- 
mated to be over seven feet. The entire set of 
teeth were molars, there being no incisors among 
them— a characteristic, it is said, of the Aztec 
race. Another particularity was, that the length 
of the upper and lower jaw was the same. A 
few flint darts and stone "shuttles" were also 
found in the coffin. 

Across the river from these remains, on Robert 
Darling's farm, are other traces of this unknown 
people. Along the crest of the ridge that over- 
looks the river are piled large, irregular masses 
of sandstones. Upon the highest of these, which 
rises perpendicularly twenty feet from the side 
that faces the river, but which from the other side 
can be reached by a less abrupt ascent by clam- 
bering up over rough masses of sandstone, are 
the remains of a semi-circular wall. It is three 
or four feet in width, about the same in height, 
and consists of large, irregularly-shaped, flat 
stones. The diameter of the circle is perhaps 
thirty feet. The wall faces the side from which 
the summit may be reached. Whether this was 
a stronghold of the ISIound Builders, where they 
made a last but unavailing stand against hordes 
of barbarous northern invaders, or whether it 
was a place for offering up human siicritices or 
performing religious rites, will probably never 
be known. 

The view from this point is wild and imposing. 
The ridge is still covered with the forest, and be- 
tween the trees along the summit of the ridge, 
and in many places upon the hill-side, nature has 
lavishly scattered large masses of time-worn sand- 
stone rocks, some in places jutting out badly from 
the crest or side of the ridge, others again in a 
slanting position, seemingly about to fall with 
terrific crash to the base below. The peaceful 
bosom of the romantic Walhonding lies several 
hundred feet beneatli and beyond it. A level 
stretch of valley recedes till it reaches the bluffs 
that riise on the opposite side. 

The Walhonding river, flowing eastward from 
New Castle township, cutting its channel through 
the Waverly sandstone, divides the township into 



two nearly equal parts. Two runs. Darling and 
Beaver, are its tributaries from the north; it has 
also two from the south, Mohawk and Simmons'. 
Another small stream, called Flint run, enters 
Simmons' run about a mile from its mouth. 

The roughest land in the township is thnt 
which skirts the river valley. On either side it 
rises abruptly, forming steep, high ridges. These 
continue northward undiminished in size, mak- 
ing the land in this part of the township very 
hillj'. To the south, however, the roughness wears 
away as the land recedes from the river, and the 
surface becams rolling in character. 

The valle}' of the Walhonding, from a half mile 
to a mile in width, is one of the richest in the 
State. By those who are acquainted with both it 
is said to fully equal in productiveness the noted 
valley of the Miami. The soil in the main is a 
black, sandy loam, with gravelly sand in spots, 
here and there. Along the base of the bluffs is a 
narrow strip, subsoiled with blue clay. The soil 
on the south of the river, between Mohawk run 
and Simmons' run, is as rich as can be found 
anywhere on steep lands. The outcroppings are 
fossiliferous limestone, flint and cannel coal, the 
best possible combination to enrich a soil Sand- 
stone is the principal outcroping north of the 
valley, and the soil there is not so good. 

Most of the hill tops north of the river were 
devoid of timber when the first settlers arrived, 
being covered only with small bushes, in some 
places not even these. Beds of wild strawberries 
grew in rich profusion and buckle berries also 
were abundant in places. South of the river the 
surface was timbered, and it is a remarkable fact 
that in early days there was no underbrush worth 
speaking of here. The forests seemed like im- 
mense groves, so that game could be seen at a 
great distance. Since then, however, an almost 
inipenetrable thicket has sprung up on the land 
that has not yet been cleared. 

A greater diversity of timber than usually pre- 
vails on steep lands in one locality was found on 
these southern hills, embracing nearly every va- 
riety that flourishes in this region except cotton- 
wood and sycamour. Along the edge of the val- 
ley is found the black oak, swamp oak and swamp 
ash and closer to the river burr oak, black walnut, 
sycamore, Cottonwood, hickory and other varieties. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



513 



Jeflerson toT\-nship was organized in 1826. Tlie 
northern half consists of congress land which 
was surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. The 
southern half comprises two military sections. 
Of these, the eastern was located by Colonel Wil- 
liam Simmons in 1800, and settled by him years 
after. 

The western is known as the Bell section. The 
patent for it was granted April 2, 1800, to Cairnon 
Wedwell, of Philadelphia, who conveyed it the 
same year to John Duncan, a broker of Philadel- 
phia. The following year he sold to John Bell, a 
resident of the same city, all of the section except 
the one-twelfth part oft" the western side, which 
had been deeded to Martin Baum. It remained 
in Bell's possession about thirty-five years, during 
which time, however, he sold a considerable part 
of it to different parties, through his agent, Pren 
Metham, who moved to the townshij) in 1823. 
In 1837, the residue, consisting of over 2,200 acres, 
came into the possession of a Scotch-Irish colony 
of settlers, consisting of James and John Moore, 
James and William Given, James and William 
Thompson, and Mrs. Anderson, all related to 
each other, who emigrated from Tyrone county, 
Ireland, to Marshall county, Virginia, in 1836, 
and soon after to this township. They were an 
intelligent, energetic and industrious people, who 
cleared off this large tract and paid for it since 
their arrival here. It is still owned by their de- 
scendants. 

The Darlings were among the foremost settlers 
to locate in the Walhonding valley. The family 
consisted of Robert Darling, his wife and twelve 
children,William,Abram, Jonathan, Jacob, James, 
Isaac, Thomas, Robert, INIary, who married Nich- 
olas Miller, of Keene township, Sophia, the wife 
John Hork,an early settler of this township, Mrs. 
Samuel Severns, who also lived in this township, 
and Mrs. Aaron Loder. The last mentioned 
daughter is the only survivor of this large fam- 
ily. She is quite an old, though active lady, and 
resides in Jackson township. The_v moved from 
Virginia in 1806, and settled in the bend north 
of the river, on the Bell section. The place is 
still held in the Darling name. 

Two of the boys, Jonathan and William, first 
came out in the spring of the year, and raised 
the crop of corn ; then, in the fall, the rest of 



the family crossed the mountains, by team, or on 
horseback. Mary, then a miss of eighteen sum- 
mers, drove a fonr-horse team, loaded with 
family goods. The mother, it is said, made the 
journey on horseback, having an infant on the 
horse, before her, and a little boy, Thomas, hold- 
ing on to her, as he rode behind. Of the boys, 
William and Jonathan bore arms for their coun- 
try, in 1812. While they were encamped at 
Sandusky, their younger brother, Abram, rode 
out to them on horseback, for the purpose of 
taking them some stockings. These three sons 
soon after moved farther west, the others re- 
maining in Coshocton county, where many of 
their descendants still live, entering largely into 
the social fabric of the Walhonding valley, as 
well as other localities. They were all farmers, 
and men of sterling worth, noted, far and wide, 
for their strict integrity. Thomas, for a number 
of years, served the county as a commissioner. 
He was also much interested in blooded cattle, 
and introduced some valuable stock into the 
valley in which he lived. 

John Elder emigrated from Ireland to Vir- 
ginia in 1804, and thence came, with the Dar- 
lings, to the Walhonding valley, in 1806. After 
making several other locations, he settled in Jef- 
ferson township. He died in 1851, on his farm, 
now occupied by his son, Cyrus Elder, a little 
west of \\'arsaw. He was a full-blooded, county 
Antrim, Presbyterian. He was twice married 
and reared a large family, still prominent in the 
township. During the war of 1812, he spent 
some months in hauling supplies to the soldiers. 

The Merediths, si.x or seven in number, came 
to the Walhonding valley about 1807 or 1808. 
Three of them, David, Stejihen and Abner, set- 
tled in Jeflerson township, the others in New 
Castle. David afterward moved to Indiana. 
Stephen and Abner settled close to the site of 
Mohawk village and died there. Abner was a 
hunter of note, on friendliest terms with the In- 
dians, and often pursued the wild game in their 
company. He once went with a band of Indians, 
up Killbuck creek, on a hunting expedition, 
which resulted very successfully, a large number 
of deer having been killed. As the evening drew 
near, he was invited to remain till morning with 
his companions. The Indians determined on 



514 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



having a jollification over the day's sport, and dis- 
patched several of their number to Charlie Wil- 
Uams', at Coshocton, for the means of celebrating 
— a good supply o! whisky. Meredith, who was 
an athlete, in the meantime had engaged in the 
manly sport of wrestling with those who re- 
mained ; had displayed a strength and skill in the 
art which none of them could equal, and his suc- 
cess in throwing them humiliated and angered 
them somewhat. Repeated potations of the fiery 
liquid intensified rather than assuaged their 
anger, and the squaws frequently obtained the 
knives of their boisterous consorts and secreted 
them. A half-breed, who was present, fearing for 
Meredith's safety among the now intoxicated, 
quarreling savages, invited him to stay at his 
cabin, about a mile distant, that night. Mr. Mer- 
edith discreetly concluded that this was not a 
proper place for him to remain, so he quietly 
slipped away, late as it was, and did not stop until 
he reached his brother's cabin, near Mohawk. 

Joseph Butler, from Virginia, emigrated as 
early as 1806, and settled on section 15, congress 
land, just below Washington Darling's residence. 
His father, Joseph, and his brother, Isaac, soon 
after came to this latter place. Isaac Butler, met 
with a sad fate in 1809. While crossing the ford 
near his residence, he was thrown from his horse 
into the stream and drowned. This was proba- 
bly the first death that- occurred in the township. 
He left a wife and three children. 

Colonel AVilliam Simmons, a Virginian, who 
hid served in the Revolutionary war as a colonel, 
received for his services " Simmon's section," the 
southeastern quarter of the township, and settled 
thereon about 1819. His was one of the few 
families who brought a carriage with them to 
the county ; he also brought several slaves. He 
is described as quiet and gentlemanly in his 
deportment, inclined to be hasty at times, some- 
what aristocratic, and an ardent Whig in poli- 
tics. The home farm was situated north of the 
river, the place now owned by James Frew. He 
died at a good old age and was buried on his 
farm. Charles W. Simmons, a son, was a West 
Point graduate, and subsequently became the 
proprietor of a hotel at Roscoe; represented the 
county in the legislature in 1831, and afterward 
removed to Indiana, where he attained promi- 



nence as a politician. The onl^v other son was 
William. A daughter was married to General 
William Carhart, the jaroprietor of Warsaw. 

Thomas Treadway, came at an early dayfrom 
Maryland; began life with a small start in the 
way of worldly goods, but by his industry and 
good business qualities, afterward acquired a 
goodly share of the Simmons' section. James 
Whitjxker settled early, in the southern part of 
the Bell section. Anthony Ryne occupied that 
part of section 15 which lies south of the river. 

The river lands were, in general, settled earliest 
on account of their great fertility and level sur- 
face; yet there were exceptions to this. Some 
of the settlers regarding the low bottoms as ma- 
larial and unhealthy, preferred to perch their 
cabins among the hills, several miles back from 
the stream. One of these was John Severns, who 
settled very early in the northern part of section 
3. The bulk of the rough congress land, how- 
ever, occupying the northern part of the town- 
ship, remained unsettled until the time of the 
building of the Walhonding canal. It was then 
taken up in small tracts, and o?3 ipied mostly bj- 
German emigrants, many of whom were em- 
ployed in constructing the canal. These small 
property owners were usually without any means 
when they arrived ; and during the first four 
years, before crops could be planted and raised, 
or by reason of their failure, were often in great 
want. It was not an uncommon thing for them 
to approach their more fortunate neighbors in 
the river-bottoms in mid-winter, and ask for corn 
or wheat, agreeing to pay for it in work the next 
summer. The Darlings and other families, by 
their generosity in furnishing these and other 
necessities to their indigent neighbors, obtained 
their lasting gratitude. This was displayed to an 
undue extent sometimes, as in the following in- 
stance : One of the Germans, on being asked 
just before an election how he intended to vote, 
replied, " I votes for Shake Darling," meaning for 
Darling's choice. One poor unfortunate, who 
lived within reach of the malarious river, had 
stranded his resources in mid-winter, and in 
making his wants known, dolefully remarked 
that if he could get enough corn to keep him till 
" chills set in," he would be all right, as he could 
not then eat anything. 





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FEANCIS McGUIRE, SE., FARMEE.. 

POSTOFFICE, CANAL LEWISVILLE. 

He was born in Lafayette township, this county, in 1811, and was married in 1833, to 
Fanny G. Thompson, who was born in Ohio, in 1811. They have three children— Mary, 
Francis, Jr., and Samuel T. Mr. McGuire was not favored with an opportunity to receive a 
liberal education, but is a progressive farmer in every department. He has given close atten- 
tion to raising and improving stock of all kinds; his experience, close attention and apiilication 
in this branch have been crowned with success. He is the half owner of the noted Clydesdale 
horse. His pedigree reads as follows : " Emperor was foaled in 1877, sired by imported Clydes- 
dale stallion, Napoleon. Emperor's dam sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Netherly; 2d 
dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Conqueror ; 3d dam, sired by imported Clydesdale 
staUion Sir William Wallace ; 4th dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion, Robin Hood ; 
5th dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Old Clyde." He has devoted a great deal of 
attention to raising and improving his stock of sheep and cattle. He has on his farm as good 
stock as the State can produce. Mr. McGuire owns a large farm under a good state of cul- 
tivation and with good buildings, and is one of the leading, active and prominent farmers of 
this county. 

His father, Francis McGuire (deceased), was a native of Virginia. He emigrated to Ohio 
in 1804, and settled in this township and remained here until his death, in 1853. He pur- 
chased eleven hundred acres of land which his children still own. 



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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



517 



A needy creature named Carter, without a 
cent in the world, had obtained wheat several 
times from John Elder, and once more came to 
him with two others, equally needy. Mr. Elder 
replied to their request for food that he was un- 
arquaintcd with them. " Never mind," said Car- 
ter, " I'll stand good for them." The wiioat was 
furnished and paid for too. 

A Mr. Kichardson, who was an early settler, 
had two boys, Joe and Lige,'whom he sent one 
morning into the woods to find the horses, turned 
out the evening before with bells around their 
necks. A gun was given Joe, the older, more 
through habit than because it was thought he 
might have occasion to use it. The boys, when 
they were some distimce in the woods, saw a bear, 
amusing itself by scraping up the ground and 
rolling on it. They had never before seen a speci- 
men of this family of the brute creation, and did 
not know what it was, but, with a courage that 
did honor to them, they slowly and quietly ap- 
proached within easy shooting distance, when 
Joe laid the rifle across a log, took deliberate aim 
and tired. The bear rose up and with a loud 
snort started off. The courage of the boys now 
deserted them, and thoroughly frightened, they 
dropped the gun and started for home at the top 
of their speed. Lige, the swifter of the two, 
reached the house lirst, and seeing his father, 
yelled out excitedly that Joe had shot the devil. 
Mr. Richardson, after quieting the boys, accom- 
panied them back to the scene of the exploit. 
Gun, hats, etc., were found scattered about, and 
going a little farther the bear was seen lying dead. 
The youthful hunters, when informed of the 
character of their game, were highly elated. 

A history of the Walhonding valley would be 
incomplete if mention were not made of the 
prominent part played by "the cup that cheers" 
and does inebriate. Whisky was an " institution," 
heartily endorsed and sustained in practice by the 
early settlers of the valley, almost without excep- 
tion. Every well-to-do farmer kept it, by the 
barrel, in his cellar, and drank it as freely as 
water. It was pardonable in those times to neg- 
lect to invite a visiting neighbor to dine, but an 
unpardonable breach of backwoods etiquette was 
committed if he was not offered to i)artake of the 
contents of the flowing bowl. The i)laces were 

21 



numerous where it could be purchased; not only 
public taverns, but many private dwellings, where 
nothing else was sold, kept a sujiply to satisfy the 
great demand. The road up the Walhonding river 
was greatly traveled in early times by emigrants 
moving farther west, and Uiverns were located all 
along the road. One of the most noted of these 
was Eckman's tavern, situated north of the river, 
about two miles west of Warsaw. It was a pop- 
ular place of public resort, and in the early days 
of Jellerson township, was the place for holding 
elections. The tavern reniaincil until the build- 
ing of the Walhonding canal, the route of which 
passed through the site of the building, which 
consequently had to be torn down. Eckman 
owned about three acres here, which was con- 
demned by the State, and paid for in full. 

A tavern was opened at Warsaw by Rufus 
Eldridge during the construction of the canal, 
The first day, as is customary at such times, there 
was an " open bar," and everybody was invited 
to drink freely and without price ; consequently, 
most people in the vicinity indulged that day in 
a general — good time. A constant use of the 
beverage, it is said, makes the stomach less sensi- 
tive to its efiects and the brain less giddy than 
the first dram. Betsy Smith illustrates this fact. 
She was the wife of James Smith, was a washer- 
woman, and lived near Eckman's tiivern. A pint 
of gooil whisky was always the one thing need- 
ful when there was a washing to do. She once 
attended a wool-picking at Thomas Darling's, 
where she was invited to sip her favorite bever- 
age. Betsy tasted it repeatedly, then exclaimed 
petulently that the whisky was not worth any- 
thing, for she had taken eight or ten big swallows, 
and for the life of her she couldn't get the taste 
of it. 

One of the township's prominent citizens, 
when a boy, rode several weeks with a teamster 
who was engaged in hauling wheat to Coshocton. 
The invariable custom was to stop at Eckman's 
for a drink; then at Warsaw, two miles below; 
then at Nathan Spencer's, in Bethlehem town- 
ship, where John Bantum now lives; next, where 
Samuel Burrell lives. Finally, a good, strong 
pull a short distance across the river, must con- 
tent him till he reached Coshocton. The same 
formula was strictly observed, inversely, on the 



518 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



return ; and over and over again, day after day. 
The boy was generally pressed to drink too, and 
now considers it marvelous that the habit did not 
ruin him, as it did too many of his early asso- 
ciates. Jefferson was no worse in this respect 
than other townshijis ; and a great revolution has 
been wrought in public sentiment since then. 
It would perhaps be impossible to find two gal- 
lons of whisky now in the whole valley, outside 
of the several saloons that still infest the country. 
David Meredith at an early day erected a small 
grist-mill on Jlohawk run, near the present vil- 
lage of Mohawk. Some years later, Hon. James 
Moore built a small saw mill on the same run, 
about a mile below. Another little grinder was 
operated by Robert Darling, on Darling run. It 
was of sufficient size, however, to grind wheat. 
The mills located at Warsaw are noticed farther 
on in this chapter. The only mill known to have 
been located on Simmons' run was a saw-mill 
owned by the Brickers. It was destroyed by fire. 

One of the earliest schools in the township, in 
all probability the first, was held in the cabin that 
had been occupied by Isaac Butler, in the west- 
ern part of the township. The children of the 
Butlers, Darlings and others attended -here. In 
1814, or 1815, it was taught by Oliver Remington, 
from Rhode Island, a well educated, intelligent 
man. He was a brother-in-law to 'Squire Hum- 
phrey, of New Castle township, and remained 
here only two or three years, removing to Holmes 
county. 

Another school, situated north of the river, not 
far from its banks, was taught by Ben Vial, a tip- 
pling character, who often came to his daily task 
under the influence of his arch enemy. Not- 
withstanding his pedagogic profession, it is said 
he reared a family of children who could neither 
read nor write. James McCoy, afterward pro- 
prietor of the Warsaw hotel, was also an early 
teacher of this school. The ordinary complaint 
against some of the teachers in those times was 
that they used the rod too sparingly. Mr. McCoy 
furnished no grovmds for complaint of this kind. 
He was a severe disciplinarian, and applied the 
whip freely when occasion demanded or oppor- 
tunity offered, and thus won the confidence and 
esteem of the community in which he lived; but 



Henry Y'onkers was the "star" teacher, for he 
possessed the requisite qualifications in a pre- 
eminent degree, being six feet three inches in 
height, and built in proportion. His towering 
strength, frequently displayed, succeeded in keep- 
ing his unruly pupils within the bounds of toler- 
able behavior. Outside of the school-room he 
was quiet in his demeanor. He engaged in 
farming upon the cessation of his school-room 
duties, and about 1850 removed from the county. 
Upon the premises of Pren Metham were sev- 
eral tenement houses which were subsequently 
CDnverted into school buildings and used as such 
for many years. The furniture was of the sim- 
plest description. Rough boards, fastened with 
wooden pins to the rude walls, served as writing 
desks. The seats were of a decided rustic cast, 
consisting of narrow slabs, supported by legs sO' 
long that the average sized pupil could not touch 
the floor by six inches. Here the children of the 
last generation uncomplainingly sat, without 
rest for back or feet, day after day. What a con- 
trast with the pleasantly and comfortably fur- 
nished school-rooms of to-day. 

The cannel coal, which lies in rich, abundant 
fields among the hills of Jefferson township, was 
discovered in the following manner: In 1832, 
Payne Clark, who had just come into the town- 
ship, and was engaged in erecting his little cabin, 
on the Simmons section, was searching in the 
ravines for a hearth-stone, and saw an out-crop- 
ping of the coal, Not knowing what it was, and 
perceiving that in size and shape it was admira- 
bly -adapted for the purpose in view, he pro- 
cured a fine, large slab, and fitted it in the fire- 
place. A large fire was then built upon it, and 
the result may easily be imagined. The house, 
fortunately, was not burned, but Mr. Clark was 
obliged to hunt another hearth-stone. Twenty- 
five years later, fortunes were spent in cannel 
coal oil speculations in this vicinity. 

A history of these unfortunate coal oil enter- 
prises has already been given in the history of 
Bedford township, and it would be superfluous 
to repeat it here. Jefferson and Bedford were 
the only two townships in which the oil was man- 
ufactured. The extent of the business in Jefler- 
son was considerably greater than in Bedford 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



519 



township, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, 
was as follows : on Lyman's place, in the south- 
ern part of the Simmon's section, six companies 
were at work, viz : Lunburg & Co., of New York, 
whose works consisted of about twenty retorts ; 
Porter, Fields & Co., an eastern firm, also about 
twenty retorts ; John Dickey, ot Pennsylvania ; 
J. E. Holmes & Co., of Newark, Ohio; Holmes 
was a contractor, and also had an interest in a 
number of other works. Mr. Baker, an Eastern 
man, and the American Company, of Newark, 
running about thirty retorts. On John Wood's 
farm was a company, composed of Coshocton 
county men, called the Home Company, running 
about ten retorts. On James Moore's farm were 
two companies: Rambo, Stilwell & Co., of Dres- 
den, and one from Knox county. On Given's 
place, was one set of works owned by J. E. Pal- 
mer & Co., consisting of about twenty retorts. 
Palmer was a well-known Methodist preacher, 
and had as a partner a young New York capitalist. 

Tlie village of Warsaw, containing a population 
of 275, is situated in the eastern part of the town- 
ship in the Walhonding valley, north of the river. 
It was laid out November 13, 1834, by William 
Carhart, the son-in-law of Colonel Simmons. 
The original plat embraced thirty-two lots lying 
on both sides of Main street. March 4, 1840, 
Rufus Eldredge platted an addition consisting of 
forty-one lots, facing Church street. This was 
during the time the Walhonding canal was build- 
ing. The canal improved the little village con- 
siderably. A second addition, consisting princi- 
pally of the lots on Cherry street, was subse- 
quently made by N. Buckalew. The town was 
named in honor of the capital of Poland, through 
sympathy with her earnest though ineffectual 
struggle for liberty. 

Tlie first building on the site of the \'illage was 
the residence of William Carhart, the proprietor. 
It was built several years before the town was 
laid out, and stood where the town now is. The 
first store was kept by John Collins, at a place 
where Foster's store now stands. Soon after 
Collins started, Major William Long opened a 
store room. After the canal was built, he also 
dealt largely im grain, continuing that business 
up to the time of liis death, which occurred about 



1850. After his death, grain was handled for a 
short time by Joseph Crowley and John Wil- 
liams; the business was then discontinued for 
many years. In 1879, Nichols & Gamble com- 
menced buying grain and are still so engaged. 
In years gone by, a foundry was successfully car- 
ried on, first by Ephraim De Vinney, afterwards 
by Thomas Randies, in the building now used by 
George Thompson as a blacksmith shop. 

The most extensive industrial pursuit is car- 
ried on at the grist-mill owned by Beck A- Well- 
ing. It is a large building, the main i)art being 
thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and the warehouse 
attached to it twenty-four by thirty-six feet. It 
is five stories high, including basement and loft, 
and does a flourishing business, having throe run 
of buhrs. The mill was erected in 1S40. Its 
water power is applied by the canal. A thirty- 
year lease for the water power expired in 1879, 
and a lease for twenty years reissued. The 
building of the mill was begun by William Long, 
but before its completion he died, and the mill 
fell into the hands of Nicholsxs and Porter Rec- 
tor, who finished it, and added the warehouse. 
They operated it for a numljer of years, then sold 
it to Donnelly, Darling & Co. Robert Darling 
purchased the interest of his partners, and, with 
his son, operated it fourteen years under the 
firm name of R. Darling & Son. In 1879, it was 
purchased by the present owners. 

Just to the right of the road entering Warsaw 
from Coshocton on Beaver run, stands a saw-mill 
owned by C. Strome. It was purchased by him 
in 1841, having been erected many years prior to 
this date by Colonel Simmons. Previous to 1841, 
it was a grist and saw-mill combined. There 
was only one run of ston-^, however, grinding 
nothing but corn and buckwheat. Mr. Strome 
erected a new building, and put in another set of 
buhrs, with which to grind wheat. About 1860 
he suspended operations in the grinding depart- 
ment, using the building only as a saw-mill 
since. A carding-mill was also connected with it 
in its earliest days. 

Farther up the street, to the right of the Wal- 
honding bridge, is a large three-story frame build- 
ing, containing several shops. It was erected 
about 1873, by Wright ct Baliir, as a general repair 
shop. Darius Wright, in 1875, purchased his 



520 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



partners share, and now has sole possession. He 
occupies the second floor, using it as a black- 
smith and machine repair shop, It contains a 
turning latliaand the machinery necessary to do 
all kinds of repair work. Four workmen are 
usually employed in the shop. The upper floor 
contains the wagon manufactory and paint shop 
of Casimer Fortcnbacher. The lower or base- 
ment story contains the foundry of Simon Ellii)tt, 
which he has been running about two years. 
There are in the village two other blacksmith 
shops, owned by George Thompson and Philip 
Rudolph; two wagon shops, Jacob Cline's and 
John Kepler's ; two shoe shops, John Speckman's 
and F. Seal's, and Adam Coflhian's harness shop. 
Jlrs. Plowman is hostess at the Sherman house. 

The mercantile business is represented as fol- 
lows: Dry goods, Nichols & Gamble, C. Stone 
and James Foster ; hardware, Caser & Co. ; drugs, 
Lawson & Son; groceries, Charles Markley, Jacob 
Darling, William Markley and Senft Brothers. 

Two practicing physicians now reside in War- 
saw, Drs. Pren Moore and H. Blackman. David 
Lawson, who studied with Dr. Russell, of Mount 
Vernon, commenced practice in 1849, but has 
since retired, and is now in the drug business 
here. Among the physicians of a former date 
were Henry Miller, afterward so distinguished 
in business circles in Columbus, his brother 
Jonathan, afterward of Franklin county, and 
William Stiinton. 

Warsaw Lodge, No. 255 of the Masonic frater- 
nity, was located here for many years, but has re- 
cently been removed to Spring Mountain. 

The village school-house is a large, two-story 
frame building, erected in 1871, and consisting of 
three departments, the high-school, secondary 
and primary. The teachers are J. W. Murphy, 
C. Shaw, and A. D. Clark. 

The old school building contained but one 
room. It is still standing, and is used occasion- 
ally for religious services. The Disciples have 
been holding meetings here for several years. 
Their congregation is as yet small and feeble, 
recently formed, and consisting mainly of 
lilatthew Stover and wife, Henry Still and wife, 
William Wilson and wife, and James Wilson and 
wife. Rev. HofTman h;is been filling the pulpit. 
The Baptists occasionally hold services here also. 



But one church edifice now graces tlie village, 
that of the Methodist Episcopal society, which 
was organized in 18i3, by Rev. Mr. Thatcher; 
the presiding elder at the time being the Rev. 
Mr. Yocum. For five or six years meetings 
were held in the old school-house, still standing 
on the hill. The first members were Langdon 
Hogle, Andrew Weatherwax and wife, Joseph 
Meggs and wife, John Hook and wife, William 
Pancake and wife. The church was built about 
live years after the societ}' was organized ; a 
frame building worth something over SI, 000. 
Rev. Mr. Thatcher was followed b}' Rev. Finley 
Leonard, during whose ministry a great revival 
occurred, the result being an addition of some 
forty to the church. The number of communi- 
cants at this time is about fifty, and the church 
is in a prosperous condition. 

Mohawk village, lying in the little valley of Mo- 
hawk run, from which it received its name, in 
the southwestern part of the township, was laid 
out in 1859, by William and James Thompson. 
Its. existence is due to the coal oil excitement 
which led to the occupancy of this part of the 
township. The cannel coal fields surrounded it 
on three sides and the demand for dwelling 
houses for the laborers employed in the works 
and for a trading center resulted in the establish- 
ment of the little village. For about eighteen 
months, until the coal oil bubble burst, it enjoyed 
a mushroom kind of growth ; since then il has 
barely held its own. No houses were erected 
since 1860, until within a year or two. It now 
contains about seventy-five souls. 

The first house was built by William McFar- 
land as a dwelling house and store-room com- 
bined. The store-room is still occupied as such 
by D. E. Almack. Mr. McFarland was a cousin 
to the Moores, came from Virginia and after- 
ward returned there. A. Mr. Hodkins inaugu- 
rated mercantile business here. He kept a very 
limited stock of groceries and coal oil for a very 
limited space of time, and was followed by Zack 
Bush whose stock in trade consisted of groceries 
and liquors. Subsequently Newton StilweU 
opened a " regular " store, keeping a full line of 
dry goods, clothing, boots, groaeries, etc. He 
was from Dresden and removed from Mohawk 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



521 



village to Missouri. The present business of the 
village is as follows: D. E. Almack, dry goods; K. 
H. McFadden, dry goods; Will Wheeler, har- 
ness sliop; Malilon Scliooley, shoe shop; J. H. 
Johnson, blackMiiith and carriage shop. 

The school-house is acretlitable two-story build- 
ing, in which two schools are usually kept. Only 
one has been in progress during the last year, 
however, owing to an unusually small enumera- 
tion. 

Alary McClurc has charge of the mail. Pre- 
vious to the platting of the village, James iloore 
kept a postoffice a number of years, about a 
mile north of it. 

Mohawk Lodge of the Independent Order of 
Good Templars, located here, was organized in 
February, 1869, for the purpose of counteracting 
the influence of, and sujipressing, if i)Ossible, a 
saloon which had recently flung its sign to the 
breeze. The mission of the lodge was speedily 
crowned with success. WiUiam Barnes, of New 
Bedford Lodge, and Deputy of the Grand Lodge, 
organized it. Among its twelve charter mem- 
bers were Henry Aletham, Robert Moore, Thomas 
Schooley, William Dearness, R. H. McFadden, 
James Moore, Sr., James Moore, Jr., D. E. Almack 
and Robert Given. During its brief career, it 
has initiated about 300 members, a large number 
of whom have removed to other places. The 
societj' is in a healthy condition at present, 
contains 100 members, and is offlcered as follows : 
J. Q. Moore, worthy chief templar; Charlotte 
Metham, worthy vice templar; Grant Wheeler, 
secretary, and Mary Graham, treasurer. The 
village is noted for its sobriety and morality. 
Several times have saloons been opened here, 
but they have been as often closed, in a very 
short time. Not only is the popular sentiment 
opposed to the sale of liquor, but legal recourse 
may be had at any time. Within each orginal 
deed for the town lots was inserted a clause pro- 
hibitory of the sale of into.vicating drinks, under 
the penalty of forfeiture of i)roperty. The va- 
lidity of that clause has been tested in the courts 
and sustained. 

Mohawk villiige is scarcely known by that 
name. It is universally called Jericho. The 
story goes that a noted Irish character living in 
this vicinity became greatly displeased at the 



manner in which the school was conducted, and, 
meeting one of the Scotch school directors one 
day, berated him soundly about it. The wrath 
of the Scotchman, under the personal abuse 
heaped upon him, graiiually rose to the point of 
ebullition, when it could contain itself no longer, 
and was vented upon the wordy offender, who 
presented a sorry spect^icle for days afterward. 
The Irishman wrote an account of his wrongs, 
and had it read in a paper before the local lite- 
rary society. In it he describeil how, in going 
down from Jerusalem into Jericho, he fell among 
thieves and robbers. So pleased were the audit- 
ors with the production that this village was 
forthwith dubbed Jericho, and the name has 
clung to it ever since. 

From 1845 to 1850, or thereabouts, a country 
postoffice existed in the southeastern part of the 
township, under the name of Rural Vale. The 
postmasters were John Elder, John Taylor, Mr. 
Lindersmith and John Williams, successively. 

The Mohawk village church, located about a 
mile east of the village, was organized in the fall 
of 1840, at the Whittaker school-house, by Rev. 
Harvey D. Camp. In the preceding year a com- 
pany from Ireland had settled in the Mohawk 
valley, until that time a comparative wilderness. 
They were followed the next year by other fami- 
lies of the same connection. The first company 
embraced James Moore, deceased (father of Rob- 
ert Moore), James Moore, Jr., John Moore and 
William Moore. Those coming the next year, 
were William and James Given, William and 
James Thompson, and William Moore. And 
these families, with Thomas Tredaway and wife, 
composed the society at its organization. In 
1841, there was an addition to the settlement, in- 
cluding, besides others, John Moore and family, 
and the well-known James and Robert of the 
day. For about a year from the organization, 
the meetings were held in the Whittiiker school- 
house ; then a school-house was built in the set- 
tlement and meetings held in that. Li 1840, the 
church was built— worth some $1,500. Within a 
few years it has been repaired, and very much 
improved as to its interior. It st^mds near a re- 
freshing spring of water, and is convenient and 
attractive in all its appointments and arrange- 
ments. The minister first in charge was Rev. 



522 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Mi-. Camp. Rev. Leonard Parker succeeded him, 
and Rev. Henry Whittemore succeeded Parker. 
Under his ministry, quite a noticeable number 
were added to the society. Rev. Homer J. Clark 
followed Whittemore. Then came Austin Cole- 
man, during whose ministry the church building 
was erected. Just prior to building the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, he held a protracted meet- 
ing in the Baptist church, which had been built 
the year before. During this revival there was a 
great many valuable accessions. The history of 
the society has been marked by great prosperity. 
The number of members at this time is about 
120. Rev. Philip Kelser is the pastor in charge. 
A Sunday-school with a membership of 125, 
superintended by the pastor, assisted by Miss 
Effie Moore, and supplied with a fine library, has 
been successfully maintained for several years, 
summer and winter, having previously been held 
only during the summer. 

Jefferson Presbyterian church is situated about 
a mile south of the Ndllage of Warsaw. Among 
those chiefly interested in the organization of the 
church were the Elder family, and the building 
was located on a site given for the purpose on the 
farm of John Elder. The church was organized 
August 19, 1837, by Rev. Nathaniel Conklin. A 
colony was sent out for the purpose from the 
West Carlisle church, with which it has nearly 
always been associated in making a pastoral 
charge. The early meetings were held in a 
school-house for a few years, then the congrega- 
tion erected the commodious frame now in serv- 
ice. The principal ministerial labor has been 
rendered by Revs. Matthews, Bomberger, John 
Moore and Fox. Rev. W. D. Wallace is the pres- 
ent pastor. The church, which had, at the outset, 
twenty-four members, has now about seventy-five. 

Darling's run Regular Baptist church was or- 
ganized in 18GC, with ten members. They ad- 
vanced for some years, but have now come to a 
stand-still condition, with a member.shiij of a little 
over twenty. They have no house of worship, 
using a school-house for that purpose. They 
have had as pastors. Elder W. S. Barnes and Rev. 
H. Clark. They have no pastor at present. 

Jefferson Regular Baptist church was organ- 



ized May, 1S40, by Elder B. White, with six mem- 
bers. It grew rapidly, and, in 1846, its member- 
ship was nearly 100, and in 1850, 130. Subse- 
quently it began to decrease in numbers, caused 
mostly by removals west and elsewhere. Not 
more than ten years elapsed until it was but a 
weak church. Since 1860, it has not been able to 
sustain preaching, and, in fact, is no longer to be 
properly called a church. The ministers that 
have labored for this church are as follows : B. 
White, William Mears, L. Gilbert, J.M. Winn,R. 
R. Whitaker, S. W. Frederick, A. W. Odor, under 
missionary employ, and A. W. Arnold. The old 
frame house of worshij) is almost a wreck. 

The Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Reform 
church (German) is situated in the northeastern 
portion of Jefferson township. It was organized 
in 1844, b}' Rev. Frederick Minner. Preaching 
had previously been held at the house of Christ- 
ian Gamersfelter, of Clark township, and later in 
Peter Strome's house, in this township, as the 
greater number of the attendants settled in this 
vicinity. Other Germans came in, and in the 
above mentioned year a society was formed and 
a weather-boarded log meeting-house, which ia 
still used, was built, by the personal labor of the 
members. Christian Shoemaker, Jacob Freder- 
ick, Abram Vaii Kennel and Christian Gamers- 
felter were the most active members at the time 
of the erection. The pastors in charge of this 
flock since Rev. Minner, have been Revs. Lewis 
Dhume, Holm Gosche Holm, Frederick Hunche, 
John Bery and John Horn. At the termination 
of the pastorate of the last named minister ser- 
vices were discontinued for a while, but Rev. 
Bery has since been recalled, and is now serving 
this and two other congregations. The member- 
ship is very small. 

The Tabor Evangelical church — better known 
as the Albright — was organized about 1850. Its 
organization was due chiefly to a dissention in 
the Lutheran church, which caused a number of 
its members to withdraw, and subsequently to 
organize this body. Chief among the little band 
of organizers were John Frederick, Earnest 
Myer, Joseph Speak, Casper Mingel. Henry Cor- 
rel and Jacob Heckelberger. Its first minister 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



RY O 



523 



was Rev. Monk. A log mecting-housjC, in the ex- 
treme northeastern part of the township, was 
soon built, and was used until the society disband-, 
ed, in 1S6S. This dissolution was due to the 
building of the Hopewell Evangelical church, in 
Clark township, as a considerable number of the 
Tabor congregation, who resided in Clark town- 
ship, severed their connection with Tabor church 
and united with tlie Hopewell church, on account 
of its proximity to their homes. 

The Bethel Evangelical church grew out of the 
Tabor church, might, in fact, be regarded as a 
continuation of it. About a year after services 
were suspended in the old Tabor church, those of 
the members who resided in tliis township erect- 
ed another building, about a mile and a half 
southwest from the old structure. Jacob Gam- 
ersfelter. Christian Kascr, Joseph Speck, William 
King, Christian Strome, Peter Haas and John 
Fredei'ick were its main members at this time. 
Now the membershij) is nearly fifty. The pas- 
tors in charge of the circuit to which this con- 
gregation belongs, are Revs. John Smith and 
Frank Tohero. A flourishing Sabbath-school 
exists, with about seventy members. Jacob Gam- 
■ersfelter has been superintendent for many 
years. 



CHAPTER LVII. 



KEESE TOWNSHIP. 



Boundary — Streams — Springs — Soil — Military Land — Archae- 
olog>'— Settlements — First I'hysicians — Mills and Distil- 
leries—Early Schools—" Loud School "-Early Preaching- 
Kccne— Newport— Churches. 

KEENE township is bounded on the north by 
Mill Creek township, on the east by White 
Eyes, on the south by Tuscarawas and Jackson, 
and on the west by Bethlehem township. It was 
•organized as a separate township in 1824, pre- 
vious to that time having been a part of Mill 
■Creek. The Walhonding river passes through 
the southwestern corner, cutting off about a hun- 
dred acres from the main portion of tlie town- 
ship. Mill creek is the principal stream. It 
passes through the township from north to south, 
entering the Walhonding river a short distance 
below, in Tuscarawas township. Several stream- 



lets run througli the township, one of them being 
designated Little Mill creek. Springs of a strong 
flow and an excellent quality of water are abund- 
antly scattered throughout the township, furnish- 
ing water at nearly every farm house. The sur- 
face may be described as rough and rolling, be- 
coming in some places hilly. In the southwestern 
corner, along the WallKjnding, are a few hundred 
acres of rich, loamy bottom land. E.xcept this 
the soil is generally a yellow clay, with a little 
sand, and produces good crops. It seems specially 
adapted to pasturage, as it produces blue gnvss 
in rich abundance. Oak, chestnut, walnut, beech, 
sugar, hickory and white ash arc the principal 
varieties of timber; they covered the entire sur- 
face of the township before it was cleared by the 
woodman's a.x. 

Three-fourths of the township is military land, 
the first section, or the northeastern quarter of 
the township, being congress land. The second 
section, or northwestern quarter, was surveyed 
by the government into lots of one hundred 
acres each, which were entered severally from 
time to time, as they were demanded. The third 
section of the township, its southwestern quarter, 
belonged originally to Robert Underwood, his 
patent for the land being from the President of 
the United States, being dated March 29. 1800. 
Mr. Underwood wa.s a government official in the 
treasury department at Washington, and never 
resided in Coshocton county. His section was 
located for him by J. Matthews. For his services 
in locating this section and several other sec- 
tions, jNIatthews received from 5Ir. Underwood a 
five hundred acre tract of land in the southeast- 
ern part of this section. This tract was shortly 
after conveyed by Matthews to Ebenezer Buck- 
ingham, and by Buckingham to Benjamin Bur- 
rell, who settled upon it. Underwood had his 
section surveyed into lots of about one hundred 
acres each, which he sold gradually to settlers 
coming in, until all were disposed of. The 
fourth section, or the southeastern quarter of the 
township, wa.s granted May 16, 1800, by President 
Adams to James Hamilton, of Carlisle, Pennsyl- 
vania. He. too, was a non-resident of the comity, 
and S(jld the land by parcels to settlers. 

Archseological remains are not numerous in 
this township. In this county they are found usu- 



524 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ally in tlie broad valleys of the larger streams, 
and in Keene townshiji the only valley of this 
kind is that of the Walhonding which merely 
touches the soutliwestern corner. Here, liowever, 
is found a stone mound situated on the farm of 
K. D. Miller several hundred yards from his 
house on the point of a hill that overlooks the 
valley. A large portion of the stone forming it 
has been hauled away. Before it was disturbed, 
it was about twelve feet in diameter, three in 
hight, and regular in slope. The stones were of 
various sizes, nicely fitted together like mason 
work. It has never been explored. About a 
mile southeast of this, just west of the residence 
of Saul Miller, on a nearly level ridge of land is a 
flat circular elevation, several feet high, covering 
about an acre. Mr. Miller, plowing at one side 
of this elevation several years ago, struck the 
plow against a layer of stone, some little distance 
below the "surface, which seemed to be a pave- 
ment leading t(.) a spring situated just below. 
Across the road from his house upon the top of 
a flat sivnd hill are a number of excavations in 
the sandy soil perhaps ten feet deep. When or 
■why they were made it is difficult even to con- 
jecture. 

The Underwood section was the first part of 
the township to be settled. One of the first at- 
tempts at mill building in Coshocton county was 
made in this section, on Mill creek. It was 
about the year ISOl that Ebenezer Buchingham, 
of Zanesville, had a dam for a saw-mill con- 
structed on his land in this section, within 200 
yards of where M McCarty now lives; but it 
was swept away the same fall during high waters, 
and the project in consequence abandoned. Ac- 
cording to another account, the work of building 
the dam was done by George Colver and another 
Tnan, and before it was completed one of the men 
died from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. This 
caused the other to relinquish work and return 
to Zanesville. Benjamin Burrell, a few years 
later, about 1S07, settled here. He was from 
Frederick county, Maryland, and died soon after 
the war of 1812. 

One of the first men to settle on this sec- 
tion was Nicholas Miller, who, in 1804, came 
•with his father, Henry Miller, from Hampshire 



county, Virginia, to this county. His father had 
served seven years in the revolutionary war as a 
sharp-shooter, under General Morgan. Nicholas 
lived two years with his uncle, Michael Miller, in 
Franklin township; then, in 1806, took up a resi- 
dence in Keene township, which was continued 
till his death. When he came into the township 
his entire fortune consisted of $36 in money and 
two axes. He first bought seventy-two acres 
from Mr. Underwood, paying for it in part by 
assisting in the survey of the section. Large ad- 
ditions of real estate were subsequently made to ■ 
this. Several years after he settled here he mar- 
ried Mary Darling, who, at the age of eighteen, 
in 1806, drove a four-horse team through from 
Virginia. Her brothers, William and Jonathan, . 
were among the first settlers of Jefferson town- 
ship. 

During the winter preceding Mr. Miller's ar- 
rival in Keene township, he was engaged in 
deadening the trees on the little tract he had 
bought, and instead of returning to his home in 
Franklin township, every evening, he made a 
cave-like excavation under a jutting rock, which, 
served frequently as a sleeping place. He had 
retired here, one stormy evening, when he ob- 
served a bear approaching him. The sight, at 
first, frightened him, for he had no weapon at 
hand ; but he raised a hideous yell, and the bear 
scampered away. Once, when bear hunting, he 
had shot and wounded his game, but not mor- 
tally, and he was in great personal danger. His 
trusty dog advanced upon the bear and attacked 
it. Bruin turned his attention from Miller to 
the dog, embracing the latler in a death-like hug. 
Miller, in the meantime, quickly loaded his gun, 
with powder and ball thrown in loosely, ran up 
to the bear and shot it dead in its tracks. The 
dog arose, walked a few steps, then fell dead. 

Musters were held in Coshocton as soon as 
men enough to form a company could be col- 
lected. While Miller was attending one there,, 
an Indian attempted to steal his horse. Miller 
detected him in the act, and attacking him in 
true pioneer style, gave him a drubbing. The 
Indian threatened revenge after he recovered, 
but Miller was never disturbed by him. 

In 1806, Garrett Moore, a Virginian, also set- 
tled on the Underwood section, on lot 13. Henry- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



525 



Jlurray, Van Emery, Jackson Baker, William 
Winton, Samuel Thompson and James MeCul- 
lock came about the same time. They were 
either renters or squatters, and were only tran- 
sient in their stiiy here. Several years later, 
Elizabeth and George Emery, niother and son, 
settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the 
tt)wnship. 

James Oglesby, now the oldest resident of 
Keene township, became a settler in 1810. He 
was from Virginia, and came through to Coshoc- 
ton by team. He first leased a place from Isaac 
Evans, adjoining his present home, and afterward 
acquired considerable property in his own name. 
He served twice in the war of 1812, lirst about 
forty days in the vicinity of Mansfield, afterward 
a terra of six months at upper Sandusky. 

Four or five years later, George Titus emi- 
grated from Virginia, and located on lot 22. He 
was a blacksmith, the first to pursue that trade in 
Keene township. Cuthbert Milligan and his 
wife about 1815, crossed the mountains from 
Hardy county, Virginia, with a single horse ; 
each of them would alternately ride and walk. 
Mr. Milligan leased the Worman farm for a num- 
ber of years, then purchased a portion of lot 22. 
James Mulford came about the same time. 

In 1816, George Bible, another Virginian, en- 
tered the township and settled on the Underwood 
section. He was a famous hunter and devoted 
most of his time to this his favorite occupation. 
For a number of years, from 100 to 150 deer, be- 
sides other game, were annually brought down by 
his rifle. 

The year 1817 brought Charles Dusthimer to this 
section from the vicinity of Newcomerstown, to 
which place he had emigrated eight years before 
from Virginia. James O'Donnell came with him. 
Henry Preston purchased and settled upon lots 
6 and 7; he subsequently »oU\ them to John Kay, 
who came in 1817. Isaac Siphers came the same 
year. Shortly after the war of 1812, James Pew, 
who hiul been a soldier under General Harrison, 
settled on lot 11, where his widow still lives. 

John Williams and William Livingston were 
among the earliest settlers of the Hamilton sec- 
tion. Livingston served for a number of years 
as justice of the peace. 

The northeast quarter of the township began 



to be settled about 1816. James Carson was 
among the earliest persons here. He located the 
northwest quarter of section 2. William Elliott 
and Andrew Neal followed soon after, the latter 
settling on the northeiist quarter of section 8. 
Henry Barnes, about this time, owned the north- 
east quarter of section 9. John Daugherty and 
John Crowley were also early settlers. George 
Shoemaker came from Rockingham county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1821. Jacob Bible, a brother to George 
Bible, accompanied him. He is still living just 
across the line in Bethlehem township. From 
1817 to about 1822, settlers rapidly filled up un- 
occupied sections, and at this latter date this 
quarter of the township was probably entirely 
settled. 

The northwestern portion of Keene township 
w;xs settled principally by New Englanders, 
most of whom were from Cheshire county, New 
Hampshire. Among the earliest and best known 
were Timothy Emerson, Jacob Emerson, his 
cousin, Jesse Beals, Adam Johnson, Robert Far- 
well, Zopher Farwell, Dr. Benjamin Hills, Calvin 
Adams, John Burton, Henry Jewett, Samuel 
Stone, Jonas Child and Chauncy Litchfield. 

Timothy Emerson came in 1818, from Ashley,. 
Massachusetts, and settled on lot 12. The first 
Sunday-school in Keene township owed its ex- 
istence to his eflbrts. He died in Keene town- 
.ship in 1873 at the ripe age of ninety-six, just as 
he was about to remove to Granville, where two 
children resided. The Farwells came in 1825, 
from Cheshire county. New Hampshire. Robert 
Farwell was instrumental in introducing the first 
fine sheep into Keene township. Adam Johnson 
came in 1819, also from Cheshire county, New 
Hamp.shire. He was a well educated man, for 
several years a justice of the peace in this town- 
ship, and withal a very active and prominent 
citizen. Dr. Benjaman Hills settled in practice 
here at the instance of his friend Ailam Johnson, 
about 1820 or 1821, emigrating from the same 
place. He was the first physician in Keene 
township and one of the first in Coshocton 
county. For a while it is said he and Dr. Lee of 
Coshocton were the only two practitioners in the 
county. Although very young at the time, he 
had been in the revolutionary war initsliist year 
as an assistant to an army surgeon. He Wiis quite- 



526 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



eccentric, it appears; rough in speech but kind 
of heart and especially tender toward the brute 
creation, horses, dogs, cats, etc. It is said that for 
a long time he fed daily a rattlesnake that had 
taken up its abode under his barn. In medicine 
he was a great admirer of the works .of Dr. Rush 
of Philadelphia. His medical hobby was that all 
diseases were produced by miasmatic influence- 
His wife died in 1834, ho returned to New Eng- 
land and died shortly after. Dr. Lewis Colby 
from Vermont, a well educated physician, located 
.at Keene about 1828. His stay here was brief. A 
few years later he removed to Louisiana and 
died there soon after. 

BaiJtholomew _Thiii!?I' •'^ revolutionary soldier, 
settled on lot 2 of the southwestern section. He 
died in 1826, at the age of seventy years, and was 
buried on his farm. Courage and credulity were 
two elements of his character, as the following 
incident will testify: While Adam Johnson was 
surveying the town of Keene, a rattlesnake was 
seen by one of the men and killed. Thayer, who 
was present, was afflicted with an ailment of some 
kind, and h.ad heard that the heart of a rattle- 
snake was a sure cure. Eager to test the efficacy 
of the remedy, he at once cut out the heart of 
the viper, and at a single gulp swallowed it. 

The earliest township records preserved are 
for the year 1828. They show that during that 
year the officers were as follows : Timothy 
Emerson, John Eader and George Ford, trustees; 
Jolm Daughertj' and James Pew, fence viewers; 
Henry Barnes, clerk; E. Thayer, justice of the 
peace ; Jacob Emerson, const<able. 

The first mill permanently erected was built 
by Nicholas Miller, in 181G, on what is now the 
farm of his son, Saul Miller. About ten years 
later a grist mill was added. The two were sold 
to John Burton soon after, and while in his pos- 
session were destroyed by fire, in 1836. About 
1818 Jacob Emerson built a mill on lot 14 of the 
northwest quarter. He subsequently sold it to 
the Farwells. It suspended operations perma- 
nently in 1859. On lot 3 of the southwest 
quarter Ephraim Thayer, about 1825, built a saw- 
mill and grist-mill combined. Several years 
later a carding and fulling machine was attached 
to the mill. This was the first carding-mill in 



this section of country, and for a number of 
years it did an extensive business. It went down 
about 1840. Eev. Adams, of later years, had a 
little, open, frame saw-mill, on lot 19 of the 
northwest quarter, where he also ground a little 
corn and buckwheat. John Andrews also ran a 
little corn-cracker several years on a little creek 
in the northeastern part of the township. 

The only distillery operated in Keene town- 
ship was a little copper affair owned by Isaac 
Siphers, situated on lot 7, in the southwest 
quarter of the township, built about 1820, and 
kept up about fifteen years. 

Long before the schools were maintained by 
public taxation, the demand for education among 
the pioneers of this township, as well as else- 
where, was sufficiently strong to keep schools in 
operation regularly for a few months every year. 
The earliest schools were taught in school-cabins 
built by the settlers, or in deserted huts, here 
and there, wherever they could be found. One 
of the earliest school-houses erected, stood on lot 
13 of the southwest quarter of the township. It 
was built about 1818 or 1820, by the people of this 
vicinity, who '■ turned out" with their teams and 
their axes and soon constructed it and its rude 
furniture. It was a little log cabin, just high 
enough to permit a man to stand upright in it, 
with a fire-place, ten feet wide, occupying one 
end; for windows it had sheets of oiled paper 
placed over holes cut in the wall for this purpose. 
The seats were simply flat rails put on legs, the 
floor was puncheon and the roof made of clap 
boards. The first school in this building was 
taught by James Wilson, a gray haired man of 
about sixty winters. He was a Virginian, and 
came to Ohio, he said, to visit friends in Knox 
county, but, depleted in purse, he chanced to pass 
through this neighborhood just as the people 
were looking for a teacher. He was hired forth- 
with to teach the winter school of two months. The 
branches taught were reading, writing and spell- 
ing. Of the mysteries of arithmetic the old man 
was as ignorant as his pupils. He kept what was 
termed a " loud school," conducted on the funda- 
mental principal that the greater the noise, the 
greater the amount of "larnin." An imperative 
rule was that all the scholars should study aloud. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



527 



the louder the better. Among his pupils were a 
number of strapping young backwoodsmen, and 
it is needless to say that until the novelty of the 
thing wore ofT their vocal powers wore exercised 
to their utmost capacity. To say that the din 
produced was deafening, would be to say that 
the falls of Niagara were "pretty good." Some 
of the young people who attended this school, 
were Ben. Norman, Isaac Oglesby, John Minton, 
Isaac Good, John Mulford, George Mulford, Diana 
Mulford, Robert Miller, George Moore and Gar- 
rett Moore. The location of the school proved 
to be too far north to be- central for those who 
supported it, and consequently it was not kept 
up very long. Schools were afterward tiiught in 
abandoned cabins farther to the south. One of 
these was on lot 17 of the southwest quarter, 
taught by Amos Bonum, a cri])ple. The Millers, 
Oglesbys, Bakers, Enierys and others, attended 
school here. Afterward a school house was built 
in the northeastern corner of lot 14, same section, 
where V. Schwartz now lives. 

Another early subscription school was situated 
on lot 7 of the same quarter. John Kay, Charlie 
McKee, Henry Barnes, William Kay, William 
Norman, Tipton Thompson and John Fulks 
were among the teachers here. The school in 
Keene village was established in 1820. Farther 
east, before the year 1820, Robert Boyd taught 
schools in old cabins a number of years. 

In primitive pioneer times the market price of 
wheat was twenty-five cents a bushel ; cott'ce cost 
fifty cents a pound, and calico forty to fifty cents 
a yard. The " corn crackers " in use would not 
grind wheat to a desirable degree of fineness, 
and, to separate the coarser grits, perforated 
deer-skin often answered the purpose of sieves. 
Buckskin pants were the prevailing fashion with 
the men, and coats were seldom if ever worn, 
even to church. Miss Shoemaker, an old maiden 
lady, residing a mile or so northeast of the village 
of Keene, remembers vividly the "open air" 
meeting held by the Presbyterians in early days, 
the preacher, standing beneath the umbrageous 
oak, vigorously expounding his fourthlics and 
fifthlies to his hearers, while children of all sizes 
and ages were creeping over the ground and 
dividing with the preacher the attention of their 



parents. Once an irreverent wag, during the 
night before communion services were to be held 
in this grove, peeled the bark from one of the 
trees, which would be conspicuous the next day, 
and painted in large letters on the white surface 
thus exposed the words, "beer and cakes," or 
some similar motto. The indignation of the 
members was stronglj' aroused against the per- 
petrator of this reflection upon their religious 
services, and he would have suffered had his 
identity been discovered. 

Methodist itinerant preachers came to Keene 
frequently, before a class was organized there, 
and discoursed in divers places, just as circum- 
stances would permit. One place for holding 
meetings was a little deserted cabin, floorless and 
dreary, situated about a mile south of the village. 
It was an invariable habit among the back-woods- 
men to bring their dogs with them in attending 
church here. The snarling and fighting of the 
dogs in church was a cause of great annoyance 
to the preacher. The manifestation of an un- 
usual amount of canine dej>ravity one day was 
too much for the patience of Rev. Graham, who 
was then filling the pulpit, and he proceeded to 
administer a rebuke. After admonishing his 
hearers to remember where he had stopped 
preaching, that they might not lose the thread of 
his discourse, he demanded of his congregation 
reasons why they persisted in permitting their 
dogs to accompany them to service. He inquired 
whether it was through fear of wild animals; if 
so, they should bring their guns with them. Was 
it through fear of the devil ? Then let them get 
down on their knees in their cabins and pray to 
their God to drive him away. The rebuke, it is 
understood, produced the desired effect. 

The village of Keene is very pleasantly located 
a little northwest of the center of the township. 
It stands on the crest of a range of low hills and 
commands a view for miles around of a beauti- 
fully rolling country. It was laid out in 1820, by 
Jesse Beals, the original plat containing sixteen 
lots. An addition was made in 1839, by Charles 
and Robert Farwell. As originally platted, the 
village was wholly within lot 1 of the northwest 
section. This part is now the southeastern por- 



528 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



tion of town. Elisha Elliott was the first resident 
owner of lot 1, but, previous to the survey of the 
town, he had sold it to John Burton and Jesse 
Beals, the eastern half to the former and the 
western part, which is the site of the village, to 
the latter. Beals emigrated from near Keene, 
Cheshire county, New Hampshire, as did a num- 
ber of the other settlers in this vicinity, and 
named the village in honor of his old home. 
The township name has, of course, the same 
origin. 

At the time the -Nallage was platted, no build- 
ing stood within its limits, the entire ground 
still covered with its primal dress of forest trees 
and thickets. There was, however, at this time, 
on lot number 2, on land which afterwards 
became a part of Keene, a hewed-log cabin, 
erected, a year or two before, by Alexander 
Barnes. The first building within Keene proper 
was a school-house, described as "a little leaky 
log cabin." Adam Johnson probably taught the 
first school here, during the winter of 1821. He 
was succeeded by James McMath, of Harrison 
county. A little later Daphne Johnson, daughter 
of Adam Johnson, was the village school mis- 
tress. She died a few years after, of consump- 
tion. Dr. Benjamin Hills erected the first dwell- 
ing-house. The next building was a shop for 
the manufacture of windmills, built by Chauncey 
Litchfield. 

Henry Ramsey was tlie first individual to sell 
goods at Keene. He dflered his little stock of 
merchandise to the public about 1827. Previous 
to that date, for some years, he had followed the 
occupation of peddling goods, from door to door, 
in this vicinity. He was an Irishman, by birth, 
and emigrated from Liverpool; a cabinetmaker, 
by trade, and was considered a queer, half-witted 
character. Alexander Renfrew for many years, 
in early times, kept a flourishing store here. 
Charles Farwell kept the first tavern. 

Keene once aspired to become the county seat. 
While Coshocton county still included a large 
portion of what is now Holmes county, the vil- 
lage of Coshocton was inconsiderable in size, 
and far from the center of the county. Keene 
claimed the advantage of a more ceiitral locality, 
and was urging its claims pretty strongly, wheji 
the formation of Holmes county, in 1824, put an 



end to the hopes of Keene in this direction- 
Prominent men at Coshocton, it is said, through 
fear of losing the county eeat, were influential 
in having the new county struck off. 

The only postoffice in the township is at 
Keene. It was first kept by Chauncey Litchfield 
about a mile south of the village, but, after this 
grew into a Uttle trading town, it was removed 
to this place, and Robert Farwell appointed 
postmaster. D. G. Whittemore fills this position 
at present. 

The village was settled to a great extent by New 
Englanders, and, in keeping with their advanced 
views of education, an academy was established 
here about 1845. A stock company, consisting of 
ten or twelve of its subst;nitial citizens, was or- 
ganized, a lot purchased, and a comfortable build- 
ing erected. The school was conducted first by 
Rev. George B. Sturges, an Episcopalian minister, 
afterward by Francis Benton and one or two 
others. For several years it enjoyed a vigorous 
growth and exerted a wide-spread influence, hav- 
ing in attendance at one time more than 100 
students from a distance. Then it began gradually 
to decline, and in a few years more was merged 
into the public schools. 

A Baptist church was located here years ago, 
but is no longer in existence. It was organized 
about 1842, at the residence of Absolom Farwell, 
by Rev. Gorham as officiating clergyman, and D. 
B. Whittemore, F. S. Bryant, Abscilom Farwell, 
Zopher Farwell and Charles Farwell as members. 
A large frame meeting-house, with steeple attach- 
ment, was built shortly after its organization. It 
became defunct about 1862, from internal dissen- 
sions and loss in membership. The building 
stood until 1871, when an incendiary reduced it 
to ashes. The ministers who labored with this 
church were J. M. Winn, B. White, M. J. Barnes 
and T. Evans. 

Keene has now a population of about 275. Its 
present business may be summarized as follows: 
Two .stores, owned by Smith A- Parkhill and Dan- 
iel Whittemore, two hotels, two wagon shops, 
three blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one 
harness shop. Two physicians reside and prac- 
tice here, Drs. M'illiam Shank and Joseph F. Sni- 
der. Two fine church buildings adorn the place, 
the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



529 



Newport, a dead city of the past, came into ex- 
istence in 1830, in which year it was laid out by 
Solomon Vail, close to the southern line of the 
township, on a little tract of land now owned 
by Saiah Wolfe. The Ol^o canal had just been 
built, and the design was to found an emporium 
of trade on this commercial highway. Its begin- 
ning was auspicious. Two warehouses, opened 
by Robert Mitchell and Butler Luce, speedily 
built up a large trade. Two stores and a tavern 
were stiirted, and the ring of the anvil was heard 
in the land ; but the hopes of the village were 
destined to be disappointed. A formidable rival. 
Canal Lewisville, came into e.xistence about a 
half mile to the east, and soon overtopped, then 
swallowed up, its little neighbor. Part of the plat 
of Canal Lewisville lies in Keene township, but 
all its buildidgs are in Tuscarawas township. 

There are now four churches in active opera- 
tion in Keene to\Nniship, two of which are in 
Keene village — the Lhiited Presbyterian and the 
German Baptist. Of these the United Presbyte- 
rian — Amity churches the oldest. It is located 
in the northeastern part of the township, and is 
composed of the Associate Reform congregation 
of Mill creek, and the Associate congregation of 
Keene, which, before the consolidation occupied 
substantially the same territory. Robert Boyd 
was the first member of the Associate Reform 
church who settled in Keene township. He 
came May 4, 1817, and was soon followed by oth- 
ers. Mr. Boyd was an educated man, and came 
when a young man from Ireland. The first 
preaching was in the summer of 1818, by Rev. 
George Buchanan, of Steubenville ; he preached 
occasionally afterward. Robert Boyd and George 
Ford, formerly elders in his congregation at 
Steubenville, acted as a session here. After 1822, 
Revs. David Proudfit. David Norwood and Moses 
Kerr supplied the pulpit occasionally. • 

The first con»munion was hold in the fall of 
1828, by Rev. Samuel Findley, D. D. The mem- 
bers at that time were Robert Boyd and wife, 
George Ford and wife, John Williams and wife, 
Thomas Hamilton and wife, Joseph Marshall and 
wife, Robert Boyd, Jr., and wife, Mrs. Nancy Fos- 
ter, :Mrs. Sarah Ford, and others. Rev. D. F. Reid 
settled as first pastor in 1841, in connection with 



Millersburg and White Eyes, and labored with a 
good degree of success about si.xteen years. A 
brick church was erected in 1834; the present 
frame church in 1856. 

The Associate congregation of Keene was or- 
ganized August 20, 1S3S. Robert Boyd and Rob- 
ert Karr were ordained ciders, Rev Samuel Ir- 
vine officiating. Members : Robert Boyd and 
Elizabeth, his wife; Robert Karr and wife, Wil- 
liam Boyd, John Karr and wife, Sarah Boyd, 
John Boyd. John Elliott and Martha, his wife; 
Robert Tidrick .and wife, John Williamson and 
wife, James Johnson, Samuel Boyd and Nancy, 
his wife ; and John Loder. Revs. S. Irvine, Jo- 
seph McKee, ■Samuel H. McCleans, and others, 
supplied occasionally. In April, 1.845, Rev. 
James M. Henderson was settled as pastor one- 
fourth of his time, in connection with Northfield 
and Claysville. He labored thus one year and 
nine months, with a good degree of success, 
when he was released from this part of his 
charge. He was a strong advocate of temper- 
ance and an opponent of slavery. In November, 
1854, Rev. John P. Scott was settled one-third of 
his time, in connection with Millersburg. and 
labored here one year and nine months. 

These two churches formerly went into the 
United Presbyterian church, September 4, 1858. 
Rev. William A. McConnell was settled as pastor 
of the congregations of Mill Creek, White Eyes, 
and Keene, July 1, 1851>. Pursuant to a notice 
given on the last Sabbath in April, the congrega- 
tions of Mill Creek and Keene voted unani- 
mously to consolidate into one congregation and 
session, under the n.ame of Amity. This action 
was ratified by the Presbytery, October 15, 1861. 
Mr. McConnell labored with ability and success 
until some difliculties arose. He resigned Ms 
charge at the meeting of Presbytery, June, 1864, 
on the ground that he had not got the encourage- 
ment and support to harmonize the charge he 
w;is led to expect. He left on the 13th of Sep- 
tember, 1864. At that time .\mity had 130 mem- 
bers. The present pastor is William Wishart ; 
the membership, forty. 

The German Baptist church, known more gen- 
erally as the Dunkard church, has a nicely finished 
frame building on lot No. 25, in the southwestern 



530 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



part of the township. It was huilt in 1878, and 
dedicated on the 7th of July, of the same year. 
Its cost wiis about .$1,000. This is the first church 
edifice of this denomination erected in the coun- 
ty, aUhough the society is one of the oldest. This 
is due to the fact that the members have been 
few in number and widely scattered. Preaching 
has been held in various parts of the county, for 
a long time in Franklin township, at the resi- 
dence of Philip Hershman. The church was or- 
ganized there about 1830, by Eev. Schofield. The 
princii^al early members were Philip Hershman, 
John Hershman, Nicholas Miller, Saniuel Bel- 
hart and George Wilcox. Lewis Rodruck was 
pastor many years. He was succeeded by Revs. 
Eli Stell, Philip Axline, John Nicholson and 
Samuel Mantis. The present membership is 
about forty. 

The First Presbyterian church of Keene was 
incorporated February 25, 1835, with the follow- 
ing membership : Timothy Emerson, John Elliott, 
Robert Farwell, Calvin Adams, John Shannon 
and Jacob Emerson. Previously, these members 
belonged to the " congregation of Coshocton and 
Mill creek," which had been organized many 
years before. Services were once held alter- 
nately at Coshocton and Keene ; when at Keene, 
during pleasant weather, under the trees of the 
forest, on the site of the present church ; at other 
times, in cabins or the school-house. About 
1833, when the Keene members were strong 
enough to form a separate church, they left the 
old organization and founded the Keene church. 
Their first building, a large frame structure, was 
erected in 1834, by Charles Farwell. The pres- 
ent church was built in 1878-79, and dedicated 
May, 1879. It is pleasantly located on a knoll of 
gently rising ground, is a substantial, commodi- 
ous, frame edifice, with slate roof and a spire, 
and was erected at a cost of $2,600. Rev. George 
Warner was the minister in charge when the 
division ocurred in 1833. Rev. N. Conklin was 
stated supply for two years ending June, 1836. 
Rev. J. S. Wylie followed Mr. Conklin and served 
three years. Both Mr. Conklin and Mr. Wylie 
also served, at the same time, the Coshocton 
church, and these churches have frequently been 
associated in ministerial charge. Eev. B. J. Lowe 



followed Mr. Wylie, remaining as stated supjily 
two years. From 1841 until 1843, the church 
was supplied by the presbytery. Eev. John D 
Whitham was installed pastor July 7, 1843. In 
1844 a division ocurred and a new school church 
was organized. After a little time, this was re- 
organized as a " True Presbyterian " church, 
which, after a feeble life, protracted through a 
dozen years, became extinct. Of the old church 
Rev. J. W. Knott became pastor June 28, 1845, 
remaining in charge until October, 1847. Rev. 
Samuel Hanna became pastor November 11, 1848, 
and continued his labors here until his death, hi 
1850. Revs. John Trubit, AVilliam Edgar and C. 
C. Bomberger supplied the church from 1850 
until July, 1866. At that time Eev. William E. 
Hunt took charge, remaining about one year. 
Eev. E. W. Marquis was installed November 14, 
1857, and continued as pastor until his death, in 
May, 1875. Eev. Augustus Cone, who succeeded 
him, remained two years. The present pastor is 
Rev. W. D. Wallace, who also has charge of the 
Sabbath-school connected with the church. The 
number of communicants is about 120. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Keene was 
organized, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 
1830. Of the original members were Robert 
Boyd, Daniel Boyd, John Boyd. Samuel Elliott, 
George Elliott and Thomas Elliott. Prior to the 
organization of the church preaching was fre- 
quently held in cabins and school-houses in and 
about Keene. A frame house of worship was 
erected soon after the church was organized. It 
stood just south of the present church, a large 
frame building, erected in 1860, at a cost of about 
$2,000. Both churches were built by John Elliott 
of Coshocton. The membership at present num- 
bers about sixty. Rev. E. H. Dissette has charge 
of the circuit to which this church belongs. It 
includes the churches at Louisville, Warsaw, 
Spring INIountain and Elliott's chapel, besides the 
Keene church. The Sunday-school connected 
with the church is superintended by William 
Bechtel and has a membership of about sixty. 

In the southeastern part of the township a so- 
ciet}' of the United Brethren denomination was 
formed about 1850. Among those who partici- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



531 



pitted in its organistatioii wore George Beaver, 
Henry Reamer, Soloinoii Best, Christopher Kcesy , 
Janios Murpliy, Wilhani P. Murphy and Thonias 
Smith. A frame building Wiis erected soon after. 
During the late rebellion, the discussion of war 
issues in the pulpit produced disruption and ul- 
timately the extinction of the society. Later a 
Christian Union church was organized at the 
sam(> jilacc by Revs. Pigman and George Steven- 
son. The organizing members of this church 
were jirincipally tliose who had belonged to the 
United Brethren church. Its career was also 
breif, perishing four or five years after its organi- 
zation. George Stevenson and William P. Mur- 
phy were the princivial ministers who had charge 
of this church. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP. 

Organization — Nome — First Officers — Location — Topograpliy 
— Eiiriy Settlers — School Section — Prominent Men — Taverns 
—Mills— Schools— West Lafayette— Churches— Birmingham 
—Briilges— Mounds— War Matter. 

LAFAYETTE township was the last organ- 
ized in Coshocton county. It was formed 
in 1835. The western half of its territory had 
previously been a part of Tuscarawas town- hip; 
the northeastern quarter had belonged to Oxford, 
and the southeastern quarter to Linton township. 
It was named in honor of General Lafayette, the 
news of whose death, it is .said, reached Coshoc- 
ton during the session of the county commis- 
sioners at which the toA\Tiship was ordered to be 
oraganized. The first township officers were 
Wcndel Miller, Laken Wells and Simon Moses, 
trustees; John Dean, clerk; .John Wagoner, treas- 
urer; David Fitch and James Kinner, constables ; 
and John Dean and Ralph Phillips, justices of the 
peace. 

Its position in the county is just east of Tus- 
carawas township; on the north, esust and south 
it is bounded by White Eyes, Oxford and Linton 
townships respectively. The Tuscarawas river 
flows in a westerly direction through the north- 
ern part of it. White Eyes creek enters the river 



from the north, and from the south several small 
streams which drain the greater portion of the 
township. In the southeastern part of the town- 
ship, however, the streams flow southward and 
enter Wills creek in Linton township. The 
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railro.ad 
crosses the township a short distance south of 
tlie river by a direct course nearly oast and west, 
while the Ohio canal, north of the river, observes 
more closely the windings of the stream. 

The topographical features of the township dif- 
fer somewhat from those ol most other townships. 
A broad ex])anse of level country, known as 
White Eyes plains, begins in the western part of 
the township and continues eastward eight or ten 
iniles, through Oxford township into Tuscarawas 
county. It has an average width of about two 
miles and follows the bottom lands on the south 
of the river. It is separated from these bottom 
lands generally by a blufi' rising thirty or forty 
feet. About a half mile north of the village of 
West Lafayette is a Temarkable liill, isolated 
from all others. The plains stretch away to the 
south and a narrow valley separates it from the 
river on the north. Towards the east it rises ab- 
ruptly to a considerable height, but on the oppo- 
site side it slopes very gradually and does not 
reach the level of the surrounding country for a 
half mile or more. The soil of the plains is a 
gravelly sand. It was considered worthless by 
the first settlers, as crops could be raised upon it 
with indiflferont success, but later it was found to 
be quite fertile under projier cultivation. The 
plains were very sparsely timbered at the advent 
of the earliest pioneers. Clumps of bushes, or 
stunted trees, were scattered here and there, but 
generally tall, waving grass, called wild grass, was 
the only existing vegetation. The rich river val- 
ley was heavily timbered with the sj-camore, 
sugar and other species of woodland growth. 
South of the plains the surface is broken up into 
hills, which had a scanty covering of trees, such 
as the oak, chestnut, hickory, poplar, walnut and 
other varieties. 

The entire townsliip consists of military land. 
The first section, or northeast quarter of the 
townshij), is known as the Joseph Higbee section. 
It was not occupied to any great extent until 
after 1820. The second or Swan section, the 



532 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



northwest quarter of the township, was settled 
early by several families who owned extensive 
portions of it. The third section, or southwest 
quarter, is a school section and remained unoccu- 
pied, except by a few squatters, until about 182<). 
The fourth section, or southeast quarter, called 
the Cummins section, was at an early day sur- 
veyed into ten lots of 400 acres each, which were 
sold by lots or fractions of lots, to men who are 
numbered among the earliest permanent settlers 
of the township. 

It was probably about the year 1804 that the 
first permanent settlers began to occupy the ter- 
ritory of this township. Prior to this date, por- 
tions of the land had doulitless been cultivated to 
some extent by squatters with no title to the soil. 

Seth McClain, a Virginian, about 1804, settled 
in the eastern part of the township, putting up a 
cabin near the fine spring which now supplies 
Vincent Ferguson's house. After residing some 
ten years, he discovered that he was on the Hig- 
bee section of military land, and moved over into 
Linton township, where he became one of its most 
active, energetic pioneers. He had married one 
of the Sells, whose connection had settled further 
up the river. His son James, father of Seth Mc- 
Clain of Coshocton, and Colonel R. W. ]\IcClain, 
died a few years ago, aged about seventy-five 
years. 

Thomas McClain came into the township about 
1805 and settled upon lot 2 of the Cummin's sec- 
tion, where he remained until his death. His son 
Isaac still resides in the township and is one of 
its oldest citizens. 

Thomas Wiggins, from Virginia, was probably 
here as early as 1804. He settled upon lot 10 of 
the Cummins section, in the northwest corner of 
the section, and died in June, 1811. A number 
of his descendants still live in the township. 

George Miller, a brother to Michael Miller, 
formerly of Franklin townshiji, and to Henry 
Miller of Jackson township, both among the ear- 
liest settlers of the county, hailing from Hamp- 
shire county, Virginia, purchased a tract of about 
a 1,000 acres off the east side of the northwest 
section, and settled upon it about 1806. He had 
previously lived for a few years in the vicinity of 
Port Washington, Tuscarawas county. He 



reared a large family of children, consisting of 
Windel, Isaac, Daniel, Abraham, Francis, Thomas, 
George, John and several daughters. George and 
Isaac, two of the sons, came out first and rai.xod a 
little cabin, the others following soon after. Abra- 
ham afterward settled in Clark township. Win- 
del, John and Daniel were soldiers in the war of 
1812; the latter died February 1, 1881, in Plain- 
field, a very aged man. 

In 1804, Francis McGuire, who also was a Vir- 
ginian, moved to the Tuscarawas valley, near 
Port Washington, and two years later, came to 
the northwestern corner of this township. The 
family was carried in a wagon, which was driven 
along on the bank of the river, sometimes in it, 
and they afterwards used the wagon-bed as their 
shelter and sleeping place, until a cabin could be 
built, which, in the want of help to any consid- 
erable extent from neighbors, took more time 
than in after years. Mr. McGuire purchased a 
tract of more than 1,000 acres off the west side 
of the Swan, or northwest, section, and resided 
at the old homestead, north of the river, until he 
died, May 9, 1853, aged seventy-six years. His 
property is still held by his descendants. His 
two wives were daughters of George Miller. 

Archibald Elson, from Brook county, Virginia, 
in 1805 or 1806, purchased and settled upon lot 
4 of the Cummins section. He died at an early 
day and most of his descendants moved West. A 
daughter was married to Richard Fowler, and 
their posterity is still well represented in Linton 
township. 

Hugh Ballentine was another early settler. 
He erected and opened the first tavern, and soon 
after sold it to Striker Morgan. 

Matthew Orr, a German, who had been living 
in New Jersey, came out about 1808, and settled 
upon a portion of lot 9 in the southeast section. 

William Johnson, father of Judge Thomas 
Johnson, of Linton township, was the owner of 
seventy-five acres in the same lot and occupied 
it for a few years, then removing to Linton town- 
ship. It is said that he received this small piece 
of land as a remuneration for his services in 
bringing out the Orr family from New Jersey. 

Elijah Nelson, who was here before ISll, mar- 
ried a daughter of George Miller, and afterwards 
moved farther west. Lewis Vail was another 




Oroiip of Short Horns,of thejiei 



s jamilij,<.ik,i^nti„mhi,., CTOuliDfAmericanMerlncs, decendams cf Uunip^ireij!, tm/,crtatlcn,t>f.j 

Ti&bred 2>ij Atujoeti 

STOCK FARM AND RESIDENCE OF FRAN(| 




Bwe/ieue MoiW, 2.7tifs., EniJ>e>-or. 



2^i\\ernios, iTTt/ior tea J rom ripain^in /ku2. Oroiib 07 JeTseiys.o/ -Jhe AJbhafamiij/:(sn.t(h*<ij-«™i;/0' 
GUIRE, SR., P. O., CANAL I.EWISVILLE. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



535 



resident holder of a 400-acre lot on tlic fourth or 
Cummins section. He was here before 1811, and 
moved away before 1821. Nothing is known of 
his history. 

Thomas Foster was in the township prior to 
the war of 1812. He was from Sussex county, 
New Jersey, and served as sergeant in Captain 
Adam Johnson's company at Mansfield. He first 
lived on the Swan section, but afterward pur- 
chased a piece of land in the southeastern part of 
the township. He died childless; was an unof- 
fending, kind-hearted citizen, and one of the or- 
ganizers of the Methodist Protestant church. 

In 1821 the following additional property 
owners resided in the township, all on the 4th or 
Cummins' section : Frederick Dum, John Dean, 
James Kinner, John Mulhulland, Jacob Maple, 
Jr., John Merrit, John Norris, and Samuel and 
Jacob Switzer. 

Just about this time, or maybe a year sooner, 
Joseph C. Higbee, from Trenton, New Jersey, 
settled upon the militiiry section that bears his 
name, and remained upon it until his death, 
which occurred about 1873, in the seventy-fourth 
year of his age. He was not the original pro- 
prietor of the section, but seems to have obtained 
it by inheritance. Mr. Higbee was a very eccen- 
tric personage. As illustrating the style of the 
man, the story was long current in the neighbor- 
hood that, when he first came to the country, 
then in comparatively a wilderness condition, he 
brought with him six dozen ruflled shirts. One 
of his daughters was married to Rev. -Mr. South- 
ard, who was for a time a minister of Trinity 
church, New York. Another is said to have 
married Mr. Hay, a lawyer in Pittsluirgh John 
Richmond, of Orange, married a daughter by the 
second wife. 

Mr. Higbee sold a small portion of his section, 
shortly after his arrival here, but the demand for 
land was not great until the building of the Ohio 
canal, when a throng of emigrants moved in 
and purchased all available territory. William 
Wheeler, Allen Davis, Simon Mo-ses, Henry Shaw, 
Robert Shaw, Ralph Simeon, Enoch PIuUjm, John 
B. Stout, James Ransopher, David Fitch, Adam 
Merrit and Andrew Ferguson were the first pur- 
chasers from Mr. Higbee. 

That portion of the Swan section remaining 
22 



after the Miller and McGuire tracts were sold, 
was mainly disposed of in parrels after the open- 
ing of the canal, through the agency of AVilliam 
K. Johnson. 

In 1832, an English colony, consisting of Isaac 
Maynard, Abram and Lewis Daniels, George 
Cox, George Whooky, James Board, James Jen- 
nings, John Cole and James George, bought ad- 
joining lands in the school section. They named 
their settlement Summerset valley, in honor of 
their native county in England. Not being prac- 
tical backwood.smen, their stay was not protracted; 
their lands are now owned by Colman Beall and 
sons, and Judge Burt and sons. Not one of the 
descendants of the colony remain In the valley. 

When Ohio was admitted into the Union, it 
was agreed by the United States that the one 
thirty-sixth part of the territory, included within 
the limits of the State, should be set apart for the 
support of the common schools within the State. 
In the United States Military district, the school 
lands were selected by lot by the secretary of the 
treasury, in sections of 4,000 acres each. Only 
one of these school sections fell within the limits 
of Coshocton county — the third or southwest sec- 
tion of Lafayette township. 

This section was surveyed into twenty-five 
square lots of 160 acres each. No disposition of 
the land appears to have been made prior to 1825. 
About that time, or a httle later, several of the 
lots were leased upon the following conditions: 
The lessee was to clear a certain portion of the 
land taken, erect a cabin and plant out an or- 
chard, and in return for these services was to 
have free use of the land for a fixed term of 
years. Among the lessees were Peter Metzler (a 
Virginian by birth and a Baptist by faith), lot 'J; 
Levi Shaw, who emigrated from New Jersey 
about 1820, lot 2; Levi and Absolom Roderick, 
Virginians, lots 5, 6 and 15. There may liave 
been .several others whose names can not now be 
recalled. This system of leasing the land did not 
aflbrd anj' immediate income, and, although it 
enhanced tire value of the property, seems to 
have been unsatisfactory. Consequently, about 
1828, the land was sold at public auction at Co- 
shocton. It was sold remarkably cheap, §19.25 
only being i)aid for eighty acres in one instance, 
and, as ten years' time was allowed in which to 



536 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



complete payment for it, a number of men in in- 
digent circumstances availed themselves of this 
opportunity to procure homes. Among the pur- 
chasers were Daniel Craig, Adam Aronhalt, Oli- 
ver B. Rundle, Jacob Ostler and Peter Moore. 
The latter had eniigrated to Coshocton county 
prior to the war of 1812, and was a soldier un- 
der Hull at his disastrous surrender. Ostler, too, 
had been in service. He Unlisted from Harrison 
county, was in General Harrison's army, and 
came to this county just after the war. 

The first settlers were nearly all from Virgi- 
nia; those who came in a little later were prin- 
cipally from New Jersey. The township has 
steadly grown in population and now contains 
1018<inhabitants. Of its citizens of a later date, 
several deserve a passing notice. Colonel E. W. 
McClain, a descendant of one of its earliest set- 
tlers, died a few years ago. He was an extensive 
and successful farmer and stock raiser, one of the 
township's most substantial and influential citi- 
zens. He enlisted and served during the*]Mexi- 
can war, and commanded one of the first compa- 
nies raised in this county in 1S61, afterwards ris- 
ing to the rank of Colonel 

Andrew Ferguson was another prominent citi- 
zen who passed away from this earth in the spring 
of 1879. 

James M. Burt came into the township in 1837, 
having previously spent several years in this 
county. He was an extensive farmer, wool pro- 
ducer and stock raiser, and one of the early jus- 
tices of the peace. He served two terms in the 
State legislature and two in the senate; was ap- 
pointed associate judge in 1849, and filled the 
position till the new constitution, abolishing the 
office, went into eflect. Since that time ho has 
served on the State board of equalization. He 
is now living just over the county line, near 
Newcomers town. 

Stryker Morgan kept tavern in the western 
part of the township, where Francis McGuire 
now lives, in early times. He came from Sussex 
county, New Jersey, about 1820, and provided 
entertainment for the traveler until he died, a 
few years before the late war. " Morgan's tavern," 
at the time of its erection, was the only weather- 
boarded building in the township 

About 1839, Henry Johnson opened a public 



house near West Lafayette. Samuel C. McMunn, 
several years later, owned one about a half mile 
east of town. The building of the railroad with- 
drew the custom from these country taverns, 
and they died a natural death soon after. 

Mills did not play a very active part in the de- 
velopment of this township. The first and only 
grist-mill of any note was erected in 1875, at a 
cost of 120,000, by Robert D. Boyd, at Wild Tur- 
key Lock, on the canal, in the northwestern cor- 
ner of the township. It is a large building, con- 
tains two run of buhrs, and is now owned by the 
heirs of Alexander Renfrew. A little corn-mill 
and a saw-mill had previously occupied the site 
of this mill. John Barto had, many years before, 
built a little turning-lathe here, where he manu- 
factured broom handles. Mr. Willard put in a 
pair of buhrs and sold to John Balch, who added 
the saw-mill. 

John Morgan had a saw-mill on Morgan's run , 
upon which the lumber for the first weather- 
boarded and frame buildings in the township was 
sawed. It was entirely destroyed by a flood in 
1852. 

Judge James M. Burt, about 1854, built a steam 
saw-mill on lot 9 of the third section. This was 
the only stationary saw-mill in the township 
south of the river. It was operated twenty-one 
years. 

James Hunter owned and ran a little distillery 
on the Francis MaGuire tract, close to the Tusca- 
rawas township line, in early days. Somewhat 
later, Joseph Higbee operated one on the Fergu- 
son place. 

One of the earliest school-houses stood on the 
line between lots number 1 and 2 of the school 
section. The building had been a cabin used by 
Irvin Coulter. School was taught here prior to 
1828 by Thomas Fitch, who came from New Jer- 
sey about 1808, and was considered the best edu- 
cated man in the community. He died here and 
was buried at Jacobsport. About 1815 a little 
school-house was built on the J. W. Miller place 
a little northwest of the center of the township. 
Mr. Dunlap was the pedagogue in this domain 
and used the ferule freely upon the slightest prov- 
ocation. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



537 



When Lafayette township was organized the 
four military sections were organized as school 
districts, and log cabin school-houses built in each 
section. 

On the Swan section the school-house stood on 
the State road near the east line of lot No. 5, now 
owned by Judge J. M. Burt. Here Thomas 
O'Neal, a well qualified teacher, taught several 
years and followed that profession until his use- 
ful life closed in White Eyes township at an ad- 
vanced age. 

The Higbee section house stood on the south 
side of the State road a little w-est from and op- 
posite the present brick school-house. Here 
■ James Curran taught for a time and left for parts 
unknown to the present inhabitants. He was suc- 
ceeded by W. M. Cammart who remained until 
the erection of the brick school-house near the 
Baptist church. 

The Cummins section cabin stood near where 
the frame school-house of district No. 1 now 
stands. John Buker was the teacher. He went 
West many years ago. The school section cabin 
stood near the center of lot No. 8, about eighty 
rods southwest from the present frame house 
known as the Burt school-house. Craven A. Mc- 
Bane taught the first school here. His father, 
Jesse McBane, was one of the earliest settlers of 
the school section, and a u.seful and highly res- 
pectable citizen of the town. Both father and 
son have been numbered with the dead many 
years. The onjy surviving member of the family 
in this county is the youngest son of Jesse, John 
C. McBane, now county commissioner. 

West Lafayette postoffice w;is establLshed about 
1839. It was obtained through the efforts of 
Judge Burt and others. Henry Johnson was the 
first postmaster, and retained the office for many 
years. It was abolished for a brief season dur- 
ing Harrison's adnunistrati(5n, but soon after re- 
established. Following Mr. Johnson in this offi- 
cial capacity, have come Samuel C. McMunn, 
James McMath, and Robert Beall. 

The village of West Lafayette was laid out in 
1850, by Robert Shaw and William Wheeler. 
The original plat consisted of only thirteen lots, 
eight of which were north and five south of the 
Stiite road, now Main street. Additions have 



since been made by Rue & Ketchum, James M. 
Burt and J. H. Russell. The village is built 
upon a level plain, and contains an even 250 in- 
habitants. It is by no means compactly built, 
but is strung along the one street fbr a distance 
of half a mile. An unusual number of its dwell- 
ings are fine, spacious residences, and every thing 
betokens an active, thriving, little business place. 
It is the.only village in this county, beyond the 
county seat, that can boast of a railroad. The 
" Pan Handle " road passes through it, and doubt- 
less gives it much of its business stir. 

John Coles, an Englishman, opened the first 
store in the township, in 18.33, on lot No. 9, of the 
school section (then called Summerset valley), 
which lot he then owned. In 1836, he sold his 
lands and removed his store to the Ketchum 
farm, and from there to Wild Turkey Lock, and 
in 1850, to the town of West Lafayette, where he 
died and was succeeded by Abbot & Andreg. 
Thornton Fleming erected a dwelling and store- 
room in 1853, and remained in business there 
until his death. Samuel Adair sold goods there 
for a short time ; also Thomas and Robert Scott. 
Stephen Rolley opened a store in a room erected 
by William Paddock, which was soon after de- 
stroyed by fire, together with Paddock's dwelling. 
James McMath, in 18-58, built a store-house and 
dwelling, and remained in business there until 
his death, in February, 1868. His wife died some 
months before him. His son, J. G. McMath, con- 
tinued the store a few months, when the remain- 
ing stock was sold at public sale, and there was 
no store here until the spring of 1869, when T. 
H, Familton bought the McJfath real estate and 
began business with an extensive stock of goods. 
Mr. Familton has been in the mercantile busi- 
ness here ever since. Besides his store, there is 
now that of Smith & Scott. Bell & Leggett are 
grain dealers. 

Dr. George E. Prior was the first resident phy- 
sician. He began boarding at Johnston's tavern in 
1842, but soon purchased five acres of land and 
erected thereon a pleasant residence, now stand- 
ing due south of the Lafayette depot. He died 
after a residence of sixteen years, and was suc- 
ceeded by Dr. Whittaker, who subsequently re- 
moved to Oxford township, where he died. Dr.* 
Joseph S. Barr purchased property, practiced 



538 



HISTOflY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



here several ye.ars, and sold out to Dr. J. C. 
Hughes, who secured an extensive practice and 
Bold out in 1880, to Doctors Richards & Yarnell, 
who, with Dr. Morris and Dr. W. W. Williams, 
now dispense medicine to the afflicted. 

Samuel Gorsline and John Weir feed the hun- 
gry public, for a just and equitable recompense. 
Two grocery saloons find a local habitation here, 
and the artisan's crafts arc represented by two 
blacksmith shops, one wagon, one harness and one 
shoe shop. 

The school-house is a conimodius, two-story 
brick, standing a short distance east of the vil- 
lage. It was erected during the year 1871, at a 
cost of 13,000. The first term began January 2, 
1872, with William Gorsline and Miss Kate Boyd 
as teachers. The old school-building was a little 
brick, which stood opposite the Baptist church, 
and in which William McCammant was the first 
teacher. 

Grange No. 1,310, located at West Lafayette, 
was organized in February, 1878, by Mr. John 
McDonald, of Coshocton county. The first ofl3- 
cers were James M. Burt, master ; C. F. Sangster, 
overseer ; Joseph Love, lecturer ; J. B. Burt, sec- 
retiiry, and Francis McGuire, Jr., treasurer. C. 
F. Sangster succeeded Judge Burt to the office of 
master, and he in turn was succeeded by James 
L. Rogers, the present incumbent. The mem- 
bership of the grange has increased to about fifty 
and comprises in its list the intelligent, wide- 
awake, successful farmers in this vicinity. 

The West Lafayette Baptist church was formed 
in 1870, by dividing the congregation of White 
Eyes Baptist church into two parts and organ- 
izing the western division into a separate congre- 
gation. The White Eyes Plains church was the 
first Baptist society formed in Coshocton county. 
It was organized at the house of Isiwc Evans, in 
Oxford township, November 5, 1825, by Elders S. 
Norris and William Spencer, with the follcjwing 
members: James Brooks, Windel and Jane Mil- 
ler, Levi and Rachel Rodruck, Ezekiel and Sarah 
McFarland, Elizabeth Worth, Rachel Calhoun, 
Hannah Barto and Catherine, Hannah and Lydia 
Rose. James Brooks was the first deacon and 
Benjamin Headly, who became a member soon 
after, the first clerk. Elder Norris was the first 



pastor, and labored with them three years, when 
he was succeded by Elder William Spencer, who- 
continued witli them until about the year 1831, 
at which time the church numbered about 
twenty-four members. The earliest places of 
worship were dwellings and school-houses in this 
and Oxford township. The first recorded meet>- 
ing in this township was held at the house of 
Windel Miller, May 21, 1825. In the year 1847 
the present house of worship in West Lafayette 
wa^ erected. Three years later another church 
was built, near the center of Oxford township, to 
accommodate the eastern portion of the church, 
making it a regular place of worship. In 1870, 
the church having largely increased in members, 
efficiency and territory, divided into two sepa- 
rate and independent bodies, as mentioned above. 
The pastors, up to the date of separation have 
been, after William Spencer, Elders Pritchard, 
Sedgwick Rice, L. Gilbert, H. Sayer, L. L. Root, 
H. Broom, A. W. Odor, J. G. Whitaker, L. Rhine- 
heart and E. B. Senter. Since then the follow- 
ing pastors have had charge of the West Lafay- 
ette church: E. B. Senter, G. W. Churchill, J. F. 
Churchill, Thomas Jones, J. P. Hunter and D. 
Trichler. The present membership is about 
seventy. Prior to 1870 there had been a union 
Sunday-school conducted at West Lafayette in 
the Baptist and Methodist churches, alternately, 
but in that year a Baptist Sunday-school was or- 
ganized which has been successfully carried on 
to this day. Its membership is forty-three, and 
its superintendent, J. B. Burt. 

The other church edifice in West Lafayette be- 
longs to a Methodist Episcopal society. It was 
erected in the summer of 1856 and dedicated in 
the following January, by Bishop Simpson and 
Rev. James Bray. Rev. Charles Holmes had been 
preaching in the school-house for a while, but nc^ 
class was organized until about the time the 
church was built. The church lot was donated 
by Jacob K. Shurtz, and the building cost about 
$700. The original class, as nearly as can be de- 
termined, consisted of the following members: 
Wilson Carp and wife, Sirs. Julia Bliller, Thorn- 
ton and Eliza Ann Fleming, B. F. and Elizabeth 
Fleming, Mrs. Eleanor L. Ketchum.Mrs. Collhis, 
Mrs. Helms, Thomas Scott and wife, Mrs. Mary 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



539 



Ferguson and Dr. George E. Prior. B. F. Flem- 
ing was the first leader. During the winter of 
1S67-S, a series of revival meetings were con- 
ducted by Rev. J. E. St;vrkey, which resulted in 
about seventy accessions to this church, be.sides 
many additions to neighboring churches. The 
membership now numbers about 100. In 1S80, a 
epacious, tasty parsonage was erected, which is 
now occupied by Rev. John I. Wilson. A healthy 
and nourishing Sabbath-school has been in opera- 
tion since 1870, over which .lames L. Rogers now 
presides Its membership is about seventy. 

The Zion Jlethodist Episcopal church is located 
in the extreme southwestern part of the town- 
ship. During the winter of 1848-9, Rev. D. P. 
Mitchell conducted a series of meetings, at which 
many conversions were made. One of the bene- 
iioial result-* attending the meetings was the im- 
mediate erection of a church building. The so- 
ciety had been organized some time before, and 
.services had been held at the adjoining school- 
house. Among the first members were Abso- 
loni Rodruck, Joseph B. Jolmson, John Smith, 
Frank, Joseph and Edward Wells and Hiram 
-Jennings. The present house of worship was 
built about ten years ago, and tlie society is in 
good condition. 

Plains Chapel, a Methodist Protestant house 
■of worship, is situated on the State road about 
one and a half miles east of West Lafayette, on 
a lot donated to the church by Andrew Ferguson. 
Its erection was begun in 1841, and finished Au- 
gust, 1842. Though an old, it is still a substan- 
tial and serviceable brick building about forty by 
fifty feet in size, and has been extensively repaired 
of late at a cost of $900. The society was organ- 
ized in Oxford township, at Loos' school-hou.se, 
about 1836, and meetings held there until the 
■church was built. The earliest pastors were 
Revs. Israel Thra]iii, Richardson, Ross, Cass 
Reeves, Joel Dolby, William Baldwin and James 
Nugen. The principal earl}' members were An- 
drew Ferguson, '(ieorge Leighninger, Leonard 
Richart, Thomas Foster, Simon Moss, James 
Ransopher, John Paddock, John Switzer, George 
Waggoner, Christine Loos, John Klinger and 
Levi Penn. The present nmnber of communi- 
cants is seventy-five. Rev. William Wells is the 
jiastor in charge. The Sunday-school is an insti- 



tution whose organization ante-dales the erection 
of the church. 

A United Brethern society formerly existed in 
the southern part of the township, and possessed 
a small frame church, known as Clay Point church. 
It was built about 1843, when the society was in 
its infancy. Its early members were Samuel 
Wolfe, David Wolfe, David Jones, Isaac Doty and 
John Sicker, with jierhaps some others. It never 
acquired any considerable strength, and perished 
during the early ])art of the late war. 

Except West Ijafayette, there is no village in 
the township. One called Birmingham was laid 
out in 1830 by Josejih C. Higbee, on the canal, in 
the extreme eastern part of tlie township. Mr. 
Higbee's residence and a warehouse were all the 
buildings it ever contained. Evansburg, which 
was laid out a few months later, in Oxford town- 
ship, grew rapidly at first and practically I'lilled it. 

One bridge spans the Tuscarawas river in this 
township about a mile north of West Lafayette. 
It is an iron structure, built in 1873. The stone 
work was furnished by N. W. Buxton at a cost of 
.?G,290; the superstructure costing $8,746 was fiirn- 
i.><lied by the Cincinnati Bridge Company, J. W. 
Shepman & Co., of Cincinnati, and the Coshocton 
Iron and Steel Works. 

No important earth works have been left in 
Lafayette township to mark the dwelling here of 
prehistoric races. A circular fortification, en- 
closing about three acres, has been observed on 
Plain Hill north of West Lafayette, and several 
Small mounds stood between it and the village, 
but they have now been obliterated by the plow. 
The railroad in its construction passed through 
a small mound on the Ferguson farm but noth- 
ing is known to have been discovered in it. A 
small one may be seen on Velser Shaw's farm in 
the northern part of tlie township ; another stood 
on the old Higbee ])lace but is now leveled to the 
ground. It was composed of sand, differing from 
the surrounding soil. The sand had probably 
been obtained in the river bed not far distant. 

No Indian village is known to have been situ- 
ated here, though the plains were favorite hunt- 
ing grounds with the savages. An Indian trail 
extending from the river to the Indian town 
Lichtenau i)assed up Burt's run then down Rock 
run to the Muskingum, 



540 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



True patriotism seems to have actuated the in- 
habitants of this township from its earhest set- 
tlement to the present time. During the war of 
1812 and the Mexican war, a goodly number of 
its best citizens voluntarily took the field andi 
faithfully served their country. 

When the Northern frontier was considered in 
danger, in consequence of the Canadian rebel- 
lion, in 1839, a company of infantry promptly 
volunteered, and were armed and equiped by 
the State. 

During the war of the rebellion, the full quota 
required by the government was promptly fur- 
nished at each and every call by voluntary en- 
listment and substitutes. Every person of suit;i- 
ble age and ability that did not volunteer, fur- 
nished a substitute or paid his proper proportion 
to procure the number required to till the town- 
ship quota^ 

John Elson, Daniel Simons, Henry Babeock, 
Joseph Lacy, Thomas Foster, Jabez Norman, 
Francis McGuire, son of Willialn, Thomas 
Owens, Richard Phillips, Daniel Easton, Thomas 
Wymer, Henry Hoagland, Thomas ^^^est, John 
Chamberlain, J. Snell, Cone Coulter, David Horn, 
David and James Robinson, and William Fowler 
were killed in battle or died of wounds and sick- 
ness in the service. All except Cone Coulter 
and John Ch.amberlain are buried on Southern 
battlefields and soldiers' cemeteries. John Elson 
found a grave in the Gulf of Mexico, having died 
on the passage of the Fifty-first regiment from 
Texas. Peter Chamberlain, Jerome Shaw, George 
Miller, Henry Garret and James Easton died 
soon after their return of wounds received and 
disease contracted in the service. 



CHAPTER LIX. 

LINTON TOWNSHIP. 

Location— Nniiie—To|>ograi>hy— Primitive Races— Indians- 
Doughty— Karly S^'ttlers and Settlements — Soldiers — Wills 
Creek — Karly Navigation — Ferries and Bridges — Mills — Dis- 
tilleries—Salt — Tanneries — Schools — Churches — Villages — 
Population. 

LINTON township lies in the southeastern 
corner of Coshocton county. It is indebted 
for its name to James Miskimen, one of the fore- 



most settlers of the township, and, at the time of 
its organization, in 1812, a county commissioner. 
He named it, it is said, in honor of the township 
in Virginia from which he emigrated. It is the 
largest township in the county, being five miles 
wide, north and south, and seven and one-half 
long, east and west, including township 4 of range 
•5, and the western half of township 4 of range 4 — 
the eastern half of this latter township forming a 
part of Wheeling township, Guernsey county. 

The surface, away from the valleys that skirt 
the streams, is hilly. The opinion was rife among 
the pioneers in the bottom lands that the hills 
would never be settled, so ill adapted did they 
seem for purposes of cultivation ; and it was not 
until about 1840 that the land was all entered. 
The summits of many of the hills had been made 
bare by Indian fires, but the sides were covered 
with a thick growth of timber. Beneath this the- 
pea vine grew in rich profusion, and it afforded 
an excellent pasture for the cattle turned loose 
upon the hills to browse upon it. 

Wills creek is the principal stream. It enters 
the township near the center of its eastern line, 
from Guernsey county, and passes out in the ex- 
treme southwestern corner. The distance by a 
direct course from its point of entrance into the 
township to its exit from the same is less than 
eight miles, but its tortuous meanderings make 
the actual length of the stream between those 
two points about twenty miles. By reason of 
these numerous windings the bottom lands in 
the township are rendered much more extensive 
than they would be were the creek more direct 
in its course. The valley varies in width from a 
quarter of a mile to a mile. Two well-marked 
terraces are observable in most places along the 
valley, the lower one generally narrow, the upper 
rising abruptly thirty or forty feet, then stretch- 
ing away to a considerable distance. White Eyes 
creek enters the townshiji from Muskingum coun- 
ty, flows in a northwesterly direction about twa • 
miles, and empties into Wills creek. It should 
not be co)ifounded with another White Eyes 
creek, which is a northern tributary of the Tus- 
carawas river. 

The soil is generally good. In the village it is 
a rich, sandy loam, becoming in some jilaces al- 
most a pure sand. Among the hills, in places- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



541 



where the limestone formation outcrops, it is 
quite fertile. There was one locality that was 
not timbered when the first settlers appeared in 
the township. This was the level stretch of coun- 
try lying west of the village of Plainfield, being 
about a mile square in area. It was covered only 
with tall prairie gnvss, but shortly after a thick 
growth of scrub oak, or black jack, as it was com- 
monly called, sprang up and kept possession of 
the soil till uprooted by the mattock and plow. 

The remains of the prehistoric dwellers in 
Linton township are not very numerous. There 
are, however, several low fortifications and a few 
small mounds along the valley of Wills creek. 
One of these fortifications is situated on the 
plains, about half a mile southwest from Plain- 
field, at the cross roads. It consists of four em- 
bankments, enclosing a square figure containing 
several acres. At each corner of the square is 
an entrance. The embankment originally was 
perhaps six feet above the surrounding level, but 
it has since been almost obliterated bj' the plow. 
Another circular embankment, enclosing about 
an acre, was found on the farm belonging to V. 
J. Powelson, in section 22, several miles farther 
down the creek. The outlines are now so slight 
as to be scarcely discernable. 

Near Plainileld, about 1840, Mr. J. D. Work- 
man opened a small earthen mound on his ])lace. 
He found nothing except several stone relics. 
Another, about two miles below, was excavated 
some ten years later by Wesley Patrick. It con- 
tained a few bones belonging to the human skele- 
ton, including the skull, jaw bone and thigh. 
These were of an unusually large size and indi- 
cated the skeleton to be fully seven feet in length. 

No Indian village is known to have been located 
in the township, but encampments for hunting 
purposes were frequently made along the banks 
of Wills creek and its numerous small tribu- 
taries by these denizens of the forests. Game 
abounded, and, for a half dozen years after the 
arrival of the advance guard of civilization, it 
was hunted and killed in this vicinity by both 
pioneers and Indians. The relations between 
them were generally of a peaceful nature. Sev- 
eral times ripples arose on the placid sea of 
friendship and betokened a storm, but they were 



happily averted. The Indians were a shiftless 
class. They would beg or thieve, or resort to 
any device to obtain what they wanted from the 
whites. They would often bring wild game to 
the cabins of the settlers and wish to exchange 
it for corn or something else. Eequests of this 
kind were usually complied with, but the cleanly 
housewife would throw the game to the dogs. 

Thomas rhillii)s relates that it was the custom 
of his father, George Philli])s, to turn his horses 
out in the open woods in the evening to pasture, 
and that the Indians would drive them away to a 
considerable distance during the night and hide 
them; then the next morning they would appear 
at Phillips' cabin and, learning of the lost hor.ses, 
otler to find them for a dollar. The little game 
was successfully played several times until Phil- 
lips suspected and accused them of it. He was 
hunting one day and had brought down a fine 
deer; this he hung on a sai:)ling and started in 
pursuit of another deer, in his haste leaving his 
hat behind. When he returned both deer and 
hat were gone. Some time afterward he recog- 
nized a silver buckle belonging to the lost hat in 
the possession of the innkeeper at Cambridge. 
Questioning him about it, Phillips learned that 
it had been obUiined from an Indian called 
Doughty, who had sold the buckle and kept the 
hat, but not daring or caring to wear it abroad 
had used it to sleep in. 

James Miskimen once had a little difficulty 
with this same Doughty, who was a noted Indian 
character, shortly after he (Miskimen) settled in 
this township Miskimen was a great trader, and 
would often barter trinkets, whisky,etc., with the 
Indians for hides and furs, disposing of these at 
Zanesville. He and Tom Addy were conveying 
a load in 3, canoe down Wills creek, on their way 
to Zanesville. Doughty espied them and wanted 
to ride down the creek a distance with them. 
They stopped and took him in the boat. Having 
some whisky aboard. Doughty soon discovered it, 
and wanted some. He soon drank enough to 
make him uglj* and boisterous. His conduct be- 
came disagreeable and they landed him. En- 
raged at this, he threatened to shoot them, as they 
shoved off the boat, but fortunately his gun was 
empty, it having been discharged a short time 
before by Miskimen, in shooting a turkey. 



512 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Doughty began to load his gun, and the men, 
now some distance away, seeing that he was in 
earnest, pulled for the shore again with the inten- 
tion of dejiriving him of the weapon. Miskimen 
rowed while Addy covered the savage with his 
rifle, determined to shoot first, if shoo ting became 
necessary. They reached the bank in the nick of 
time. Miskimen, who was a powerfully-built 
man, sprang ashore and knocked the inebriated 
Douglity to the ground just as lie was in the act 
of .shooting. In liis anger he seized Doughty's 
gun and threw it out into the stream, where it 
probably still lies, several miles below Plainfield. 
Leaving the Indian senseless on the ground, the 
two men proceeded on their way. About ten 
days after, Miskimen was waited upon at his 
cabin by twelve Indians, who demanded that he 
rejilace Doughty's gun, and threatened to kill 
him if he refused. Miskimen at first rejected 
the demand, but at the solicitation of his wife 
finally agreed to settle the matter. He procured 
an old gun that had been offered for sale at the 
Fuller settlement, and delivered it to the Indian 
council, thus closing the " deadly breach of war." 
Doughty did not accompany his red brethren 
when they gathered up their tents in 1812, and 
stole away to the broad West, but frequented the 
old haunts and hunting grounds for several years 
after. It was his deligh*, when a little intoxicated, 
to visit tlie cabins of the settlers and seek to 
frighten the women and children by recounting 
blood curdling tales of savage cruelty. He at- 
tended log-rollings, cabin-raisings and various 
gatherings of this kind, but would never work, 
preferring the more congenial employment of 
drinking whisky and vagabondizing. He was 
finally murdered by a white man in Muskingum 
county, near Zanesville. 

The northeastern part of Linton township, 
what is known as the north bend of Wills creek, 
wa.s the first portion occupied by settlers. Here, 
as early as 180G, settled the Miskimens, McCunes, 
Addys and Joneses. In 1800, James Miskimen, 
then a young man, journeyed to Ohio for the 
purpose of selecting a site in the vast wilderness 
for a future home. He first visited a relative, 
named Young, who held a position in the land 
office at Chillicothe. While there, an old hunter 



who was well acquainted with the wilds of Ohio, 
recommended to him the north bend of Wills 
creek. Miskimen traveled afoot up the Mus- 
kingum and Wills creek valleys, .saw tlie location 
and was pleased with it. Not having the means 
with which to enter land, he returned to his 
father's j)lantations in Virginia, on the banks of 
the Potomac, and there, in conjunction with his 
brother, worked his father's distillery for five 
years. By this means he accumulated the sum of 
$700, and in the s]>ring of 1805, again set out for 
Ohio. He spent liis first summer here in raising 
a crop of corn on Evans' prairie, in Oxford town- 
ship; returning to Virginia that same fall, he 
was married to Catherine Portmess, and returned 
at once to their future home. He first entered 
the northeast quarter of section 7 ; subsequently, 
the southeast quarter of the same section, the 
northwest quarter of section 8, the east half of 
section 19 and other lands, becoming an exten- 
sive land owner in this township. He was a man 
of great force, possessed shrewd business quali- 
ties, and was stro»gly identified with the agricul- 
tural development of his township and county. 
His brothers, John and William, followed him to 
this township several years later. 

John McCune was born in South Carolina. 
He served, during the war of the revolution, as 
captain in General Sumter's army. His property 
was destroyed by the tories during the war, and 
at its close he moved to Zanes Island, Penn- 
sylvania. From that place, in 1801, he emigrated 
to Oxford township, and there purchased a large 
tract of Land; but meeting with reverses he was 
obliged to dispose of his property. In 180C, he 
moved to Linton township, entering the south- 
east quarter of section 4, and the southwest half 
of section 3, both of range 4. He was twice mar- 
ried and raised a family of nine children. His 
death oeurred in 1811. 

William Addy, on Christmas day of the year 
1806, entfyed the southwest quarter of section 4, 
range 4. He was from near Harjier's Ferry, 
Virginia, and brought with him five sons and 
four daughters. Malechi and Enoch Jones, two 
brothers, came about the same time from Vir- 
ginia. They married two of the Addy girls and 
lived on their father-in-law's place. 

In 180G, William Evans entered the first land 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



543 



on Bacon run, the northeast quarter of section 2. 
Edward Wiggins, hailing from Brook county, 
Virginia, in 1807, entered the northwest quarter 
of section 11. The same year Esaias and Charles 
Baker, brothers, came into the township, the 
former entering the northeast quarter of section 
10, the latter the southwest quarter of section 1. 
They had emigrated from Virginia, with Isaac 
and Henry Evans, to the plains in Oxford town- 
ship, as early as 1801. Rezin Baker, a nephew to 
Cliarles and Esaias, entered the^southeast quarter 
of section 5, range 4, about 1808. He was born 
near Little York, Pennsylvania. He came into 
the county as early as 1802, and remained until 
his death, in 1842. His father's family had re- 
moved from Pennsylvania to Harrison county, 
and Rezin, just as he had fairly attained his ma- 
jority, passed on out west and hired out with 
John Fulton, living near Coshocton, until he had 
earned enough to buy his farm in Linton town- 
ship. His wife was in Harrison county, and she 
and two children were removed by death, he 
afterwards marrying Miry Addy, daughter of 
AVilliani Addy. Other early settlers in this vicin- 
ity were Basil Baker, a cousin to Esaias, who 
entered the southeast quarter of section 10; 
Andrew Ferier, the northwest quarter of section 
5, range 4; Martin Higer, the northwest quarter 
of section 5, range 4, and John Loos, tlie southeast 
quarter of section 1. 

Farther down the creek William Jeflries, from 
the Keystone State, was among the first to locate. 
He entered the northwest quarter of section 23, 
about 1806. John and David Arbuckle were also 
extensive land owners in this region nearly as 
early. ITiey remained only a few years, remov- 
ing to Knox county. Richard Williams became 
a citizen of the township in ISOS. He was from 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He had 
traveled through the Scioto and Miami valleys 
in search of a suitable place to locate, hu^ the 
settlers of those valleys appeared sickly to him ; 
coming up the Muskingum valley ho noted the 
healthy appear.mce of the .settlers and decided to 
"pitch hi.s tent" here. He stopped on the Wal- 
honding river a few months and, while there, 
learned that William Jefters,.an old acquaintance 
of his, had settled on Wills creek. That brought 
him to Linton township. His first entry was tlie 



southwest quarter of section IS, adjoining Jcft- 
ers' place. Conrad Powelson, a Virginian, came 
into the county in 1808. He lived in Franklin 
township three years, then moved to this town- 
ship, entering the southeast quarter of section 18 
and the southwest quarter of section 19. He 
died May .31, 1841. Two years later William Mc- 
Cleary, from Frcdcricktown, IMaryland, became 
a resident in Ihis neighborhood. He located 
eighty acres in section 23. William K. Clark 
came from Washington county, IMaryland, during 
the war of 1812, to Franklin township. A re- 
cruiting officer coming along, he enlisted in the 
army. At the close of the war he returned to 
Linton township, entering the northwest quarter 
of section 19. 

Richard Fowler became identified with Co- 
.shocton county about the year 1805. His former 
residence was in Brook county. Virginia. He 
moved from Virginia because of what he deemed 
its tyrannous laws, oppressive to poor men. He 
was a carpenter by trade, and stojiped a short 
time at Zanesville; but finding no employment 
there, he came on to Coshocton. Here he was 
engaged by Charles Williams to roof a house. 
After the job was completed, he moved to the 
country and leased a piece of land in what is 
now Lafayette township, from Alexander Elson, 
also from Brook county, Virginia. He married 
Elson's daughter, Jane, February 5, 1807. He 
served during the war of 1812, as first lieuten- 
ant of a company raised in. this county. At its 
close, he removed to Linton township, and settled 
on Bacon run, becoming an influential citizen. 
He introduced the first sheep into this township. 
Wolves were still numerous at the time, and the 
greatest w-atchfulness was necessary in order to 
keep the sheep from the fangs of these old-time 
enemies. His house was a place of public enter- 
tainment from 1830 to 1850. " Fowler's Stand " 
was widely and popularly known. 

Mr. Fowler was an eye-witness to a township 
election in Coshocton, about 1805. Its vvkIus 
r/pi'raniU, as narrated by him, was as follows: The 
voters, perhaps fifteen in number, congregated, 
by special invitation, at the tavern of Charles 
Williams, who was tlie magnate of the village. 
The free drinks were then generously passed 
around, and liberal potations were indulged in 



544 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



by all. When the proper degree of hilarity was 
reached, Williams made nominations for the 
various offices, and the assembled sons of liberty, 
with loud acclaim, expressed assent to those 
nominations. Fowler, on expressing to Wil- 
liams his surprise at this kind of election, re- 
ceived the reply that it was goood enough for 
them. 

Francis and John Smith, from "Pennsylvania, 
were early settlers on Bacon run; likewise John 
Wells and Daniel Dean, both of Virginia. On 
what was called Irish run, just below Bacon run, 
William and Alexander Love, great-uncles to 
Joseph Love, settled in 1810 and 1812, respect- 
ively. They were from Ireland William and 
Benjamin Williams also lived here in early times. 
Kobert Piatt entered the township in 1816, and 
settled in this vicinity. He had emigrated from 
Ireland to Newark, New Jersey, in 1809. Ed- 
mund Duling emigrated from Hampshire county, 
Virginia, in 1815, and entered the southeast quar- 
ter of section 3, range 5. The McClains are no- 
ticed in Lafayette township. 

The only military land in the township is the 
4,000-acre section, forming the southeast corner of 
the township. It was surveyed into forty lots of 
100 acres each, and many of these were bought 
up by non-residents of the county, with an eye 
to speculation. Amos Stackhouse was the only 
revolutionary soldier known to have entered a 
lot in this section. He settled upon lot 14. John 
Lxwrence was one of the earliest settlers on this 
section. John Phillips entered lot 18 as early as 
1810; his brother George followed him soon after 
and settled on lot 15. They were originally from 
Virginia, but had lived a while in Kentucky be- 
fore they came here. George had been employed 
by Gumber & Bcatty, of Cambridge, in building 
the first mill in that place. He was a skilled 
hunter and an unerring marksman, and spent 
much time in the forests. The products of the 
chase, such as hides and venison, he would take 
to Zanesville. Amos Devoir and a Mr. Hyatt 
were also occujiants in this vicinity at an early 
day. 

Joseph He.slip, one of the few jiioneers that 
still survive the ravages of time, was the most ex- 
tensive resident land owner in this section and 
one of its widest known and most respected set- 



tlers. His life, both preceding and following his 
connection with Linton township, had been un- 
eventful. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, 
in March, 1793. His father, John Heslip, was the 
proprietor of an extensive shoe establishment in 
that city. A life on the ocean wave was the 
dream of Joseph's early boyhood, realized when 
lie was ten years old, for at that age he became a 
sailor boy aboard a merchantman. He remained 
on the sea till he was eighteen, in spite of his 
father's opposition. In 1808, while at Liverpool, 
he was impressed into the English service, hurried 
to Plymouth and shipped aboard a man-of-war, 
bound for Spain. As an English sailor he par- 
ticipated in- the siege of Cadiz, Spain. While 
there, he contrived to get his case before the 
American consul, and was soon after released. 
In 1811, he abandoned the sea and made a trip 
with his father to Linton township, for the pur- 
pose of examining 1,300 acres of land here, which 
his father had purchased two years previously 
with the hope that Joseph would settle here. 
They returned to Baltimore the same fall, and 
Joseph served as a militia man in the war that 
ensued. In the fall of 1814, he again came to Lin- 
ton township, this time pernnnently. Early in 
1815, he married Eleanor Walgamot, of Holmes 
county, and in midwinter, moved into a dreary 
doorless and windowless cabin, in the midst of 
the solitudes of the forest. He had not been 
here a great while when his father, wishing to 
mitigate the hardships of his pioneer career, sent 
him a carriage. The vehicle arrived safely at 
Cambridge, but stopped there, as no road had yet 
been made from that place westward. In those 
days of stern trial, difficulties were met ofcly to be 
overcome. A road was cut from Cambridge to 
Heslip's place for the express purpose of bring- 
ing the carriage through Once atits destination, 
Mr. Heslip had the exquisite pleasure of taking 
his wife out in tlie carriage for a drive — through 
tlie cornfields, as there were yet no roads. 

About 1815, Mr. Heslip indulged in a little 
speculation. He bought about G.OOO pounds of 
pork at two cents per pound ; dressed it and 
boated it to Cambridge in a large canoe. He 
employed teamsters going east for goods to carry 
it to Baltimore, paying them $2 per hundred. 
Their rates for bringing goods from Baltimore 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



545 



was SIO per hundred. Tlie pork was sold at Bal- 
timore for six cents. This occurred before pork 
was packed at Cincinnati. 

He was one of the earliest justices of his town- 
ship. While serving in this capacity he tried a 
case once with rather unusual surroundings. 
Wills creek was not yet bridged, and the only 
means of crossing was by canoe. On the day set 
for the trial the stream was greatly swollen, and 
the witnesses were on the other side and could 
not be prevailed on to cross. The 'squire deter- 
mined the case should go on, and proceeded with 
it then and there; he on one side of the stream, 
the witnesses on ihe other, a roaring flood be- 
tween. 

Thomas Johnson, one of the earliest settlers of 
the township. Was among the most prominent 
men of the county in his day. He was born in 
the parish of Glentubert, Monaghan county, Ire- 
land, on the 16th of March, 1783. Early in youth 
he manifested a great desire to go to America, 
and urged his father to emigrate. He, being a 
very quiet, unobtrusive man, with quite a family 
of young children, could not think of bringing 
them to the wilds of America. Thomas remained 
with his father till he was twenty-four years of 
age and had brothers grown up. He then told 
his father he was determined to go to the new 
world, and urged his suit with so much ardor 
that his parents could no longer withhold their 
consent. He left Ireland in 180G, and landed in 
New York with but one sovereign in his pocket. 
He there met with Joseph T. Baldwin, of New- 
ark, New Jersey, who offered to employ him. 
He remained with Mr. Baldwin for three years. 
In 1803 he married Sarah Parker. About this 
time his parents, his three brothers, Eichard, 
William and Robert, and his only sister, 
Margaret, joined him in Newark. Thomas then 
determined that Newark was not the place for 
his father's family to settle, and in 1809 they 
came to Coshocton county, and located in Linton 
township. Thomas bouglit from Esaias Baker 
the northeast quarter of section 10, wlierc now 
stands the village of Plainlield. Richard settled 
on the southwest quarter of the same section. 
Robert entered the northeast X[uarter of section 
17, and William the northwest quarter of section 
15, adjoining. 



Thomas and Richard both served in the war of 
1S12, the latter dying a year or two after his re- 
turn. Thomas was perhaps the first justice of 
the peace in the townshp. His first docket, still 
preserved, in the possession of his son, J. R. 
Johnson, bears date April 7, 1814. The first entry, 
of that date, records a suit brought by John 
Lawrence against Jacob Mapal, to recover ten 
dollars. The entry shows that bail was given by 
the defendant for the full amount and the costs. 
In 1818, he was commissioned associate judge of 
Coshocton county, a postion which he held till 
the time of his death. He was probably the first 
foreigner naturalized in Coschocton county, his 
certificate being dated December 16, 1814. Mr. 
Johnson possessed business qualifications of a 
high order. His name is connected with many 
enterprises of his township and county, both 
public and private. He died August 20, 1840, 
after a protracted sickness. His widow survived 
him almost twenty-two years, dying at the old 
homestead, March 29, 1862. His father also sur- 
vived him eighteen days, dying September 7, 1840. 
in the eighty-lirst year of his age. 

Five residents of the <ownship had served in . 
the revolutionary war, namely, John McCune, 
William Williams, Fought Shaffer, Amos Stack- 
house and Israel Buker. The following carried 
arms in the war of 1812: Richard Fowler, Wil- 
liam R. Clurk, Laken Wells, Francis Smith, 
Richard Johnson, Thomas Johnson, John Glenn, 
James Laurie, James R. Williams, William Hud- 
son, Robert Piatt, John Portmess, George Mag- 
ness, Duga Patterson, Robert Harbison, Sr., 
Rezin Baker, James McCune, Basil Baker, Sam- 
uel Banks, Eli O. H. Shyhock, Peter Rambo, 
Abraham Marlatt. There may have bceu others 
whose names can not now be ascertained. R. W. 
McCliin and Robert Harbison were soldiers in 
the Mexican war. 

Dr. Thomas Heslip was among the first phy- 
.sicians. Drs. Collins, Hawkins and Heslip Wil- 
liams also practiced the healing art here quite 
early. 

The first windmill in use was made by John 
Vernon and owned first by Basil Baker, after- 
ward by Edward Wiggins. . It was a rude affair, 
having wooden cogs. Before the introduction of 



546 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



windmills the process of cleaning wheat was very- 
laborious and was often performed in Linton 
township after this fashion, the necessary instru- 
ments being a s^heet and a half-bushel measure. 
The sheet would be tied to a stake at one end, 
and lield at the other b_y a person whose office it 
was to maneuver the sheet in such a way as to 
produce an artificial wind storm strong enough 
to blow away the chafi' while the wheat was being 
slowly poured from the niea.sure upon the floor. 
This oiieration performed several times would 
usually make the wheat sufficiently clean. 

A few rods below the entrance of Wills creek 
into Linton township, is a place called Limestone 
Falls. Before the Linton dam was built, there 
was a miniature cascade here, the water falling 
two or three feet but since the building of the 
mill at Linton, two miles below, the falls are con- 
cealed from sight. These are the only falLs in the 
course of the creek in the township. It is ex- 
tremely sluggish in its movements and, as a nav- 
igable stream, played an important part in the 
Iiistory of Linton township at a time when all its 
inhaliitants were back-woodsmen. • The limited 
commercial relations of the pioneers with the out- 
side world were maintained mainly tiirough its 
instrumentality. Whatever products could be 
spared by the settlers were borne to other locali- 
ties upon its bosom. In early times trading keel 
boats, thirty or forty feet in length, would ascend 
the creek from Zanesville loaded with crockery 
and, in fact, all kinds of wares. These the traders 
would dispose of to the settlers along the creek, 
stopping at the different farm houses along the 
route and announcing their arrival by a blast 
from a tin trumpet. Taking in exchange for 
their goods chicken^, eggs, or almost any com- 
modity, they were able to compete successfully 
with the few little country stores then in opera- 
tion, for these would generally demand the ready 
cash for their staples, and money was a rare ar- 
ticle in those days. 

A great amount of lumber used to be rafted 
from the banks of ^^'■ills creek. It found a ready 
market in Zanesville and could be taken there 
during high waters, at comparatively trifling ex- 
pense. The lumber was lashed together into rafts 
•of about twenty-five logs each. Two days were 
iLSually required to reach Zanesville. White oak 



and poplar were the varieties generally shipped; 
occasionally walnut or cherry. Seventy-five rafts 
a year would be a moderate estimate of the ex- 
tent of this industry. 

When the mills along the creek were put into 
ojieration. nnich of the flour made was exported 
1 by flat-boats to various points below. Thomas 
Johnson was extensively engaged in boating flour 
and whisky to a southern market. His flat-boats 
touched nearly every point of importance in the 
Mississippi valley, a ten ton boat of whisky being 
poled np the Tennessee river once as far as 
Florence, Alabama. I'erhaps the largest boat 
constructed for the purpose, was one 100 feet 
long and eighteen feet wide. It was built by J. 
V. Heslip, and partially loaded with .500 barrels 
of flour at Linton mills. At Zanesville its cargo 
was completed, and from thence conveyed safely 
to New Orleans. 

Wills creek is fordablc in several jilaces ordina- 
rily, but it is impassible during high waters. Be- 
fore the county was sufficiently develojjed to build 
bridges, some means of transportation for tavel- 
ers afoot, and for teams as well, sometimes, be- 
came necessar)'. This led to the establishment 
of ferries. Benjamin Wiggins kept the first 
ferry-boat in the township. It was near old Plain- 
field, about 1812. Peter Rambo was ferryman 
there at a later period. Joseph Heslip performed 
this office for a while on the site of Linton mills. 

The first attempt at bridge building in Linton 
townshiji terminated disastrously. The project 
was to spann Wills creek, at old Plainfield, with 
a wooden bridge. It was begun auspiciously, 
and partially erected with great labor on the part 
of the settlers in the vicinity, when it was swept 
away during a freshet. The next attempt was 
more successful, resulting in the construction of 
a bridge at Jacobsport in 1S34, mainly through 
the efforts of Thoma.« Johnson. Owing to the 
high banks and mud bottoms there was a diflS- 
culty in crossing Wills creek at his mills, and the 
commissioners being unwilling or unable to iis- 
sist in bridging the stream, he petitioned the legis- 
lature, in lS34,to authorize him to build a bridge 
and collect toll. He was assisted to some extent 
by the subscriptions of his neighbors. By the 
contribution of a certain amount he would grant 
a right to the free use of the bridge. Some twenty 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



547 



years later the bridge was given by Johnson's 
son to the county commissioners, they agreeing 
to keep it in rejjair. The second bridge was built 
at Linton, in 1847, by Joseph and John V. Heslip, 
the county commissioners contributing seventy- 
tive dollars for the purpose. The bridge about a 
mile farther up the creek was built in 1870, and 
the one on the Otsego road, several years ago. 

When the first settlers came into the township, 
the nearest mill was at Zanesville, twenty miles 
or more away, and accessible only by a winding 
trail. In ISOO, Andrew Ferier built a little mill 
on tlie present site of Plainfield, about fifty rods 
above where Parker's mill now stands, but it was 
soon after swept away by a freshet and never re- 
built. Milling was again thrown twenty miles 
away and the inconvenience seriously felt ; con- 
sequently, when John Loos, in 1816, proposed 
erecting a mill on Bacon run, the neighbors 
turned out en imissf, and, by their voluntary labor, 
made a race for the mill some eighty rods long, 
and for many years kept the same in repair. A/ 
saw-mill was operated in conjunction with the 
grist-mill. Years afterward it was converted 
into a carding mill, which was conducted first by 
Samuel Shafl'er, afterwards by Stephen Ives; it 
has long since been abandoned. 

Thomas Johnson and Jacob Waggoner, about 
1824, built a large mill, of four run of buhrs, 
where Parker's mill now stands. It was the first 
mill of any note and did a flourishing business 
In 1829 Johnson assumed sole control and owned 
it till his death. Since then it has been owned 
successively by John M. Johnson, Joseph John- 
son, Isaiah Rinaman, Samuel Sibley, Alonzo 
Sibley, William Heskctt and Parker Brothers. 
The present owners, the Parkers, run a saw-mill 
and a planing-mill in connection with it. The 
Linton mills were built, in 1847, by J. V. Heslip. 
In 1870, a steam saw and planing-mill was built 
in Plainfield by Wolfe it Williams. In 1878, a 
grist-mill was added. It is now operatetl by Wil- 
liam Wolfe. 

The manufacture of whisky was one of the 
main industries of pioneer times. Alexander 
and William Love inaugurated its manufacture 
in Linton township. Their still-house, of modest 
size, was located on Irish run, near the western 
line of section 9. Tlie process of distillation was 



begun here .about 1812. The Loves subsequently 
sold out to Andrew Ferguson, who removed the 
still to Bacon run, where Mrs. J. B. Fowler now 
lives. Thomas Johnson erected a large distiller}', 
subsequently, on his homestead, and for many 
years manufactured spirits on a Iqrge scale. In 
1816, at the laying out of Plainfield, he removed 
it there, and about 1825 back to its original place. 
Besides these, John Heslip's w.is the only distil- 
lery in the township. It was erected shortly after 
Linton was laid out and run for a few years only. 

The manufacture of salt was another industry 
in the early times that must not be overlooked. 
In the southwestern part of the township, Wil- 
liam McCleeary and Judge Fulton were engaged 
in it for many years. The wells had to be sunk 
several hundred feet before the water impreg- 
nated with salt was reached. In spring time it 
would rise to the top of the well, but at other 
seasons pumping was necessary. About sixty 
gallons of water must usually be evaporated to 
produce a bushel of salt. One hundred and fifty 
bushels were made per week at the two wells. 
Some was brought to Coshocton, but it was used 
largely by the farming community in this part of 
the county. J.acob W;iggoner also manufactured 
a little at Plainfield. The boring of his well here, 
discovered a vein of coal, seven feet in thickness, 
forty-seven feet below the surface. 

Linton township's first tannery was started in 
1818, in the village of Plainfield, by Benjamin 
Chambers, from New York. The bark for this 
tannery was prepared by crushing it beneath a 
ponderous stone wheel seven or eight feet in 
diameter, an axle passing through the center 
of the wheel acting as a pivot, and wts turned 
around one extremity by a horse hitched to the 
other. The bark was constantly stirred in the 
track of the wheel as it made its little circuit. 

Thomas Johnson built the next tannery in 
East Plainfield, about 1838; after his death it was 
run by his son Joseph awhile, and then discon- 
tinued. George Latham started one about twenty 
years ago, in the same village. Lewis Carhartt 
afterwards owned it, and in October, 1879, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Sibley purchased it; her son William 
Sibley, now has charge of it. Henry Franks 
owns and runs a little tannery situated about two 
miles west of Plainfield. 



548 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The first building erected for educational pur- 
poses was a rude log-cabin. It was built, prob- 
ably, in the year 1809, by the united labor of the 
surrounding settlers, on the southeast quarter of 
section 1, near its southern line, on property 
then owned 'by a teuton, named Dumm. After 
several terms had been taught, Dunim resolved 
to appropriate the building to his own use. The 
citizens thereabouts became indignant at this, 
and remonstrated, but in vain. Seeking legal 
advice they learned that Dumm possessed the 
right of property. The lawyer, unprofessionally 
of course, advised them to steal the building. 
Acting on this suggestion, one night a willing 
band of workers silently conveyed it, log by log, 
across the road to Thomas Johnson's land, where 
it stood for years, the only school-house in the 
township. Children were sent to school here 
from as far up Bacon's run as Richard Fowler's, 
and equally as far from other directions. They 
had to walk through narrow bridlepaths to reach 
it, many of them in constant fear of wild ani- 
mals, that still lodged in the woods. Walter 
Truat is said to be the first teacher. He could 
spell a little, but his literary attainments were 
not sufficient to enable him to read, and he was 
not retained long. Israel H. Baker, Alpha Bu- 
ker, Thomas Fitch, Benjamin Norman, Francis 
Carroll and a Mr. Thompson, were among the 
earliest teachers of this school. The building 
was used as a church and voting place. Jlilitia 
musters were also held here. 

A school was taught in a log cabin on JlcCune's 
place, about 1821, by a Mr. McConnell, a well edu- 
cated young man of dyspeptic tendencies, from 
the East* who came West to recuperate. He as- 
sumed the pedagogue's role to rejilenish his 
slender purse. He was succeeded by a Mr. Wil- 
liams, a crusty, crabbed fellow, who taught three 
months only. Eli Shrihock also tjxught here. 
He was an easy-going, good-natured kind of a 
man, brother-in-law to James Miskimcn. When 
his children had become old enough to need in- 
struction, Mr. Miskimen built a school-house on 
his place. In the military section, about 1825, 
Joseph Heslip, John Lawrence and George Phil- 
lips built a school-cabin. It stood about a half 
mile east of the present village of Linton. Messrs. 
Blair and Hunt were among the first teachers. 



Hunt did not believe in intellectual straining, for 
every little while he would tell the pupils to 
"rest their eyes." Another early school-house 
stood close to the road in the western part of sec- 
tion 20, near Mr.s. Heslip Williams' residence. 
Mr. Hunt and Caleb Baker swayed the ferule 
here primarily. 

Linton township contains five churches; the 
Methodist Episcopal, two Methodist Protestants, 
the Presbyterian and the Catholic. The Method- 
ist Episcopal is the oldest. , In 1812, Rev. John 
Mitchell organized a class near where Plainfield 
now is. The first members included Thomas 
Johnson, Robert Johnson, William Johnson, Hes- 
ter McClain, her son James; Richard Williams 
and wife, Esaias Baker, Charles Baker, Sr., Wil- 
liam Jefters, Conrad Powelson and Frank Smith. 
The school-house on Johnson's farm served as the 
meeting-house for many years. About 1830, the 
"radical split,". as it was commonly called, occur- 
red. This rupture was produced originally by 
the question of lay delegation, and led to the 
formation of the Methodist Protestant church. 
Nearly the entire congregation of Plainfield 
" seceded," leaving only seven or eight members 
in the old organization. These were Thomas 
Johnson and wife, Robert Johnson and wife, Wil- 
liam Johnson and wife and Susan Baker (her 
husband, Charles Baker, Sr., being among the 
seceders). This feeble renmant, however, was 
determined and active, as the erection of a house 
of worship a few years later will testify.- It was 
a large log building and stood across the creek 
from Jacobsport, on land donated by Thomas 
Johnson, who was the prime and main mover. 
The present church building, located in Plain- 
field, was erected about 1860. In 1875, it was 
somewhat enlarged and greatly improved. The 
present membership includes about 150 narties. 
A flourishing Sunday-school has been connected 
with the church for fifty years. It is superin- 
tended by C. F. Sangster. 

At the time of the separation of the Methodist 
Protestant from the Methodist Episcopal church, 
there was some difference of opinion as to the 
proper place for holding meetings, but Bacon run 
was finally agreed upon. The first meetings were 
held in a school-house at that time on Mrs. Brels- 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



549 



ford's place. Several years later a log meeting- 
house, called Pleasant Bethel church, was erected 
in the same locality. Rev. Cornelius Springer 
was the minister who introduced Protestant 
Methodism in Ihis community. Among the se- 
•ceders were Edmund Duling, Gabriel Evans, John 
and Francis Smith, Esaias Baker, William G.Dean, 
Jarris Gardner, John Dean, Jacob Waggoner, John 
R.Williams, Richard Williams, Rebecca Piatt and 
William R. Clark. In the list is included the 
names of several of the original members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

A few years later a society of the same denom- 
ination was formed in Jacobsport. Rezin Baker, 
Jacob Waggoner, John Loos, Sr.,and Harry Lin- 
der were among its first members. Services were 
first held in Robert Piatt's cabinet shop, afterward 
in the school-house. About 1842, the Jacobsport 
and Pleasant Bethel churches consolidated, and 
in 1847 the present church edifice in East Plain- 
field was erected. 

Another society had been formed about 1831, 
in the Powelson school-house, through the instru- 
mentality of Conrad Powelson. Soon after a 
building was raised on John R. Williams' place. 
It was known as the Covenant church. It finally 
fused with the Plainfield church. The present 
pastor is John jNIurphy, who serves a congrega- 
tion in Plainfield of nearly 200 members. 

The Methodist Protestant church at Linton 
was organized about 1857, in the brick school- 
house, which now forms a part of John Heslip's 
hotel, by Revs. Robinson and Samuel Lancaster. 
Isajic Thompson, George Welker, C. T. Gaumer, 
John IMiskimen, Aaron Ransopher, James Dean 
and William Lawrence were among the men 
who gave it being. Services were held in the 
brick school-house, and the school-house which 
succeeded it, until 1870. Then the present com- 
modious frame, witli its sky-pointing steeple, was 
erected. About a hundred members worship 
here. This and the P]ainfi«>ld church belong to 
the same circuit. The children in this vicinity 
have congregated every summer Sabbath for 
many years in the church to receive religious 
instruction. 

The Presbyterian church is located near the 
northern line of the township, on the Lafayette 



road. The first sermon was preached August 15. 
18.33, by Rev. James B. Morrow, of the Richland 
Presbytery. The next day the church was or- 
ganized with a membership of fifteen, and Alex- 
ander Matthews, Sr., and Alexander Matthews, 
Jr., were ordflined elders. The original members 
were as follows: Alexander Matthews, Sr, and 
Hannah, his wife ; Alexander Matthews, Jr., Pru- 
dence, his wife, and daughters, Sarah, Maria and 
Amy; Margaret Potter, Maria Roberts, Lydia 
Ann Butler, Thomas B. and JIary Barton, John 
and Jane Glenn, and Martha McCune. The first 
ten were received on certificate, the last five on 
examination. The earliest meetings were held 
in the school-house at Plainfield. The first com- 
munion was celebrated June 8, 1834. 

In 1847, an old wagonmaker's shop, on the site 
of the present church, was purchased and con- 
verted into a house of worship. Services were 
held in it till the present church was built, in 
1867. It was dedicated, free of debt, in June of 
that year. Its cost was .|1,800. The church was 
supplied for nearly nineteen years by Revs. N. 
Conklin, N. Cobb, J. Matthews, D. Washburn, S. 
Hanna, William Lumsden and Robert Robe. 
Rev. R. W. Marquis was the first settled pastor, 
from 1852 to 1859. Then followed Rev. J. B. 
Akey (supply); Rev. John Sloore, D. D., two 
years; George W. Fisher, seven years; James B. 
Stevenson, one year; J. J. Gridley (supply); W. 
B. Scarborough, eightTyears, and A. B. Wilson, the 
present pastor. The present session consists of A. 
Shaffer, John L. Glenn, Jr., Robert Dougherty and 
Joseph Love. The membership is seventy-two 
Rev. Marquis, its first pastor, is buried in the 
church cemetery. Mr. John Gundy, residing at 
Snow Hill, Maryland, but owning land in the 
vicinity of this church, left it a legacy of $1,000. 
in 1874. 

The Saint Mary's Catholic church, located in 
the western part of the township, was organized 
during or near the year 1840, by Father Gallaher, 
Quite a number of persons holding allegiance to 
this church had moved into this neighborhood 
previously. Among them were the following, 
who assisted in establishing the church here: 
Michael Hiser, Adam Mortine, David and John 
Wendel, Martin Henricks, Jacob Cline, Jacob 



550 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Shearer, John H. Baker, and David Borden- 
kircher. The organization was effected and first 
services held at the residence of David Borden- 
kircher. A log church was erected very soon 
afterwards, which continued to be the house of 
worship, till 1867, when the neati» little frame 
where they now hold service was built. The 
earliest ministers came principally from Zanes- 
ville, to administer to their spiritual welfare. 
Thoy were Fathers Gallahcr, William Burgess 
and William Diters. Father Bender, who suc- 
ceeded, was from Newark. Since the organiza- 
tion of the Catholic church at Coshocton, the 
pastors of it have supplied this charge. The 
membership amounts to about sixty. 

About the year 185S, a society of the United 
Brethren persuasion was organized about a half 
mile northeast from the Catholic church. John 
Michael, William Snites and John Stough were 
its main supporters. It was feeble in point of 
numbers from the. start, and became still more 
so by the subsequent removal of some of its mem- 
bers from this vicinitj'. It ceased to exist in 
1867. The frame meeting-house, erected in 1859, 
still stands in moumental memory of its prior 
existence. 

The first village laid out in the township was 
called Plainficld. It was located about a mile 
south of the present village of Plainfield, on the 
west bank of Wills creek, and platted October 10, 
1816. Thoniiis Johnson, ;is executor of the estate 
of Richard Johnson, and Edward Wiggins were 
tlie joint proprietors, part of the village platted 
lying on Wiggin's laud, the northwest quarter of 
section 17, and part on Richard Johnson's, the 
southwest quarter of section 10. The road divid- 
ing the two sections was dubbed Coshocton street, 
and twelve lots were laid off" from each section 
facing this street. The road running north from 
this along the creek was called Water street, and 
nine lots belonging to Johnson's land fronted on 
it. The first house was built by Thomas Johnson 
for a tavern, in 1816. It was a two-story, log- 
hewed building, and is still standing. Plainfield 
was then on the road between Zanesville and 
Philadelphia ; the road was traveled a great deal. 
Mr. Johnson kept a small stock of goods at his 



tiivern stand, and the following year (1817) a 
store, owned by Dwight Hutchinson, of Cam- 
bridge, was opened and managed by Joseph 
White, also of Cambridge. It was removed the 
next year and Mr. Luccock became the village 
storekeeper. The same year Benjamin Chambers 
started his tannery, as mentioned elsewhere in 
this chapter, and Mr. Johnson brought his distil- 
lery here. In 1817, John Vernon built a frame 
house in the village, the first of the kind built in 
the township. He was a carpenter and cabinet- 
maker by trade, and emigrated from New York. 
He died of consumption a few years later. Thomas 
Johnson became the first postmaster in the town- 
ship here, his appointment dating November 27, 
1819. The postoffice was afterward removed to 
East Plainfield. The little ^■illage, for some rea- 
son, was not a success. At no time did it contain 
many more than half a dozen houses. It was 
named, doubtless, from the plains surrounding it. 
Jacobsport was laid out in August, 1836, by Ja- 
cob Waggoner and named after him. He was 
the owner at that time of the northwest quarter 
of section 6, range 4. All the land lay east of 
Wills creek except a small piece in a bend of 
that stream. Deeming it a fine location for a vil- 
lage he laid it out into lots. At the time, there 
was a single log hut on this ground, one which 
had been occupied by Andrew Ferier when his 
mill was in operation. Thomas Piatt erected the 
first dwelling house, a comfortable frame build- 
ing. Butler ife Shook owned the first store, opened 
about 1839. Several years previous to this 
Thomas Johnson had opened a store on his land 
adjoining Jacobsport, and in 1840 had a number 
of lots laid off contiguous to Jacobsport. Several 
years later his son John M. Johnson increased the 
number of lots and recorded the plat, calling the 
village East Plainfield. Though forming but one 
village, in reality each part retained its original 
name. Jacobsport was entirely hemmed in by 
the creek and East Plainfield and consequently 
had little chance to extend its limits. East Plain- 
field on the contrary had a whole quarter section 
before it and grew slowly but surely. In March, 
1878, the whole was incorporated as one village 
under the name of Plainfield. Its first officers, 
elected April, 1878, were as follows: J. A. May- 
hugl), mayor; David Duling, clerk; John Faniil- 





FRANCIS M GlIRE, JR. 



MR!<. FRANCIS M GUIRE, JR. 





CORA E. M GUI RE. 



FANNIE G. JIGUIRE. 



FRANCIS McGUIRE, Jr. 

FRANCIS McGlTIRE, Jr., Lafayette township, farmer; postoffice, Coshocton; was horn 
April 12, l.Sl2,in this township; son of Francis McGuire, a native of this township. He was raised 
on the farm adjoining the home where he now hves. Mr. McGuire has always taken great pride 
in dealing in the finest blooded stock possible to be obtained, and without doubt has the finest 
flock of sheep in this part of the State, having selected strains of blood from the finest of Lee 
Archer's noted sheep of Washington county, Pennsylvania. He has always taken an active inter- 
est in the agricultural development of the county, and at the present time is one of the Directors 
of the Agricultural Society of this county. He was married, IMarch 29, 1871, to Miss Susan J. 
Russell, daughter of John N. Russell, of this township. They have two children, Cora E. and 
Fannie G. 






> 
V. 



53 



w 

H 
W 




HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



.555 



ton, treasurer; V. E. Vickers, marshal; 11. Mc- 
Clintick, Alonzo Sibley, S. P. Woodward, Thomas 
Piatt, Lewis Carhartt and C. W. Wilkin, council- 
men. 

The village is compactly built .nnd lies in the 
lower bottom land, close to the creek. It is con- 
cealed from view in almost every direction by the' 
terrace which rises abruptly behind it. Its pres- 
ent population is three hundred. As a business 
center it is not excelled in the county away from 
Coshocton. If contains three stores, two mills, 
one drug store, two hotels, one saloon, one jeweler 
shop, two shoe shops, three blacksmith shops, 
two harness shops, one tin store, one wagon shop, 
one tannery, one tailor shop, two churches, and 
three physicians. 

Plainfield Masonic Lodge, No. 224, was char- 
tered in 1852. The charter was destroyed by fire 
the same year and re-issued October 20, 1853. 
The charter members were Jacob Nichols, master ; 
J. B. Ingraham, senior warden ; P. Inskeep, ju- 
nior warden; J. R. Inskeep, John Baker, L. I. 
Bonnell, William White and A. J. Davis. The 
present membership is twenty-eight. The lodge 
is now officered as follows: S. P. Woodward, 
master; J. G. Powelson, senior warden; R. J. 
Sprague, junior warden; David Duling, clerk ; T. 
J. Cook, trea.surer. 

During the summer of 1879 the township built 
a fine two-story hall, about thirty-six by fifty feet 
in size. Several township offices and a festival 
room occupy the lower floor ; the upper story is 
used as an audience hall. 

The township cemetery adjoins Plainfield. It 
is beautifully located on a knoll of rising ground, 
the gift of Thomas Johnson. 

The village of Linton, comprising 115 inhabit- 
ants, is situated in the southeastern part of the 
township on Wills creek, at the base of a steep 
range of hills. It was laid out in 1S49, by J. V. 
Heslip, the land which formed it being mostly in 
timber at that time. The first building was 
erected by I\[r. Heslip, in 1847, and was used iis 
a boarding house for the workmen employed by 
him in constructing a mill-dam. A saw-mill, 
grist-mill, distillery and tavern were built within 
a few years, all by Mr. Heslip. A great amount 
of business was done in the mills formerly, but 

23 



they have lost much of their activity. The vil- 
lage contains two stores ' and the usual comple- 
ment of shops. Joseph Heslip was the first post- 
master, in 1847. 

Bacon postotHce, situated on Bacon run, was 
established about 1858, with John H. Sicher as 
postmaster. A country store was started here 
several years after by William Fowler, and has 
been in operation most of the time since. 

Maysville, situated in the southwestern corner 
of the township, was laid out in 1837, by Alexan- 
der Ballentine. It never jorospered, and for years • 
has flickered between life and death. It possibly 
numbers a half dozen houses, one of which is used 
as a blacksmith shop. 

The population of the township in 1880 was 
1,918, an increase of 318 in ten years. The early 
settlers were principally from the. States of Vir- 
ginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with a fair 
sprinkling from the Emerald Isle. The hills in 
the western part of the township were settled al- 
most exclusively by German and French emi- 
grant.s. Descendants of most of the pioneer fam- 
ilies still reside on the farms which their grand- 
fathers wrestled from primitive wilderness, a fact 
which speaks well of the agricultural and social 
qualities of the township. 



CHAPTER LX. 



MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



Bouniiary — Streams — Survey — Organization— Settlement— 
Poiiulntion—rustoflice.s— Mills— Scliools—Cliurelie.s. 

MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP lies in the 
northern tier of townships and is bounded 
as follows : On the north by Mechanic township, 
Holmes county ;■ on the ea.st by Crawford town- 
ship, on the south by Keene, and on the west by 
Clark. Its name is derived from the principal 
stream within its limits, which enters near the 
northeastern corner, and, pursuing an almost 
direct course, passes into Keene township, near 
the middle of the southern line. Several small 
branches unite with it in this township, and two 
or three others, flowing in a nearly parallel course 
with it, meet it in Keene. Walnut run, in the 



556 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



northern part of the township, flows nortliwest- 
erly and reaches Doughty's fork in Hohnes 
county. Narrow valleys border the streams, but 
beyond these the land is hilly throughout. 

It was organized in July, 1817, and the first 
election of officers was lield at the house of John 
P. Wilson, on the northeast quarter of section 21, 
near the southeastern corner of the township. 
This was then a central location, for in Mill 
Creek was originally embraced Crawford, White 
Eyes, and Keene townships. As it exists to-day, 
' it is the seventh township in the sixth range of 
' the United States militjiry district, and should be 
five miles square in area, but, owing to an imper- 
fection in the original survey, it lacks nearly a 
half mile of the requisite width. The first, sec- 
ond and fourth quarters consist of congress land, 
and were surveyed in 1803 by Ebenezer Buck- 
ingham. The third or southwest quarter is a 
military section, and was surveyed into thirty- 
four lOO-acre lots, by William Cutbush, in 1808. 
Had the quarter been of full size, there would 
have been forty instead of thirty-four lots. 

As the early records are lost, the first officers 
can not be given. Henry Grim, however, was 
the first justice of the peace, and Moses Thomp- 
son the first clerk. Philip Fernsler, who lived in 
what is now Crawford township, was at the same 
time elected to some minor office, but when called 
upon to appear before the justice and be sworn 
in, refused to do so on conscientious principles. 
Eather than violate his conscience he paid the 
fine of two dollars which the law imposed upon 
a citizen for refusing to perform the duties of an 
office to which he was elected. 

Richard Babcock, in 1812, settled with his fam- 
ily upon the southeast quarter of section 18, and 
by so doing became the earliest sotiler in the 
township. For three years he was the only set- 
tler. He was originally from Vermont, but had 
come to this place directly from Harrison county. 
He was a successful hunter, and made a good se- 
lection of land for his future home, for the quar- 
ter is not excelled in the entire township. A trail 
leading up Mill creek, past his cabin, to the Car- 
penter settlement on Doughty's fork, in Holmes 
county, was for some time the only public way in 
the township. It was afterward replaced by a 
wagon road. 



In the fall of 1815, while Mr. Babcock was yet 
the sole white occupant of the township, a band 
of wandering Indians encamped a short distance 
southeast of his land and made serious inroads 
upon his field of ripening corn, notwithstanding 
his remonstrances. Mr. Babcock, single-handed, 
was no match for the aggressors, and conveyed 
intelligence to the scattering settlers about Co- 
shocton, requesting assistance to drive the base 
intruders from the neighborhood. Accordingly, 
twelve men started from the river for Babcock's 
place, with this express purpose, but when they 
reached it, the Indians had flown, never to re- 
turn. They had probably been apprised through 
some source of the intended attack and, seizing 
time by the forelock, departed for regions un- 
known. Mr. Babcock was killed by a runaway 
team, about 1823. His widow died a few years 
later. His youngest son ren^ained upon the 
home farm until his death, in 1874. His grand- 
son, Daniel Babcock, now lives upon the place. 

The second settler was Solomon Vail, who in 
1815 entered and removed to the northeast 
quarter of section 23, from what is now the John 
Leinmon place, in the northciist corner of Tus- 
carawas township, where he had been living for 
some time with his father, John Vail. The 
family had come to this county from Youngs- 
town, Mahoning county. Mr. Vail, in after years, 
removed with a large family to the western part 
of Illinois, where he died. 

Moses Thompson was the third settler, coming 
into the township with his family March 27,1816. 
He was of Irish birth and had been living in Jef- 
ferson county. In the fall of 1815 he removed to 
this county. He found a temporary habitation 
near the Tuscarawas river in the cabin of Robert 
Culbertson, who had died in 1815. During the 
winter he prepared the timber and with the as- 
sistance of the settlers gathered far and near 
reared his backwoods cabin on the northwest 
quarter of section 22. Here he remained 
until his death, which occurred in 1862. 
His wife had died in 1822. His son S. T. 
Thompson resided on the home farm for many 
years, but within a few 3'ears removed to Keene 
township, where he now resides. 

In 1817 the pioneers began to enter this town- 
ship more rapidly. In that year Thomas Moore 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



557 



settled upon the northeast quarter of section 22. 
He was born in New Jersey and at the age of six- 
teen ran away from home. He eventually made 
his way to Harrison county and from there here. 
He was a man of little education but was well 
liked by his neighbors. His father, years after- 
ward, came out arid lived with him. Both died 
on the home place. Joseph Beach, a son-in-law 
of Thomas Moore came to the township with him 
and lived upon the same quarter. Henry Grim 
in 1817 settled upon the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 21. He was of German e.xtraction and a few 
years before had been living in Perry township. 
He afterwards became an associate judge of this 
county. From this place he removed to Owen 
county, Indiana. John P. Wilson in the same 
year settled upon the northeast quarter of section 
21. He had married a sister of Solomon Vail and 
like him had come from Mahoning coimty. He 
first took a lease upon the McGuire tract in La- 
fayette township, where he accumulated a little 
money with which to enter his quarter. He af- 
terward moved to Wells county, Indiana. About 
this time James Osborn, a New Englander, made 
his appearance in the township. He had been 
living on the Tuscarawas river and had there 
married a Miss Cantwell. He* bought ten acres 
from Solomon Vail and remained here but a short 
time, removing to Keene township. He was a 
ready workman and could make himself useful 
in almost any kind of emjiloyment. From 
Keene township he emigrated to Texas. Wil- 
liam Willis in 1817 settled upon the southwest 
quarter of section 12. 

A little later, Luke Tipton and his two sons, 
Luke and Thomas, settled upon the southeast 
quarter of section 8. They were originally from 
Maryland, but had come to this place from Jefler- 
son county. Mr. Tipton had been a soldier of 
the revolutionary war, and was an excentric 
character, very credulous in his disposition. He 
went to Holmes county and afterward to Ten- 
nessee, where he died. 

John Williams, Sr., a brother of Charles Wil- 
liams of Coshocton, settled upon the northwest 
quarter of section 19, in 1817 or 1818. Hejvasm 
the_ revolutionary war, and_at it£ close settled 
near Wheeling. He was also in the Moravian 
and the Coshocton campaigns. He removed to 



Coshocton about 1812. From Mill creek, he re- 
moved to Keene township whore he died in 1833, 
when about eighty years of age. He was a good 
man and highly esteemed by his acquaintances. 

Among the earliest settlers on the milit^iry sec- 
tion were William Baldwin. Sanuiel Bice, Fred- 
erick Bentley, Charles Elliott, Amos Smith and 
Benjamin Workman. :Mr. Baldwin was from 
New England and came about 1820 or earlier, 
settling on lot 9. He was an enterprising man 
and accumulated considerable property Mrs. 
Baldwin was a cultivated lady and instituted the 
first singing school hereabouts. Samuel Bice, 
occupying lot 20, was here perhaps a little earlier. 
He died early in life, and the family soon disap- 
peared from the township. Fredereck Bentley 
owned lot 13. Two brothers also lived here for 
a while, but all moved West, Frederick going to 
Illinois. Charles Elliott lived upon lot 2, which 
was owned by his brother Aaron. He afterward 
moved to Clark township. Amos Smith settled 
upon lot 5 about 1818 and died not many years 
thereafter. Benjamin Workman was from Vir- 
ginia, and owned lots 26 and 27. 

Other settlers who were in the township about 
or before 1820, were Daniel Weaver, who settled 
upon the northeast quarter of section 3; John 
Stonehocker, the northwest quarter of section 19 
(he died on the place several years later); Amos 
Purdy, a New Englander, who afterward moved, 
farther west, tlie northwest quarter of section 13; 
Henry and Adam Lowe, the former owning the 
west half, the latter the east half, of section 4; and 
Peter Harbaugh,the northwest quarter of section 
2. John Mitchell, about thef same time, settled 
upon the northwest quarter of section 21. He 
was from Jefferson county, and became a re- 
spected and prominent citizen of the township, 
serving as count}' commissioner from 1829 to 
1832. He lived on the place he first occupied till 
his decease. Peter Sheplar, from Harrison coun- 
ty, about 1821, settled in the eastern part of sec- 
tion 8. He removed to Missouri, but returned to 
this township and died here. William Baird, from 
Jefferson county, and John Dickey, a brother-in- 
law to Mr. Stonehocker, came in about the same 
time. 

Frederick Miser, about 1S20, settled in the south 
half of section 1. He Wivs a person of towering 



558 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



stature awl strength, and extremely fond of hunt- 
ing. He wore the usual hunter's garb, the skins 
of wild animals, and with his large fox-skin cap 
presented quite a formidable appearance. He 
was, however, kind-hearted as a child, and would 
never knowingly injure any one. When his rifle 
would bring down a deer it is related that he was 
accustomed to swing the game across his shoul- 
ders and continue the hunt till he had shot an- 
other. He would then fasten one to eacli end of 
a short pole, and with ease bear it home on his 
shoulder. 

The earliest settlers were chiefly from New 
England, many of them having sojourned for a 
while in the eastern counties of the State. Later, 
a German emigration to the township set in, and 
this people now forms the predominating ele- 
ment. In 18.30 the population was 587; ten years 
later it was larger than it has been at any time 
since, 907; in 1850 it was 872; in 1860,688; in 
1870, stilMurther reduced, to 586. ' The present 
tendency is again upward, the recent census ac- 
crediting the township with 620 inhabitants. 

It is distinctly a rural district, as a town lot 
has never been surveyed within its limits. The 
nearest approach to a village is a solitary country 
store and postoffice, called !Mound, in the south- 
eastern part of the township. The store was 
started by Daniel Babcock, in the spring of 1880, 
and the office established a little later. It is only 
an accommodation or branch office, however, 
the postmaster, Mr. Babcock, bringing the mail 
from Keene once a week, on Saturdays. Many 
years ago a postoffice known as Mill Creek, was 
kept for a while iy the western part of the town- 
ship, by Jesse Patterson. It was then removed 
to Bloomfield. A Mr. Bennett provided "private 
entertainment," as the sign read, for the public, 
on lot 7, a long time ago, and was succeeded in 
this capacity for a few years by Mr. Patterson. 

The first corn-grinding done in the township 
was done in a little hand-mill which Solomon 
Vail was fortunate enough to jiossess. Not satis- 
fied with this, he determined to build a power- 
mill, and with the assistance of his brother-in- 
law, Benjamin Firbee, accomplished the under- 
taking. It was a rude affair, capable of grinding 
nothing but corn. Thomas Elliott kindly con- 
sented to bring the stones for the mill from Mans- 



field, and for his services was rewarded with a 
pair of "wedding shoes" which Mr. Vail, who 
was a "jack of all trades," fashioned for him. 
The water soon washed around the dam, and Mr. 
Vail afterwards built a larger mill a little farther 
down the stream — Mill creek. This latter one 
could grind wheat, but the flour must be bolted 
by hand at a separate mill. After this mill had 
subserved its intended use, it was replaced by a 
saw-mill which did not remain long in operation. 
Eli Steele erected a mill more than thirty years 
ago, on the southeast quarter of section 9. He 
sold it to A. Crawford, and it has long since 
ceased to exist. 

Concerning the distillation of spirits, it may 
be said that Foster & Young, and afterward Mo- 
ses Thompson, were engaged in the business for 
a short time. Mr. Hartnian ran a tannery for a 
while on the southwest quarter of section 13. 

The first school in the township was taught by 
David Grim, the son of Henry Grim, in 1816 or 
1817, on the John Williams place. Mr. Williams 
had built his cabin in the fall, but did not intend 
to occupy it till the following spring, and allowed 
the school to be held in it during the winter.. 
By the next fall he had a double cabin erected 
and the school was continued another term in 
one of these. Mr. Grim taught both terms. He 
was a paralytic cripple, unable to perform the 
sturdy labor of pioneer life, and had attempted 
to gain a livelihood by teaching. He died soon 
after. Then there was no school in the township 
for years, till the country became more thickly 
settled. John Mitchell was among the next 
teachers. 

At present there are regular services in only 
one church in the township — Elliott's chapel, a 
Methodist Episcopal church, located near the 
northwest corner of lot 28, in the southwestern 
part of the township. This meeting-hou.sc was 
erected in 1861, and dedicated in April, 1862, by 
G. W. Breckenridge, then the presiding elder of 
the circuit. It was built by John Elliott, is a 
frame about twenty-four by thirty-eight.in size^ 
and cost about $500. George Elliott, Samuel Elli- 
ott and Albert Seward were the most influential 
members. Kev. E. H. Dissette is the pastor at 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



559 



present. The membershiiJ, owing to removals, 
4ind the organization of the church at Bloomfield, 
lias been greatly reduced and is now very weak 
numerically. 

Preaching had been held in this neighborhood 
from a very early date, more recently at George 
Elliott's house, earlier in the school-house or 
wherever a suitable place could be obtained. An 
appointment was made for services one Sunday 
evening in the school-house. The time arrived 
and with it the preacher and his congregation, 
but the man in charge of the building came late 
with fuel and candles, but by a strange oversight, 
without iire. There were no matcjies, it was get- 
ting late, the night was very dark and the nearest 
house was a considerable distance awaj'. Un- 
daunted, the good brother decided to proceed 
with the services. Bidding the i)eople in attend- 
ance be seated, he found his way to the pulpit, 
ascended it and delivered a sermon with great 
power and miction to his invisible hearers. 

St. Mark's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal 
church was organized at the dwelling of Moses 
Thompson in 182,3, Bishop Chase ofliciating. The 
principal original members were John Mitchell, 
Moses Thompson, James Foster, .\le.xander Scott, 
George McCaskey and William Elliott. Services 
had been occasionally held previously in the 
liou.se and barn of William Elliott, of Keene 
township. The first church building was erected 
in the year 1824. It was built of hewed logs and 
without the aid of money, the members and 
neighbors giving labor instead. In 1859 the 
present church was built at a cost of $800. It is 
located in the northwestern jjart of section 22, on 
land donated by Moses Thompson. There have 
been no settled pastors, the church having been 
commonly supplied by jirofessors and theological 
students from Kenyon College, Ganibier. There 
are now no regular services. In 1825 or 182(5, a 
•Sunday-school was organized with Samuel Elliott 
iis superintendent, and William Grim, assistant. 
It has been irregularly kept up since, though 
there is no school at present. 

Elders Norris and Snow, pa-stors of the Disciple 
church, began to preach in this vicinity nearly 
fifty years ago, in houses, barns, the woods or 



whatever accommodations for an audience might 
be obtained. Converts to the new faith began to 
increase, and, in 1848 or 1849, a house of worship 
was built near the northeast corner of the Babcock 
farm. Frederick Bentley, Luke Tijiton, Sylvester 
Tijiton, William Willis, Samuel Morrison, from 
Holmes county, and others early identified them- 
selves with this church, and it at one time pos- 
sessed considerable strength. Not long after the 
erection of the church, however, it began to de- 
cline, owing to the emigration of its members 
from the county, and in a few years the organi- 
zation e.xpired. The building is still standing 
and is occupied as a dwelling house. 



CHAPTER LXI. 

MONROE TOWNSHIP. 

Boundary— Topat'ra|>hy—Pi)i>iilnliiin—.Soltlers— Mills — New 
Princeton — Si>riiig Mountain— Churches. 

MONROE belongs to the northern tier of the 
townships of Coshocton county. On the 
north it touches Richland and Killbuck town- 
ships of Holmes county, on the east Clark town- 
ship, on the south JefTerson and on the west Tiv- 
erton. Owing to its location and topographical 
features it was probably the last township of the 
county to yield its pristine wildernesses to the 
subduing hand of civilization. Hemmed in on 
all sides by bold and rugged hills, the topography 
of its own territory from a picturesque point of 
view in places ajiiiroaches the attractive elements 
of grandeur and sublimity, but seen from an ag- 
ricultural standpoint the view was not so entranc- 
ing, and doubtless deterred many settlers from 
taking possession of the soil. Very little lime- 
stone is seen in the township but sandstone rock, 
both massive and fragmentary, is scattered in 
rich profusion over many a hillsiile and crops 
out with uniform regularity in all parts of the 
township. The valleys were in early times decked 
with a thrifty forest growth, but the hill tops 
were usually bleak and bald or covered only with 
scantiest vegetation of shrubs and bushes. 

Settlements in a new country almost invaria- 
bly follow the streams, and progress in settle- 



560 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ment is proiiortionate to the size and advantages 
of the streams and their valleys. In Monroe 
township the streams are inconsiderable in size, 
and did not ofler to settlers the same induce- 
ments possessed by larger streams. Beaver run 
rises in the southern p.irt and flows southeast- 
erly draining the southwestern corner of the 
township. It received its name from the fact that 
John Severns of Jefferson township was one of 
earliest settlers on its banks. He had emigrated 
from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and on this 
account, to distinguish him from another John 
Severns, he was familiarly known as Beaver John. 
Big run has its source in the western part of the 
township and flows eastward, entering Killbuck 
creek in Clark township. With its little branches 
it drains most of the northern half of the town- 
ship. The ridge lands in the southern central 
portion of the township are undulating and af- 
ford locations for fine farms. 

The third section, or southwest quarter of the 
township, is military land. It was surveyed into 
forty 100-acre lots, in 1818, by Alexander Holmes. 
The remainder of the township is congress land, 
surveyed in ISO.S, by Silas Bent, Jr. The town- 
ship was organized in 1S24, and in its original 
extent embraced what is now ClaA township, 
and probably other territory. The first justice of 
the peace was James Parker, who served fifteen 
years. Jeremiah Williams, William Estap and 
James Curtis followed him. William Hughes 
has now filled this office for about thirty years. 

The population of the township, in 1830, was 
120. The adjoining townships at this time con- 
tained about 250 each, and the remaining town- 
ships in the county ranged from 400 to 800. In 
1840, Monroe contained 557 inhabitants; in 1850, 
750; in 18G0, 8G8; in 1870, 832, and in 1880, 1,005. 

The earliest settlers were principally Penn- 
sylvanians, with a strong admixture, however, 
of Virginians. During the last twenty years, 
there has been a steatly inflow of Germans, and 
this element is now of considerable strength. 
The early settlers, generally, were without much 
means, and many of them moved about, from 
place to place, a great deal. In 1827, the only resi- 
dent tax-payers in this township were Jeremiah 
Fetrow, lot 3, of section 3; Daniel Fetrow, lot 2, 
section 3; William Griffith, lots 4 and 5, same 



section, and James Parker, the west half of the 
southeast quarter of section 25. It must be re- 
membered, however, that real estate was not 
taxable until five years after it had been entered, 
and most of these were probably in the town- 
ship in 1822. Mr. Parker was from Beaver 
county, Pennsylvania; was the first justice of 
the peace for this township, and finally moved 
further west. 

William Griffith was born near Wheeling, Vir- 
ginia, and came to this township as early as 1.824. 
At one time he owned 500 acres of the military 
section. He was the only child of wealthy pa- 
rents, a practical farmer and thorough business- 
man, accommodating to his friends and neigh- 
bors, and widely respected for his strict integrity. 
He unfortunately became addicted to the popular 
vice of the day, and, from consequent neglect of 
business, his property became reduced, and he at 
last removed to Illinois. 

Andrew Fetrow and his two sons, Jeremiah 
and Daniel, a German family, moved to this town- 
ship from the vicinity of Sugar creek, in the east- 
ern part of the State. After living here for a 
while they became scattered, and are no longer 
in this neighborhood. 

Absolom and Joseph Severns, two brothers 
from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, were among 
the earliest settlers. The former was not a prop- 
erty owner here, and removed to a place near 
Canal Lewisville. Joseph owned a small tract of 
land, but in 1829, while yet a young man, .sold it 
and emigrated to Illinois. 

Peter Rutledge, a Marylander by birth, owned 
a farm in the northeast quarter of section 23, set- 
tling upon it in about the year 1823. He was re- 
garded by his acquaintances as a man of more 
than ordinary intelligence, but was of a quiet dis- 
position and not desirous of political preferment. 
He removed to Illinois thirty or more years ago. 

Daniel Butler, the son of Joseph Butler, who 
was an early settler in the Walhonding valley, 
cleared and occupied a place in the southern part 
of the township, and his son-in-law, William 
Griffith, afterward entered it. Mr. Butler con- 
tinued to farm it for a number of years, then re- 
moved to Putnam county. 

Michael Stover, from Rockingham county, Vir- 
ginia, settled upon the west half of the northeast 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



561 



quarter of section 22, about 1823. He remained 
a resident of this place up to his death. His 
brother Matthias was also a settler of this town- 
ship. 

David Groves came from Green county, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1825, and settled upon eighty acres 
in the southeast quarter of section 13. He sold 
the place about 1831 and removed to Simmons' 
run, where he died. 

Samuel Brillhart came from Kockingham 
county, Virginia, in 1827, and engaged in farm- 
ing for a year for John Stevens, in Jefferson 
township; then in the fall of 1828, he removed 
to lot 8 of section 3, and soon after entered it. 
He was a mechanic, and in connection with farm- 
ing carried on a blacksmith and wagon shop, and 
for a time, a cooper shop also, shipping a great 
many barrels to Renfrew's steam grist-mill at 
Coshocton. He died in this township, and his 
descendants are still residents in this vicinity. 

Darius Suow was a peculiar but very valuable 
character in the early stages of the township's 
growth. He was probably the only Yankee in it 
hailing from Connecticut. When he first entered 
the township, in return for some services ren- 
dered, he procured a life-lease for a small tract 
of seven acres in section 23. On this he planted 
an orchard and erected a blacksmith shop. 
During the summers he would engage in farming 
and blacksmithing, and in winter furnish the 
little educational instruction the settlers of those 
early days could afl'ord for their children. About 
1830 he moved to the Mohican river, in Holmes 
county, but afterwards returned. He was raised 
a strict Presbyterian, but afterwards joined the 
Baptists and became one of their itinerant pio- 
neer ministers. From this faith he turned to the 
teachings of Alexander Campbell, and became 
one of the propagators of the Disciple church in 
this county. In later life he procured a land- 
warrant for services rendered by his son in the 
Mexican war, in which his son was killed, and 
with it entered a lot in this township. Mr. Suow 
died in this township. 

Jacob Lutz, in 1828, came from Green county, 
Pennsylvania, and was among the first settlers on 
Big run. He settled on the southwest quarter of 
section 9, possessing only a squatter's right, and 
the next year moved a short distance across the 



Holmes county line. After living there and in 
Clark township a short time, he returned to 
Monroe, at first entering forty acres in section 10, 
and afterwards adding more to it. He spent his 
time in farming and hunting. Of this latter pur- 
suit he was very fond. In 1850 his wife died, 
and several years later he removed to Paulding 
county, where he died. He had two children, a 
son now living in Iowa, and Mrs Jacob Sondals, 
of this township. 

James Conner, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, 
located in the northwestern part of the township 
prior to 1828. Thomas McConnel, in 1828, moved 
from Green county, Pennsylvania, to the south- 
east quarter of section S. After a stay of about 
ten years in this county, he removed to Indiana. 
Larry Croy, in 1829, was living on Big run ; he 
afterward moved to Holmes county. John 
Windsor came about 1830, but remained in the 
township only a few- years. John Kced, a little 
later, came from Gallipolis and settled on the 
ridge in the southern part of the township. He 
remained here until his death, and his children 
have removed to other parts. Ezekiel, James and 
Joseph Severns, brothers to John Severns, came 
from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and settled on 
the ridge. William Hughes, still living, came in 
1832 or 1833. The country settled up gradually, 
but as late as 1850 there was still some unentered 
land in the township. The portions first settled, 
along the streams and on the ridge, in the south 
central portion of the town.ship, will compare in 
value with most uplands north of the river, but 
the parts later settled were not so desirable for 
agricultural purposes. 

The water power afforded in the township is 
slight. On Big run a sm.ill mill was built, forty 
or more years ago, in the southwest quarter of 
section 8, by John Oxley. By him it was sold to 
Charles Purdy, of Holmes county, and his two 
sons, Gord and Polk, successively operated it for 
a few years. George and Charles Cascr next ob- 
tained it and the latter now owns it. The grist- 
mill contains but one run of buhrs, and is 
adapted only to the grinding of corn and buck- 
wheat. The saw-mill has prepared a large 
amount of lumber in this i)art of the township. 

The mills at New Princeton were built about 



562 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



184G, by Benjamin Williams. They were at first 
unpretentious in size, but afterwards somewhat 
enlarged. Mr. Williams sold to John Power, in 
1856 or 1S57, and he, some five years later, to Jo- 
seph McCoy. Subsequent owners liave been 
John Burrows, Abraham Landis, William Hughes 
and Samuel Beck. Mr. Beck is the present 
owner. The grist-mill contjiins two run of buhrs. 
The water power is a large overshot wheel, fed 
from a race which is about a half mile in length. 
Mr. Beck has added steam power to the mill, and 
it now operates at all seasons of the year, doing a 
custom work principally. A stationarj- saw-mill 
was attached when the mill was first built, but 
after a few j'ears it was allowed to run down. A 
portable mill has supplied its place and is now in 
operation. 

New Princeton was laid out in this vicinity by 
William Whinnery years ago; the exact date is 
not known, for the plat is not on record. It con- 
sisted of but sixteen lots, of irregular size, and 
its two thoroughfares rejoiced in the names of 
Telegraph and Mill streets. A postofflce was 
kept here at one time, a number of store.s have 
been in operation, but all that marks the i)lace 
now is the mill and a few houses. A tannery 
was also operated here, but for several years it 
too has been idle. Mr. Whinnery was running it 
in 1858; his son, Columbus, then controlled it for 
some time, and was succeeded by William Wolfe. 
Mr. Wolfe dispo.sed of it in 1875, and after being 
oi)erated liy Charles McLain for probably a year, 
it suspended business, but will soon be reopened. 
Dr. J. W. Robinson has been practicing medicine 
here for seven or eight years. 

The village of Spring Mountain, located on lot 
10 of the 3d section, was founded in August, 
1836, by Thomas Gillam, proprietor, under the 
name of Van Buren. The original jilat com- 
prised that part of the village lying south of the 
street running east and west, lots 1 to 22 inclu- 
sive. Four of these are said to have been deeded 
to the surveyor for his services in ])latting the 
village. Li December, 1839, Mr. Gillam made a 
small addition on the north of the village. A 
change in the name having been determined 
upon some twenty years subsequent to its foun- 
dation, the honor of selecting the new name was 



conferred upon Mrs. George Conant, whose hus- 
band was the principal of the academy, and she, 
with an eye to natural fitness, called it Spring 
Mountain. 

The first house was built on the corner by Sam- 
uel Gillam, brother to Tliomas Gillam, and was 
used as a tavern for several years. The second 
house was designed for a store. It was a very 
small building, and a very small stock of goods 
was kept in it by William Estap. In about three 
years he disposed of the establishment to William 
Drake, who very materially increased the amount 
of goods. He in turn was soon succeeded by 
Levi Drake, who so enlarged the stock of goods 
as to make a very presentable appearance for 
a country store. His successors were William 
Sturgeon, Richards <t Brothers, Richards & Mc- 
Coy. Day tt Simmons, in 1859-GO, and afterward 
Joseph McCoy, operated iu this line briefly, but 
soon closed out. About 1865, John Emerson 
started a small grocery. He was succeeded by 
Baker ct Lyba-ger, who soon purchased the stock 
of Richards Sz McCoy. Since 1866, they have un- 
interruptedly engaged in mercantile pursuits at 
this place. 

The population of Spring Mountain is scarcely 
seventy-five. It contains two blacksmith shops 
and one shoe shop. Isaac Baker is postmaster. 
The mail is tri-weekly, received from Bloom field. 
Prior to Buchanan's administration, the jiostoffice 
here was called Ridge. Si)ice then it has been 
Spring Mdunlain. 

Dr. Briggs was practicing medicine here as 
early as 1850. He remained only a short time, 
and, after a little while, was followed by Dr. 
Thomas Finney, who practiced several years. In 
1858, Dr. W. R. Wing located here and continued 
in practice until 1866. Dr. J. W. Winslow began 
a practice in 1863, which is still maintained. 
Recently he has ai?sociated with him Dr. T, W. 
Workman. 

War.saw Lodge No. 255, of the Masonic fra- 
ternity was removed from Warsaw to this village 
in 1877. It was chartered October 17, 1854. The 
first officers were: William Stanton, master; 
David Lawson, senior warden ; Levi Drake, junior 
warden ; John Hays, senior deacon ; P. Metham, 
junior deacon; John Williams, secretary; AVil- 
liam Thompson, treasurer; Samuel Darling, tyler. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



5C3 



The lodge is at present officered as follows : John 
Wilson, master; E. L. Lybarger, senior warden; 
Corwin McCoy, junior warden; George Wilson, 
senior deacon; James Wilson, junior deacon; 
Isaac Baker, treasurer; William D. Hastings, 
secretary; Abram Bartlett, tylcr. The member- 
ship is at present about thirty. 

One of the past institutions of Spring Moun- 
tain which has reflected honor upon the village, 
was the academy. It was built by individual 
subscriptions, and among the stockholders were 
Silas Moore, J. S. McCoy, William D. Hastings, 
Samuel Anderson, Mr. Thompson and Levi 
Drake. The academy building, a large two-story 
frame, was erected in 1855, on lot 10, and the year 
following a spacious boarding hall, now the 
Mountain Hou.se, was erected on lot 17. George 
Conant (afterward superintendent, Coshocton 
schools), was the first principal, remaining two 
years. J. S. Haldeman sticceeded him, serving 
from 18.57 to 1859. J. B Selby followed him and 
remained several years. His assistant. Miss Ada 
Baker, then conducted the school for a year 
or two, and was succeeded by Mr. Taylor. Prof. 
Conant returned about 1867, but taught only a 
few months when the school was abandoned. 
The attendance previous to 1861 had averaged 
about sixty, but about that time a large number 
of students enlisted into the service, and during 
the war the attendance was greatly reduced, and 
did not recover its former numbers. Soon after 
the school was opened, its management came into 
the hands of a conference of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. In 1870, the lower room of the 
academy was sold to the directors of the school 
district, and the district school has since been 
held there Since 1877, the upjier room has been 
occupied as a hall by the Masonic Lodge. 

The only cluu'ch in Spring Mountiiin is the 
Methodist Episcojwl. As early as 1842 preaching 
was held at the house of John McCoy, Sr., once 
in two weeks. The appointment was then within 
the bounds of Roscoe circuit. The original 
membership of the class comprised the following 
persons: Timothy R. Johnson and wife, John 
McCoy and wife, Silas Moore and wife; Sarah 
McCoy, wife of J. S. McCoy; Jacob L. Weather- 
wax and wife, Jonas Gilbert and wife, and Wil- 



liam R. Drake. The services were soon trans- 
ferred to the house of Silas Moore, residing in 
the " suburbs " of Van Buren, and in a year or 
two to a small log cabin in the \-illage. The 
height of the room to the loft was so slight that 
a man of ordinary stature could scarcely stand 
erect; yet there wefe.a number of successful re- 
vival meetings held in it. About this time Keene 
circuit, comprising this congregation, was formed 
as it now stands. A few years later a new school- 
house was built near by, and the preaching was 
held there. Quarterly meetings were held at 
the barns of Silas Moore and Samuel Brillhart. 
In 1851 the present frame church was biult ai^ 
dedicated by Rev. Harvy Wilson. At the first 
quarterly meeting held in the church. Rev. 
George Conant, the j)astor in charge, protracted 
the services, and his efforts resulted in the con- 
version of from fifty to sixty souls. Other 
marked revivals were held during the winters of 
185.5-'56, 1859-'G0 and 186.5-'66 ; since which time 
the church has been prospering. The present 
membership numbers about sixty. Rev. E. H. 
Dissette is pastor in charge. 

A Sunday-school was organized about 1845, 
which has a present membership of seventy-five. 
Its superintendent is Dr. J. W. Winslow. 

The oldest religious organization in the town- 
ship is the Methodist Protestant church, located in 
the northwest quarter of section 10. The earli- 
est preaching in this vicinity was by Rufus Rich- 
eson, under whom a class of thirteen members 
■was formed, about 18.3G. Among these were 
Charles Holmes, the first leader, Sarah Holmes, 
his wife, and his daughter Susanna, Edmund Mc- 
Coy, his wife, Mary, and daughter Susanna; Mar- 
thaOxley, and John and Mary Lutz. Mr. Riche- 
son was engaged to preach once in five weeks, on 
a week day, and filled the engagement only a few- 
times; he was succeeded by another minister, 
whose name is not recollected, and whose contin- 
uance was equally brief. After an interim of 
about one year. Rev. John Baker was called to this 
charge; he had four other appointments, and 
from the five is said to have received sixteen dd- 
Im-s for his services the first year. Money in those 
days was a rare article, and the pioneer members 
possessed few of this world's goods. The first 



564 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



meetings were held at the cabins of Charles 
Holmes and Edmund McCoy for some time, and 
Avere then transferred to the school-house. 
There was difflculty in obtaining the use of this 
building during term of school, and it was deter- 
mined to build a church. This was done about 
1848. The building cost little or no money. It 
was a log structure and the material and labor of 
construction was furnished by the members and 
friends of the church. The little ready money 
necessary to procure glass, nails,etc.,w'as obtained 
by the contribution, on the part of some mem- 
bers, of wheat and other farm products, which 
were readily converted into cash. This house of 
worship served until about ten years ago, when 
the present frame church was erected on the 
same site, originally donated to the church by 
Edmund McCoy. The new church was built 
during the pastorate of John D. Murphy, by 
Elijah Fortune. The early pastors of the church, 
succeeding Mr. Baker, were Revs. Hamby, Sam- 
■ uel A. Robinson, James Sneed, William Tipton, 
William Holland, Henry D. Lawson, Lj'sander 
jSIay and William Hastings. The church was 
named Mount Pisgah, but it is now generally 
known as the Big Run church. Its membership 
is small— about thirty; its pastor is John Baker, 
the first minister that served the congregation 
for any length of time. A Sabbath-school was 
organized about 1855, under the charge of John 
Pixlor, and has been continued every summer 
since. 

Pleasant Hill church, of the Evangelical asso- 
ciation, located in the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 10, was organized as a German congregation 
nearly thirty years ago. Of its earliest members 
may be mentioned Michael Duppart and wife, 
Gideon Shelhorn, John Loudener and wife, Mat- 
thias Kasner and wife and Mary Ann Hostetter. 
The early meetings were held at the house of 
Michael Duppart, but during tile ministry of 
George HossenHuch, about 1863, the house of 
worship .still in use was built. Since then a Sun- 
day-school has been regularly held during each 
summer. The services are now conducted in 
English, and the membership of the church is 
about forty. 

Another congregation of the same denomina- 



tion — Beaver run church — is situated near New 
Princeton. Aaron Heaton and wife, Peter Hol- 
ser and wife and Christian Bowers and wife, are 
said to have been the first members. A. J. Mc- 
Coy, Mrs. Rosanna Snyder and Adam Miller and 
wife, were also early members. The society was 
organized about 1855, and the early meetings 
were held in the school-house. Jacob Rasseler 
and John Kinsley were amongst the first minis- 
ters. During the winter of 1866-67, the present 
frame meeting-house was built, and in the follow- 
ing spring it was dedicated by C. M. Reinhold. 
This was while Henry Seachrist was pastor in 
charge. The church membership at this time 
numljers about sixty. Revs. Frank Tuthero and 
J. R. Reinhart, are pastors of the circuit to which 
this church belongs. An efficient Sunday-school 
has for many years been an interesting depart- 
ment of the church. It is superintended by 
William Heaton. 

Saint Elizabeth Catholic church, situated in 
the southwest quarter of section 21, is the only 
organization of this church in the northern i)art 
of the county. The church edifice, a weather- 
boarded log structure, was built about the year 
1857, un'ier Father Frederick Bender, now of 
Denver, Colorado, on the land of Conrad Heck, 
one of the original members, still living. Jacob 
Hemnier and William Kronapple were other 
early members. Services had been held for a 
few years prior to the building of the church. 
In 1858, Rev. Serge De Stchaulepinkoff became a 
resident pastor at Coshocton, ani since then, the 
pastors of Saint George's church, at Coshocton, 
have supplied this church. The membership of 
the church is about 100, sixty of whom are com- 
municants. 

Monroe Regular Baptist church was organized 
in 1847, under the name of the Wolf Creek 
church, subsequently changed to Monroe. When 
first organized, it went forward with seeming 
zeal for success, and in a few years had a mem- 
bership of over sixty. In 1867, it changed its 
location, at that time having a membership of 
twenty-seven only. The ministers that have 
served as pastors to this church have been J. M. 
Winn and L. L. Root. In 1880, a church was 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



565 



built in Holmes county, school-houses in this 
township having jpreviously served sis houses of 
worship. 

Harmony Regular Baptist church was organ- 
izetl in 1806, with about twenty-seven members. 
Since then it has steadily increased, and is now 
about sixty. The pastors have been .\. W. Ar- 
nold and J. K. Linebaugh. The congregation 
contemplates building a church in the north- 
western part of the township soon. 



CHAPTER LXn. 

KEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP. 

Location— Physical Features— Scenery — Indian Mmind — In- 
dian Villages — Reminiscences- Block House — Early Nurs- 
ery—Thomas Butler— A Panther Hunt— Robert GifTen— 
Other Early Settlers— Mills — Distilleries — Other Industries 
— Bridges— .Schools — Churches — New Castle— W'alhonding- 
Mount -Viry. 

"VTEW CASTLE was one of the tow^nships or- 
-1-^ ganized before the county was organized. It 
is understood to have been named after New 
Castle in Delaware. It lies in the extreme west- 
ern part of the county, touching Knox county. 
Tiverton township, which forms the northwest- 
ern corner of the county lies just north of it. Jef- 
ferson township bounds it on the east and Perry 
on the south. 

The Walhonding or White Woman river is 
formed in the northwestern jiart of the townsliip 
by the junction of the Mohican river and Owl 
creek, the former flowing south from Tiverton 
township, the latter in a southeasterly direction 
from Knox county ; thence the river Hows cast- 
wardly by a winding course and enters JeOerson 
township. The valley of Owl creek is wide and 
fertile ; that of the Mohican, though this is a 
larger stream, is considerably narrower, contain- 
ing little bottom lands. The otlier streams are 
unimportant. One called Laurel run enters the 
river from the south close to the junction of its 
two branches. Anotlier named Dutch run enters 
it in the eastern part of the township from the 
north. The surface from the river rises for a 
mile or two to the south and there forms a water 
shed, the land further south being drained by 



streamlets flowing in an opposite direction, 
Tomica creek in the southwestern part of the 
township is the most noticeable of these. It flows- 
in a southwesterly direction into Knox county. 
The land in the southern half of the township is 
generally rolling, in some jilaces gently undidat- 
ing, and furnishes an excellent location for farm- 
ing purposes, the soil being rich and productive. 
North of the river the surface is broken and 
hilly and the soil of a fair quality. 

A tradition exists that a large elm tree, stand- 
ing about a mile up Owl creek, or Kokosing 
river, commemorates a tragedy which occurred 
here towards the close of the kist century. Some 
. half a dozen Indians had stolen horses near the 
Ohio river, and had fled with them in this direc- 
tion. A squad of white men pursued them, and, 
when near the forks of the Walhonding, the bells 
fastened to the horses were heard tinkling in the 
valley. The horses had been turned out to graze 
for the first time, while the red-skinned marauders 
were on the bottoms shooting scjuirrels for sup- 
per. It was growing late and the whites decided 
to defer the attack until daybreak that none of 
the thieves might escape them through the dark- 
ness. They accordingly fell back and at nightfall 
surrounded the Indians encamped under the elm. 
At first dawn the Indians commenced prepara- 
tions for continuing the journey. One big Indian 
came and stood immediately over the captain, 
crouched under the bank. Another Indian started 
toward a tree behind which a wliite man was 
concealed. He saw him and started back in 
affright. The next instant a bullet went crashing 
through his brain. This was the signal for a 
general volley from the whites, and all the savages 
fell except two, who dashed into the stream and, 
when they had reached the opposite side in 
safety, hurled back a token of defiance. Guided 
by the sound, several parting shots were fired after 
them and one of the two was killed. The sole 
survivor concealed his body in a hqllow tree, 
where he was afterward found and hastened on 
to Upper Sandusky. 

New Castle township aflbrds some of the finest 
scenery in the county. The valley of the Wal- 
honding is here narrowest and most picturesque. 
Tall bluffs descend almost precipitously in some 
places to the water's edge on either siile. The 



566 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



steep acclivities are covered, for the most part, 
with trees of a forest growth, interspersed here 
and therewith clusters of pine and spruce; or 
these are scattered along singly in ])laces, and 
again in waving rows among the hillside oaks, 
while further below are seen the rugged and 
bleached skeletons of the sycamore. South of 
the village of New Castle a short distance, is a 
beautiful cascade in little Laurel run, which falls 
headlong over the rocks a distance of forty feet. 
On the ridge road leading from New Castle to Co- 
shocton, a mile or so from the village, a view is 
obtained which commands a sweep of the coun- 
try for miles around. Awa}' in the distance the 
White Woman is seen bending in graceful curves 
and fringed with wooded hillsides. The scene is 
exhilirating, and a snifl' of the almost mountain 
breeze here is likewise truly bracing. 

A noteworthy ancient mound .stands near the 
forks of the Walhonding, just above the village 
of Walhonding. It is a conspicuous conical ele- 
vation in the meadow near the road, having a 
height of perhaps fifteen feet and a diameter 100 
feet. Large trees growing upon it attest its an- 
tiquity. Mr. Peter Neflfmade a partial examina- 
tion of it»several years ago, by digging a trans- 
verse trench into it some distance. He discov- 
ered the remains of several skeletons. 

In the map of Bouquet's expedition to Coshoc- 
ton, in 1704, against tlie Indians, drawn by Mr. 
Hutching, who accom])anied General Bouquet, 
and published in Dr. Hildreth's Early History of 
Ohio, an Indian village marked Owl's Town, is lo- 
cated in the forks of the Walhonding, close to 
their junction. It was doubtless named from 
Owl, an Indian chief, whose name is also perpet- 
uated by one of the branches of the Walhonding. 

Nine years before this, or jn 1755, Colonel 
James Smith, a citizen of Pennsylvania, was sur- 
prised near Bedford, in that State, and taken 
prisoner, by two Delaware Indians. "He was 
lodged at Fort DuQuesne at the time of Brad- 
dock's defeat, and witnessed barbarities practiced 
upon prisoners taken in that battle, having him- 
self to run the gauntlet, and submit to tortures 
more cruel than death itself. He was then taken 
to an Indian town called Tullihas, on the White 
Woman, about twenty miles above the forks, in- 
habited by Delawares and Mohicans, where he 



remained several months, and underwent the 
ceremony of being made an Indian." His ac- 
count of it and other ceremonies are grajihically 
written and illustrate the manners and customs 
of the inhabitants of this territory 12-j years ago. 
If the distance be accurately stated, this village 
must have been located in New Castle townshij). 
The details of his captivity appear in another 
chapter. 

Indians frequently encamped in the townshij) 
subsequent to the coming of the first .settlers' 
and previous to the war of 1812, the most 
friendly relations existed between them. The 
children of the pioneers frequentlj- visited the 
■Indians in their wigwams, were kindly received, 
and given pieces of "jerked" meat and other 
little presents. But when the tocsin of war 
sounded and rumors came to the ears of the set- 
tlers that the savages had taken up the tomahawk 
and the war-knife, all this was changed; and 
deadly fear took the place of the previous confi- 
dence and repose. The Lidians no longer 
smoked tlie pipe of peace, but either deserted 
the neighborhood entirely or skulked suspiciously 
from place to place through the country, holding 
no communication whatever with their white 
neighbors. 

Mrs. Matthew Stuart, an aged lady of seventy- 
six years, the daughter of Robert Giffen, now liv- 
ing in Bethlehem township with her daugjiter, 
Mrs. Denman, recalls the incident of her meeting 
two of the savages once after the war had been 
opened. She was sent for the cows one morning 
some distance from her father's cabin, and upon 
reaching a ravine, was met by two Indians whose 
appearance was made hideous by a liberal appli- 
cation of war-paint. The one cheek of eadn brave 
was striped with broad streaks of deei) red, which 
so changed their features for the worse that she 
was unable to recognize them. The sight of them 
frightened her greatly, for she had just been lis- 
tening to stories of their atrocities, but putting on 
a look of indifl'erence, she walked by them as 
unconcernedly as possible, and, hajipily, was not 
molested. 

While Mr. GiflTen was serving in the army at 
Manslield, one of his children, Robert, fell sick 
and continued to grow worse till there was no 
longer any hope of his recovery. Mrs. Gifl'en 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



o67 



wished her husband to see his son before he died, 
and resolved to go for him. Starting early one 
morning at ii o'clock, armed only with a butcher 
knife, she performed the perilous journey to 
Manstield in safety, and prevailed on Captain 
Willianrs to grant her husband a leave of absence. 

So near was this township to the seat of war 
that it was deemed prudent by the early settlers 
to provide some means of protection against at- 
tacks of savages, and a block-house was accord- 
ingly built during the first stages of the conflict. 
It stood in the northwestern corner of the Gifl'en 
section, on the farm now owned by Daniel Mc- 
Kee, about two rods west of his present residence 
and within two rods of the adjacent spring, on a 
spot of ground which had been a camping place 
for the Indians. The fortification was stoutly 
built of logs, and in size was about twenty-four 
feet square. About six feet from the ground, the 
walls were projected outward several feet, to pre- 
vent scaling b}' an attacking enemy. Portholes 
about four or six inches square, were made on 
every side, and withal the building was capable 
of withstanding a vigorous siege, but fortunately 
the protection it guaranteed never became neces- 
sary. It was afterwards converted into a cabin 
and occupied as such many years. 

Close to the site of this block-house, and cover- 
ing a patch of ground perhaps seventy-tive feet 
square, was an apple nursery of Johnny Apple- 
seed's own raising, planted at a very early day. 
A number of the early settlers in this vicinity 
provided themselves with fruit trees from this 
nursery. One of them, David .John, about 180K, 
transplanted a number of the young trees to his 
farm, now owned by Jo.shua Clark. The orchard 
stood along the road just south of Mr. Clark's 
stone residence. A single survivor of this early 
orchard remains, and it is in the last stages of 
decay. Two large branches were taken down by 
storm la.st summer, leaving but one limb now on 
the tree. Apart from the interest which attaches 
to it from its association with Johnny Appleseed, 
the tree is a remarkable one, measuring, as it 
docs, ten feet two inches in circumference, a foot 
or two from the ground. It has been a prolilic 
bearer of as line natural frviit as can well be 
found, and grafts have been taken from it several 
times. One year Mr. Clark picked from a por- 



• I 



tion of the tree eighty-four bushels of apples, and 
from a careful estimation he believes that it bore 
that year at least 140 bushels, the foilagc of the 
tree in its prime, shaded a Spot of ground forty- 
four feet in diameter. 

Thomas Butler was probably the pioneer set- 
tler in this township. He was a Virginian; 
moved with his family to Muskingum county, 
settling in the vicinity of the present village of 
Dresden, one spring, when there were but two 
cabins in Zanesville. He set about preparing 
himself a house in the wilderness; but the cli- 
mate did not agree with him. He was seized 
with ague, and returned to Virginia, in the 
autumn of the same year. The next spring, his 
restless, adventurous spirit led him to again 
tempt the wilds of the then far west, and he 
crossed the mountains again, this time taking up 
his abode within the present limits of Coshocton 
county, about two miles north of the forks of 
the Muskingum, half a mile west of Canal Lewis- 
ville. He had cleared a cornfield, of eight or ten 
acres — the first improvement in the vicinity — 
and remained three years ; then removed to the 
house he occupied during the remaining years 
of his life, in the upper Walhonding valley. 
The farm is situated in the extreme eastern part 
of New Castle township, just south of the river. 
The exact date of his arrival here is uncertain, 
but it was at least four or five years prior to the 
emigration of Robert Giffin. 

The military section upon which he located — 
the northeastern quarter of the township — be- 
belonged to George Suckley, an eastern man, 
who sold it to settlers, in tracts to suit the pur- 
chaser, through his agent, James Dunlap, living 
near Utica. 

A few reminiscentes of this, the earliest set- 
tler in this townshij), would not be inappropri- 
ate. His grandfather had been shut and killed 
by Indians close to his cabin, in Virginia, while 
he was making a garden fence, and his grand- 
mother, with her youngest child, James, then 
seven years old, captured. Another son, Joseph, 
Thomas Butler's father, who had been recently 
married, was out in the fields at work, at the time 
of his father's untimcl}' death, and his newly- 
made wife, who was at the house at the time, 



ms 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



avoided captivity, or perhaps death, by fleeing to 
her husband, narrowly escaping from a pursuing 
Indian. Mrs. Butler effected her escape the 
second night after she was taken prisoner. The 
little boy, James, remained in caiitinty with the 
Indians eighteen months, and was exchanged, 
at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, his brother Joseph, 
Thomas' father, going for him there. 

While Mr. Butler was living at the forks of the 
Muskingum, one winter morning he took down 
his rifle, whistled his dog, and went out to look 
for a deer. A thin bed of snow covered the 
ground, and the trail of several deer was soon 
discovered, leading down the river. Following 
it up as rapidly as possible, he came to a dense 
thicket of considerable extent, through which the 
deer tracks led. Letting the dog follow the track, 
he passed around, and on reaching the other side 
beheld evidences of larger game, the tracks of a 
panther following the path of the deer. Sending 
the dog on ahead, he himself followed as fast as 
he could, and upon going some distance came 
upon the dog, lying upon its back with feet point- 
ing skyward, and apparently lifeless. Mr. Butler 
continued cautiously in pursuit along the upper 
bank of the river, and after walking about one- 
fourth of a mile he saw the panther in the lower 
bottom lands, about flfty yards away. Eaising 
his rifle, he fired and wounded the animal, but 
not mortally. It ran ofi' and concealed itself 
among the top branches of a tree that had blown 
down the summer before, the dead leaves com- 
pletely hiding it from sight on every side. The 
hunter dared not approach within reach of its 
deadly spring, and after waiting in vain for the 
animal to appear, seeing that he could do noth- 
ing, Mr. Butler concluded to abandon the game 
and return home. Taking a shorter route than 
that by which he came, he was surprised to meet 
his dog staggering feebly in the same direction. 
Upon his arrival he found his brother Benjamin 
at the house, and they decided to return and ter- 
minate the career of the panther if possible. 
Mounting their horses, they called the dogs, two 
belonging to his brother and another one to 
Thomas, and soon reached the fallen tree. The 
panther was no longer here, but had taken refuge 
in a thicket not far away. The dogs soon drove 
it from this, and it ran up a large tree, from which 



it was easily shot, and fell dead to the ground. It 
proved to be a panther of unusual size. 

Mr. Butler was not a soldier in the war of 1812, 
but sent as a substitute Jmiies Biggs, who was 
killed at Upper Sandusky, while in service, by a 
large limb falling upon him from a tree which 
several soldiers were engaged in felling. His 
son, James Butler, was in the service. His father, 
Joseph, and two brothers, Isaac and Joseph, settled 
in Jeflerson township a few years after he came 
to this township ■ Another brother, Benjamin, 
after living a short time in Coshocton county, 
moved to Knox county, where he assisted, in 
1805, in the laying out of Mount Vernon. Few, 
if any, families have given character to the upper 
Walhonding valley to so great a degree as the 
Butlers. Felix Butler, a son of Thomas, still 
lives, at the age of seventy-oue years, just across 
the line in Knox county. 

Another prominent pioneer settler was Robert 
Giffen, who owned the southwestern quarter of 
the township, a 4,000 acre military tract. The 
first owner of this section was Cairnon Medwell; 
after several transfers, it came into Giffen 's pos- 
session. He emigrated to it, about 1808, from St. 
Clairsville. His daughter, Mrs. Stuart, recollects 
well the journey here. The household goods 
W'Cre sent from St. Clairsville in a pirogue down 
the Ohio river to Sfarietta, thence up the Mus- 
kingum river to the forks of the Walhonding, 
while the family, consisting of father, mother and 
four children, came overland. They had but 
three horses among them, and would alternately 
ride aijd walk. Mr. Giflen was originally from 
Virginia, but, prior to 1802, he had moved to Bel- 
mont county and erected a set of mills on Short 
creek, near St. Clairsville. Mrs. Stuart docs not 
recollect that any settlers were living on her 
father's section at the time of his arrival, but very 
soon after they began to come in. Mr. Giffen 
disposed of a considerable amount of land to dif- 
ferent settlers, taking in full or partial payment 
any kind of work which they coifld do for him. 
Among these early purchasers were Martin Cox, 
John Ely, David and Thomas John, Timothy 
Hawkins, Matthew Duncan, John Wolfe and 
James Pigman. About 1812, Mr. Giffen repre- 
sented the district, to which his county belonged, 
in the State legislature. The State capital, where 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



569 



the legislature convened at that time, was Chilli- 
cothe, and Mr. GriHen made the journey there 
on horseback. The session lasted about three 
months, during whiih time there was no vacation. 
He also served in the war of 1812, in Captfiin 
Williams' company. The first cabin he built 
stood about a mile northwest from the present 
village of Xew Castle; about three years later he 
erected another on the site of the village and 
moved into it. He was a millwright by trade 
and desirous of obtaining a good mill site, some- 
thing not to be found on his own section. This 
fact led him to remove to Knox county, in 1814, 
where he engaged in milling many years. 

David and Thomas John, two brothers, were 
from New Jersey. When they emigrated to Ohio, 
they stopped a year or two in Belmont county, 
then about 1807 or 1808, moved out to Giffen sec- 
tion. They purchased land in the southwestern 
part of the section, now owned and occupied bj' 
Jo,shua Clark, and paid for it in part by clearing 
other land tor Mr. Gift'en. David John was the 
only man in the township, it is said, except 
Philip Morgan, of a considerable later date, who 
abstained entirely from the use of whisky. 
Thomas John was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
Each built a large, comfortable stone house for 
himself in the early part of their career here. 
Timothy Hawkins, the brother-in-law of David, 
came here from New Jersey about the time the 
Johns did. 

Martin and David Cox came. several years later. 
Martin lived on the Hammel place, about a mile 
southeast from New Castle. He kept a postofflce 
for a number of years at Cox Cross Roads, a little 
farther north. He afterward moved to Sandusky, 
where he died. David moved to Knox county 
several years after he came here. Another 
brother, Michael, resided in Perry township. 

Matthew Duncan, from Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, emigrated about 1808, to the south- 
western part of the Giffen section, on the place now 
owned by Mr. L. Lawrence. He distinguished 
himself in early times by building a large store 
house, the first of the kind erected in the township. 

John Ely purchased from Mr. GifTen the land 
which the village of New Castle now occupies. 
He raised a numerous family, and afterward re- 
moved to Richland county. 



David Melick, who hailed from a region called, 
Turkey Foot, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, 
was another early settler of this section. Having 
a great aversion to the river he settled in the ex- 
treme southwestern corner of the township. 
John Wolfe, also from Pennsylvania, settled in 
the same neighborhood, on the farm now occu- 
pied by George Knight. 

The congress land, which constitutes the south- 
eastern quarter of the township, was surveyed 
into half sections, of 320 acres each, by Silas Bent, 
Jr., in 1803. Unlike congress land in many other 
townships this was settled in an early day. In 
1810, Joseph Severns, emigrating from Bucks 
county, Pennsylvania, entered land in sections 11 
and 20. His first cabin was built on the ridge in the 
nortliwest quarter of section 20. He died in 1857, 
being above eighty years of age. His oldest son, 
Samuel, is still living in the southern part of the 
township. He served in the war of 1812 and ia 
probably the oldest person in the township, hav- 
ing reached his eighty-sixth birthday on the 17th 
day of October, 1880. 

The Merediths also lived in this part of the 
township. They were Virginians and came here 
as early as the Severns, perhaps several years 
earlier. Those of the family who lived in New 
Castle township were Isaac, Job and Obed. Isaac 
and Obed served in the war of 1812, Isaac as cap- 
tain of a company which he raised in this part of 
the county. He entered the northwest quarter 
of section 22, and served the township many 
years as justice of the peace. Obed occupied the 
southeast quarter of section 21, the extreme south- 
eastern corner of the township. Job lived on the 
Staats place on Giffen's section. He afterward 
moved to Indiana and died there. The Mere- 
diths were one of the best known and esteemed 
families in the township. 

William Hull .settled on the northeast quarter 
of section 18; also entered the southeiist quarter 
of section 13. He died about 1814. Thomas 
Horton,a son-in-law to Thomas Butler, settled in 
the northwest quarter of section 12. 

The northwestern quarter of the township 
forms a military section, which was granted 
April 3, 1800, to James Taylor, George GilleSpy, 
" practitioner of physic," and Joseph Strong, also 
a physician, all of Philadelpliia. Some two years 



570 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



later Taylor purchased the interests of his two 
partners for $1,200, Pennsylvania currency. In 
1805 he sold the greater part of the section, .3,272 
acres, to Eli Nichols: 

'Squire Humphrey, who came into possession 
of the remaining 728 acres of the section, the 
part lying east of the Mohican, was one of the 
earliest and best known of the township pioneers. 
He was a Rhode Islander and emigrated prior to 
the war of 1812. A man of considerable learning 
and intelligence, he wielded a large influence for 
good ; was a representative to the State legisla- 
ture in 1814, and for many years a justice of the 
peace. Other early settlers on this section were 
John Woods, an. individual who had a great de- 
sire to preach the gospel, and sonaetimes attempted 
it, though from all accounts, with ill success; a 
German called Conlcle, whose petulent temper 
made hun the object of sundry pranks of the 
mischievous backwoods urchins; Joe Beckwith 
and John Titus, Conkle's sons-in-law ; Jacob Coke- 
nour, Moses Byruni and George Spurgeon. By- 
rum's father (also several other persons) was 
buried on the big mound near the forks of the 
Walhonding. Most of these settlers were Vir- 
ginians, and all were either leasors or squatters. 

Eli Nichols, who owned the greater part of this 
section, wa.s for many years, ending with his 
death, the largest land owner in the county. He 
settled upon his section about 1836, coming from 
St. Clairsville, Ohio, and was for forty years, up to 
the event of his death, well-known throughout 
the county. '' His death occurred at his home, 
after an illness of only two days. His age was 
seventy-two years. His wife preceded him to the 
grave but a few months. His interest in educa- 
tion, and especially his attachment to the public 
school system, was often avowed. He was born 
and reared in the Quaker church, but in after 
years disavowed the religious principles of that 
body, and repudiated the Bible as an infallible 
book. In early manhood, he took an active part 
in the operations of the colonization societj', but 
soon abandoned it, and henceforward gloried in 
being an 'abolitionist.' His gentleness of nature 
made him patient amid whatever reproach he 
encountered in this, as in other lines of thought 
and action; and it is claimed for him that, what- 
ever his antipathy to the sj-stcm of slavery, and 



his sympathy with the oppressed, he was always 
wonderfully lenient toward the slave holder. In 
his later years he became mucin interested in 
'spiritualism,' and much of his time in his declin- 
ing years wais given to the study of this, and he be- 
came a full believer in it, continuing in this faith 
unto the last of earth." 

His son Lloyd now has possession of this large 
tract of land, and continues to be, as his father 
was before him, the most extensive land holder in 
the county. 

The streams of New Castle township, except 
the Walhonding and its two branches, Owl creek 
and Mohicaii river, are small and aftbrd but a 
limited supply of water power. No mill is known 
to have been built across the river on either of its 
two tributaries, consequently the early milling 
operations in the township, prior to the building 
of the canal, must have been limited in point of 
power if not in number. 

About 1815, Samuel Farquhar built a saw-mill 
on Tomica run, close to the Knox county line. 
After it had been running six or seven years, the 
dam was swept away during a freshet. In 1834, 
Joshua Clark built another saw-mill in the same 
place. Some twenty years later, he moved it far- 
ther up the creek, close to his residence, and run 
it here some six or seven years. During all this 
time the mill was run steadily and a good busi- 
ness done, as much as sixteen hundred feet of 
lumber being sawed a day. "rhen as the volume 
of water was insufficient to keep it going, he re- 
moved it. 

Three-quarters of a mile farther up the creek, 
Joseph Mills erected a saw-mill about 1830. After 
several years it came into the hands of his son, 
Samuel, who has been operating it ever since. 

A little grist and saw-mill stands on C. H. Mere- 
dith's place in the southeastern corner of the 
township. It has been running abuiU twenty-five 
years. 

One attempt was made to construct a dam 
across the river close to the village of Walhond- 
ing, by Walter Farmer, but it was unsuccessful. 
The dam was partly built, heavy timbers being 
sunk to the rock-bed, which were to be firmly 
bolted together with immense rods of iron, when 
financial embarrassments and the projection of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



573 



the Wolhonding canal, discouraged the enter- 
prise and led to its relinquishment. 

This same individual acquired quite a notori- 
ety by attempting to utilize the same water re- 
peatedly in running a mill. He erected a saw- 
mill at the mouth of Dutch run, about two miles 
below Walhonding, and to the machinery, set in 
motion by the water power, he attached a pump, 
the purpose of which was to pump the water back 
into the race. Notwithstanding this "freak," Mr. 
Turner was an intelligent Englishman. He pos- 
sessed considerable means, and figured quite 
prominently in the affairs of the township forty 
years ago. He was an extensive land owner, dealt 
largely in stock, expended his money lavishly, 
made extensive improvements which the condi- 
tion of his property at that time did not warrant, 
and, as a natural consequence, lost heavily. 

The township has not been without its distiller- 
ies, though their tenure upon life has been some- 
what precarious. One was located on the C. 
Staiits' place. It was a little copper afJair, set up 
by Joe Meredith, and operated a few years only. 
The grain for this still was mashed at a mill over 
the line in Knox county. The "California" dis- 
tillery was an institution located about a mile 
and a half east of New Castle, operated by Daniel 
Berry and John Lewis. It was started about 1840, 
and kept up five or six years. During this time 
it did an extensive business in the manufacture 
of whisky. A steam saw-mill was also located 
here. 

John E. Gamble owned a still house in the 
northwestern part of the township which, during 
a brief career, produced large quantities of the 
popular beverage. 

About twenty years ago a great many oil leases 
were taken on ground in New Castle township in 
the vicinity of Walhonding, the "signs" indicatr 
ing its existence here. A number of wells were 
sunk but no oil of consequence was found. Two 
wells, sunk by Peter Neff of Cincinnati, about a 
mile above the village, however, produced an im- 
mense outflow of gas, which at the time was re- 
garded as valueless. About six years ago Mr. Neff 
conceived the idea of utilizing this gas in the 
manufacture of lamp black, and erected works for 
this purpo.se. The experiment was successful and 
the works have been in operation ever since. 

24 



Several thousand gas jets are kept burning con- 
stantly, night and day, and a very superior arti- 
cle is produced in considerable quantities. Mr. 
NefT, it is understood, contemplates making ex- 
tensions to the works soon. 

A tannery, situated on George Knight's farm, 
in the southern part of the township, has been 
running for about twenty years. 

A wooden bridge was built across the river at 
Walhonding about 1854. It got out of shape, 
was regarded by many as insecure, and was re- 
built in ISGO. Again giving way, it was super- 
ceded by an iron bridge in 1872. Some of the 
material of the old bridge was used in the ma- 
sonry of the new. A mistake in dimensions was 
made, increasing the expense of the masonry, 
which (almost wholly for labor) cost some $1,200. 
The masons were Buchanan Brothers and N. W. 
Buxton. The superstructure was furnished by 
the Coshocton Iron and Steel Works, and cost 
$7,844. The ice, in the winter of 1874, carried 
away a pier and two spans of this bridge. The 
latter were replaced by the Cincinnati Bridge 
Co. (of which for a time the Coshocton Iron and 
Steel Works was a partner), in 1875. 

An iron bridge was built over the Mohican, a 
little above Walhonding, in 1871. N. W. Buxton 
constructed the piers and abutments for $4,465, 
and the Massillon Iron Bridge Co. furnished the 
superstructure for $5,070. 

The Walhonding canal enters the township 
from Jeflferson, and closely follows the northern 
bank of the river in all its meandcrings to the 
forks, then up the eastern side of the Mohican 
valley into Tiverton township. 

A school-house was built in the eastern part of 
the township, south of the river, about 1812, but 
before it had been used for school purposes, it 
was accidentally burned by a company of sol- 
diers, who, returning to Cadiz from the Western 
frontier, encamped in it one night. It was not 
rebuilt. About ten years later, however, another 
one was built in the same vicinity, on J. M. Rod- 
ger's farm, near where the present school-building 
stands. Isaac Richardson was the first teacher. 
He had a rough set of pupils to manage, who 
required and received frequent and vigorous ap- 
plications of the rod. 



574 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



■ A school-house was built about a lialf mile west 
of New Castle, as early as 1S12, perhaps earlier, 
by Robert Giffen and his neighbors. It was a 
large log house, and seems to have been well at- 
tended. Mrs. Stuart states that as many as forty 
pupils attended school here at one time, before 
her father moved to Kno.x county, 1814. Rev. 
James Pigman, a noted Methodist preacher, 
taught the first school. 

Only one church exists in an active working 
state in the township at the present time. This 
is the Methodist Episcopal church, located in the 
village of New Castle. It was organized prior to 
the year 1840; how long before is unknown, as 
none of the first members are now connected 
with the church, and no records, if in e.xistenee 
at all, are accessible. Among the early leading 
members, were Lyman Shaffer, Azuriah Fobes 
and Philip Morgan. The early meetings were 
lield in barns, school-houses or wherever a place 
of suitable size could be procured. About 1840, a 
frame church was built, which stood about twenty 
years, then in 1859 or 1860, the congregation 
erected its present church edifice, a large and 
substantial frame, comfortably furnished within 
and surmounted by a bell. The membership ag- 
gregates about sixty-five. The church is served 
during the present year by Rev. Philip Kelser, 
who also has charge of congregations at East 
Union, Mohawk Village and Cullison's Ridge. A 
Sunday-school in a good, healthy condition, is 
superintended by F. M. Buxton. 

An Episcopal congregation formerly existed in 
New Castle. It was organized about 1851, by 
Prof. George Dennison of Gambler College. The 
active co-operators in maintaining its existence, 
were B. S. Lee, John Green and George Mc- 
Daniel. A building wa.s erected soon after the 
organization of the church. The pulpit was sup- 
plied wholly by ministers from Gambler college, 
Prof. Blake having charge after Prof. Dennison. 
It's small member.ship became reduced by re- 
movals without compensating accessions, and 
about 1860, it disappeared, as an organization. 
The building remains, and is used as a warehouse. 

A Christian ch,urch formerly stood in the 
southeastern part of the township, on Severn's 



ridge. The society was formed, and the church 
building erected, about the year 1840. John 
Grove, who came from near Pittsburgh, Penn- 
vania, about 1814, and settled on the southeast 
quarter of section 19, near where the church was 
afterward built; James Cox, David MorrisoUr 
Thomas Kincaid and Robert Co])eland, were 
chief among its supporters. Rev. David Rice 
was the officiating minister at the organization. 
About 1865, the light of the church was extin- 
guished, caused by the death and removal of 
members, leaving an inadequate number to 
maintain the church. 

New Castle was probably the second town laid 
out in Coshocton county, Coshocton being the 
first. It was laid out in 1808, by Robert Giffen, 
but did not thrive, for some reasons, remaining 
almost a nonentity for more than a score of j'ears. 
The residence of Mr. Giffen, a comfortable log 
cabin, was located here, in 1811, and soon after,, 
the land upon which the village was platted was 
sold to John Ely, who kept a tavern here for 
sevcal years. In 1830, John Clark laid out a 
village adjacent to the old plat, and called it West 
Liberty. Determined to make the village a suc- 
cess, he himself erected four or five dwelling 
houses, one of them a brick. Several years later, 
he sold the town to George McDaniel, who made 
an addition, and changed the name again to 
New Castle. 

The village is pleasantly situated on high, roll- 
ing ground, and contains about 250 inhabitants. 

George Lawrence sold the first goods hereabout 
1832. Three years later, Shaffer & Eingwald 
owned a store, and before 1835 Calvin Hill was 
running a good hotel. Years before this, about 
1820, Joseph Butler was the proprietor of a pub- 
lic-house. A pottery was formerly very success- 
fully and extensively carried on here by the 
Riches and their successors, Collins, Butler and 
others, excellent materials being found in the 
vicinity. It cea.sed manufacturing several years 
ago. Another pottery on a somewhat smaller 
scale, was started about ten years ago, by Henry 
Lewis. It is still in operation. The wares are 
disposed of principally at Mount Vernon, Coshoc- 
ton and intermediate points. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



575 



Abrani Donnis ran a tannery horoniany years; 
it closed up business about ten years ago. 

There are in the village at present, three stores 
where a general supply of goods are kejjt. owned 
by Coehran & McKee, K. H. Cochran, and Wil- 
liam Butler. Thomas Hull selKs hardware and 
groceries; two blacksmith, one wagon, and one 
harness shop are also found, and the traveler has 
his clioice of two hotels. 

Dr. Samuel McElwee, a native of New Jersey, 
has practiced medicine in the village and vicinity 
since 1849. Ho has recently a.ssoeiated with him 
Dr. John Snider, a young physician. Other phy- 
sicians, who by a long residence were identified 
with New Castle, were Drs. Willetts and Barger; 
the latter was killed by the exjilosion of a boiler 
of a steamboat at Louisville, Kentucky, while on 
a trip to the West, in 184;^. 

The school building is a large, neat-appearing, 
two-story brick, which has been in service for 
more than twenty years. Messrs. W. T. Knight 
and A. L. Smith are the present teachers. 

The village is the home of one of the profes- 
sors of the occult sciences, William Gorham, 
who claims to be able to discover hidden things, 
whether of the past or the future, and has some- 
times created a sensation in the classic Owl creek 
valley. 

Walhonding was platted in the summer of 1841, 
its proprietors being William K. Johnson, G. W. 
Sullivan and T. S. Hnmrickhouse. It is situated 
on the north side of the Walhonding river, and 
doubtless owes its existence to the building of the 
\\'alhonding canal, which passes through it. The 
land ujion which it is situated is rough, a fact 
which may have had an influence in keeping the 
population down to about eighty souls. The vil- 
lage had in its youth visions of a glorious future, 
and came very near realizing them, that is to say, 
a bill before the State legislature about 1847, for 
the creation of a new county, to comprise parts 
of Coshocton, Knox, Holmes, Muskingum and 
Licking counties, in which proposed new county 
W.alhonding would have been centrally located, 
failed in pa.ssing by a single vote. 

The village contains two stores, owned by Wil- 
liam C. Frick and George H. Rodehaver, two 



blacksmith shops and one small foundry, which 
is owned by Edward Dorsey, (Jeorge Hnmrick- 
house wa.s the llrst store-keeper, James Gamble 
the first postmaster. 

The main business of the village is done at 
Joseph S, IMcVey's fiouring-mill, the water power 
for which is supplied by the canal. The mill was 
built shortly after the canal was constructed, by 
Albert and John Collins and James Gamble, In 
1844, it was sold to J, S, ]\Ic Vey and Edwin Lewis, 
The distillery which was formerly connected 
with the mill was abandoned in 1845, and the 
grist-mill which had hitherto done only custom 
W' ork wiis enlarged, and the proprietors now be- 
gan to manufacture and ship flour extensively. 
In 1850, Mr. Lewis died of cholera at New Castle, 
and since then Mr. McVey has had sole owner- 
ship of the mill. He has since considerably en- 
larged the building, so that now a large amount 
of wheat can be stored in the building. It is 
forty feet long by thirty-six wide, five stories 
high, and with its four run of buhrs has a capac- 
ity of seventy-five or eighty barrels of flour per 
day. 

A small Methodist Episcopal society existed 
here several years ago, and steps were taken to 
erect a building. When it was partially built the 
society peri.shed, and it is unlikely the building 
will be finished. 

Mount Airy was the title very appropriately 
bestowed upon a little village that stood on an 
elevated ridge of ground in the extreme south- 
western corner of the township. It was laid out 
in 1816, by Elijah Dillon. David Melii'k resided 
on the site of the village before this date. He 
subsequently sold out to a Mr, Tilton. A school- 
house was built here as early as 1820, Mrs, Kezia 
Alsach, the wife of a Methodist local preacher, 
was probably the first teacher. She was suc- 
ceeded by Arthur Scott, from Washington coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, a better educated man than 
most people at that time. The village may have 
contained as many as twenty houses, including 
one blacksmith and one shoe shop. It is uncer- 
tain whether a store was kept here. It has long 
since come to naught, having been vacated, ex- 
cept several lots, twenty years ago. 



576 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



CHAPTER LXni. 

OXFORD TOWNSHIP. 

Location— Physical Fcuturcs — Organization— Settlement — 
Mills— Distilleries— Taverns— BridKCs— Schools — Millsville 
-Eveusburg-Orange-PostofSces— Churches. 

OXFORD township is situated in the eastern 
part of the count}' and bounded as follows : 
On the north by Adams township, on the east by 
Tuscarawas county, on the south by Guernsey 
county and Linton town,ship and on the west by 
Lafayette township. The Tuscarawas river flows 
through the northern part of it from east to west. 
Several small streams enter it from the north, 
the most noticeable being Evans creek. There 
are no tributaries from the south. The level 
White Eyes plains liaving a width of from one to 
two miles stretch across the township just south 
of the river. South of this the surface is rough 
and the streams flow in an opposite direction 
from the river, to Wills creek. This latter stream 
in one of its tortuous meanderings enters Oxford 
township from Linton and cuts ofi' fifteen or 
twenty acres from the body of the township. 
The soil on the plains is usually gravelly with a 
sandy loam in patches. A clay soil covers the 
southern hills while that of the river bottoms is 
the usual rich loam. The timber which grew 
upon the hills was vigorous and of varied kinds 
including sugar, oak, walnut, hickory, poplar and 
other less important varieties. Sycamore was 
the prevailing type in the lowest river bottoms 
while just above this was found the heaviest and 
best timber in the township. The- plains as a rule 
were scantily timbered, if at all, and were doubt- 
less the haunts of the game-seeking red man. 
That they frequented the plains and the valley 
which skirts the river is made manifest by the 
numerous relics which have been found here. 
Tomahawks, bullets, stone mortars and pestles, 
various silver ornaments and pieces of pottery 
were often picked up by the early settlers. Small 
mounds, too, were scattered here and there along 
the valley, indicating that the pre-historic race 
also had dwelt here ages ago. One of these 
mounds, standing on Willis Richard's farm on 
the western side of the township, was about thirty 



feet in diameter originally and eight or ten feet 
in height but modern cultivation has removed 
nearly every trace of it. 

Oxford township was organized in the fall of 
1811, very soon after the county was formed. Its 
original boundaries included a large portion of 
the eastern part of the county, but it was gradu- 
.ally reduced in size by the organization of other 
townships until it reached its present limits in 
183a The first, second and third sections are 
military sections; the fourth or northeastern sec- 
tion consists of congress land, and was surveyed 
in 1803, by Alexander Holmes. The first or 
northeastsectioii was probably located by Matthew 
Denman, a.s he had possession of it very early 
and sold portions of it to incoming settlers. The 
original proprietor of the second or northwest 
section was William Steel, of Essex county. New 
Jersey, whose patent dates February 11, 1800. 
James Williams, of Annapolis, Maryland, was 
the original proprietor of section 3. His patent 
is dated March 21, 1800. None of these land 
owners became residents in the township, but 
sooner or later sold it to those who settled here. 

There is no doubt that one of the first settle- 
ments in Coshocton county was made in Oxford 
township, yet it seems impossible at this time to 
determine definitely the date at which it was 
made. Hunt's Historical Collections says : " It 
is believed by some that the first settlement made 
in the- county was made in this township. It 
would seem that, at all events, the same season 
Charles Williams was raising his corn on the 
prairie, Isaac and Henry Evans and Charles and 
Esaias Baker, all from Virginia, were raising a 
crop on the Tuscarawas, near Evansburg. Wil- 
liams had come up the Muskingimi, and the four 
above named had come down the Tuscarawas." 
It is known that Williams was living on the 
prairie as early as 1801, and probably a year or 
two before. Charles Baker, a son of Esaias 
Baker, now living in Linton to^nnship, states that 
his father, his father's brother Charles, and Isaac 
and Henry Evans, came out together from Vir- 
ginia at a time when there was not a white man 
on the Tuscarawas river, but he is unable to give 
the year. Lewis Corbit, of Adams township, 
tells that his father, Robert Corbit, emigrated 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



577 



with Isaac Evans from Virginia in the year 1804. 
Calhoun's Historical Slcetches, written thirty 
years ago, states, that " In 1803 Judge Evans set- 
tled where Evansburg now stands. There were 
also others who settled around him soon after- 
ward, forniing what was known at the time as 
White Eyes Plains settlement." These dates are 
irreconcilable, but it woidd seem that the Charles 
Williams settlement, on the Walhonding, was 
made first. The Evansburg settlement was prob- 
ably the second one made in the county. The 
two Bakers came out in the spring, planted and 
tended a crop of corn on the plains just south of 
Orange, then returned to Virginia, harvested a 
crop there, and in the fall of the same year 
moved out permanently with their families, cut 
their new crop here and erected cabins. Esaias 
Baker leased twenty acres from a Mr. Newell, in 
the western part of the township, on the farm 
which George Loos afterward purchased. Both 
Esaias and Charles, a few years later, moved to 
Linton township, becoming two of the earliest 
settlers there. 

Isa;ic Evans was the central figure of this set- 
tlement, and was a man whoso influence was felt 
in all parts of the county. Soon after he moved 
out he purchased a tract of land and built his 
cabin south of the river, close to the bank, just 
across from Evansburg. The high waters which 
rose and surrounded his cabin soon after, obliged 
hini to move farther back from the river. He 
raised and conunandcd a company during the 
war of 1812, serving under General Harrison. 
He was also one of the eayly associate justices in 
the county. His brother Henry, who accompa- 
nied him hero, purchased a farm adjoining hison 
the ea.st, and being a bachelor, spent his days in 
solitude there, engaged in farming and stock 
raising. 

Quite a colony of early settlers were from near 
Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Per- 
haps the earliest of them was Philip AVaggoner, 
who came to O.xford township in 1.S06. He died 
a few years later. Philip Wolfe came stxin after, 
and .settled at Wolfe's Corners, a little north of the 
center of the township, where Henry Wolfe now 
lives. He died in September, 1825. Still later, 
George Leighninger emigrated from the same 
place. He wiis a young man when he came, and 



afterward married a daughter of Mr. Wolfe, who 
is still living with her .son in Lafayette township, 
in the eighty-fifth year of her age. George Loos 
came in 1811. Like the others, he came over- 
land, moving in a five-horse team, and .settling af 
Loos' Corners, in the western part of the town- 
ship. He purcha.'icd his farm from Robert 
Newell, who had been living on it and moved 
farther west after he hail disposed of it. 

John Junkins, an Irishman, emigrated to the 
township, perhaps as early as 180C or 1808. 
He lived on the Cadiz road, at the farm now 
ownetl by F. Sergeant, about a mile west of 
Wolfe's Corners. He was the biggest man on 
the plains, and a genuine Irishman. Two sons, 
John and David, lived with him, also a son-in-law, 
Matthew Gray, who was of the same nationality. 
George Anspaugh, from near Carlisle, Pennsyl- 
vania, came about 1811, and settled on the place 
now occupied by Jacob Wolfe, a short distance 
west of Wolfe's Corners. Moses Morgan, another 
early settler, was a New Jerseyman, and settled 
about a mile east of Anspaugh, on the Cadiz 
road. He afterwards sold out and went into 
business at Evansburg. 

John Mills, a cabinetmaker, lived where Jacob 
Starker now does, the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 12. He once met with a mishap that might 
have terminated fatally. He was watching for 
game, at a deer-lick, one sultry day, concealed 
behind some bushes, and to drive away the pes- 
tiferous mosquitos that bothered him, was wav- 
ing a brush about his face and head. Another 
hunter, approachins, perceived the stir, and mis- 
taking Mills for a deer, banged away at him with 
his ritlo, and shot ofT his nose. 

The Mulvains, Joseph, John and William, were 
here in ISIO, and perhaps earlier. They settled in 
the eastern part of the township, north of the 
river. Joseph was the owner of a keel-boat which 
plied between New Philadelphia and Zanesville, 
carrying all kinds of freight. The mode of loco- 
motion was by poling it. "Running boards" 
were attached to the outside, upon which about a 
dozen men would stand, with long polos, by the 
use of which they would make the boat fairly fly 
through the water. 

Andrew, Ezekiel and Samuel McFarland, came 
about 1812. William Welsh, joining George 



678 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Loos on the east, was here in 1811. James Lisk 
came about the time the Junkins did. He mar- 
ried a daughter of John Junkins and afterward 
a Miss Price, who is still living in this township. 
Mr. Lisk was an early school teacher. 

Milling facilities were no better here in pioneer 
days than elsewhere on the frontier. In fact, this 
being one of the earliest settled districts, the tii'st 
white men were obliged to travel further to get 
a little grinding done than the first settlers of 
most other townsliips, As late as 1812, Zanes- 
ville and New Philadelphia were the usual mill- 
ing points. Years before this, J^saias Baker and 
Isaac Evans, having heard that there was a power 
mill near Zanesville, loaded a canoe with corn and 
started for it. When they reached the mill they 
found it to be quite a patent affair. "Two canoes 
had been fastened just at a ripple in the river 
and a small paddle-wheel set between the two 
boats, and this, turned by the rippling waters, 
furnished the power to turn a large-sized hand- 
mill." 

Isaac Evans erected the first mill in the town- 
ship. It was built about 1818, on Evans creek. 
It was a little afi'air, with one run of buhrs, but 
answered very well the purpose for which it was 
intended. A saw-mill stood at the same place. 
They changed possession repeatedly, and were 
abandoned about twenty-iive years ago. 

About twenty years ago a large grist-mill was 
built on the canal, about a mile west of Orange, by 
John Wolfe and Timothy Emerson. John Wolfe 
is the present owner. 

George Loos erected a little distillery on his 
place soon after he moved into the township. 
He died in 1821, and his son, Christopher, ran it 
for many years. A number of years later Mr. 
Shank operated one for ten or twelve years, on the 
Susanna Appis place, in the western part of sec- 
tion 19. Another was built on the canal about 
1848, by Patrick Tregent, an Englishman. 

The Cadiz road was the first one constructed 
through the township, and, in early days, was a 
principal highway of travel and emigration, so 
much so that several taverns flourished here for 
awhile in close proximity to each other. The 
first one was Philip Wolfe's at the corners. 



Daniel Loos relates that when his father moved 
out from Pennsylvania, in 1811, Mr. Wolfe came 
out a distance with a team to help him over some 
of the big hills in Tuscarawas county. He was 
keeping tavern at that time. His tavern sign 
was a picture of General Washington mounted 
upon a white horse, an emblem which then, 
doubtless, appealed loudly to American patriot- 
ism. George Leighninger tended bar here for a 
while, but afterward bought a farm close by and 
moved upon it. 

John Jenkins soon after hung out a large 
wooden " blue ball " to the gaze of the passer-by, 
inviting him to partake of the entertainment 
provided within, about a mile west of Wolfe. 
This was an important place in those days. Jen- 
kins was postmaster for a great many year.s and 
also a justice of the peace, and the township 
elections were held here at his tsivern. 

Moses M<jrgan, about 182H, opened a third 
tjivern about a half mile east of Wolfe's tavern. 
When he sold the place some ten years later, to 
Mr. Stewart, the tavern was abandoned. 

A ferry was established very early at John 
Miskimen's place, in the eastern part of the 
township. It was kejit for a number of years by 
Adam Fletcher, and afterwards by the father of 
Judge Burt. After Evansburg was laid out and 
became a little business center, a ferry was kept 
here for a number of years. Moses Morgan and 
John B. Stout were the chief manipulators of the 
ferry-boat at this point. 

The first bridge built in the town.ship was at 
Miskimen's. It was built about 1854, and cost 
$10,000. This was afterward disturbed and some- 
what rebuilt. The river having, in 1861, cut a 
new channel about three-quarters of a mile to 
the east, a new bridge became necessary, the 
cost of which was about |9,0tX). The bridge at 
Orange was built in 1870. The masonry, of which 
N. W. Buxton was contractor, cost $8,311; the 
superstructure (iron) was contracted for by J. H. 
Davenport. It cost $7,258. 

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Loius rail- 
road passes through the townshi]i, east and west, 
crossing the Tuscarawas river near the eastern 
line. It has one station in the township — Oxford, 
near the center of the township. The Ohio ca- 
nal crosses the township north of the river. In 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



579 



its course it usuallv clusolj' follows the river 
bed. 

The second school in the county was proljably 
taught here. Mr. Calhoun says: "In 1806, or 
thereabouts, Mr. Joseph Harris taught a school 
in the settlement, at Evansburg. This is the 
second intimation of the e.xistencc of a school 
which we have received. Here the widow John- 
son, wife of Adam Johnson, deeea.sed, remembers 
being sent to attend tlie school." The tirst school 
which Jlr. Calhoun speaks of was held three or four 
years earlier up the Walhonding. An early school- 
house was built about 1812, at John Junkins' 
place, in which James Lisk was one of the first 
teachers. George Leighninger afterward taught 
here. 

The earliest attempt at town making w'as made 
by John Mills, who, in 1815, laid out a little vil- 
lage on the great bend of the Tuscarawas river, 
south of it. He called it Millsville. Several cab- 
ins were reared on the spot, but for some inscru- 
table reason the village failed to thrive, and soon 
passed from the knowledge of men. 

Evansburg was surveyed September 4, 1830- 
Isaac Evans was the proprietor, and gave it its 
name. The original plat lay wholly north of the 
canal, but two years later an addition of five lots 
was made south of it. For a few years it grew 
vigorously. Moses Morgan owned the first dry 
goods store. He died a few years after it was 
opened, and John Stout became the possessor of 
it. Joseph Watkins kept another store, and built 
a large warehouse, dealing extensively in grain. 
Philip Wolfe, Jr., ran a tannery here for a while. 
His father, Philip Wolfe, Sr., had built one about 
two miles south of this at a very early day, and 
Philip, Jr., operated it here for a time, then re- 
moved it to Evansburg. Isaac Evans, Jr., was the 
village inn keeper. The building of Orange about 
a half mile to the west gave Evansl)urg its death- 
blow. The river at Evansburg could be forded only 
with great difficulty, if at all, and a ferry must be 
kept here constantly, while the stream at Orange 
was easily forded. Mr. Watkins removed his 
warehouse, and the village s]>eedily fell to pieces. 
•■Several dilapidated structures mark the site of 
the once flourishing canal port. 



Orange, situated on the north bank of the 
river, in the northwestern part of the township, 
was laid out in 1.S81). William K. Johnson and 
Cr. A. Hamerickhouse were the proprietors of 
that part of it which lies north of the canal, and 
Samuel Wolfe proprietor of that part south of it. 
Hugh Ma.xwell erected the first house. It was a 
frame, still st;uiding, on lot 8, corner of Oxford 
and Water streets, now occupied by A. Peck. 
The next building was a warehouse, erected by 
Harrison Butler, on lot 49. These two buildings 
were erected at about the same time. Mr. But- 
ler soon after sold the warehouse to Roe & Arm- 
strong,and it has since been controlled by various 
persons. John Richmond is the present owner. 
A second warehouse was built about 1850 by P. 
C. Wolfe & Co. Five or six years later it was 
converted by them into a steam flouring mill , 
which was operated five or six years with 
unsatisfactory results, and the mill works were 
then removed about a mile down the canal to 
Wolfe & Emerson's mill, and the building res- 
tored to its original use. It is now owned by J. 
P. Peck & Co. From 40,000 to 50,000 bushels of 
wheat are annually bought at these two houses. 

About 1842 George Augustine built a saw-mill 
on the canal. P. C. Wolfe & C^o. purchased it 
and attached a carding machine, which was run 
for some years. Tlie building was taken away 
several years ago. 

There are two dry goods stores in the village 
at this time, owned by Richmond & Son, and J. 
P. Peck & Co. 

One of the earliest postoffices in the county is 
AVhite Eyes Plains. John Junkins was probably 
the first postmaster. He was succeded by James 
Lisk. The office is still kept at Oxford Station, 
by the agent. William Coles. When Evansburg 
was laid out. a jiostofficc, which is a requisite of 
every well-a]iiiointcd village, was obtained and 
Joseph H. Watkins and i\ro.ses Morgan were suc- 
cessively jiostmasters. About 1853 it was re- 
moved to Orange, where it still exists, though re- 
taining the old name. James R. Johnson was 
postmaster here. 

Orange chapel, a Metliodist Ejiiscopal church, 
the only edifice of the kind which graces Orange. 
is a handsiimc little frame, ihirtv bv I'ortv, which 



580 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



•was erected in 1875, at a cost of $2,200. It was 
erected mainly by the efforts of John Richmond 
and J. B. Peck. Tlie society was formed of mem- 
bers from other congregations in the neiglibur- 
hood. The membership at present is small. 

The Union Methodist Protestant church is 
located near the center of the township, on the 
Cadiz road. The house of wor.ship was erected 
twenty or more years ago. iijion a lot d(inated for 
the purpose by Henry and William AVolfe. Be- 
fore it was built services had licen conducted in 
the Union school-house close by. The first meet- 
ings were held in Moses Morgan's barn, where 
about 1840, shortly after the class was formed, a 
great revival was held. Among tlie earliest 
mendiers were Moses Morgan. Joseph Mulvain, 
John Stout, Joseph Evans, and Jenkin Whiteside. 
The membership is now about fifty. Rev. Wells 
is the pastor. 

White Eyes Baptist church is situated about a 
fourth of a mile east of the Union Methodist 
church. It was organized in 1825 and until 1870 
■was connected with the West Lafayette Baptist 
church. An account of this church up to the date 
of separation has been included in the history of 
the West Lafayette church and need not be re- 
peated. The congregation still worships in the 
brick church erected in 1850 which is in good 
condition. The meVnbership is about forty. 
Since 1870 there have been but two pastors in 
charge, Elders E. B. Senter and F. Hodder. The 
latter ministers to the church at this time. The 
Sabbath-school is well kept up but like most 
other organizations of the kind in the country 
is held only during the summer. Joseph Keims 
is its superintendent. 

A German Lutheran church stands just this 
side of the county line in the southeastern part 
of the township. It is a small frame building 
built about ten years ago. The congregation is 
very limited in point of number and belongs 
principally to Tuscarawas county. Mr. Hocken- 
braugh is a leading member from this township. 

Near the northeastern corner of the township 
stands a United Brethren church known as Ever- 
all's church which was built many years ago. 



The principal early members were John Everall 
and wife. John Mac key and wife, James King and 
wife, and Thomas Smith and w'ife. Its condition 
is prosperous. 

A small congregation of Disciples have for sev- 
eral years been holding services at McCune's 
school-hou*e in the southern part of the township. 

A United Brethren society existed years ago in 
Orange. Preaching commenced there about 1853 
in the school-house and was continued about 
twelve years. The society then disbanded ; cause, 
loss of membership and a minister who proved to 
be a wolf in sheep's clothing. The principal mem- 
bers were John Richmond, William Maxwell and 
John Norman. 

A Methodist Protestant church at one time 
flourished in Evansburg. A brick church was 
erected but never finished. The village declined 
and the members removed to other places. Ser- 
vices were then held for a few years in Orange 
but they ceased many years ago. 



CHAPTER LXIV. 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 



Name— Organization— Physical Features— Early Settlements 
— East Union — Churches — Schools — Mills. 

THIS is one of more than a score of townships 
in Ohio that commemorate the name and 
achievements of Commodore Perry on lake Erie. 
It was organized in 1817, at a time when his 
naval glory was still fresh in the minds of the 
people. The township, as then erected, was ten 
miles long and five wide, including what are now 
Perry and Bedford townships. This territory 
had pre\'ious!y been a part of New Castle town- 
ship, which was organized at the formation of 
the county. The elections in Perry township 
were held at the house of Elias James, almost 
centrally located as the township then existed, 
until 1825, when Bedford township was formed 
and Perry was reduced to its present limits, five 
miles square, being township 5 of range 9, ac- 
cording to the original survey of the military 
lands. It is- located in the western part of the 
county and is bounded on the south by Pike and 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



58l 



a corner of Licking county, and by Knox county 
on the west. 

The surface is undulating and in some places 
might be called hilly, though it is not so broken 
as in many townships. Timber of a thrifty 
growth covered the entire surface at the coming 
of the pioneers. The soil in the main is a lime- 
stone clay, becoming sandy in j)laces. Excellent 
springs are found in all parts of the township and 
give rise to quite a number of little streams. 
The general direction of these is southeast. Mo- 
hawk run has its source in the northwestern part 
and flows eastwardly into Bedford township. 
Winding Fork also rises in the northwestern 
corner of the township and pursues a south- 
easterly course, crossing into Pike township. 

The entire township is composed of congress 
land. It was surveyed in 1803, by John Mat- 
thews, and began to be settled seven or eight 
years later. It is not known who the first settler 
was. Elias James came to the township from 
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1S12. His 
daughter, Mrs. Noah Buxton still occupying the 
old home farm, the northeast quarter of section 
20, at the time of her father's emigration was 
four years old and recollects that there were then 
but three settlers in the township, Henry Hull, 
John Neldon and Henry Grim. They had been 
here at least a year or two before Mr. James 
came, perhaps a little longer. John Neldon was 
also from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and Mr. 
James stopped at his cabin, on the northeast quar- 
ter of section 9, until he could provide himself and 
family with a place of shelter; he first settled in 
section 11, but very soon Henrj' Grim wanted to 
leave this part of thq country and sold his claim 
upon the realty he occupied to Mr. James, who 
forthwith took possession. Grim had had a little 
difhculty with the Indians, and had grave appre- 
hensions that they wanted his scalp. The trouble 
was of this wise: Grim, with a Teutonic earne.st- 
ness and application, was endeavoring to raise a 
crop of corn upon a little patch of ground he 
had cleared, and as fences were as yet unknown, 
his success was seriously compromised by incur- 
sions of deer at night. This naturally irritated 
the German, and many a deer paid the jienalty of 
death foi its rash intrusion upon the premises. 
The Wyandot Indians lived somewhere in the 



vicinity and allowed their horses to roam at will 
during the night. One of these, which they had 
stolen from the whites somewhere, had not for- 
gotten its provender of old, and possessed a pen- 
chant for the succulent green corn of Grim's 
planting, which was decidedly detrimental to its 
growth. Grim repeatedly warned the Indians to 
keep the horse away or he would shoot it; but 
his words fell unheeded upon the cars of the red 
men. Forbearance at length ceased to be a vir- 
tue in Grim's estimation, and the noble brute fell 
a victim to his laden messenger of death. He 
thus incurred the animosity of the savages, and 
as the clouds of war lowered in the West, he 
deemed it the part of prudence to remove be- 
yond the reach of the tomahawk, and accoi'dingly 
went East. 

Henry Hull was a Pennsylvanian, and entered 
the northwest quarter of section 19. He subse- 
quently removed to Knox county, where he spent 
his declining days. John Neldon and Elias 
James both lived in Perry township the remain- 
der of their lives, the latter dying at the age of 
seventy-seven years. 

Mr. Hull lived on friendliest terms with the 
Indians, before they abandoned this country, 
and was often in their company on hunting expe- 
ditions. A camp was located near the center of 
section 20, in the southern part of the township. 
Mr. Hull was accustomed to relate that he visited 
this camp one day, and was invited by the In- 
dians to take supper with them. The prospec- 
tive meal was to consist of mush, which was 
then boiling in a large copper kettle. This had 
been used just before for tanning deer skins, and 
Mr. Hull observed numerous patches of hair, etc., 
in the boiling cauldron. Having already accepted 
the invitation to sUiy, he could not leave, but, 
the meal not being to his liking, he made his au- 
revuirs to his dusky acquaintances, as best he 
could, and much to their disiippointnient ami dis- 
gust, took his departure. 

Until 1814 there Wi« little progress in the set- 
tlement of this township, but about that time 
settlers began to arrive in quick succession and, 
in a few more yeans, the entire town.ship was 
dotted with cabins and cornlielils. This being 
wholly congress land, there was nothing to cheek 
emigration, and as it is nearly all susceptible of 



582 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



cultivation, it wiis rapidly entered, mostly by resi- 
dent settlers. 

George and .Jcjhn Mowry came about 1818. 
They were from Pennsylvania. John entered the 
southwest quarter of section 12. George served 
three months in the army in 1814, and afterward 
moved west. 

In 1814 William Coulter settled upon the 
northeast quarter of section 12. Early in life he 
had spent two years under Nathaniel Massie and 
Sullivan in surveying the western part of the 
State, and on his way home passed through what 
was afterward Coshocton. Tlie section he en- 
tered in 1812, coming out from Pennsylvania to 
select it. He was a practical surveyor, and sur- 
veyed much of the western part of the county, 
it is said, with "a grape-vine chain." 

In 1815 Akey Lee came out from Turkey Foot, 
Pennsylvania, located the southeast quarter of 
section 8, and erected thereon a cabin ; he then 
returned home, expecting to emigrate with his 
family the ne.xt spring, but during that winter 
he died of " cold plague." His widow, Mary, 
however, determined to brave the hardships of 
pioneer life alone ; and with a family of small 
children, the oldest of whom was but fourteen 
years, sought the western home, and by their as- 
sistance successfully weathered the rough storms 
incident to the frontier. Her descendants are 
still represented in the township. 

The Pigmaus were prominent in early times. 
Joseph W. Pigman came from Allegheny county 
to Muskingum county, near Dresden, in 1810, and 
two years later moved to New Castle township 
and built a cabin. Some time after, discovering 
that he was on military land, he came to this 
township. He became a noted Methodist 
preacher, and took some part in politics, repre- 
senting the county in the legislature several 
times, and being one of the associate judges of 
the county. He had four sons, Nathaniel, Dan- 
iel, John and James. The first entered part of 
the northwest quarter of section 7. The last was 
a minister of some note; he was connected with 
the Methodist Episcopal church as local preacher 
from 1,837 to 1866, when he became a minister of 
the Christian Union church, and so continued 
until his death, which occurred in this township, 
October 26, 1869. 



A settlement of Germans came in early, per- 
haps in 1815, most of them from Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania. Among them were Peter Ault, 
who entered the southwest quarter of section 23; 
Leonard Divan, the southwest quarter of section 
18 and the northwest quarter of section 23; his 
two sons, John and Henry, the latter owning the 
northwest quarter of section 22; Henry Billman, 
the southwest quarter of section 21 ; George Sos- 
saman, the southeast quarter of section 15; Fred- 
erick Shrake, the southeast quarter of section 23, 
and Jacob Shrake, the north half of the southeast 
quarter of section 19. The last mentioned moved 
to Wisconsin, and from last accounts was still liv- 
ing. 

The Irish nationality was rejiresented by Adam 
Murray, who, about 1816, entered the west part 
of the southeast quarter of section 6, and his 
brother-in-law, John Trimble, who preceded him 
a year or two and entered the northeast quarter 
of the same section. 

Bedford county, Pennsylvania, furnished a 
goodly number of the foremost settlers. Besides 
those mentioned there were, from this county, 
John Fry, who entered the southeast quarter 
of section 20 (he emigrated about 1815, with 
his brother, Enoch Fry, who settled in Bedford 
township); Isaac Dickens, the northeast quarter 
of section 21; Robert Elders, the northeast quar- 
ter of section 23; Daniel Fitzgerald, who owned 
a part of the southwest quarter of section 10; 
Henry Neldon, the northwest quarter of section 
20; Nathaniel Rush, the northwest quarter of 
section 2; and Edward D. Long, part of the south- 
east quarter of section 19. 

Henry McVey and Joseph Jones came as early 
as 1815, The former owned the southwest quar- 
ter of section 19; the latter, part of the northeast 
quarter of the same section, John Berry, a Mary- 
lander, entered the southeast quarter of section 8. 
Joshua, William, Benjamin, Joseph and Caleb 
Cochran, five brothers directly from Maryland, 
but originally from Dublin, Ireland, emigrated 
about 1814. Joshua settled on the southwest 
quarter of section 4, William on part of the south- 
west quarter of section 7; the other three did not 
acquire property in this township. Alisalom 
Tipton, a Pennsylvanian, located, about 181G, on 
the southwest quarter of section 1 ; John Scott, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



583 



about the same time, entered the southwest fiuar- 
ter of section 5. 

William Dillon, father of Israel Dillon, the 
present clerk of the court, came from Green 
county, Pennsylvania to the township about 1815, 
entered and cleared a quarter section, which he 
continued to occupy until his death, in lJ-'62, he 
being then sixty-eight years of age. 

East Union is the one village of the township. 
It is situated in the southwest part of the north- 
east quarter of section 7. Two rival villages once 
flourished in this vicinity. The first of these. 
New Guilford, was laid out by Dr. Elisha Guil- 
ford Lee, March 30, 1825. He was the tirst phy- 
sician of the township, coming here from Mount 
Vernon. The village plat was located a short 
distance west of what is now East Union, and 
consisted of fifty lots. A quarrel arose between 
the doctor and John Conaway, who owned the 
quarter-section just east of New Guilford, and 
the latter thought that if Dr. Lee could found a 
town, he could do the same. Accordingly, in 
April, 1826, he laid out a town plat on the ridge 
facing New Guilford, a little valley intervening. 
It consisted of thirty-si.x lot.s, and was dedicated 
Claysvillc by the proprietor. Then, the antagon- 
ism waxed hot, and each village sought to im- 
prove itself at the expense of the other. Cona- 
way possessed some advantage. He was a car- 
penter, and agreed to a.ssist in erecting the cabins 
of settlers in his town, a consideration which 
prevailed with a number. After some years the 
two proprietors clasped hands across the inter- 
vening chasm and consolidated. By act of leg- 
islature, the name of the town then became East 
Union. In 1831 an addition of fifty lots, con- 
necting the two villages, was made by Dr. Lee ; a 
small addition had previously been made to 
Claysville by Conaway. East Union now in- 
cludes only what was formerly Claysville, New 
Guilford having been practically vacated, and 
now used for farming purposes. The Ohio 
Gazeteer, published in 1833, says, that in that 
year Claysville, or Eiist Union, contained forty- 
one dwelling hou.ses, two physician.-^, live stores, 
one oil-mill, four cabinet makers, one tailor, two 
shoemakers, two blacksnjiths, one liatter, and sev- 
eral carpenters. The population was estimated 



to be nearly ,300; in 18.30 there were seventy- 
eight inhabitants; at present tlicre are less than 
100. Dr. Lee secured the postofhce, and tor a 
while was postmaster ; then by some means Mr. 
Conaway received the appointment. It still re- 
tains its original name, New Guilford. The first 
store was opened at Claysville, by John Pigman. 
It was owned by John Jaeobston, of Dresden, and 
kept up for a few years only. At present there 
are two dry goods establishments here, owned by 
J. W. Allen and Elijah Richards ; one miscella- 
neous store, John Martin ; and two groceries, 
Adam McCain and INIr. Allen. Dr. David Mc- 
Elwee is the physician. The school-house is a 
two-story building, erected about 1870, and be- 
longing to the adjacent districts. William S. Kil- 
patrick and Miss Nancy Marshall were the first 
teachers in this building. 

The towns^hip is well supplied with churches. 
There are now in active operation three Method- 
ist Episcopal, two Baptist, one Christian Union 
and one Lutheran church; besides, there have 
been several oi-ganizations, now defunct. The 
Goshen Methodist Episcopal church is the pio- 
neer religioussociety in the township. Thechurch 
is located on the Coulter farm in the eastern part 
of section 12. About 1820 there was built here 
a hewed log structure which served as a house of 
worship till 1859 when it burned. The earliest 
meetings were held in the school-house where 
Rev. Thomas Carr preached. Other early minis- 
terial laborers in this field were- David Limerick, 

Pardew and James Taylor. Rev. Jo.seph 

Pigman, Rev. John Cullison, Mrs. Nancy Wright, 
Henry McVey, William Lee and William Coul- 
ter were strong pillars in the organization in its 
early life. In 1800 the present comfortable frame 
edifice was erected on the site of the old church. 
The luembcr.ship at present scarcely exceeds 
twenty-five. Rev. A. A. McCullough is pastor. 
A Sunday-school, superintended liy Joseph Coul- 
ter, is a successful branch of the church work. 

Wilson's Chapel, or the Methodist church on 
CuUison's ridge, lies within a half mile of the 
northern line of the township. The first class 
was organized at the house of Shadraik Cullison 
fully sixty years ago. Here and in other cabins 
in the neighborhood John Almack and wife, 



584 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Shadrack Cullison and wife, James Crouther and 
wife, Jesse Cullison and wife, Thomas Almack 
and wife, and others were accustomed to worship 
for a number of years. About 18.32 they built a 
log church and several years later ceiled and 
weather-boarded it. The present structure was 
reared about 1857. It is an unpretending frame, 
about thirty by forty feet in size and cost 81,100. 
It was dedicated by Eev. Harvey Wilson. The 
membership is about fifty; the present pastor. 
Rev. Philip Kelser. The Sunday-school has been 
conducted for many years during pleasant 
weather and numbers about forty members. 

The third Methodist church is at East Union. 
As nearly as can now be determined it was organ- 
ized in 1832. For a year or two services were 
liekl in the village school-house; then, about 
1834, a meeting-house was built on a lot donated 
lor the purpose, by Dr. E. G. Lee. Among the 
pioneer members were J. N. Edwards and wife, 
Joseph McDonald and wife, John Davis and wife, 
Cliarles Conoway and wife, and John Conaway 
and wife. Revs. Carper, Thos. Carr and John 
Walker were among the first ministers. In 1878, 
a new church was built, mainly through the 
efforts of H. W. Lee, J. W. Lee, Enoch Berry, 
Abrarn Taylor, D. McElwee, T. W. Cullison and 
N. W. Cullison. It is a neat frame structure, 
thirty-two bj' forty-five feet, capped with a bell, 
and costing Sl,52.5. The building was dedicated 
January, 1879, by Rev. James Kellem, Rev. 
Philip Kelser being pastor at the time. The 
membership is fifty-six. N. W. Cullison is su- 
perintendent of the Sunday-school, which has 
an average attendance during the entire year of 
seventy-five. 

Mohawk Regular Baptist church, located in 
the northeast part of the township, was organ- 
ized about the year 1841 or 1842. Bosley Par- 
rish, John Berry and wife, John Ncldon, Alex- 
ander Dunlap and wife, Samuel Pritchard and 
wife and William Buxton and wife were early, 
prominent communicants. In 1846, the mem- 
bership was forty-nine, and a few years later had 
increased to about 100, but since then it has 
gradually decreased, and is at present about 
forty. Soon after the organization, a small frame 
church was built which still serves as the house 



of worship. The ministers who have labored as 
pastors of this church are as follows : S. Wick- 
ham, J. Frey, Jr., R. E. Whittaker, A. W. Ar- 
nold, E. B. Senter, S. W. Frederick, H. Clark and 
James K. Linebaugh, the present pastor. 

Perry Regular Baptist church, located near the 
southwest corner of the township, was formerly 
a branch of the Tomica church of Washington 
to.vnship, and was organized in 1860, iis an in- 
dependent body, with twenty-seven members. 
Hezekiah Howell and wife, Isaac Winkle and 
wife, Ohio Oxley and wife, and Stephen Under- 
wood and wife, were among its first members. 
Their neat little church was built soon after they 
became a separate organization, under the minis- 
try of H. West. The membership has slowly 
but steadily advanced, and now numbers about 
forty. The ministers of this church have been 
H. West, B. R. Whitiiker, E. B. Senter, A. W. 
Odor, E. Frey, A. W. Arnold and H. Clark. 

The Christian Union church, at East Union, 
was organized in 186G, with sixteen or eighteen 
members, by Rev. Givens, of Columbus. A se- 
ries of meetings were held soon after by Rev. 
Benjamin Green, which resulted in a number of 
accessions. Among the earliest members were 
Israel Dillon, James Pigman, William Pigman, 
James Barkelew, Jackson and Jo.seph Mills, Wil- 
liam Perry, Jacob Baughman and Wheeler Cul- 
lison. George W. Stevenson was the first minis- 
ter; he was succeeded by James Pigman. The 
membership increased steadily for a while, and 
at one time was perhaps the largest in the town- 
ship, but owing to many removals and deaths, it 
has been reduced to about forty. Services were 
held in the old Presbyterian church until 1870. 
In that year a substantial frame, thirty-one by 
forty-one feet, was erected at a cost of $1,000. 
The church was dedicated December, 1879, by 
Revs. H. J. Duckworth and James Lamp. 

The Winding Fork Evangelical Lutherari 
church stands in the southern part of the town-' 
ship, in the eastern part of section 17. The pres- 
ent small frame building was erected in the sum- 
mer of 1880. The old meeting-house occupied 
the same site and was built about 1848. Before 
it was built, preaching had been held for some 



HISTORY 01' COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



585 



years in the school-house and in Absoloni Wolf's 
barn. The early members were George Sossa- 
man, Absolom Wolf, Henry Kiefer, John Sossa- 
man, Jacob Huffman, their families, George Beck- 
ley, and some others. Kev. J(jhn Booker is the 
minister now in charge. The membership is 
iibout forty. 

An Episcopal church, known as St. Matthew's, 
formerly flourished in the western jiart of the 
township. As early as 182S, a log church was 
erected, which gave way some years later to a 
substantial brick, still standing, in the northwest 
■corner of the northeast quarter of section 6. 
John Trimble, Adanv Murray, John Scott, Wil- 
son and William Kodden, and George Melick 
were members with its early membersliip. The 
congregation at one time was of considerable 
size. It was supplied by ministers from Gambler. 
Regular services were suspended some ten years 
ago. 

A Presbyterian church once existed in New 
diilford. A house of worship was built in 1837 
or 1833, and occupied some twenty years, when 
the organization dissolved. Connected with it 
■were Andrew and Samuel McCammant, Harvey 
Hoss, Ezekiel Boggs, George Knight, N.athaniel 
Herron and others. The building was removed 
only two or three years ago. 

An old school Baptist congregation had a meet- 
ing-house in the dim past, along the eastern line 
of the township, in the northeast quarter of sec-r 
tion 10. Revs. McGuire and Crabtree once 
preached here to a flourishing society, which in- 
cluded the names of John Pritchard, Solomon 
Tipton, Joseph Barret, Willian Dillon and others, 
but it has long since been numbered with the dead. 

Of the early schools in this township, as else- 
where, much may be learned from the fol- 
lowing agreement between a teacher and liissub- 
scribers, made nearly sixty years ago. It is said 
that for some unknown reason this school was 
never held, but be this as it may, the contract is 
■worthy of preservation as exhibiting the means 
by which schools could then be procured. The 
original document is in the possession of T. B. 
Tidball, of New Bedford, and reads as follows : 



JOHN- L. MEKEDITII 

proposes opening school in the Methodist meet- 
ing-house, near William Coulter's, in Perry town- 
ship, Coshocton county, Oliio, on Monday, the 
first day of October, 1823. for the term of' three 
months, or thirteen weeks, reserving to himself 
every-othcr Saturday, and agrees to keep said 
school under good, wholesome regulations and 
strict order. To ojien tlie same at 9 o'clock A. m., 
and continue till 12 at noon; commencing again 
at 1 P. M., and close at half-past 4 p. m., each day, 
as near as possible, and agrees to teach and in- 
struct all tho.se placed under tuition, in spelling, 
reading, writing and arithmetic, to the best of his 
ability and understanding. In consideration 
whereof, we whose names are hereto subscribed, 
do agree to pay him, J. Mereditli, the sum of one 
dollar and seventy-tive cents for each scholar an- 
nexed to our respective names, in the following 
articles, at these respective rates, viz : Wheat at 
fifty cents per bushel, rye at forty cents per 
bushel, corn at twenty-tive cents per bushel, de- 
livered in Wool ford's, Meredith's, Ault's or Giv- 
en 's mills, as he may direct. Flour at two dollars 
per hundred pounds, pork at two and a quar- 
ter cents per pound, beef at two and a half and 
three cents per pound, butter at eight cents per 
pound, tallow at ten cents per pound, beeswax at 
twenty-tive cents jier pound, flax at ten cents per 
pound, wool at forty cents per pound, flax linen 
at thirty-seven and a half cents ))er yard, tow at 
twenty cents, flax and tow at thirty cents per 
yard, linsey, colored, fifty-six and a quarter 
cents per yard, eggs at six and a quarter 
cents per dozen, and towels at six and a quarter 
cents, to be delivered within said term at said 
Meredith's dwelling at such times ns he may oc- 
casionally direct. It being agreed that should it 
be proven to the satisfaction of a majority of the 
subscribers that said Meredith neglects his busi- 
ness as a teacher, they are to jjay for the time he 
may have been employed and dismiss him. 
School to consist of not less than twenty-live nor 
more than thirty regular subscribed scholars; the 
said Meredith making good all lost time at the 
end of the term. In testimony whereof we have 
hereto set our hands this tenth day of Septem- 
ber, 1823. John L. Meredith. 

SUBSCRIBEBS' NaMF,S. ScHOL.\R.S. 

William Coulter 2 

J. W. Pigman 2 

James Curty ; ... 2 

James Cullison 2} 

Cornelius Lynch , 1 

Barney Lynch 1 

Henry Richard 2 

Aquila Strailler 2 

Richard Copeland 1 

Elias James IJ 



686 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



SiEscRiBEKS' Names. Scholars. 

JohnFrv 1^ 

Henry Fry 2 

Aaron Wright 1- 

William Hortenbrook 1 

George Parets 1 

John Cullison I2 

Jacob PhiUips 2 

Mary Dillon ;■■ 1 

Henry McVey 1 

Joseph Jones 1-1 

John N. Edwards 2 

The first school-house in the township was 
built about 1817, on the Hull farm or the north- 
west quarter of section 19. The first teacher was 
James Cane, a good scholar but too severe in his 
discipline to please the people. He taught only 
one term, and was succeeded by John ^V'interin- 
ger, a good natural preacher, who permitted the 
children under his charge to do just about as they 
wished. Joseph Pigman was next installed 
teacher and remained in the school for a number 
of years, so long that it was generally known as 
the Pigman school. The building was finally de- 
stroyed by fire, and a school-house was then built 
on the Coulter place, near the Goshen Methodist 
church. It was not long till a number of others 
were started in different parts of the township. 

Peter Ault in early times had a little hand-mill 
which, unlike the little water-mills along the 
streams, did not fail in dry weather, and hence 
became quite popular among his neighbors when 
the water was low. It was used so much and 
ground corn so amazingly slow that he construct- 
ed a nuich larger pair of stones, which were set 
up on end. To one of them he attached a pole 
ten feet long, which turned like the handle of a 
grindstone. When the creeks would fail the 
neighbors would congregate here after their day's 
work was done, each bringing his sack of corn to 
grind. Half a dozen or more young people would 
seize the handle, "long drawn out," and make the 
buhrs fairly spin around. The merry frolic would 
continue sometimes half through the night, until 
each had at least corn-meal enough to last his fam- 
ily the ne.xt day. Mr. Ault also had a little water- 
mill on Winding Fork, with one run of buhrs, 
which he operated until his dam was swept away 
in a freshet. It was not rebuilt. Frederick Shrake 
at the same time, about 1822, started a mill a little 



further up the stream. It had two run of stone, 
and between it and Ault's mill there was a lively 
competition. Robert Elder, as early as 1820, had 
a little corn-cracker in operation, which lasted, 
however, only a short time. A little sawing and 
wool carding was carried on at the same time. 
John Pritchard, about 1830, put up a saw-mill on 
Mohawk run, which was run for a number of 
years. The present Gault mill was built by Sam- 
uel Whitmore, in 1836 or earlier. 



CHAPTER LXV. 

PIKE TOWNSHIP. 

Boumiaries —Topography — Settlers— Slab Camp— Bear Story 
-Distilleries— Mill.s— Schools— Churches— West Carlisle. 

PIKE township occupies the southwest corner 
of the county. It is bounded on the west 
by Licking county and on the south by Mus- 
kingum. Washington township touches it on the 
east and Perry township on the north. The 
township was organized in August, 1818, the elec- 
tion for the first officers being held in the house 
of James Bryan. This and Perry are the only 
two townshijis in the county that consist wholly 
of congress land. It was surveyed in the year 
1803, by John Matthews. 

The surface is rolling and hilly throughout. It 
is nearly all tillable, the prevailing soil being a 
limestone clay. Some sandy grounds are found, 
however, principally in the western part of the 
township. The streams are small and unimpor- 
tant. The largest is Tomica creek, which enters 
from Licking county, flows southeasterly about 
a mile and then returns to Licking county. 
Winding Fork enters the stream, flowing from 
the northeast. Brushy run rises near the north- 
ern line of the township, close to West Carlisle 
and flows almost directly south through the entire 
township. West of this is Five Mile run, so 
named from its length ; it rises near the center 
of the township and pursues a southwesterly 
course. Little tributaries to these streams 
make up the remaining streams of the town- 
ship. A heavy tinAer growth was universal, 
except in one locality. Along the narrow valley 
of Brushy run, in sections 12 and 19, was a strip 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



587 



of land covered only with sn^ilings when the first 
settlers entered the township. The opinicjn 
among the early settlers regarding it, wius that a 
violent hurricane had spent its force here and 
uprooted all the large timber growing upon the 
tract. The little elevations and depressions 
which such a catastrophe would produce, were 
numerously scattered through this region. 

Daniel Ashcraft was the first settler in the 
township, settling upon the southwest quarter of 
section 22 in 1808. He was from the vicinity of 
Cheat river, Pennsylvania, and moved West with 
his son-in-law, Thomas MoKee. The journey 
was made as far as Zanesville by water. Mr. 
Ascraft and McKee constructed a large boat about 
twenty by forty feet in size, freighted it with 
their families, furniture, teams, iron, etc., and 
launched it on Cheat river, whence it proceeded 
safely down the Ohio to Marietta. It was too un- 
wieldy an affair to get up to Zanesville, and Mr. 
Ashcraft came to that place and engaged three 
keel-boats to bring up his goods. The teams 
were brought up by land. From Zanesville he 
proceeded on the road leading west to the neigh- 
borhood of Frazersburg, and leaving his heaviest 
goods there, packed the most necessary articles 
on his horses through the wilderness, to his fu- 
ture home. A bark camp was hastily constructed 
and served as a temporary place of shelter. Mr. 
Ashcraft was an excellent mechanic, and could 
turn his hand to almost anything. He had a 
large family, and his boys, Jonathan, Jacob, Jesse, 
Elijah and Daniel, were of great service in clear- 
ing up the land. He brought over his blacksmith 
tools as soon as he arrived, and soon had a little, 
log-cabin built which he occupied several years, 
then built a larger hewed-log house, a very palace 
in those days. A whip-saw was brought from 
Zanesville to prepare the necessary lumber for 
this building. In connection with his black- 
smithing, he carried on a coojier-shop, and soon 
had a tannery also started on his place. When 
the Newark road was opened, and the country 
round about began to be peopled with emigrants, 
he provided entertainment at his house for those 
who required it, a meal thus costing the stranger 
twelve and a half cents, and lodging six and a 
quarter cents. While the coiuitry upon all sides 



was still one vast w'ilderness, this farm had al- 
ready become greatly imiiroved. 

Jonathan Ashcraft, still surviving at this writ- 
ing, in his ninetieth year, turned the first furrow 
of ground in the township with his rude plow. 
Seeds for an apple and peach orchard were 
planted at once, and in a few years fruit was had 
in abundance. Mr. Ashcraft served on the fron- 
tier for a few months in the war of 1812, in a com- 
pany commanded by Captain Wilson, of Licking 
county. He continued to reside in this town- 
ship, engaged in the quiet pursuits of farm life, 
till he died at a good old age. Tho)nas McKee, 
his son-in-law, settled in the vicinity of Mt. Ver- 
non, but years afterward moved to this county. 

Very soon after the arrival of Ashcraft, Payne 
Clark entered the township. He came from 
Fauquier county, Virginia, and settled upon the 
southeast quarter of section 12. He was a verit- 
able Nimrod at the chase, and, gun in hand, 
spent much time in the game-abounding forest. 
He was also a practical surveyor, and in this ca- 
pacity was of great service to his neighbors. 
About 1832 he removed to Greene county, In- 
diana. 

Thomas Hardesty came about 1812, and en- 
tered the southwest quarter of section 19. He 
was from Maryland, and spent his youth upon 
the sea, where he acquired the hardiness and 
recklessness of a sailor. In 1811 he emigrated 
with his brother, Edmund Hardesty, to Wash- 
ington township. He remained there only a 
year or two, and came to this township. He re- 
mained a resident of the township for a number 
of years, but never became skilled in the use of 
his gun. A favorite occupation was the making 
of maple sugar. He eventually removed to 
Greene county, Indiana. 

It was not until 1814 that settlers began to ar- 
rive in any number. In that year Pierce No- 
land came to the township, and entered the 
northw-est quarter of section 11. He was origin- 
ally from the Virginia banks of the Potomac, 
and came to Coshocton county in ISll, living for 
three years nine miles up the Tuscarawas river 
from Coshocton, at the mouth of 'NMiite Eyes 
creek. In his early days he was a traveling 
merchant, in Virginia, but since he became a 
resident of this county he followed farming ex- 



588 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



clusively. He died in 1834, at the age of iifty- 
seven years. 

It was about this year that James and John 
Bryan, two brothers, settled here. As the name 
indicates, they were Irish. John was born in Ire- 
land and James on the briny ocean, as his parents 
were on their way to the new country. The two 
boys entered the northwest quarter of section 12. 
James was a noted character in his day, was per- 
haps best known as the local poet of this com- 
munity. He possessed an abundance of native 
Irish wit and was an inveterate rhymer. His 
caustic verses were an ever-availing weapon 
against those who incurred his enmity, and were 
always highly appreciated by those at whom they 
were not aimed. He was reared a Catholic, but 
did not hold firm allegiance to any church. He 
-was as fond of whisky as he was of versifying. 
He was by trade a molder, and during winter 
was often employed at Moore's furnace, a few 
miles east of Newark. He finally removed to 
Indianola, Iowa, where he died. 

David Moore, a cooper by trade, from near 
Hagerstown, Maryland, and James Thompson, 
from near Cumberland, Blaryland, came out in 

1814, and entered the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 12. Mr. Thompson spent the remainder of 
his hfe in the township, but Mr. Moore sold his 
property and removed to Vinton county. 

David Knowles, about 1S13, settled in the east- 
ern part of section 19. William Clark, a Virgin- 
ian, about 1816, entered and settled upon the 
southwest quarter of section 10. About the same 
time, Joseph Cheney, from Maryland, settled upon 
the southeast quarter of section 22. About 1S14, 
Joshua Lemart, from Fauquier county, Virginia, 
settled upon the northeast quarter of section 12. 
He had lived for a .short time previous in Wash- 
ington township. He died in Muskingum county. 
Adam Gault, from Pennsylvania, came in about 

1815. settling upon the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 2. He died in 1.846. 

Eli Seward moved with his family in the fall 
of 1815 from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to 
the Cass section, in the northern jiart of Mus- 
kingum county, remained there a year, and in 
February, 1817, settled upon a quarter section in 
the western part of this township. In the spring 
of 181G his brother, Ebonezer Seward, James 



Chapin and John Taylor, emigrated from the 
same county in Pennsylvania. 

George Lynch, a Pennsylvanian, moved about 
1810 to the northwest quarter of section 19. He 
erected a blacksmith shop here and divided his 
attention between the shop and field. Years af- 
ter he removed to Hardin county. Spencer Lake 
emigrated about the same time from Fauquier 
county, Virginia, and remained a farmer of this 
township the rest of his life. William Henderson, 
a blacksmith and afterward a dealer in stock, 
came about 1816 from Belmont county. About 
1817 Samuel Perkins, from Pennsylvania, entered 
the tract upon which West Carlisle is now situ- 
ated. Augustine White came in 1818 from Vir- 
ginia. Alexander Graham, also from Pennsyl- 
vania, came to the township in 1819 ; he died in 
July, 1844. About this time John Rine, a Mary- 
lander, who had served in the war of 1812, moved 
in. 

The tax duplicate for 1821 shows the following 
additional names as resident property-holders. 
As land did not become taxable till after it had 
been entered five years, some, if not all, of these 
settlers were probably here as early as 1816: 
George Crawford, the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 23, and east half of section 21; Francis 
Crawford', the northeast quarter of section 24; 
Richard Goodwin, the north part of the south- 
e.ast quarter of section 5; John McNabb, the 
northwest quarter of section 2; John Perdew, 
the northeast quarter of section 1; Kimble Rake- 
straw, a Virginian, thenorthwest quarter of sec- 
tion 17; John Robinson, also a Virginian, the 
southeast quarter of section 15; Jesse Rine, 
brother to John Rine, from Frederick county, 
Maryland, the south part of the southeast quarter 
of section 5; Asa B. Snyder, the northeast quar- 
ter of section 9; William Wright, from Virginia, 
a local surveyor, and by trade a wheel-wright, the 
northeast quarter of section 22. 

The onlj' vestige of Indian habitation which 
existed when the early settlers came to the town- 
ship, was a rickety shanty, which stood near the 
mouth of Winding Fork, and was known as Slab 
Camp. It was a three-sided little hut, one end 
being entirely open, and about ten by twelve 
feet in size. It was frequently occupied by hun- 






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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



591 



ters, after the Indians had abandoned it, as a 
sleeping place, and whenever so used, a fire must 
be built across the open end, to prevent the en- 
trance of wild animals. 

Wild game was abundant for a number of 
years, and many are the bear stories which the 
few remaining pioneers tell of the times which 
are now gone forever. There is room for only 
one. Richard Meek, who settled early on the 
northwest quarter of section 22, went visiting 
one day with his wife, leaving Samuel, scarce- 
ly fifteen years old, and his younger sisters at 
home. They amused themselves during their 
parents' absence by springing saplings in the 
woods. After a while Sam thought he espied a 
bear behind a fallen log. He told the little girls 
to watch the place while he ran to the house for 
his father's gun. He soon returned with the 
weapon, which was so heavy he could scarcely 
carry it, and lying down on the ground, he laid 
the cumbersome weapon across a log, took delib- 
erate aim, and fired. The ball sped true to the 
mark, and the bear fell dead. Running up to it, 
he drew out a butcher knife and stabbed it in old 
hunter fashion; then went to the stable for horses 
and sled, and by dint of perseverance managed 
to get the bear on the sled and home just as his 
parents returned. It was an unusually large ani- 
mal, weighing more than 600 pounds. 

Several small distilleries were operated in this 
township in early times to supply the local de- 
mand for whisky. James and George Crawford, 
about 1818, started one and run it for a number 
of years. Another one was owned by Thomas 
and John Crawford, of another family. Payne 
Clark, Samuel Hardesty and Newman Smith 
were also manufacturers of the article on a small 
scale. Joshua Leniart began the business at an 
early day and continued it for many years. He 
built a little horse-mill for the purpose of grinding 
his mashes, but it was soon brought into requi- 
sition by his neighbors for grinding their corn. 
Particularly was this so during a dry season, 
when the mills on the small streams must sus- 
pend operations for lack of power, and the settlers 
were obliged to take their grists up to Owl creek 
in Knox county, or down to Zanesville, where, 
from the throng of customers, they often had to 

25 



wait several days before their wants could be at- 
tended to. Lemart's horse-mill was then kept 
going night and day, turning out a course grade 
of corn-meal which the settlers labored hard to 
obtain. 

John Taylor built a stiw-mill on Winding Fork 
about 1818. In 1823, he sold it to Albert Seward 
—still living in Bethlehem township— who had 
just attained his majority. In' 1830, Mr. Seward 
disposed of it to James Van Winkle, and, a short 
time afterward, Ebenezer Seward obtained pos- 
session of it. He sold it to Mr. Pease, of Dresden, 
who proposed removing it further down the 
stream and adding a grist-mill; but he failed in 
business before carrying out the project, and the 
property reverted to Mr. Seward. He resold it 
to Jesse Ryan, and the mill soon after went down. 

A saw-mill was built on Tomica creek, by 
Frederick Zellers, in 1833, and the next year a 
flour-mill was added. It is still in operation, 
known as the Gault mill. It h;is two run of 
buhrs, a good stone dam, and produces an excel- 
lent grade of flour. 

Little is known of the early schools of the 
township. Like in all other pioneer settlements, 
they were irregularly held, meagerly attended, 
and very inefficient, as compared with the schools 
of the present day. A school-cabin was built 
about 1824 on the hill south of Hiram Noland's 
house, on the southeast quarter of section 12. 
William Wright was the first teacher in this 
building. He was a learned teacher, proficient 
in Latin, it is said, and a thorough mathemati- 
cian. He remained in charge of the school for 
a number of years. Later, a school-house was 
built just south of West Carlisle, where Mr. Tim- 
berlick, afterward cashier of the Owl Creek bank 
of Mt. Vernon, taught the first elements. 

There are four churches in the township ; 
three, a Methodist, a Presbyterian and a Luther- 
an, in \Ve.st Carlisle, and one about two miles 
south of this village, near the center of section 
12. The latter is a " People's" church, or more 
commonly called the " Broomstick church." It 
is the property of no denomination, built nearly 
forty years ago by the people in this neighbor- 
hood, regardless of their church affinities, upon 



592 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



land donated by Hirani Noland. All denomina- 
tions are permitted to worship here at any time 
which does not interfere with previous appoint- 
ments, and several societies of different sects 
have used the building as their meeting liouse. 
Among them was a congregation of Christians, 
which at one time possessed considerable 
strength. Nathaniel Emery, Lewis Cheney, and 
many persons from a distance were members. 
At first preaching was conducted at Mr. Emery's 
barn, then transferred to the church. There 
have been no services now for ten years or more. 
The Disciples held services here for a while. 
Samuel Cheney was a leading member. The 
congregation included a large number living in 
Muskingum county. Rev. White was their last 
minister. The Presbyterians and Methodist 
Episcopals hold occasional services. The Metho- 
dist Protestants have regular meetings, conducted 
at present by Rev. William Sampson. This so- 
ciety was organized, about 1845, and now has 
about fifty members. A union Sunday-school is 
held here. 

Of the three churches in West Carlisle, the 
Presbyterian is probably the oldest. It was in- 
corporated by the legislature in 1823. The in- 
corporators were James McKee, John L3'ons, 
James Gault, James Patten and William Brown. 
Rev. James Cunningham, of Utica, Licking 
county, had been preaching occasionally in the 
neighborhood for some time and continued to 
preach for the church until 1834. Rev. Jacob 
Wolf then served the church for about a year, 
and after he left Mr. Cunningham again supplied 
the congregation for a year or two. In 1838 and 
1839 the church was supplied by Rev. Enoch Ron- 
ton and Rev. Nathaniel Conkling. Rev. J. Mat- 
thews seems to have been the first pastor, in- 
stalled November 11, 1840. Until 1846 he gave it 
half his time and then the whole time until 1853. 
During his time the church building still in use 
was erected. In 1853 C. C. Bomberger was or- 
dained and installe<l pastor. During the war the 
congregation was greatly distracted on political 
issues, and finally divided, Mr. Bomberger and a 
portion of the congregation withdrawing and 
putting themselves under the Presbytery of Lou- 
isville and afterwards under the care of the Pres- 



bytery of Central Ohio in connection with the- 
Synod of Kentucky. This congregation found a 
house of worship in the "People's church" two 
miles below the village. In the old church after 
several years of embarrassment, with only occas- 
ional supplies, John Foy was ordained and in- 
stalled in 1870. During his pastorate the church 
rallied to a considerable extent and the house of 
worship was repaired and improved at an ex- 
pense almost equal to its original cost. Mr. Foy 
removed in 1874 to Martinsburg and the church 
has since been supplied by Revs. S. Mehafley, W, 
D. Wallace, and W. J. Fulton and J. P. Saflbrd. 
In November, 1880, the two divisions of the 
church were harmonized and re-united under 
Mr. SafFord's pastorate. At its organization the 
number of members was twenty-four; in 1860 
there were eighty-six; at present it exceeds one 
hundred. The first elders were Thomas McKee, 
James Crawford and Adam Gault. Subsequently 
the following have served : A. H. Lyons, Chris- 
topher Crothers, John Lyons, James McKee, Rob- 
ert Crouch, William Harvey, D. D. Johnson, 
Lewis Bonnett, Thomas McKee, John McKee, 
John Graham and George JMcKee. The last three 
constitute the session at this time. 

The Methodist Episcopal congregation at West 
Carlisle erected its first house of worship in 1832 
or 1833. It was a frame building, and occupied 
the site of the present church, which was built 
about 1859. The date of the church organization 
is unknown. It was some time before the erec- 
tion of the first church. Among the earlier mem- 
bers were William Moffat, John Fulks, James 
Fulks and William Henderson. Rev. Thomas 
Dunn was an early minister. The membership 
is now about sixty. Rev. A. A. McCullough is 
the piistor. A Sunday-school has been connected 
with the church for a great number of yea,rs, and 
is in excellent working condition. The school is 
held through the whole year. 

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organ- 
ized about 1835. The first minister was Jacob 
Seidle. Rev. S. Kammerer had previously held 
services in the neighborhood. The leading early 
members were Henry Billman, Henry Divan, 
George Sossaman, Henry Keifer and Solomon 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



593 



Exline. The present frame church was built a 
few years ago, at a cost of about $1,200. The 
former building Wivs smaller, and built soon after 
the church was organized. The church had a 
large following at fir.st, but when the Winding 
Fork church was organized many members with- 
drew to unite with it, and the church was left 
comparatively weak. By removals the member- 
ship has become still smaller, and is now quite 
limited. Rev. John Booker is the pastor. 

West Carli-sle, the only village in the township, 
lies a half mile from the northern line, near the 
center of section 2. It is one of the oldest villages 
in the county, having been laid out in August, 
1817. The proprietors were John Perkins and 
John McNabb. Perkins owned the southwest 
quarter of section 2, and McNabb the northwest 
quarter of the same section. The town was laid 
out on the line between the two quarter sections. 
The village was probably named by Perkins, who 
is said to have been from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
in honor of his old home. The original plat in- 
cluded thirty-four lots, but during the same year, 
1S17, each of the proprietors made a small addi- 
tion to the town. Further additions were made 
in 1831, by William Henderson, William Brown 
and Harmon Anderson. 

The leading character in the early history of 
West Carlisle was William Brown. He was born 
in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and spent his 
youth in the service of a merchant in St. Clairs- 
ville. He came to West Carlisle about 1822, with 
a small stock of goods, and soon after formed a 
partner.-^hip with a gentleman in Zanosville, and 
greatly increased his stock. He remained a res- 
ident of the village until 1S40, and during this 
time was closely identified with its best interests. 
■' His parents were from Germany, spelling the 
name Braun. Hi.s wife was Scotch-Irish. By 
the combination of the virtues of the two races, 
the Browns won for themselves great considera- 
tion in their neighborhood, and, though starting 
in their wedded life with very httle, amassed 
quite a respectable fortune. Mr. Brown was for 
many years a justice of the peace and postmaster, 
under Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson and Van 
Buren, although he was a very decided Adams 
and Clay man. He was an excellent horseman, 



and skilled in the use of the rifle, and these 
things helped him greatly in the state of society 
found in his day in the region of West Carlisle. 
In public movements and proper sports he was 
never lacking, and was often recognized as a 
leader, and made the object of a good deal of 
'backwoods homage,' and yet with all his activity 
in business and interest in the social life of the 
people, Mr. Brown is represented as having been 
a very earnest and faithful man in his religious 
duties. Family worship was on no excuse inter- 
mitted ; the Sabbath was sacredly regarded ; and 
when, as before and after a connnunion in the 
church, there was preaching, the store was shut, 
although he loved business, and avowed his inten- 
tion to give himself steadily to it, and to make 
money for his family. His house was the minis- 
ter's hold, and he was one of the most active 
members of the Presbyterian church from its or- 
ganization, contributing largely of his means to 
it. In 1840, he removed to Logansport, Indiana, 
and there died, March 4, 1859. One of the sons. 
William L. Brown, acting brigadier general of 
the Indiana infantry, was killed at the second 
battle of Bull Run. Three sons, J. C, Hugh A., 
and Frederick T., became Presbyterian ministers. 

Mr. Brown's was the first store. William Hen- 
derson was the first blacksmith. In 1833, there 
were two churches, three stores, one tavern, one 
physician, one tjinnery, two black.smith shops. 
two cabinet-makers, two hatters, one wagon, 
maker, one carpenter, two shoemaker and two 
tailor shops. The population then was 107. In 
1880, it was 1.54. 

A directory of the village, for 1881, would re- 
veal the following : Dry goods, L. F. Cheney and 
J. W. Almack; grocery, L. P. White; wagon 
shop, M. Baird & Son; saddlery, A. T. Pine; two 
blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one cabinet 
shop; carriage manufacturer, G. W. Cooper. 
This establishment gives employment to seven or 
eight workmen, and annually builds a large 
number of carriages and spring wagons. Drs. 
William Smith and James Edward are the resi- 
dent physicians. 

A Baptist church was built in the village about 
1845. William and John Dunlap, William 
Wright and Robert Cochran were leading mem- 
bers. Rev. Waldron was the first minister. 



594 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The society grew rapidly for a few years and as 
rapidly declined. About 1850, the building wa.s 
sold to William McFarland, who, with others- 
converted it into an academy, under the man- 
agement, at first, of Mr. Gilbert. It was after- 
ward purchased by the school board and is still 
used as a village school-house. It contains two 
rooms, both of which are occupied. 

West Carlisle, though small, is a stirring village. 
It is a live, business place and a trading center 
for many miles around. 



CHAPTER LXVI. 

TIVERTON TOWNSHIP. 

Name — Loontion — Streams— Physical Features— Abori^nal 
Remains— Johnny .\ppleseed — Early Settlers— Population — 
First School-Churches— Tiverton Center— Rochester. 

TIVERTON township was so-called from a 
township in Newport county, Rhode Island, 
whence a number of early settlers had emigrated. 
It was organized December 8, 1824, and then 
named Union. Previous to this time it had 
formed a part of Richland township, which is 
still the name of the adjoining township in 
Holmes county. The name Union did not prove 
satisfactory to the citizens of the township, for in 
March, 1825, it was changed by the county com- 
missioners to Tiverton. 

Geographically, it lies in the northwest corner 
of the county, and is bounded on the north by 
Holmes county, on the eust by Monroe township, 
on the south by New Castle town.ship and on the 
west by Union township, Knox county. 

The Mohican river traverses the southwestern 
portion of the township, entering from Knox 
county and crossing into New Castle township. 
Its course is through a deep and narrow ravine, 
which affords but little bottom lands. The small 
run which enters the river in lot 16 of the mili- 
tary section has been designated Spoon river. 
The small stream, a little above this, entering the 
river on lot 28, is called Folly run. Charles 
Ryan, who in early times lived near its mouth, 
once prepared the timber for a cabin near its 
banks, but for some inexplicable cause did not 



erect it. The hewed logs decayed on the site of 
the intended cabin, and the fact gave rise to this 
name. Wolf creek, in the northeast part of the 
township, flows northeasterly and enters Killbuck 
creek in Holmes county. In the southern part 
of the town.ship is Dutch run, named from the 
preponderating German element in this vicinity. 
The tallest and most precipitous hills skirt the 
channel of the Mohican. The land is also rough 
and hilly in the northern and southern j)arts, but 
in the central and eastern portions, and likewise 
to some extent in the north, the ridge lands be- 
come rolling, and in places almost level. Sand- 
stone is the prevailing surface rock, and the soil 
is principally clayey. The hills and valleys along 
the Mohican River were covered sixty years ago 
with a heavy growth of timber, comprising black 
oak, white oak, chestnut, beach, walnut, ash, elm, 
hickory, and indeed, almost without exception 
all kinds of forest growth indigenous to this 
climate. Large quantities of white pine timber 
were rafted, in early days, down the Mohican 
from the steep bluff's along the river. Tlie greater 
portion of the township was wooded, but exten- 
sive regions in the eastern and northern parts 
were covered when the first settlers arrived, with 
an underbrush of oak, so slight that a wagon could 
easily override it. This has now grown to thrifty 
young oaks, twelve or fifteen inches in diameter. 

The third section, or southwest quarter of the 
township, is a military .section, surveyed into 
forty 100-acre lots by Alexander Holmes, in 1808. 
The remainder of the township is congress land, 
surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. 

Traces of the aborigines are still discernable in 
one or two localities. On Mr. S. H. Draper's 
farm remains of a stone wall or embankment 
may be noticed extending across the top of the 
ridge which froats on the Mohican valley. It is 
probably eight rods in length and at one time 
was three or more feet in height. 

A circular earthen fortification, enclosing about 
three acres, stood on the northwest quarter of 
section 8, the old Borden place. On lot fifteen of 
the military section, near the Walhonding canal, 
was e\'idently a resort of the prehistoric race. 
Large quantities of flints, of all sizes and forms, 
stone axes, pestles, etc., have been found here. 
Near by was a circular depression in the ground, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



595 



about two rods in diameter, which was filled with 
fragmentiiry bones of human skeletons, mingled 
with coals and ashes, the whole being covered 
with about two feet of earth. The skeletons did 
not seem to be arranged in order, but, from ap- 
pearances, the bodies had been tumbled into the 
excavation without any regard to order. 

One of the nurseries of the famed Johnny 
Appleseed was located in Tiverton townsliip. It 
stood near the north line of lot 36, section 3, a 
short distance from the Mohican river. Tradition 
saith that it was about one acre in extent, and 
that in this space Johnny had planted three 
bushels of apple seeds. While tending this young 
nursery, he lodged at the house of John Butler, 
about a mile from the nurserj' and in Knox 
county. This was before 1807. The earliest 
orchards in this vicinity were from this nursery. 
Isaac Draper had one on the northwest quarter 
of section 15, and many pioneers from Knox 
county also had resource here in providing them- 
selves with early fruit trees. A single tree, the 
sole survivor of a once large orchard from this 
nursery, may still be seen on the farm of K. B. 
Cummings, lot 15, section 3. It measures about 
twelve feet in circumference and is much broken 
down. It blossoms every spring, but has not 
borne fruit for many years. 

Several settlers had entered this township prior 
to the war of 1812, but it was not till about 1816 
that a steady tide of emigration set in, which 
continued until all available land had been occu- 
pied. The earliest settlers were Virginians and 
New Englanders, the latter coming chiefly from 
the vicinity of Fall river, near the line between 
Mas.-<achusetts and Rhode Island, mostly from 
the Rhode Island side. 

Isaac Draper was the first settler in the town- 
ship, and for several years the only one. He was 
a Virginian, and in 1806 settled upon the north- 
west quarter of section 15, and soon after entered 
it. Mr. Draper remained a life-long resident of 
this place. He died and was buried in the town- 
ship. 

Tlie next settler, of whom anything is known, 
was William Humphrey, who came to this town- 
ship about 1812, from the vicinity of Fall river, 
Massachusetts. He was a brother to Squire Hum- 



phrey, a prominent pioneer of New Castle town- 
ship, and owned lots 19, 20 and 29, of section 3. 
He brought his family and goods through the 
wilderness on a litter, made by strapping poles 
to two horses, placed one in front of the other. 
The cabin which ho hastily put together for the 
shelter of his family, was without door, floor or 
chimney, and often at night wild-cats and coons 
would clamber over the roof and make night 
hideous with their squalling and screeching. 

Mr. Humphrey emigrated to his western home 
in time to be here drafted for service in the 
frontier army. His cabin was some distance 
from other settlements, and it is said that while 
out in the woods one day, he was accosted by an 
oflBeer, a stranger to him, come to summon the 
drafted men to service, who inquired of him the 
course to William Humphrey's cabin. Mr. Hum- 
phrey informed him and, suspecting his errand, 
passed further into the forest in the opposite 
direction. He saw no more of the officer and 
was not disturb any further. This is the nearest 
approach to early military service by the pio- 
neers of this township, of which any knowledge 
is had. Mr. Humphrey purused a farmer's life 
and died and was buried u])on the homo place. 

William Durban, a Marylander, was here in 
1812. He was a farmer, owned lots 15 aud 16, of 
section 3, and died in Rochester. 

Thomas Bordon settled on seventy acres in the 
northwest quarter of section 8, which he had 
l)urchased from Isaac Draper, soon after the 
close of the war of 1812. He was from Rhode 
Island, and had led a life on the ocean wave. 
Farming was his occupation here until his death. 
For a time, however, he kept a tavern on his 
home place. 

Stephen and Isaac Thatcher, two brothers, 
came about the same time and from the same 
place tliat Bordon did. Stephen had been the 
captiiin of a sailing craft, and entered the north- 
west quarter of section 3. Isa;ic was a house- 
joiner by trade, and followed this occujiation in 
connection with farming. He owned lot 39, of 
section 3. Both died and were buried in the 
township. 

Isaac Hart, another Rhode Islander, moved 
about 1818 to the northeast quarter of section 7. 
His occupation had been house joining, and the 



596 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



little leisure he could spare from clearing his 
land and raising crops was devoted to his trade. 
Mr. Hart at an early day made an attempt in 
the production of silk. A house for the silk- 
worni.s was built, and a long row of mulberry 
trees planted ; but tlie project failed. The house 
is still standing. The climate proved injurious 
to the health of his wife, and at her request he 
returned to Rhode Island. The name of Tiver- 
ton for this township is said to have been sug- 
gested and urged by Jlr. Hart until it was 
adopted. 

John Hyatt, in 1817, emigrated from the south 
branch of the Potomac, Virginia, to the north- 
west quarter of section 7. He was a farmer, and 
raised a large family of children. The most of 
these have removed to other places. One of his 
sons, Matthew Hyatt, is at thi.s writing still living 
in this township, and is one of its oldest resi- 
dents. 

John' Holt, from Virginia, about 1817, came to 
the northwest quarter of section 13. 

John Conner, who was born in Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania, moved from Virginia to the north- 
east quarter of section 6, in 1818, where he follow- 
ed farming up to the time of his death. His 
brother, James Conner, another early settler, 
moved to the west half of the northeast quarter 
of section 13. He afterward emigrated to Iowa, 
and there died. 

Abram Simmons and his son-in-law, Lemuel 
Church, who was a shoemaker, removed about 
1818, from Rhode Island to this township. 
Neither acquired much property, but both con- 
tinued to live here the remainder of their lives. 

Charles Ryan was an early settler, who located 
lot 28 of the third section. He was a singular 
character, fond of hunting, careless about his af- 
fairs, and consequently always indebted to his 
neighbors. He rarely possessed much ready 
money, and during harvest and other busy sea- 
sons his services were in much demand by his 
creditors. It was not unusual for him to promise 
to labor for five or six men on a day, and when 
the time arrived to .-^pcnd it in hunting and dis- 
appoint them all. When questioned about this 
reprehensible conduct, his reply was that he did 
not wish to see his neighbors leave his presence 
feeling down-hearted, and that in consequence he 



felt constrained to promise them his as.sistance. 
Mr. Ryan finallj- moved West. 

The above mentioned settlers include all the 
resident tax-payers of Tiverton township for 1822, 
as indicated by the t;ix duplicate for that year. 
Four years later, the following were additional 
tax-paying residenls of the township, and as five 
years must intervene between the time land is 
entered and the time it becomes taxable, it is 
probable that the greater number of these had 
located in the township as early as 1820. 

Levi Beaty emigrated from Virginia to this 
county, and at first leased a tract of land from Mrs. 
Hull, of New Castle township. He soon after en- 
tered and removed to the east half of the south- 
east quarter of section 13. 

Daniel Brenaman.in 1826, owned lot 28, section 
3, tlie Ryan lot. George Baker, a Pennsylvanian, 
had purchased it from Mr. Ryan, and he and his 
son Peter successively lived here a few years, then 
removed to Knox county. Mr. Brenaman pur- 
chased it from Baker, but did not occupy the 
place for many years. He sold it and also re- 
moved to Knox county. 

George Cummins, of Fauquier county, Vir- 
ginia, emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 
1815, and soon thereafter to Knox county. Some 
time later he came to this township, where he 
continued to live up to the time of his death. Of 
his three sons, Eli and Ludwell went west and 
Kidder B., now in his seventy-ninth year, still 
has possession of the old home place, lot 15 and a 
fraction of 16, section 3. 

Henry Miller was left an orphan when a small 
child, and was reared to manhood in the State of 
Maryland, ^^'hile yet a young man he came 
west,and worked from place to place until he ac- 
cumulated means sufficient to enter the west half 
of the southeast quarter of section 13. He mar- 
ried, and spent the remainder of his life on this 
place. 

George Metcalf, who had married a daughter 
of John Hyatt, lived with his father-in-law a 
while, then removed to Sullivan county, Indiana. 

John Winslow, in the spring of 1820, came to 
this township from near Fall River, Bristol coun- 
ty, Massachusetts. For a few years he engaged 
in "cropping" for Stephen Thatcher, then en- 
tered the west half of the southeast quarter of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



597 



section 3. He continued fannini;, and died upon 
this place in the autumn of 1880, in the eighty- 
first year of his age. 

Joseph Walker entered the southeast quarter 
of section 7. He was from Pennsylvania, a cooper 
by trade and pursued farming and coopering to- 
gether. He remained a life-long citizen of the 
township. 

Abraham Workman, from Maryland, settled in 
section G and continued there, engaged in farm- 
ing, until his death. 

George Titus at a very early day opened a 
blacksmith shop on the Cummings place. He re- 
mained only a few years and owned no real es- 
tate here. 

It is notable that almost all the pioneer names 
of this township arc still represented here. There 
has been no noticeable change in nationality 
since the first settlement, except that the south- 
eastern portion of the township has been settled 
almost exclusively by Germans in small farms of 
from forty to eight}- acres each. Many of them 
were laborers on the Walhonding canal and from 
their earnings saved sufficient to enter a small 
homestead. 

The population of Tiverton to^vniship in 1830 
was 237; in 1840, 66.5; in 1850, S42; in 1860, 880; 
in 1870, 804; and in 1880 it reached 940. 

The first school in the township was taught 
about 1816 by Mrs. Stephen Thatcher in a school 
cabin which had been built on Mr. Thatcher's 
place, lot 39. The school was small and not kept 
up very long. A few years later another was started 
on Joseph Walker's farm, southeast quarter of 
section 7. John Johnson, a young man from the 
Clear Fork, taught the school. Orin Lane, from 
Knox county, and Alexander Campbell succeeded 
him. The latter was an Irishman, proficient in 
the languages, and a strict disciplinarian. He re- 
ceived as wages twelve dollars per month. A log 
cabin was built in section 7 by the .settlers in the 
vicinity, which for many years served the double 
purpose of school-house and church. "Pap" 
William Purdy, who was a Baptist, preached 
here. Many of the earliest settlers were Baptists 
in religious belief when they emigrated to this 
township and services were held with greater or 
Jess regularity from their date of settlement. 



They were known !is"old school Baptists," and 
.among their number were Isaac Hart, James 
Conner, John Holt, Levi Beaty and George Miller. 

Tiverton Regular Baptist church, as now con- 
stituted, was organized in 1841. Of its early 
membership were James and Abram Workman, 
Cyrus and Hannah Hyatt, Hannah Workman 
and Solomon Conner and wife. Elders J. M. 
Winn and H. Sampson assisted in its formation. 
Until about 18.50, the meetings were held in the 
school-house. A strong and capacious frame house 
of worship was then erected on the northeast 
quarter of section 6. It is capable of seating 
500 people, and is still in service. In 1854, there 
were about fifty members and in 1860, over 100. 
Since then the number has decreased to about 
seventy. The ni'nisters who have labored with 
this 'church as pastors are as follows : L. Gil- 
bert, R. R. Whittaker, R. M, Lockhart, B. M. 
Morrison, A. W. Arnold and S. W. Frederick' 
Elder Hall is the present pastor. A Sunday- 
school of long continuance is still in active ope- 
ration. 

A Disciple church is situated almost a half 
mile north of Tiverton Center. The congrega- 
tion is the strongest body of this denomination in 
the county, its present membership amounting 
to about 150. Rev. J. W. Finley has recently 
been elected pastor, succeeding John F. Rowe. 
The present church building is a handsome edi- 
fice, erected in 1876, at a cost of $2,000. It is 
thirty-four by forty-six feet in size, and is sur- 
mounted by tower and bell. Its windows are of 
stained glass, and the interior is wainscoted with 
walnut and ash. The building was dedicated in 
November, 1876, by Rev William Dowling, then 
of Kenton, Ohio. The old church stood on the 
opposite side of the road, and had been erected 
about forty years, serving as the house of wor- 
ship until the present church was built. Lem- 
uel Church and wife, John Bailey and wife, 
Beneely Purdy and wife and Matthew Hyatt and 
wife, were some of the earliest members. The 
society was organized more than forty years ago, 
the first services being held at the house of Lemuel 
Church. 

A Sundaj'-school was organized about 1850, 



598 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



with Samuel Stringfellow as first superintendent 
and a membership of about thirty-five. School 
has been held every summer since, and now has 
an average attendance of seventy-five. 

Chestnut Ridge Baptist church was organized 
in the school-house west of 'the river in 1873, 
with about twenty members, among whom were 
John Spurgeon, Abraham Hyatt, Jeremiah and 
Alexander Harding and Jacob McClain. Soon 
after a church was built in Knox county and the 
society now properly belongs to that county. 

In 1874 or 187-'), a " Union Christian " society 
was organized in the same scliool-house with a 
small membership, and with Frank Cummings 
as pastor. Its endeavor to affiliate under one 
organization the beliefs of diverse sects proved 
unsuccessful, and in a few years the bonds of 
union were dissolved, and the membership re- 
solved to its original component parts. 

In the southeastern part of the township, on 
the northwest quarter of section 21, stands a 
German Reform Church. The society was or- 
ganized about forty years ago by Rev. Baety. 
The principal original members were John Bauer, 
Philip Wagner, George Cly, John Rees, J. Craft, 
J. Shear and Frederick Fry. The early meetings 
were held in private houses. In 1840, a church 
was built at a cost of $300. The present frame 
structure was erected in 1867 at a cost of 11,200. 
Of the pastors of this church may be mentioned 
F. Hunche, who served nineteen years ; J. Goekler. 
three years; H. Wolf man, three years; J. Lud- 
wig, three years, and J. Biery, the present pastor, 
six years. The membership is now about 100. 
A Sunday-school was organized about 1850. It 
now has a membership of about fifty, and is 
superintended by Lewis Fisher. 

There is no village in this township. At the 
center of the township, known as Tiverton Cen- 
ter, is a store, a blacksmith shop and half a dozen 
houses. The store is owned by Ed. Day. Benja- 
min Purdy started the first store at this place, 
and those who followed, him in mercantile busi- 
ness were George and Samuel Stringfellow, John 
Trimble, Thatcher & Newell, Newell & Brother, 



then Mr. Day. The postoffice called Yankee 
Ridge is kept in the store. It is the only one in 
the townshijj. The mail is bi-weekly, the office 
being on the route between Niishville and Wal- 
honding. 

In lots 39 and 40, east of the river, arc a few 
dilapidated structures, most of them uninhabited, 
which mark the site of a once flourishing little 
village. Rochester was laid out in January, 
1833, by Isaac Thatcher and Isaac Draper. The 
plat consisted of forty-four lots, and small addi- 
tions were made in 1839 and in 1842, by Mr. 
Thatcher. Messrs. Thatcher & Draper had built 
a saw and grist-mill here before the town was 
laid out. A dam had been built across the Mo- 
hican, and three rim of buhrs were operated in 
the grist-mill. It remained in their possession 
eight or ten years, and the subsequent owners 
have been Thatcher & Lambaugh (Henry), 
Thatcher & Greer (John), John Greer, Silas 
& Mark Greer, William Conner, and George 
Jordon, who resold to Mr. Conner. It remained 
in his possession until his death, about three 
years ago, and soon after the mill was bin-ned.. 
It has not been rebuilt, but a little saw-mill has 
been erected on the site. 

William Critchfield built the first house in the 
plat. It was a small, rude, log affair, but he soon 
after erected a frame building and kept tavern 
in it. S. H. Draper sold the first goods here, be- 
ginning about 1835, and continued five or six 
years. There have since been as many as three 
stores in operation at one time. The construc- 
tion of the Walhonding canal gave an impetus 
to the little village, which presaged a prosperous 
future, but the failure to extend the canal mili- 
tated against much commercial glory and emi- 
nence. The terminus of the canal is about a mile 
below Rochester. A dam is here constructed 
across the river, and the slack-water navagation 
as far as Rochester made practicable. 

Soon after the canal was finished, a large ware- 
house was built by Isaac Tliatcher and James 
Clement. A large amount of grain was handled 
here for a few years, but from some unknown 
cause the business was permitted to decline. 

The first postmaster was Dr. Singer, who was 
also the first resident physician of the place. 
William Oldroyd, Samuel Thatcher and William 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



599 



Conner afterwaril kept the oflice in turn. It was 
then held by Henry Borden about two and one- 
half miles north of Rochester, and a year later, 
in 18G1, it was removed to the Center. 

Tiie population of Rochester, in 1840, was 111. 
This w;is before the completion of the canal. At 
one time there were here two hotels, three stores, 
two blacksmith shops, one mill, one ware house, 
one tannery, a wagon maker, a cabinet maker 
and a tailor, but none of these now remain. The 
village has almost passed the period of decadence 
and will soon pass into oblivion. The Cleveland 
and Mt, Vernon railro.ad, which is only four miles 
north, has attracted to the villages on its route 
the trade in this vicinity. 

A small saw mill was operated for a few years, 
in early times on Folly run by William Smith. 
Bradford Borden, son of Thomas Borden, about 
1837 opened a little distillery on his father's place, 
but continued its operation for a few years only. 



CHAPTER LXVII. 

TUSCARAWAS TOWNSHIP. 

Boundaries— Soil— Railroad and Canal— Military Sections- 
Early Settlements— Fulton's Mill— Early Milling— Indian 
History — Bouquet's Expedition — Indian Towns— Burial 
Ground— Mounds— Murder of the Indian, rhiUips— Min- 
ing, its Development in the Township— Canal Lewis- 
vlUe— Churches. 

TUSCARAWAS township, in extent, is the 
smallest civil subdivision of Coshocton coun- 
ty, embracing that portion of range 6, township 
5, which lies east'of the Muskingum and Wal- 
honding rivers. In its original boundaries at the 
formation of the county, it included nearly the 
entire northern portion of the county. By the 
successive organization of new townships, this 
large territory was gradually separated from it, 
and in 1835, by the formation of Lafayette town- 
ship, it reached its present limit,s. In 1S3G, that 
part of range 6, township 5, which lies west of 
the Muskingum, was taken from Jackson, and 
re-annexed to Tuscarawas township. This ar- 
rangement becoming unsatisfactory, particularly 
to the people of Roseoe, the re-anncxed portion 
was soon restored to Jackson township, and its 
boundaries have since remained undisturbed. 



The township is particularly rich in fertile, 
river bottom lands. The wide valley of the Mus- 
kingum for a few miles from its formation, lies 
wholly upon the eastern side of the river, that is, 
in this township, while the valley of the Wal- 
honding and Tuscarawas embrace nearly the 
whole of the northern part of the township. Al- 
together, the level lands amount to more than 
one-half its territory, and this makes it probably 
the best township in the county for agricultural 
purposes. 

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis rail- 
road enters from Franklin township on the 
south, and extends northward in an unbending 
course to Coshocton, thence it follows the mean- 
derings of the Tuscarawas eastward into La- 
fayette township. The Ohio canal crosses the 
Walhonding by an aqueduct from Jackson town- 
ship, and winds through the northern part of the 
township, north of the Tuscarawas, dipping 
once or twice into Keene, until it reaches La- 
fayette. 

The entire town.ship consists of military land. 
The first, second, third and fourth quarters of 
township 5, range 6, respectively, are known as 
the Price, Backus, Bowman and Denman sec- 
tions. Immediately after the military lands, to 
which Coshocton county belongs, were set apart 
by congress and surveyed, the rush for locations 
was so great by those who held warrants for 
land, that priority of selection must be deter- 
mined, and a public drawing by lot was held at 
Philadelphia. Mr. Cass, the father of Hon. Lewis 
Cass, drew the first choice, and Elijah Backus, a 
resident of Marietta, the ^second. Ebenezer 
Buckingham and John JNIatthews, both of whom 
were practical surveyors, were emjiloyed by both 
Cass and Backus to make the locations. The 
surveyors inquired of the proprietors for what 
purposes they wanted the land, and Cass replying 
that he desired land for agriculture only, the 
section at the mouth of Tomica creek in the 
northern edge of Muskingum county, was se- 
lected as the most desirable for this purpose. 
]\Ir. Backus wished a site for a town, and the 
second section or northwest quarter of range 6, 
townships, at the forks of the Muskingum, was 
selected as the best location which the district 
afForded. Buckingham and Matthews became 



«00 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



interested in this section as tenants in common, 
and afterward laid out Tuscarawa, later, Coshoc- 
ton, on an extended scale. The greater part of 
this section lies west of the Muskingum and 
Walhonding rivers. 

The first section, or northeast quarter, lies 
wholly in this township. The patent for it was 
granted by President Adams, to Benjamin Mor- 
gan and Chandler Price, merchants of Philadel- 
phia, as tenents in common, April 1-5, 1800. Two 
days later Morgan disposed of his moiety to Price 
for $1,000. October 25, 180O, Mr. Price sold John 
Matthews 180 acres, and in March, 1812, deeded 
Philip Waggoner 240 acres. The residue was re- 
tained and disposed of in tdu to William Hul- 
ings in 1824, and five years later he deeded it to 
E. Butler Price. In 1831, Mr. Price began to sell 
it in lots, and in a few years it was mostly sold. 
The section was surveyed into sixteen lots of 
nearly equal size. 

Matthias Denman was the original projirietor 
■of the 4th .section of the southeast quarter of the 
township, though the date of his patent does 
not seem to be on record. He was a resident of 
Springfield, Essex county. New Jersey, owned 
the two other military sections in this county, 
and was also proprietor of a tract of land upon 
which Cincinnati is now built. He did not be- 
come a resident of Coshocton county, but his 
•children and grand-children settled here, and 
still occupy portions of their ancestor's posses- 
sions. 

The first conveyance on record of the 3d sec- 
tion or southwest quarter of the township, most 
of which lies in Jackson township, is a deed from 
Martin Baum, of Hamilton county, to Jesse Ful- 
ton, for 455 acres, lying west of the Muskingum. 
A little later, November 5, 1802, the residue of 
the section was conveyed by Mr. Baum to Jacob 
Bowman. 

The owners of these sections of land were dis- 
posed to withhold them from the market until, 
by the occupation of the surrounding country, 
their value would be considerably enhanced, and 
accordingly the settlement of this township was 
very slow. Mo4 of the earliest occupants were 
either squatters or lessees, who remained but a 
short time and left little or no trace of their set- 
tlement here. The few early permanent settle- 



ments that were formed, were made usually on 
location lots, the land received by the surveyors 
in return for their services in locating the sec- 
tions for the proprietors. The location lots were 
usually sold as soon as a purchaser appeared for 
them. 

One of the first settlements in the county, and 
probably the first permanent one in this town- 
ship outside the limits of Coshocton, was made 
by the Fultons about one and one-half miles 
south of Coshocton, about 1803 or 1804. They 
were three brothers, Jesse, John and Samuel. 
Matthew Denman sold to John Fulton, Novem- 
ber 13, 1801, 640 acres, a tract one mile square 
off the western part of his section, and soon after 
he settled upon it. Just west of this was the tract 
purchased by Jesse Fulton from Martin Baum. 
Part of it Mr. Fulton sold to his brother Samuel. 
The latter died in the township during or before 
the war of 1812. John died of cold plague in 1815. 
Jesse, who was known as Judge Fulton, remained 
in the township for a while and then removed to 
Linton township, where he operated the salt 
works on his place in connection with farming. 
He was an enterprising and prominent pioneer 
and a man of very decided character. 

The Cantwells about the same time settled just 
north of the Fultons on the Denman section. 
They were lessees only but remained several 
years. They were Nathaniel, John, William, 
James and Jacob, and several sisters. William 
was the post boy, who was shot from his horse in 
1825 just across the Tuscarawas county line, 
while carrying the mail. Some of the family 
moved west; the others died in this county. 

John Mitchell, a Pennsylvanian, who had mar- 
ried a sister of the Fultons, settled on the north 
part of lot 8, Bowman section, about the time 
the Fultons came. He was one of the first asso- 
ciate judges of the county. 

Benjamin Fry, who emigrated from Red Stone, 
Pennsylvania, in 1808, purchased land just south 
of Mitchell. His house occupied the site of 
Samuel Moore's present residence, and in it he 
kept for sale a small stock of goods. In 1810, he 
removed across the river and there operated a 
small distillery for a short time, then moved to 
Fry's Ford, in Bethlehem township. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



GOl 



The Fry farm, of 262 acres, belonging to the 
location lot of the Bowman section, was sold in 1810 
to William Moore, then of Muskingum county. 
His sons, Charles and Elijah, both unmarried, oc- 
oui>icd the place until 1814, when they returned 
to Muskingum county and a third son, John D. 
Moore, took possession of it. He was originally 
from near Pennington, New Jersey, and was 
a tailor by trade. In 1802 he went to Cincinnati, 
and for a few years worked at his trade succes- 
sively in the then small villages of Cincinnati, 
Marietta, Chillicothe, Circleville and Zanesville, 
carrying his goose and bodkin with him from 
place to place. He then came to Coshocton, and, 
in 1810, married Mary M. Miller, daughter of 
George Miller, of Lafayette town,><hip. In 1812, 
he was working at his trade in Coshocton with 
Mr. Neif, and living at the northeast corner of 
Main and Fourth streets. He was deputy sherifl' 
for C. Van Kirk, his brother-in-law, the first 
sherifTof Coshocton county. He was also a cor- 
poral in Captiiin Johnson's company, and served 
a few months in the war. After his removal to 
the country in 1814, he engaged in farming and 
tailoring. 

When the cold plague broke out with severity 
in 1815, he was one of the very few who had the 
courage to visit and minister to the wants of his 
sick and dying neighbors. Mr. Moore died in 
December, 1824. Of his five children, four died 
in infancy or youth. The remaining son, Samuel 
Moore, still has possession and resides at the old 
homestead. 

John Noble, from Brownsville, Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, about 1814, settled ujion the north 
part of lot 9, Bowman section. He died a few 
years later. About the same time John Ostler, 
also from Pennsylvania, leased in this vicinity. 
He lost several children by the ravages of cold 
jilague, and so<jn after purchased and removed to 
lot 10, of the Denman section. 

Isaixc Masters was an early tenant on lot 7, Bow- 
man section. He was from Brownsville, Penn- 
sylvania; honest and straightforward in conduct, 
but coidd work better for the material interests 
of others than his own. He died in 1822. Wil- 
liam Booklass and a Mr. Baird were other early 
tenants near by. 

In tiie northern part of the townshij) Isaac 



Workman and David Waggoner were among 
the early settlers. The latter, in 1822, moved 
from O.xford township to the tract which his 
father, Philip Waggoner, purchased ten years be- 
fore from Mr. Price. He was born in 17'JC, and 
is at this writing one of the few remaining pio- 
neers. In 1822, the land he moved upon was 
still a dense, unbroken wilderness, as was almost 
the entire northern part of the township. A few 
squatters had come, built rude, small cabins, and 
departed, but no permanent settlement had been 
made in this portion of the townshi]i. , 

A ferry was kept about two miles below town 
in an early day by John Noble, and afterward by 
Benjamin Fry. The road to Coshocton, east of 
the river, was much bettor than the one on the 
other side, and the ferry was ct)nsequently ad- 
vantageous to the southern settlers. It was 
maintained only a few years. 

For some time after the first settlement was 
made, there was no wheat flour to be had unless 
it came from a distance, and no corn meal except 
such as could be made in a hominy mortar. It was 
quite an event when the Fultons arrived, for they 
brought with them a small hand-mill, such as 
was common in the pioneer settlements of the 
West. Grinding frolics, after night, were common 
among the young folks, each one carrying home 
a few quarts of meal as the fruits of their labor. 
The first mill in the county was made with these 
millstones. The date of its erection is not known, 
but it was previous to 1811. The mill was situ- 
ated on that part of the old Rickett's farm, now 
owned by Seth McClain. It stood in the hollow, 
just below, and close to, the road south of the 
fair grounds, and about thirty rods .south of Mr. 
McClain's stable. It was fed by Flint run and 
the water of a fine spring. The power con- 
sisted of a huge overshot wheel, exceeding 
twenty feet in diameter, which, however, turned 
exceedingly slow. Nothing but corn was ground 
in the mill, and very little of it. The mill was 
designed only to meet the wants of the imme- 
diate neighborhood in which it was located, and 
was operated only a few years. The sujijily of 
water power was insufficient to render it availa- 
ble to any extent, and it never rei)aid the cost of 
its erection. 



602 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



The early settlers often went to Zanesville to 
mill in canoes. The only mill there for some 
time is said to have been a kind of floating mill, 
tied by a grape-vine to the river bank, and turned 
by the current of the stream. Such mills were 
common in early days, and did good service in 
those necessitous times. After a while Colonel 
Williams erected a horse mill in Coshocton, as 
mentioned elsewhere, the machinery of which, 
after doing good service here for a time, was re- 
moved to a new mill on Cantwell's run, across 
the river. These were the only two mills in 
Tuscarawas township, except those afterward 
built in Coshocton. It is said that the first wheat 
ground in the county was ground on a coflfee- 
mill belonging to Mrs. Williams, and sifted 
through a piece of linen. The salt used by the 
early settlers was brought from Taylorsville on 
horseback, and was often $^8 per bushel, a cow 
being sometimes exchanged for a single bushel 
of salt. The dresses of the women were for the 
most part made of home-manufactured linsey, 
and the wearing apparel of the men was of the 
same, or of buckskin. 

It would be a difficult matter to find another 
tract of equal extent with Tuscarawas township, 
in this portion of the State, that marks the site of 
so many and so varied scenes of Indian history. 
Many of these, unfortunately, have faded from 
the knowledge of men beyond recall. The ear- 
liest visitation of its territory by white men, of 
whom a record is preserved, was in the winter of 
1751, when Christopher Gist, an agent of the 
Ohio company, remained a month in a village 
of the Wyandot's called in Hutchin's map, "Old 
Wyandot Town." It was situated on the Tuscara- 
was, several miles from the forks of that and the 
Walhonding rivers, in all probability at or near 
the site of Canal Lewisville. On Christmas day, 
1761, Mr. Gist read the English service here, and 
delivered a discourse to the Indians, which was 
well received. The next day a woman, who had 
attempted to escape from captivity, and had been 
retaken, was put to death in a very cruel man- 
ner. Mr. Gist found here one Thomas Burney, 
a blacksmith, who had settled here. George 
Croghan, an English trader, afterward deputy In- 
dian agent to Sir William Johnson, Andrew 
Montour, a half-breed, and other white men. 



The place of General Bouquet's encampment 
was on the highland, about a mile north from the 
mouth of the Walhonding. Its location is gen- 
erally supposed to have been at the foot of John- 
son's, formerly Salliard's, hill. What were prob- 
ably remains of the encampment, existed here as 
late as 1850. Four redoubtjs were built here op- 
posite to the four angles of the camji. The 
ground in front of the camp, to the north, was 
cleared, a store-house for the provisions erected, 
and also one in which to receive the Indians. 
Three houses, with separate apartments for the 
captives, were built, and with the officers' mess- 
houses, ovens, etc., this camp had the appearance 
of a little town. 

Here 1,500 men were encamped from October 
25, to November 18, 1764, and during the time 
206 Indian captives were delivered to them. The 
ancestors of some of the present citizens of the 
county were among the prisoners restored. 
Among the rest, were six children, four brothers 
and two sisters, belonging to one family. They 
had been taken captive in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, together with a brother who was 
never restored, and a mother and an infant child 
who were killed. On their return to Fort Pitt, 
they were recognized by the bereaved father, who 
for seven years knew nothing of their fate. 
Among them was Ehoda Boyd, the youngest of 
the sisters,and fourteen years old at the time she 
was restored, the grand-mother of Smiley Har- 
baugh, who was a life-long resident of Coshoc- 
ton. Some of the soldiers, too, who served in 
this campaign were delighted with the country, 
and afterward returned and settled here. Among 
them was the father of George Beaver, of Keene 
town.ship. 

Connected with General Bouquet's expedition 
was an assistant engineer, Thomas Hutchins, who 
projected a map of the country passed over, and 
laid down upon it the most important Indian 
towns in this vicinity. Besides " Old Wyandot 
Town," there were in this township two others, 
"A Delaware Town," occupying the site of Co- 
shocton, and " Bullets Town," situated some dis- 
tance below Coshocton, and represented on the 
map as lying on both sides of the river. Its ex- 
act locality is not known, but it was probably in 
the vicinity of Lichtenau, two miles south of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



603 



Coshocton. This latter was a Moravian village. 
The town was laid oft' in the form of a cross, 
one street stretching along the bank of the 
river. It was in the vicinity of the larger 
mound, standing near the road, several miles 
south of Coshocton, and other remains of the 
Mound Builders. C. H. Mitchener, in his "Ohio 
Annals," gives the following account of an ex- 
extensive burial ground at this place : 

"Zeisberger settled Lichlenau, in 177G, and he 
was attracted to the spot from the numerous 
evidences as an ancient race having been buried 
there, more civilized than the Indians of this day. 
The missionaries have left but meager details of 
what they there found, but enough to clearly 
})rove that the inhabitants understood the use of 
the ax, the making of pottery and division of 
areas of land into squares, etc. In a large grave- 
yard, which covered many acres, human bones 
or skeletons were found, less in stature than the 
average Indian by a foot and a half. They were 
regularly buried in rows, heads west and feet 
■ east, as indicated by the enameled teeth in pres- 
ervation, so that the disembodied spirits, on com- 
ing out of the graves, would first see the rising 
sun and make their proper devotional gestures 
to their great Spirit or God. From approximate 
measurement this graveyard is said to have con- 
tained ten acres, and has long since been plowed 
up and turned into corntields The race of beings 
buried there averaged four feet in height, judging 
from the size of the graves and layers of ashes. 
Estimating that twenty bodies could be buried in 
a square rod, this human sepulcher, if full, would 
have contained over 30,000 bodies, and the ordi- 
nary time required to till such a graveyard would 
not be less than 500 years, in a city the size of 
Coshocton of the present day, assuming that the 
generations average thirty-three years of life. 
One skeleton dug up from this graveyard is said 
to have measured five and one-half Icct, and the 
skull to have been perforated by a bullet. The 
body had been dismembered, and iron nails and 
a decayed piece of oak were found in the grave. 

On the farm of a Mr Long, about fifteen miles 
southwest of St. Louis, was found, many years 
ago, an ancient burying ground, containing a 
vast number of small graves, indicating that the 
coimtry around had once been the seat of a great 
population of human beings, of less than ordin- 
ary size, similar in every respect to those found 
near Coshocton. But on opening the graves they 
found the skeletons deposited in stone coffins, 
while those at Coshocton bore evidence of having 
been buried in wooden coffins. . After opening 
many of the graves, all having in them skeletons 
of a pigmy race, they at length found one, as at 
Coshocton, denoting a fully developed, large sized 



man, except in length, the legs having been cut 
off at the knees, and placed along side the thigh 
bones. From this fact many scientific men con- 
jectured that there must have been a custom 
among the inhabitants of separating the bones of 
the body before burial, and that accounted for 
the small size of the graves. The skeletons, how- 
ever, were reduced to white chalky ashes, and 
therefore it was impossible to determine whether 
such a custom existed or not. 

A custom is said to have existed among cer- 
tain tribes of the Western Indians to keep their 
dead unburied until the flesh separated from the 
bones, and when the bones became clean and 
white, they were buried in small coffins. The 
Nanticoke Indians of Maryland, had a custom of 
exhuming their dead, after some months of bu- 
rial, cutting off' from the bones all the flesh and 
burning it, then drying and wrapping the bones 
in clean cloths, and reburying them, and when- 
ever the tribe removed to new hunting grounds, 
the bones of their dead were taken along. It is 
known that this tribe removed to Western Penn- 
sylvania, and portions of them came to the Mus- 
kingum valley with the Shawanese. Zeisberger 
had two Nanticoke converts at Schoenbrunn, and 
one of whom (named Samuel Nanticoke) af- 
firmed — as tradition goes — that this pigmy grave- 
yard at Lichtenau, was their burying ground, 
and contained the bones of their ancestors, car- 
ried from one place to another for many genera- 
tions, and found a final resting place in these 
valleys, when their posterity became too weak, 
from wastage of war to remove them elsewhere. 

Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, contains 
the following account of this burying ground: 

A short distance below Coshocton, says Dr. 
Hildreth in Silliman's journal, on one of those 
elevated, gravelly alluvians, .so common on the 
rivers of the west, has been recently discovered 
a very singular ancient burying ground. From 
what remains of wood still (1835) apparent in the 
earth around the bones, the bodies seem all to 
have been deposited in coffins; and what is still 
more curious, is the fact that the bodies buried 
here were generally not more than from three to 
four and a half feet in length. They are very 
numerous and must have been tenants of a con- 
siderable city, or their numbers could not have 
been so great. A large number of graves have 
been opened, the inmates of which are all of this 
pigmy race. No metallic articles or utensils have 
yet been found to throw any light on the period 
or nation to which they belonged. Similar bury- 
ing grounds have been found in Tennessee and 
near St. Louis. 

We learn orally from another source that this 
burying ground covered in 1830 about ten acres. 
The graves were arranged in regular rows, with 



604 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



avenues between, anil the heads of all were placed 
to the west and the feet to the east. 

In one of them was a skeleton with pieces of 
oak boards and iron wrought nails. The corpse 
had evidently been dismembered before burial 
as the skull was found among the bones of the 
pelvis, and other bones were displaced. The 
skull itself was triangular in shape, much flat- 
tened at the sides and back, and in the posterior 
part having an orifice, eNddently made by some 
weapon of war, or bullet. In 1830 dwarf oaks of 
many years growth were over several of these 
graves." The graveyard has since been plowed 
over. Nothing was known of its origin by the 
early settlers. Below the graveyard is a beautiful 
mound. 

That this burial ground belonged, in part, at 
least, to the Moravian mission at Lichtenau, is 
highly probable. It was so identified by a Mora- 
vian minister from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who 
visited Coshocton. His judgment in regard to 
the matter is entitled to some weight, as he is 
wholly familiar with the customs of the Mora- 
vians, and had in his possession some of the 
manuscript notes of this mission. 

The Moravians do not bury in family groups, 
but according to age and sex. The old men are 
buried by themselves, the old women, young men, 
and young women, all in regular rows by them- 
selves. The part of the graveyard e.xposed may 
have been the part where the children were 
buried, a fact which would explain the uniform 
shortness of the graves. The Moravians in Beth- 
lehem, Pennsylvania, still bury in this way. 

The graveyard was just west of the railroad and 
south of the lane leading east from Samuel 
Moore's residence. The mound, previously al- 
luded to, is about three-fourths of a mile south of 
this, and is the largest found in Coshocton 
county. It is of conical form, twenty-five or 
thirty feet in height, and about eighty feet in 
diameter at the base. It is covered by a few 
trees, and has never been excavated. B}- a recent 
change in the river road a portion of one side has 
been cut down. Close to this mound, in early 
days were two others of lesser dimensions, one 
probably ten feet high, the other still smaller ; 
both, however, have now disappeared from view 
under the oft repeated cultivation of their soil. 

Another mound of considerable size, formerly 
stood in Coshocton, near the residence of Mrs. 
Hutchinson, corner of Fourth and Locust streets. 



The Indians frequented the hunting grounds 
of the township in numbers up to the time of the 
breaking out of the war of 1812, and visited 
Coshocton as a trading post from miles around. 
Difliculties sometimes arose, but led to nothing 
more serious than an occasional fight. An Indian 
murder, however, occurred several miles from 
Coshocton, of which Mr. Calhoun gives the fol- 
lowing occount : 

At an early period in the history of Coshocton 
occurred the aggravated murder of the Indian, 
Phillips, by another Indian, called Johnson. The 
locality of this bloody deed was a few miles east 
of Coshocton, on the old Massillon road, on what 
has since been called Phillips' Hill. Such con- 
tradictory statements are given of the whole 
afliiir, that we dare not follow any of them, and 
shall content ourselves with enumerating some of 
the contradictions which arc current. According 
to some, the murder originated in an old grudge of 
Johnson's against Phillips; according to others, 
they were out hunting bear, on Rocky run, and, 
having killed one, quarreled about dividing i^. 
Phillips ran, pursued by Johnson, until he came 
to the hill, where he was overtaken and killed. 
According to another account, they were out 
cutting a bee tree, and, getting into a quarrel, 
Johnson killed Phillips. According to others, 
Johnson spent the night previous to this murder 
at Phillips' camp, to the east of the hill which 
now bears his name. In the morning they started 
to come to town together, and the deed was 
done on the way. By some it is said to have 
happened in the fall, by others in the dead of 
wnter; by some in 1807, by others in 1803. 
There can be no doubt that Phillips was mur- 
dered, and was buried somewhere in Coshocton ; 
but no two persons agree in the place. There is 
much diflerence of opinion, also as to the man- 
ner of his burial, some affirming that he was 
buried after the Indian mode, with tomahawk 
and scalping knife, and tobacco, others denying 
it altogether. It is also affirmed and denied that 
his wife walked three times round his grave, but 
the fourth time round, she stumbled and fell, 
and that she only lived three years after. Tlie 
murderer is also said to have wiped his bloody 
hands on a tree which stood near the place where 
Phillips fell, and though the deed was done on 
the 21st of December, and it wa.s exceedingly 
cold, yet the blood was not frozen on Christmas 
morning. 

Tuscarawas is a mining as well as an agricul- 
tural township, there being at present several 
large exporting companies operating here, be- 
sides a large number of mines, which are worked 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



605- 



chiefly for home consumption. A vein of coal 
very regular in thickness, from three feet eight 
inches to three feet ten inches, underlies nearly 
the whole township, and lias proved to be of ex- 
cellent quality. In early pioneer times the 
method of jirocuring the coal was by stripping; 
that is, removing all overlying strata first. This 
was of course very laborious, and could be re- 
sorted to only when the coal was near the sur- 
face. As early as 1820, John Knoff was engaged 
in e.xtracting the coal in this way near Coshoc- 
ton, and supplying the then exceedingly limited 
demand for this article. 

The earliest mine of which any knowledge is 
had was in operation at " Hardscrabble " in 1833, 
on the land then belonging to Johnson, now to 
John G. Stewart. Amos Wilson was manager of 
it, but the amount of coal mined was not very 
considerable. Morris Burt, about 1835, opened 
a bank on the other side of the same hill, and 
worked it for a number of years. He con- 
structed a wooden tram-way part way to Coshoc- 
ton, and the coal was hauled tlie remaining dis- 
tance by wagons. There were few of the families 
in Coshocton at that time who did not burn 
wood as fuel entirely, so that it required but 
little coal to supply the needs of the village. 
After the distillery was started in Coshocton, it 
consumed coal as fuel, and in supplpng it the 
amount of coal mined began to increase. 

In 1856 Foght Burt opened a mine on his farm 
abouta mile southeast from Coshocton, and made 
a four feet ten inch railroad to connect with the 
Steubenville and Indiana railroad, making the 
junction a little south of the freight depot. The 
rails were of wood, topped with plate iron. At 
first horses were used to haul the cars; afterward 
a small locomotive — "Little Giant" — J.H.Burt 
being the engineer. A considerable amount of 
money was put into the enterprise, and much 
effort made by Mr. Burt and his sons, R. W. and 
T. H., but the project was a costly failure, owing, 
it is said, to the failure of the railroad company 
to meet expectations of iissistance in building the 
coal roiul and afterward in furnishing cars. 

Mr. Shoemaker opened a mine on the Ricketts' 
farm, about one and a half miles northeast of 
Coshocton, and from it supplied the engines of 
the railroad with coal. About 18C8, or later, the 



Miami Coal and Mining Company began opera- 
tions on the same land, purchasing the lease from 
the Coshocton Coal Company. The comp.any was a 
foreign one, and J. H. Carman was the manager. 
After several years the lease was forfeited and 
the mine was re-leased in 1873, by E. Prosser and 
J. W. Cassingham, who formed the Pen Twyn 
Company. They operated the mine until the 
spring of 1879, when the supply of coal was ex- 
hausted and the mines abandoned. 

Beech Hollow mine, now opperated by Prosser 
& Cassingham, was opened about 1862, by E. 
Prosser, one of the present ow-ners, and worked 
by him for several years. About 1868, through 
the efforts- of Colonel J. C. Campbell and Albert 
Christy, the Coshocton Coal Company was organ- 
ized, with a capital of $125,000, mostly foreign. 
The interest and influence of A. H. Spangler was 
enlisted, and he became a holder of considerable 
stock. The company bought up the leases of the 
Beech Hollow mine, the Shoemaker mine, the 
mine afterward operated by the New York com- 
pany, two miles south of Coshocton, and other 
mines. Colonel J. C. Campbell wa.s president of 
the company. The expenditures were heavy,and 
financially the company was a failure. It oper- 
ated the Beech Hollow mine until the fall of 1876, 
when the lease was forfeited and the property 
came into the possession of its present owners. 
It is now called the Coshocton Mining Company. 
The mine is situated about one and one-half 
miles northeast of Coshocton, and is connected 
with the railroad by an iron tramway, which 
reaches the railroad near the water tank just out- 
side the limits of the village corporation. From 
thirty-five to forty miners are here employed, 
and during the last three years 60,000 tons of coal 
has been mined. Jt is shipped principally to 
Newark, Mt. Vernon, Columbus, Piqua, Urbana 
and other intermediate points. 

In 1870, the Home Coal Company was organ- 
ized by Frank S. and John A. Barney, D. L. 
Triplet, S. H. Lee, Edward Prosser, Thomas 
Denmead, W. W. Card and George W. Ricketts, 
Mr. Prosser soon disposed of his interest to Mr. 
Ricketts, and in a few years Prosser, J. W. Cas- 
singham and E. Thomas Dudley purchased the 
shares of the other six stockholders. Then after 
a time the property was transferred to George 



€06 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



W. Ricketts and Diivid Waggoner, who arc the 
present owners. This mine does the most ex- 
tensive business in the township. About sixty 
miners are engaged. The mine is at " Hard- 
scrabble," about one and one-half miles east of 
Coshocton, and is connected with the railroad by 
a tramway more than a mile in length. 

The New York Coal and Coke Company com- 
menced operations about twelve years ago, by 
purchasing from the Coshocton Coal Company 
some territory two miles south of Coshocton. 
Robert Youart, of Troy, Ohio, was the superin- 
tendent. In a few years the property was trans- 
ferred to a company of Michigan men, and Col- 
onel W. S. Wood placed in charge. The name 
was changed to the Union Coal and Mining Com- 
pany. L. W. Robinson is the present superinten- 
dent. The yield of this mine has been about 1,000 
tons per month. 

Besides the above, there are quite a number 
■of mines worked only for the home supply. 

Coal mining in this township has only fairly 
begun. There are thousands of acres of land 
underlaid with coal of richest quality that has not 
yet been touched. A considerable portion of this 
has been purchased by operators, who will gradu- 
ally develope the almost inexhaustible store, as 
circumstances will permit. A principal impedi- 
ment to the more vigorous prosecution of the 
work heretofore has been an inability to procure 
adequate means of transportation. 

Canal Lewisville lies partly in Keene and 
partly in Tuscarawas township. The dividing 
line passes diagonally through the plat, leaving 
the larger portion of it, and almost entirely the 
occupied part, in Tuscarawas township. It lies in 
the beautiful Tuscarawas valley, a short distance 
north of the river. The Ohio canal passes 
through the village, and gave rise to its location 
and growth. It was laid out by the county sur- 
veyor, James Ravenscraft, July 2, 1832, Solomon 
Vail and Thomas B Lewis being the proprietors. 
Their expectations of its rapid development were 
genuine, if the size of the plat be any indication. 
It contained 220 lots, besides a number of out- 
lots. The village of Newport had been founded 
about two years previous, a half mile to the west, 
in Keene township. The road to Millersburg, 



then a principal thoroughfare, passed through 
Newport northward, but shortly before Lewis- 
ville was laid out, the road was altered and made 
to pass through the site of the future Lewisville, 
and this fact more than anything else, induced 
the proprietors to lay the foundation for a town. 
It was designed from the first to be a shipping 
point for grain, and for,a number of years an im- 
mense business w;is done here in this line. Be- 
fore the Cleveland and Mt. Vernon road was 
built through Holmes county, it was customary 
for the farmers as far north as Millersburg to 
haul their wheat to this place. The amount of 
grain transported from the three warehouses 
about 1847 was immensse. 

The first grain dealer in the place was Arnold 
Medbery, of Roscoe, who erected a warehouse 
very soon after the town was laid out, at the 
southeast corner of Main and Pleasant streets. 
It is now operated by Henry W. Henderson. 
Mr. Medbery remained in possession of the 
building for a long time, but at length transferred 
the property to Samuel Lamberson, who, after 
operating here for many years, in 1872 disposed 
of the warehouse to Charles Burns. It was then 
operated by Burns & Hack until 1877, when it be- 
came the property of William Hanlon, and busi- 
ness was conducted by his sons under the name 
of Hanlon & Brothers. In 1880 the present 
owner came into possession of it. A large 
amount of grain is still bought here, but much 
less than formerly. From the first a general dry 
goods business has been carried on in connection 
with the warehouse. 

Cotemporaneously with Mr. Medbery, Alexan- 
der Renfrew started in the merchandising and 
grain dealing business, erecting buildings for the 
purpose on the opposite side of Main street. The 
business was conducted by Renfrew & Wilson, 
and later by Finley Carnahan and John Best. It 
finally cciised to be profitable and was suspended. 
A few years ago the buildings were removed. 

Jackson & Henry Hay followed the other two 
firms in a few years with a third warehouse. It, 
too, was situated on the north side of the canal, 
corner of Washington street. After a time it was 
sold to Mr. Williamson, but in a few years re- 
turned to the possession of the Hays. Business 
was finally suspended, and about 1869 the old 






o 






o 

o 



o 




HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



609 



building was torn down and removed to Coshoc- 
ton, where it now stands as a part of the Coshoc- 
ton planing-mill. 

The lirst building in town was the north wing 
of the jjresent two-story frame, located on lot 100, 
now owned by Charles and John Graham, and 
occupied by the dry goods store of Charles Gra- 
ham & Brothers. It was brought by T. B. Lewis, 
from Newport, re-erected and used first by him 
as a hotel. Then George T. Humrickhouse and 
William K. Johnson started a store in it. After 
the store had run its course, the building sub- 
served its original purpose for a number of years. 
Addison Syphert and Robert Andrews success- 
ively keeping tavern here. After being used for 
dwellings some time, David Markley purchased 
and repaired it, and let it as a tenant house until, 
in January, 1881, it came into the possession of 
its present owners. 

The frame building on lot 139, corner Main and 
Canal streets, was erected by Alexander Ren- 
frew, as a hotel. After many years he sold it to 
John Richeson, Richeson to Mr. McClain, and 
from the widow McClain it was purchased by R. 
A. Wilman, who now keeps for sale in it a stock 
of family groceries. 

The manufacturing interests of the village are, 
and always have been, exceedingly small. At 
present, there are two blacksmith .shops and one 
shoe shop. Formerly a rectifier was in operation, 
on lot 128, under the control of Thomas Love. 
Archie Johnson afterward operated it for awhile. 
The population of Canal Louisville, in 1880, was 
252. 

The present school building is a substantial. 
Commodious, two-story brick, with two rooms, 
erected in 1879. E. J. Stickle taught in the 
upper grade, during the first year, and Miss 
Wiggins in the lower. Byron Hinebaugh hiis been 
teacher during the year recently closed. TJie 
old school building was a brick, contjiining but 
one apartment. 

Samuel Lamberson was an early postmaster. 
His successors have be been Martin Hack, Ed- 
ward Hanton and Charles Graham, the present 
incumbent. Dr. Hall is remembered as being 
the first resident practicing pliysici.an. Dr. 
Chapman, and many others, have followed him, 
usually for a brief period. The bodily ills of the 
26 



community are now attended to by Dr. T. J, 

Smith, who has had a residence here for six years. 

The village contains two churches, a Metho- 
dist Ejiiscopal and a Baptist. \ society of the 
former persuasion was formed as early as 1835, 
with William Welch, of Keene, as class-leader. 
It contained few members, among whom were 
Gabriel Clark and Jlr. and Jlrs. John Stone- 
hocker. 

The meetings were held in the school-house and 
after a time the society disbanded. Then about 
1860 the present society was organized by Rev, 
Gardner with ten or twelve members, among 
them David and Selina JIarkley, Minerva Mark- 
ley, Mrs. Mehitable Collins, Maria Craig, Sarah 
Day and Margaret Craig. The early meetings 
were held in the village school-house until the 
present house of worship was erected about 1870. 
It was dedicated May 7, of the following year, by 
Rev. Jesse Warner. The building is a neat, 
frame structure, surrounded by a cupola contain- 
ing the church bell, and cost about $2,.S00. It 
was built chiefly through tlie eflbrts of David 
Markley. The appointment is connected with 
the Keene charge and Rev. Dissette is the pres- 
ent pastor. The membership is now and always 
has been small. A flourishing Sunday-school is 
in operation under the superintendence of John 
Graham. 

The Canal Lewisville Regular Baptist church 

worships in a modest frame meeting-house which 
was converted to this purpose from a dwelling 
house about 1875. Prior to that date services had 
been held in the school-house. The first meeting 
lookmg to an organization was held September 
29, 1864, attended by Abraham Randals, Sr., and 
family, Hannah Grey ajid Barbara Moreland, but 
it was not until 1806 that the organization was in- 
stituted as a Regular Baptist church with a mem- 
bership of twenty. In that j'ear Elder W. S. 
Barnes was made pastor. Those who have since 
served in a ministerial capacity are L. L. Root, 
Samuel W. Frederick, and James K. Lincbaugh, 
who is the present Elder. The membership at 
one time increased to forty but has since been re- 
duced and is reported to be twenty-two at pres- 
ent. X Sunday-school is held throughout tliR 



610 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



whole year, is superintended by John Cramlet 
and has a membership of sixty-two. 

A Disciple congregation, years ago, conducted 
services for a short time in the school-house, but 
did not attain any considerable strength. 

A Methodist Protestant society worships at 
Moore's or Pleasant Valley school-house, district 
No. 1, about two and one-half miles south of Co- 
shocton. It was organized at the old school-house 
in this district in 1845, by Rev. John Lamb, then 
ministering to a prosperous congregation at Co- 
shocton. The original class was comjiosed of 
twenty-eight members, among whom were Sam- 
uel Moore and Susanna, his wife, his mother, 
Mary M. Moore, Richard Meek, James T. Morris 
and wife, Elijah West, William West and wife, 
Peter Moore, and John Peters and wife. The so- 
ciety enjoyed a vigorous and prosperous life, but 
its numbers are now very few. William Wells is 
the present pastor. Of its past ministers may be 
mentioned Joel Dolby, Zachariah Ragan, Rev. 
Wilson, Israel Thraj)p, Joseph Hamilton, Jere- 
miah Biddcson, William Baldwin, David Truman, 
John Baker, William Munhall, S. Robinson, Wil- 
liam Ross and Rev. Avery. No attempt has been 
made to erect a church building, owing to the 
proximity of the society to Coshocton, and also 
to the church in Franklin township. A Sabbath- 
school was started about 1845, and kept in con- 
tinuous operation until within a few years. 

Chestnut Hill Regular Baptist church, located 
one and a half miles east of Coshocton, was or- 
ganized in 1875, with about twenty members. 
Services were held regularly in the district 
school-house, but for some time now they have 
been suspended. They were visited by different 
ministers, and for a while regularly supplied with 
preaching by Rev. H. Clark. The establishment 
of the Baptist church at Coshocton has apparent- 
ly obviated the necessity of this organization. 



CHAPTER LXVIII. 

VIRGINIA TOWNSHIP. 

Sun*eys— Organization — Description-First Settlers-Churches 
— Schools — Industries — Moscow — Willow Brook. 

ONE-HALF of this township, the first and 
third, or northeast and southwest quarters, 
was congress land. The second and fourth, or 
northwest and southeast quarters, are two mili- 
tary sections. The congress land was surveyed 
in 1803, by John Matthews. The northwest quar- 
ter, or second military section, was surveyed into 
forty 100-acre lots by William Harris, in the year 
1811. The fourth quarter, or southeast section, 
was located by John A. Hardenbrook, a merchant 
of New York City, his patent for the land bearing 
date June 23, 1800. He sold it to Edward Mc- 
Carty, Sr., of Paddytown, Hampshire county, 
Virginia, July 16, 1812, for $4,045, or one dollar 
per acre. It has since been survej-ed into thirty- 
five lots, ranging from 100 to 200 acres each and 
variously disposed of. 

This territory belonged to Jefferson township, 
Muskingum county, prior to the formation of 
Coshocton county. It then became a part of 
Washington township, and so continued until 
1828, when it was organized as a separate town- 
ship with its present boundaries. It was named 
Virginia after the State from which most of the 
early settlers had come. 

The Ohio canal and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati 
and St. Louis railroad cross diagonally through 
the southeastern corner of the township. The 
Muskingum river winds around this corner, as if 
avoiding the township, but from the south makes 
a small bend into the township, separating about 
twenty-five acres from the main part of it. Mill 
fork, with its numerous tributaries, drain the 
greater part of the surface. It enters the north- 
eastern part of the township from Jackson, and 
crosses into Washington township in the south- 
west. The soil along this creek and on many of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



611 



the hills, is a limestone clay. Further to the 
•east it is sandy. White oak is the prevailing tim- 
ber, interspersed with other varieties, such as 
hickory, walnut, sugar, etc. The hilliest region 
is in the northern part. Toward the south the 
roughness breaks away, giving a more undulating 
aiipoarance to the surface. In the southeastern 
portion of the township along the valley of the 
Muskingum, occurs " the plains," as it is called, a 
level stretch of country a mile or two in length, 
which was covered only with red brush when 
first seen by the settlers It was then thought to 
be worthless for agricultural purposes, and could 
have been purchased for fifty cents per acre. It 
is now very valuable. On these plains were found 
a few small mounds, but they are no longer visi- 
ble. It was probably a favorite haunt of the red 
man. Doughty, a noted Indian, h;ul a lone camp 
on Mill fork, on the northwest quarter ^f section 
16. Here he lived for a while with his wife and 
daughter, a young girl of great beauty, but being 
of a vagrant disposition, he never remained long 
in one place. 

John Collins was the first white settler in the 
township, entering it about 1804. He was not a 
permanent settler, however, and did not own the 
land upon which he lived, the southwest quarter 
of section 16. It was owned by Lewis Cass, who 
afterward sold it to John Graves. Collins left the 
place about 1808, and removed several miles be- 
low Dresden. He had been a revolutionary sol- 
dier, and was wounded while in service. He 
came here from the south branch of the Poto- 
mac, in Virginia. 

The earliest settlements were made along the 
narrow valley of Mill fork, beginning where the 
stream leaves the town.ship, and continuing up 
the valley nearh- to its source. Cabins were dot- 
ted all along this little stream before settlements 
were made in other parts of the township. Rich- 
ard Tilton was the first settler properly so 
called. He was born at Red Stone Fort, near 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1774, at a time when 
the region thereabouts was embroiled with a 
fierce Indian war. When a boy, he was captured 
by the Indians on Short creek, Jeflerson county, 
Ohio. His home at the time was in Pennsylvania, 
and he had crossed the Ohio to dig ginseng root, 
an article of great commercial value, which grew 



there in rich profusion. He was taken to San- 
dusky, and remained a prisoner there six weeks, 
when* he was released. He came to this county 
in the spring of 180.5, settling first in Washing- 
ton township; but in the fall of the same year 
he moved to the northeast quarter of section 16, 
of this township. At this time he had four 
children, John, William, Elijah and Joseph. 
William and Elijah afterward moved to Elinois; 
John died in early life, and Joseph still lives in 
this township. Mr. Tilton was a justice of the / 
peace for eighteen years. His wife died a few 
years after he settled here, and he afterwards re- 
married and had a large family. In 1850 he re- 
moved to Ogle county, Illinois, where he died 
fifteen years later, at the age of ninety-one years, / 

Joseph Wright and Joseph McCoy came to- 
gether into the township, December 24, 1806. 
Mr. McCoy settled upon the southwest quarter of 
section twenty-five — the southwest co-ner of the 
township — where he lived until he died. Joseph 
Wright was his son-in-law, and had one child, 
Willis, when he came to the county, who is now 
a resident of Coshocton. Both were from Vir- 
ginia. Mr. Wright lived with his father-in-law 
one year, then moved further up the creek to lot 
3, where he lived during the remainder of his 
life. Probably no one in the township was more 
prominent than he. He died Ajjril 1, 1867, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. 

James Norris, also from Virginia, came in 1807, 
and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 
14. The next year his brothers, Joseph, Daniel 
and William, and his father, William Norris 
moved out. The latter settled upon the south- 
east quarter of section 14. Joseph occupied lot 
16, just above. Joseph and James had married 
sisters of Joseph Wright, in Virginia. Daniel 
and William, Jr., married daughters of Joseph 
McCoy. These three families, the Wrights, Nor- 
rises and McCoys, have intermarried in this 
township to a considerable extent, so as to render 
it impossible to determine the various relation- 
ships. Each member of each of these families in 
fact, sustains a number of relationships to each 
and every other member of the three families. 
The families are still numerously represented in ' 
the township William Norris, Sr., was a soldie^ ' ' 
in the revolutionarv war. 



C12 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Henry Slaughter settled on the northeast quar- 
ter of section 8, in 1812. He died in 1858 in his 
eighty-seventh year. Alexander and Dr. James 
Slaughter are his sons. Patrick Miller, son of 
Michael Miller, of Franklin township, lived a 
while upon the McCarty section, then returned 
to Franklin township. Mr. McCarty was his uncle. 
Joseph Wagner, from Huntington county, Penn- 
sylvania, settled in the western part of the town- 
ship in 1810. He died in 1857 at the age of sev- 
enty-five years. Beall Adams, in 1812, settled 
upon the east half of section 25. He died at an 
advanced age some years ago. John and Joseph 
Graves, two brothers, emigrated to the township 
from Virginia, in 1814. 

The township settled up very slowly. In 1821, 
Otho Miller was living upon the southwest quar- 
ter of section 2, and at that time there were no 
settlers between his cabin and Roscoe. Joseph 
Ogle, from Maryland, was a comparatively early 
settler ; also, Joseph Mossman, an Irishman. 
Joseph Thompson, who had been a drummer in 
the revolutionary war, came to the township 
from Bridgeport, Ohio, about 1826, and spent his 
declining years here. He was originally from 
New York. 

Matthew Scott was born in county Donegal, 
Ireland, in 1795. He came to America in 1816, 
but lived at Cumberland, Maryland, until 1833, 
when he came to Coshocton county, settling in 
Virginia township, near Adam's mills. As the 
owner and cultivator of a considerable body of 
land, as a man of diligence and integrity, of more 
than ordinary intelligence, and of fair education, 
Mr. Scott was long held in repute in the region 
where he dwelt. As an enthusiastic son of Erin, 
and a most earnest and liberal adherent of the 
Presbyterian church, he wiis known by thousands. 
In 1856, he made a visit to the old land. He was 
for several years a director of the Western Theo- 
logical Seminary at Pittsburgh. He was a mem- 
ber of the general assembly of the Presbyterian 
church, meeting in Peoria, Illinois, 1863. He 
was always a warm friend of the colored people, 
and was chiefly instrumental in establishing a 
school for the education of colored girls, called 
"Scotia Seminary," in North Carolina. Having 
010 children, and his wife having died before him, 
he gave almost his whole estate — of some $25,000 



— for educational, missionary, and other benevo- 
lent purposes in connection with the Presbyterian 
church, a large part going to the support of the 
little church in which he had long been an elder,, 
and in which his kindred hold yet a large place. 
For some time before his death, jNIr. Scott had 
been in poor health. Early on the morning of 
the 13th of September, 1872, the family of the 
brother, with whom he had been staying for some 
days, were alarmed by his absence from the house 
and the appearance of his forsaken bed-room, 
and, search having been made, his dead body was 
found, after some hours, in the Muskingum river, 
which flowed through his lands. 

The first church in the township, and one of 
the earliest in the coimty, was erected by a Bap- 
tist society in 1816 or 1818, on the southwest 
quarter •i section 16. Elder Amos Mi.x, who 
had been a revolutionary soldier, and was living 
on the school lots in Muskinguni county, was the 
first minister. Among its earliest members were 
the McCoys, James and William Norris, Henry 
Slaughter, and quite a number from Muskingum 
county. It did not survive, perhaps, more than 
ten or twelve years, for about 1830 there was a 
society of Baptists, including most of the names 
mentioned above, worshiping in the Union meet- 
ing-house (so called from the fact that it was built 
by the people in common for the use of all con- 
gregations), located on lot 14. About 1837 an- 
other society was organized at Henry Slaughter's 
house, by Elders William Mears and William 
Spencer. These two congregations were united 
under a new organization May 1, 1840, by Elders 
William Mears and L. Gilbert, with fifty-twO' 
members, and named Mill Fork Regular Baptist 
church. After the organization the church grew 
rajiidl^i', and in a few years had over ItX) mem- 
bers. Having reached a membership of 140, the 
number -decreased, and at present it has about 
eighty-five. Since 1850 this church has sent four 
of its members into the ministry, viz : J. W. 
Reed, E. B. Senter, F. C. Wright and A. W. 
Odor. The present pastor is Elder Lyman R. 
Jlears, the grand-son of the first minister. The 
ministers who have served as pastors of this 
church from its organization are as follows : Wil- 
liam Mears, L. Gilbert, T. W. Grier, L. L. Root, 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



G13 



J. G. Whitaker, R. R. Whitaker, T. Evans, E. 
Smith, A. \Y. Odor, J. C. Skinner, S. C. Tiissing. 
The house of worship, a eoniniodious fninio, 
erected in 1870, stands on lot 3, not a great dis- 
tance from the center of the township. 

About two miles northeast of thi.s church, on 
the same road, stands Christian Chapel, a liouse of 
worship belonging to a Christian congrei^ation 
It Wits organized with five members, in 1832, by 
Elder J. W. Marvin, of Knox county, Ohio. 
These five members were John Housare, Mar- 
garet Housare, Mary Housare, Elizabetli Wright 
and Miss Adams. They first met in Willis 
Wright's barn; then in the adjoining school- 
house. In 1844, a frame meeting-house, twenty- 
■eight by thirty-two feet, was erected, which, in 
1873, was replaced by a better and larger house 
■of worship, at a cost of $2,000. The pastors of 
the church have been J. W. Marvin, James 
Hays, William Bagley, Jacob Hanger, A. C. 
Hanger, A. B^adfield, B. Rabb, William Over- 
turf, M. M. Lohr, E. Peters and John W. Wright. 
A. C. Hanger is now in charge. The present 
membership is 145. The total enrollment of 
members during the churchs history is 300. A 
Sunday-school has been held from a very early 
date, during the summer. William McCan had 
■charge of the school, in 1880, when it had an 
.average attendance of about sixty. 

The Moscow Methodist Episcopal church was 
•organized about 1835, by Rev. Joseph McDowell, 
at the house of Joseph Wagner, on section 16. 
Its principal early members were Rev. John Cul- 
lison and wife, Joseph Wagner and family, Ben- 
jamin Howall, the* first class-leader, and wife. 
Rev. Thomas Perkins and wife, Mrs. Gordon and 
others, amounting to about twenty in all. The 
meetings were held at difi'erent dwelling-houses, 
and, for a time, in a little log-house in Moscow, 
imtil 1851, when the present frame church, 
thirty by forty, was erected, at an expense of 
$650, under the pastorate of Rev. T. H. Wilson. 
A few years ago, it was repaired, at about twice 
its original cost. The membership now is about 
sixty. The present pastor is Rev. Jones. A 
Sunday-school is a leading feature of the church 
work. 



Tiie Methodist denomination has also a flour- 
ishing congregation in the southern part of the 
town-ship of recent organization. The church 
building, a substantial frame, was erected in 
1876, at a cost of about $1,800. It was dedicated 
December 10, of the same year, by Rev. T. H. 
Wilson. The society had been organized several 
years before the church was built, the meetings 
having been held in a school-house. Joseph 
Balo and wife, David Balo and wife, Joseph Til- 
ton and Joseph Newcomb, were early members. 
The latter was the first class-leader. Rev. Basil 
Disney w'as the first minister, followed by Henrj' 
Whiteman. He was succeeded by Rev. Ash- 
baugh, during whose ministry the church w;is 
built. The membership is between fifty and 
sixty. 

The earliest settlers sent their children to 
school in INIuskingum county, which was settled 
and contained schools before Virginia had a suf- 
ficient number of families to support a school. 
The first building for school purposes in the 
township was erected about 1818, in the western . 
part of the township, near the northeast corner 
of the southeast quarter of section 15. It is de- 
scribed by the oldest resident of the township as 
having been a mere shanty, scarcely more than 
fourteen by sixteen feet in size. A puncheon 
floor was laid in a part of this room, one end 
being left bare for a large fireplace. A rough 
back-wall of stone was built t(_) keep the flames 
from the end of the building, and a large open- 
ing through the roof was an ample provision for 
the escape of smoke and thorough ventilation of 
the room. Richard Winn was the first teacher. 
He was from Pennsylvania, and had settled in 
Washington township. ' 

The water power on Mill Fork was sufficient, 
while the country was yet covered with timber, 
to propel the different mills that were situated on 
its banks, but as the volume of water decreased, 
in course of time the mills were one by one 
abandoned or removed. Jo.seph Norris erected 
one upon his place in very carl}' times. It had in 
it two run of stone and was counted an excellent 
mill. He afterward erected two distilleries, one 
adjacent to the mill, the other some distance 



614 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



away, though on the same farm. In one of these 
two stills were operated, the other contained 
only one. They were haunted by a number of 
professional loafers, constantly engaged in "sam- 
pling" the juice as it issued from the worm and 
pronouncing upon its good qualities. What re- 
mained after this important function was per- 
formed found a market in Coshocton and the sur- 
rounding country. 

Hiram Darr erected a saw-mill a short distance 
above, in section 8 about 1S40, and directly after- 
ward built a grist-mill, containing one run of 
buhrs. It did a flourishing business while it 
lasted, which was no great length of time. Mr. 
Darr moved to Livingston county, Missouri, and 
shipped the mill-stones to the same place. Jo- 
seph Parks ran a saw-mill for a number of years 
near the northwest corner of the township. An- 
other was afterward built in the same locality. 
Kichard Tilton built one shortly before he moved 
west, but little or no work was ever done at it. 

/ Moscow, the one little village in the township, 
^ is situated on lot 20 in the northwestern part of 
the township. It was laid out in March, 1835, by 
Lewis Wright, and consisted of 42 lots. Mr. 
Wright was both the surveyor and proprietor of 
the village. John T. Bowen kept the first store. 
It carried a very limited stock of goods, and 
Bowen retained possession of it as the only store 
until he enlisted in the service during the late war. 
Samuel Smailes started the next store soon after 
the war, and stills owns it. Shortly after another 
was opened by Henry H Mills, who retired from 
the business about five years ago. Mr. Hook has 
recently started a small store. The village is 
quite small. John Bowen was the first postmas- 
ter. The position is now lield by his widow, Mrs. 
Eiichel Bowen. 

AVillow Brook is the name of a postoflSce in the 
northeastern part of the township. A store was 
opened here in the spring of 1873 by William 
Wright. In August, 1879, he sold it to H. M. 
Kendall, who now owns it, A blacksmith shop, 
owned by Lewis A. Keed, and a wagon shop, 
owned by Thomas J. Slaughter, are also located 
here. William Wright was the first postmaster, 
receiving tlie appointment about seven years ago. 
He was succeeded by Mr. Kendall. 



CHAPTER LXIX. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Early Settlers — Location— Topography— Early Justices— In- 
dian Camp— First Road— Mills and Distilleries— Wakatom- 
ica PostoUice— Schools— Churches, 

THE first settler of the tract of country now 
composing this township, was John Har- 
desty. He was orginally from Maryland, and 
about 1804 came from Wheeling, Virginia, and 
settled on the southeast quarter of section 22,, 
the quarter through which Mill fork flows into 
Muskingum county. He was a powerful man^ 
physically, and his good dame was by no means 
diminutive in st;iture. Their family consisted of 
sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters, 
whose aggregate weight, it is said, exceeded 3,200 
pounds. Mr. Hardesty was a regular frontiers- 
man, and kept moving with the tide of emigration 
westward while his years admitted. He sold his 
farm in this township to William F. Compton, 
and died some years ago in St. Louis. Most of 
his family preceded or followed him to the West. 
Two grand-children still reside in the township, 
Patrick Hunter and Mrs. Paulina McElwell. 

Mordecai Chalfant was the second pioneer of 
the township. In 1803 he emigrated from Fay- 
ette county, Pennsylvania, to what is now Perry 
county, Ohio, He remained there about four 
years, and in March, 180S,he moved to this town- 
ship, settling upon the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 20. This quarter had been selected by Rev. 
Ellington, of Muskingum county, with a view to 
settlement, but in a spirit of accommodation was 
yielded by him to Mr. Chalfant. His third son, 
John Chalfant, still occupies a portion of the sec- 
tion, and is the oldest resident in the township. 
He was born October, 1S07, being four months 
old at the time his father cams here. Mr. Chal- 
fant was a prominent citizen of the county in its 
earliest days. He was one of the first county 
commissioners, serving in this capacity seven 
years, and was an associate judge of the county 
for fourteen years. He died at Columbus in Jan- 
uary, 1846, aged sixty-five years. 

Jacob Croy, from Wheeling, Virginia, soon 
after — in the spring of 1808 — settled upon the 
southwest quarter of section 21. His descend- 
ants are still represented here. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Glo 



George Smith, a Virginian, about 1810, settled 
upon lot 4 of the military section. About the 
same time, Frederick Woolford and Peter Lash 
came. The former settled upon lot 2, the latter 
upon lot 10. Francis Staiibrd, who had been liv- 
ing in Muskingum county, settled upon the 
southwest quarter of section 12 about the year 
1810. Joseph Harris, a little later, settled on the 
southeast quarter of section 1.3. James Williams, 
settling upon the northwest quarter of section 
10, and Bradley Squires, a Vermonter, were both 
here before 1811. In that year Edward Hardesty 
came from Maryland and located the south half 
of section 19. He afterward removed to Illinois, 
and there died. His son, Thomas Hardesty, still 
occupies the southwest quarter of this section. 

On the tax duplicate for 1820, are the names of 
quite a number of resident land holders in this 
townshii), showing it must have settled up rapid- 
ly from 1812 to 1815. These, with the lands they 
owned, and date of arrival as nearly as it can be 
determined, are herewith given, excepting the 
families previously noticed. 

James Aikens, from Pennsylvania, in 1815, 
settled upon the northwest quarter of section 22; 
Noah Cooper, the northeast quarter of the same 
section. Peter Camp, from Virginia, first owned 
this quarter. He emigrated about 1812, but af- 
terward sold to Cooper, and removed elsew^here. 
Solomon Exline owned the northwest quarter of 
section 5; John Kassner, emigrating about 1812, 
to the northeast quarter of section 23; Thomas and 
William Hunter, the southwest quarter of section 
22; Ulysses Kinzey, the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 18 ; Joseph McMorris, the southeast quarter 
of section 21 ; Robert McLaughlin, the northeast 
quarter of section 10; Eli McClain, a Virginian, 
about 1813, the southwest quarter of section 10; 
William McClain, part of the northwest quarter 
of section 19; John Mossman, who came from 
Penn.-iylvania about 1810, and died some thirty 
years later, at the age of seventy-two years, the 
southeast quarter of 20, and northeast, of 21 ; 
James McConnell, the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 18; James Pierce, Jr., the northeast quarter 
of 14; Jonathan Phillips the southwest quarter of 
3; Henry Rine, the northeast of 5; Joseph 
Slaughter, from Virginia, about 1812, northwest 
quarter of section 19. On the miliUiry section. 



forming the southwest quarter of the township, 
were the following: William G. Conner, from 
Virginia, abciut 1813, parts of lots 2, 3 and 8; Wil- 
liam Downs, lot 23, and part of 37 ; Isaac Hollo- 
way, about 1813, lot 12; John Holloway, from 
North Carohna, lot 19; Daniel Johnson, a colored 
man, who had been a slave, and wifs brought here 
by his master, lot 28 ; David Meek, about 1814, 
south half of lot 2; George Meek, lot 24; Ann 
Meek, lot .38; William Ogle, lot 34; James and 
William Pierce, lot 7. 

Washington was one of the townships existing 
at the time the county was organized. It was 
named by Mordecai Chalfant. It belongs to the 
southern tier of townships touching IMuskingum 
county on the south. Bedford township bounds 
it on the north, Virginia on the east and Pike on 
the west. That part of it which is congress land — 
all but the southwest quarter — ^was surveyed 
by John Matthews. The military section was 
surveyed into 100-acre lots by William Cutbush, 
in 1808. 

The general trend of the streams is southward. 
Sand fork and Paddy fork flow by irregular 
courses from north to south through the whole 
township. They meet near the southern line 
and a little lower down, though still in this town- 
ship, they unite with Mill fork, which enters from 
Virginia township. Lash's run is a tributary of 
Paddy fork in the southern part of the township 
from the west. The soil is chiefly of a clayey na- 
ture, the surface rough and rolling. Much atten- 
tion is given to peach culture by the farmers of 
this township. The land seems admirably 
adapted for their growth, and a large orchard 
may be seen on almost every farm in the town- 
ship. 

The earl}' township records have seemingly 
perished. A list of the justices of the peace, 
however, has been preserved, the earliest of whom 
were as follows: Mordecai Chalfant, elected April 
11, 1811, resigned June 15, 1813; George Smith, 
elected June 26, 1813, resigned May 10, 1816; Jo- 
seph Slaughter, elected May, 1810, resigned the 
next year ; Samuel Hardesty, elected June, 1816; 
Richard Tilton, elected in 1817, 1820. 1823 and 
1826; Bradley Squires, elected in 1818; James 
Pierce, elected in 1821 and 1824 ; F. A. Staflbrd, 



616 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



elected in 1827 and 1830; Adam Exline, in 1827; 
Bradley Squires, in 1830 and 1833; William 
Downs, in 1833. 

A little Indian camp, consisting of a few wig- 
wams, stood, when the first white men came to 
the township, in the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 7, on the Hawthorn place, on the flat a short 
distance west of Mr. Hawthorn's house, close to 
Paddy run. Big Horn was the ruling spirit here, 
and the place was often visited by traders. 

The first road through the townshiji was the 
Owl creek road, which entered the township from 
Muskingum county, in section 22, and running 
northwest through the center of the township, 
crossed into Bedford township from section 4. 
Very soon after the Newark road was opened. It 
crossed the otlier road at Wakatomica, and the 
two roads thus cut the township mto four nearly 
equal parts. 

The first mill in the to\vnship, and one of the 
first in the county, was built by George Smith, on 
Paddy run, in lot 4, in the year 1812. It was a 
little affair, and remained in operation about 
twelve years, during which time it was patron- 
ized by settlers far and near. John Walmesley, 
from Franklin township, and others equally re- 
mote in other directions, were regular customers. 
Mr. Smith also excavated a race for a saw-mill, 
but before it reached completion the high waters 
during a freshet cut so deeply into the banks of 
the trench as to make it impracticable to restore 
it, and the project had to be abandoned. 

Jacob Croy built the first saw-mill, about 1814, 
on Mill creek, in the southwest quarter of section 

21. The location was a poor one, for the water 
washed around the dam and destroyed its power. 
It lasted but a year or two. Many years later he 
erected another further down the stream on the 
same quarter. It proved a success and was oper- 
ated for a long time. James Aikens built the 
second mill of this kind about 1815. It was situ- 
ated on Paddy run, northwest quarter of section 

22. A few years after, he erected a' grist mill at 
the same place and ran the two in conjunction 
for a number of years, then sold to Robert Moss- 
man, under whom they were suspended. As the 
township developed, other mills were started in 
difierent localities. William Bell, about 1839, 



built a grist-mill up Sand Fork, on the southwest 
quarter of section 10. It had but one run of stone 
and, soon after it started, acquired an excellent 
rejiutation for the quality of its flour. Mr. Stan- 
ford and Mr. Parks each owned a saw-mill for a 
time. Peter Lash built a little mill on lot 9, about 
1818, which lasted only a year or two. 

William R. Thompson, on the southeast quar- 
ter of section 13, built a combined grist, saw and 
carding-mill. He sold it to Benjamin Slaughter, 
and he, in turn, to Newman Smith. Uriah Kinzey 
erected the first carding and fulling-mill in the 
township, about 1827. It did good work and was 
highly appreciated by the people, who came a 
great distance to get their wool carded here. It 
remained running about fifteen years. 

Probably the first still-house was .set in opera- 
tion by William Hunter, about 1815, on the south- 
west quarter of section 22. It was kept up about 
thirty years. Somewhat later, William Thomp- 
son erected one on the southwest quarter of 
section eight. He paid a great deal of attention 
to the distillation of peach brandy, having a large 
peach orchard on his place, and converting most 
of the fruit into this beverage. Bradley Squires, 
about 1824, buili himself a little distillery, and, 
during the ten or twelve ensuing years, manu- 
factured a considerable quantity of rye whisky. 

The towhship contains no village and but a 
single postoffice. This is Wakatomica, situated 
exactly in the center of the town.ship. Although 
no village xjlat was ever made of the land, there 
is quite a little-chester of houses here, and it, per- 
haps, deserves the name of a village. A store 
has been kept at the place for about thirty years. 
It w'as started by Charles Houser, who retained 
it perhai)s five or six years, since then it has been 
owned by a number of men successively. Isaac 
Piersel purchased it about two years ago and 
still has possession. The various industrial- shops 
common to a small place like this may be fovmd 
here. A large building was erected by Darius 
Wright about 18.57, and occupied by him for a 
blacksmith and wagon shop. The manufacture 
of wagons was carried on quite extensively for a 
while, but ten or twelve years ago Mr. Wright re- 
moved to Warsaw and the shop was closed. 
Stewart McGinnis is the postmaster. 

The first school-house stood on the present 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



617 



Lemuel Kinzey place, northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 18. It was a little cabin of the usual primi- 
tive style, built without nails or . iron of any 
shape. John Milliard, a Yankee, was the first 
teacher. His first term was held in 1811. He is 
described as an excellent teacher, one who took 
great pains to instruct his pupils in the rudi- 
ments of learning, and they advanced rapidly un- 
der his care. He was succeeded by Joseph Har- 
ris, another Yankee, whose instruction fell far 
short of the standard maintained by his prede- 
cessor. Schools at this time were held very ir- 
regularly. The next one of which there is any 
knowledge was held by Abraham McClain in a 
dwelling house about 1816. He was deficient in 
]ioint of education and little progress was made 
by the children under him. Then a school house 
was built on the southwest quarter of section 19 
east of the road and within a few rods of Thomas 
Hardesty's house. Bradlej* Squires, one of the 
first settlers, taught tlie first two quarters here 
between the years 1815 and 1820. He was well 
qualified for the position, possessing a good edu- 
cation and the art of communicating knowledge 
to his scholars. Peter Remington followed him. 
He was from Rhode Island; taught one term 
only, was a fair instructor, and prided himself on 
his mathematical abilities. Robert Reed, a Penn- 
sylvanian, came next. He was something of a 
fop and succeeded tolerably well in his i)edagogi- 
eal capacity. Soon school-houses began to multi- 
ply and the schools were held with more regu- 
larity thereafter. 

Chalfant MethoJist Episcopal church is the old- 
est religious society in the county, and it erected 
the first church building within the limits of the 
county. It was organized on the Cass section, in 
Muskingum county, about 1808, by Rev. William 
Ellington, who became the first pastor. About 
1811, it was determined to erect a house of wor- 
ship, and the site of the present church, in the 
northwest corner of Mordecai Chalfant's section, 
was selected as the spot whereon to build it. 
The contract for building it was let to William 
Barcus, who afterward removed to Roscoe, then 
living in this vicinity, and, in 1811, it was begun. 
Before it was finished, Mr. Barcus was called to 
serve his country, in the frontier armv, and the 



building remained unfinished, in consequence, 
until 1815. Mr. Ellington wjis succeeded as pas- 
tor by Revs. James Patterson, James B. Finley. 
Elisha Bowman and Samuel Parker, success- 
ively. Among the earliest members were Mr. 
Young, Peter Reasoner and wife, Daniel John- 
son (colored), Francis Stafford, Peter Camp, Eli 
McClain and Mordecai Chalfant. Nearly all the 
original members were from Muskingum county. 
The old meeting-house, a hewed-log structure, 
stood until 1849, when it was replaced by the 
building now in use, which is a frame, thirty by 
forty feet in size. It was built by Jacob Croy, 
who took the contract for $500, and, it is said, 
lost money by the operation. The church was 
repaired about ten years ago. This society has 
sent out into the ministry sixteen preachers. The 
membership is about 125. The present pastor is 
A. P. Jones. 

A Sunday-school was started about 1822 and 
has been in operation with a fair degree of reg- 
ularity ever since. During the early period of 
the church's history preaching was held entirely 
on "week days" and Sunday was given wholly to 
the Sunday-school. The members would start to 
the school early in the morning, taking their 
dinners with them, and remain in session all day. 
The present superintendent of the school is 
Mathias Slaughter. Unlike most country Sun- 
day-schools it is conducted throughout the entire 
year. The average attendance isaboutseventy-five. 

Tomika Regular Baptist church, situated one- 
fourth mile north of the township center, was 
organized January 5, 1828, by Elder Amos Mix, 
at the house of William R. Thompson with but 
three members — James Brooks, Elizabeth Brooks 
and John Howell. At this meeting, however, 
William R. Thompson and Sarah and Mary 
Thomjison were received into the newly-made 
organization. Several years later a log church 
was built and in 1845 the preisent frame building 
capable of seating from three to four hundred 
persons, was erected. The membership at that 
time was .seventy-five. At present it is sixty. 
The pastors who have performed ministerial ser- 
vice for the congregation from its organization 
to the present are as follows: A. Mix, J. Frey, 
Sr., William Mears, L. L. Root, L. Gilbert, H. 



618 



HISTOilY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Sampson, J. Frey, Jr., S. West, E. R. Whitoker, 
B. Allen, E. B. Smith, J. W. Reed, A. W. Odor, 
E. Frej-, J. C. Skinner, S. C. Tussing, John Wright 
and L. R. Mears. 

The present Sunday-school was organized in 
1872, with James M. Smith as superintendent. 
The present superintendent is David Frey. The 
school is kept open during the whole year. The 
membership is small, but the school is in good 
working condition. 

The above two churches arc the only active so- 
cieties now in the townsliii">. Within a few years 
the Valley Methodist Protestant church has de- 
clined. The house of worshiij stands in the south- 
western part of the township, on the north line 
of lot 22. The class was organized in the spring 
of 1859, in the school-house, by Rev. Jeremiah 
Biddeson. During the autumn of the same year 
the church was built, and dedicated in December, 
1859, by Rev. Israel Thrapp, who was stationed 
on this circuit with Rev. Biddeson. The build- 
ing is a frame, thirty by forty feet, and cost $800. 
Kinzey Fulks, who was the first leader, Cyrus 
McFarland, Wesley D. Richcreek, John Tooth- 
man and John Lash were principal early mem- 
bers. The last regular pastor was Rev. Samuel 
Scott. The decline of the church was due to re- 
movals and deaths. A prosperous Sunday-school 
was connected with the church. 

A congregation of Presbyterians was organized 
as early as 1825, perhaps some years earlier. Rev. 
James Cunningham, of Utica, held the first serv- 
ices. A log church was built first, and afterward 
a frame, which is still standing, nearly two miles 
northeast of Wakatomica, on the Newark road. 
Among the early members were John Pollock, 
Nancy Gibson, John and Joseph Mossman, Daniel 
McCurdy, John Crawford and John McFarland. 
The society continued until a short time after the 
war. ^Political dissensions was one of the main 
causes of its decline. 



CHAPTER LXX. 



WHITE EYES TOWNSHIP. 



Organization and Original Boundaries— Topography— An- 
cient Fort— Setllement — Population — Postoffices — Avon- 
dale— Mi lis— Cliu reh es. 

TN the commissioners' journal appears the fol- 
-L lowing record under date of Monday, De- 
cember 1, 1823: " Petition received and granted 
by commissioners to set offa new town.ship to in- 
clude parts of Mill Creek and Oxford townships, 
and bounded as follows : beginning at the south- 
east corner of township 7, range 5, thence north 
two and one-half miles, thence west two and one- 
half miles to the center of said township, thence 
south two and one-half miles to the township line, 
thence west two and one-half miles to the north- 
west corner of town.-hip 6, range 5, thence south 
two and one-half miles, thence east two and one- 
half miles 'to the center of township 6, thence 
south two and one-half miles to the township 
line, thence east two and one-half miles to the 
southeast corner of township 6, range 5, thence 
north two and one-half miles, thence east two 
and one-half miles to the center of township 6, 
range 4, thence north two and one-half miles to 
the township line, thence west two and one-half 
miles to the place of beginning." 

As thus instituted the township consisted of 
three-fourths of what is now Lafayette township, 
the northeast, northwest and southeast quarters, 
the northwest quarter of Oxford township and 
only the southeast quarter of White Eyes town- 
ship as it now stands. When the change to its 
present boundaries was made is not shown by 
the records, but it must have been prior to 1835, 
for in that year the last of the townships was or- 
ganized as they now appear. It is now five miles 
square, being township 7 of range 5 as originally 
surveyed. On the north it touches Crawford 
township, on tlie east Adams, on the South Lafay- 
ette and on the west Keene. 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



619 



The surface is usually hilly. In the southwestern 
corner, which is within a mile of the Tuscarawas 
river, is seen a gently undulating plain, extend- 
ing into Keene and Lafayette townships. Like 
other similar tracts in was scantily timbered 
when first settled. White Eyes creek is the 
principal stream. It enters from the north and 
flows in a southerly direction. Near the center 
of its course in this township it receives its two 
main branches, known as the MidtUe and East 
Forks. The latter flows almost directly west 
from Adams township; tlie former in a south- 
westerly direction from Crawford township. 
Along the valley of White Eyes creek the view 
is ofttimes quite picturesque. The valley is often 
narrow, and the bordering hillsides steep and 
precipitous. Huge frowning ledges of sandstone 
project from these or rise again perpendicularly 
forty feet, sometimes from the water's edge. 
Numerous fissures where these rocks have been 
rent asunder attest the operation here of the 
mighty forces of nature. Sometimes a solitary 
mass of rocks is seen standing in bold relief at 
the top of some towering hill. 

In the northern part of the township, about a 
half mile soutli of Chili, is an ancient fortification. 
It stands on an elevated, level piece of ground ; 
is oval or oblong in shape, and encloses more 
than an acre of ground. The embankment has 
been greatly worn down by repeated plowings, 
and years ago it was four or five feet high. One 
end of the '• fort " approaches close to an abrupt 
bluff and overlooks the White Eyes creek valley 
from a height of forty or fifty feet. Many trink- 
ets, as stone axes, flints, etc., have been found in 
this vicinity 

The name of the township and that of its main 
stream was doubtless given in honor of Captain 
White Eyes, a noted Delaware chieftain, who 
dwelt in the Tuscarawas valley. 

The western half of the township is congress 
land. It was surveyed into half sections of three 
hundred and twenty acres each by Ebcnezer 
Buckingham, in 1803. The eastern half com- 
prises two military sections of four thousand 
acres each. The northern of these was owned by 
David Lynn, of Allegheny county, Maryland. 
He never settled on it, but sold it gradually to 
incoming settlers. About five hundred acres 



were sold off the northeastern part very early — 
two hundred and fifty of this to Martin Baum, of 
Cincinnati, February 1, 1801, for two hundred 
and fifty dollars. About 1820 the remainder of 
the section was surveyed into twenty-eight lots 
of about one hundred and twenty-five acres each, 
by James Ravenscraft, he receiving, it is said, 
one lot in compensation for his services. 

The other section, consisting of the southeast 
quarter of the township, was owned by Jacob 
Bowman, of Brownsville, Fayette county, Penn- 
sylvania. In May, 1812, it was surveyed into 
twenty-five lots of one hundred and sixty acres- 
each, by Joseph H. Larwill. In 1816, Mr. Bow- 
man sold three of these lots, Nos. 17, 18 and 23, 
to John Henderson, for twelve hun 'red dollars, 
but he reserved nearly the entire section until 
the surrounding country was well settled and the 
value of the land greatly enhanced. The settle- 
ment of this part of the township was conse- 
quently much retarded. 

It is not known who w^as the first settler of 
White Eyes township, but among the earliest 
was Robert Culbertson, who settled on the plains 
in the southwest quarter of section 25, about 
1813 or 181-t. He died in the fall of 1815, and 
his family rented the place and removed from 
the vicinity. 

It is said that a INIr. Ray, before the war of 
1812, settled upon the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 7, and thus became the first settler in the 
township, and that he afterward sold the place to- 
Michael Frock, also an early settler. Why he 
should have selected this rough piece of lund^ 
far removed frona any settlement or stream of 
any size, is unknown. Jerry Hostetler, a Penn- 
sylvanian, about 1817, settled on section 23. 

Michael Stonehocker, about 1816, settled upon 
the southwest quarter of .section 16. He came 
here from Jefierson county, not far from Smith- 
field, but was originally from Virginia. After 
residing here for a time, he removed to Wash- 
ington county, and remained there four years. 
He tlien went to Powshiek county, Iowa, where 
he died in 1865. His brother, Jacob Stone- 
hocker, removed from Jefierson county to Tus- 
carawas county about 1811, and to this town.ship 
the year after Michael came. He purchased and 



«20 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



settled upon the north-west quarter of section 
25, where he reiuahied till his death. John 
Dicky had entered tliis quarter, but had lived 
here only about six months when he became sick, 
and, thinking that he had located too near the 
river, sold his claim and removed to Mill Creek 
township, where he died. Matthias Huller set- 
tled in this same section about 1820. He was 
from Pennsylvania, and years afterward removed 
to the western part of this State. 

As previously stated, John Henderson pur- 
<?hased three lots, or 480 acress, in the Bowman 
section, in 1816. His brother, George, was in- 
terested with him in a portion of this property, 
and both were occupants. They were from Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania. George died on 
his farm, at an advanced age, in 18C8. 

Tiie Ravenscrafts, James, William and John, 
came to the township, from Virginia, as early as 
1820, and became prominent in this locality. 
James was the owner of lots 6 and 13 of the Lynn 
section, and William of lot 4. William had been 
a revolutionary soldier. The former took a lead- 
ing part in county aliairs. He was a surveyor by 
occupation and filled the office of county sur- 
veyer for a number of years. He also served as 
county commissioner and State senator. He died 
in this townshsp about 1854. 

Michael Frock came to the northeast quarter 
of section 7, in 1818. He was born in Chester 
■county, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1785, and married 
to Elizabeth Seldenright in 1807. He was the 
first justice of the peace in this township. His 
wife died in 1850 and he survived her fifteen 
yeaPs, reaching the advanced age of eighty-si,\. 

Abner Kimball, in 1818, settled upon a tract of 
500 acres, lots 12, 14, 18 and 19, of the Lynn sec- 
tion. He was from New Hampshire, and died in 
1870. John McPherson, from Virginia, was a 
resident of the townshp. from 1821 to 1834. He 
had been a soldier in Anthony Wayne's army. 
George MoCitskey, from Donegal county, Ireland, 
came in 1819, and remained upon the same farm 
until his death,in 1871. He was eighty -six years 
of age. His wife died in 1862, in her eightieth 
year. Henry Cliplever was in the township, 
perhaps as early as 1815. He settled upon lot 7. 
of the Lynn section, and died a few years later. 
Junkin Mulvane and .luhn Tij>ton came about 



1816. The former settled upon lot 11, of the 
Lynn section, and, about 1842, removed to Union 
county. Tipton was the possessor of the west 
half of the northwest quarter of section 16. He 
afterward moved further west. James Sondals 
was another early settler, occupying the north- 
west quarter of section 8. He remained in the 
township only a few years. 

Robert Boyd, from Donegal county, Ireland, 
came to the township in 1824, and died a few 
years later. John Carnahan came in 1826 and, 
in the following year, his father and the rest of 
his family — Adam, James, Eleanor, Andrew, 
Thompson, M'illiam, Nancy, Eliza and Hugh. 
The family wa's originally from Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania. John, the first named, 
died November 21, 1809, aged sixty-three years. 
John Schuck, from Cumberland, Maryland, abont 
1825, settled upon 200 acres, lot 22, and a portion 
of 23, of the Lynn section. He had traded a 
town lot, with a log-cabin upon it, at his former 
residence, for this farm. John Alexander came 
to the township in 1826, and settled upon lot 21, 
Lynn section. He was originally from Tyrone 
county, Ireland, was one of the earliest justices 
in White Eyes, and died in 1854. About 1825, 
Aaron D. Camp settled a short distance south of 
Avondale. The Winkleplecks, too, John, George 
and Jacob, were early occupants of this township. 
The State of Pennsylvania was most numerously 
represented in the early settlement of the town- 
ship, though it by no means furnished all the 
pioneers. 

The population of White Eyes township, in 
1830, was 445; 997 in 1840; 1,132 in 1850; 998 in 
1860; 923 in 1870, and 900 in 1880. 

George Winklcplcck kept the first postoffice, 
at an early day, in the northern part of the town- 
ship. Some years after Chili was laid out it was 
removed to that place. Th(> next office was 
Munnsville, in the western part of the township, 
at which James IMcBIunn was first jiostmaster. 
He was succeeded by John Carnahan. William 
Carnahan, John Jack and C. C. Hamilton afterward 
held the appointment. The office has been with- 
drawn since the establishment of the office at .Vv- 
ondale. This is a collection of twenty or more 
houses in the eastern part of the townshiji, near 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



62r 



tho junction of \A'hite Eyes creek and Middle 
Fork. No town plat was ever made of the land 
in this vicinit}' , and the houses arc widely scat- 
tered, some perched upon Ihc hills and others in 
tlie meadows below, but it has the appearance of 
a thrifty little village. J. M. Ferrell stiirted a 
store here in 1865, and the next year William J. 
Maley built a blacksmith shop. Tho postoffice 
established here about this time, was named 
Boyd's Mills, and Jacktown was the sobriquet 
which the village received. This name did not 
meet with the approbation of the villagers, and 
in 1875, in convention assembled, through the 
medium of the ballot-box, they expressed their 
choice of a new name. .Vvondale was the title 
selected, the name of the postoffice, by petition, 
was changed to it, and it has gradually super- 
seded the ancient designation. There are here 
at present two dry goods stores, owned by J. M. 
Ferrell and C. E. Miller; one grocery, G. C. Fer- 
rell ; two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, and 
one hotel, conducted by J. P. Benjamin. A tri- 
weekly mail is received from West Lafayette. 

The oldest and best known mill in the town- 
ship was first built by William M. Boyd, an early 
settler of Keene township, in 18.31, at what is 
now Avondale. He remained in possession of it 
until. 1847, when he sold it to Henry Winkle- 
pleck. Soon after Mr. Winklepleck died and the 
property pa.ssed into the hands of .\dam Gardner. 
He operated it a great many years, and then sold 
it to Thomas Elliott, who disposed of it to John 
P. Benjamin. The dam was torn away by a 
freshet several years ago and has not been re- 
paired. It contained two run of stone, and did 
an extensive and satisfactory business for nearly 
fifty years. 

Another mill was located about a, mile further 
up the stream. It was operated successively by 
by Mr. Headley, William Frazy, .\ndrcw Croy and 
David Reed. It suspended about 1860. 

James Evans built a saw-mill at an early date 
in the northern part of the township, on lot 24 
After some time he sold it to George and Henry 
Winklepleck. It remained in the Winklei)leck 
family until about 1865, when it was sold to John 
Bowman. A short time before this, a grist-mill 
was added, and with it, steam power, which is 



used when the water is low. A fulling-mill was 
also operated in connection with the saw-mill for 
a few years, while imder the management of the 
Winkleplecks. The grist-mill contiiins two run 
of buhrs, and is now doing a tine business. 

Frederick Everhart erected a saw-mill on Mid- 
dle Fork, in the northern part of the township, 
which ceased to operate under the ownership of 
Lewis Swigert. 

Thomas Dudgeon for a short time ran a distil- 
lery on section 4. 

There are at present seven religious societies in 
the township, three Methodist Episcopal, one 
United Presbyterian, one United Brethren and 
two " L'^nion " churches. 

The White Eyes Methodist church was organ- 
ized about 1852. In that year the first house of 
worship, a frame building, was erected on the lot 
donated by William R. Boyd, in the southeast 
quarter of section 6. Rev. Boggs was the first 
minister. The early members included Robert 
R. Boyd and wife, Robert Adams and wife, Wil- 
liam Adams and wife, William Carnahan and 
wife, Francis Boyd and wife, Mrs. Isabella Boydr 
Mary Boyd and Mrs. Nancy McCullough. The 
present church was erected in 1876. It is a neat 
frame, thirty by thirty-si.x feet in size. The pas- 
tor is Rev. T. G. Roberts. The membership is 
seventy -three. A Sunday-school is held only 
during the summer. 

Chili Methodist Episcopal (German) church 
was organized in the spring of 1875 by Rev. 
Charles Cook. He was stationed in the Dover 
circuit, and for nearly a year before the class 
was organized had been holding a series of meet- 
ings in the school-house and in private houses in 
this vicinity until he gathered together a suffi- 
cient number of members to start a society. The 
original members were Philip Gebhard and wife, 
Christian Leindecker, Valentino Hothem and 
wife, John Eberwine, John Bender and Charles 
Souerbrey. The membership has since increased 
to sixty. During the summer of 1875 the church 
was built on a lot donated by Gottlieb FellerSr 
close to the Crawford towhship line. It is a 
frame building, and in its erection involved an 
expenditure of $1,200. The dedicatory sermon 
was delivered by Kev. George Schwint, in the 



•622 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



fall of 1875. During the ensuing winter Rev. O. 
C. Klocksiem, the second minister, conducted an 
interesting and successful revival. He remained 
on this appointment three years, and was suc- 
ceeded by Jolin Haas, who was pastor two years. 
Rev. William Andree, the present pastor, fol- 
lowed him. 

Jacob Miller was the first superintendent of 
the Sunday -.school. Philip Gebhard acts in that 
cai)acity at present. The school numbers about 
sixty, and is open during the summer season only. 

Kimball's Methodist Episcopal church, the old- 
est in the town.ship, was organized about the year 
1S19, by Rev. Thomas Ruggles. On the roll of 
pioneer members were the namesofAbner Kim- 
ball, John Schuck, Nathan Siiellman, Edward Mc- 
Garvey and wife, Gabriel Hedley, Elizabeth Hed- 
ley, John Little, and others. Meetings were held 
for a few years at Abner Kimball's house, and 
also in a school-house that stood on Junkin Mul- 
vane's farm. A log church was built in 1831, on 
lot 19 of the Lynn section. One of the early 
schools was taught here by Joseph Townsley. It 
was replaced in 1856 by the frame church now in 
use, the present valuation of which is 1700. Rev. 
T. G. Roberts is the present pastor, commencing 
his term of service in September, 1880. The 
present church membership is sixty. A Sunday- 
school was organized in 1856, which is now sujier- 
intended by Zachariah Everhart, and has a mem- 
bership of fifty. 

The Avondale United Presbyterian church was 
organized at the central school-house, three-fourths 
of a mile from Avondale, in May, 1872, by Rev. 
Andrew McCartney. It was formed by a union 
of White Eyes congregation and Oak Grove con- 
gregation, originally an Associate Reformed and 
an Associate Presbyterian congregation. The 
principal original members were Samuel Boyd, 
John Dagherty, Thomas Elliott, W. H. Park, John 
Boyd, Daniel Smith, Madison Warren, Robert 
Dickey and Samuel Weir ; the elders were Camp- 
bell, Warren and James T. Boyd. The church, a 



neat frame building, at Avondale, was erected in 
1S73, at a cost of about s!l,900 Since the organiza- 
tion there has been no settled pastor. Rev. An- 
drew McCartney was stated supply for one and a 
half years, half time, Rev. T. H. Pollock for one 
year, and Rev. William Wishart for six months. 
The membership is now fifty. 

White Eyes Regular Baptist church, located on 
lot 'A, Lynn section, was organized in 1839, with 
fourteen members. In 1854, the membership 
reached sixty. From that time the number de- 
creased, and a few years ago the congregation met 
and disbanded, having at the time about fifteen 
members. The ministers who have served this 
church as pastors are as follows : H. Saj-er, B. 
White, R. R. WhiUiker, A. W. Odor, J. W. and 
H. Broom. The house of worship was a small 
frame. In the summer of 1880 it was rebuilt by 
the people in this vicinity, irrespective of church 
affinities, and has thus been divested of its strictly 
denominational character. 

A similar "union" church stands on lot 2 of 
the same section. A United Brethren congrega- 
tion built a frame church here as early as 1845. 
Solomon Reed, Adam Deeds and WiU'^m P. 
Murphy, were leading members of the society 
which was never very large. It disbanded about 
1865. In October, 1876, it was resolved by a few 
of the farmers of this neighborhood to rebuild 
the church. This was accomplished in the fol- 
lowing year, through the eftbrts of Solomon 
Deeds, Robert Miller, C. C. Geese, John Phila- 
bam, James Moore, and others. It is now known 
as Union Chapel and was dedicated June 22, 
1878, by Rev. Philip Kelser, a Methodist Episcopal 
minister, assisted by William P. Murphj-, a Christ- 
ian Union, and Thomas Pollack a United Presby- 
terian minister. Rev. William P. Murphy is the 
present minister of this independent congrega- 
tion. 

A United Brethren church stands on lot 22 of 
the Bowman section, near the southeastern cor- 
ner of the township. 




"SHADY BEND," RESIDENCE OF HON. JOHN 




r, OXFOUU TOWKSHIP, COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. 



Note. — All matter contained in these sketches has been obtained directly from families or individuals cognizant of 
the facts contained in them. Being thus obtained, those furnishing the information are alone responsible for the facts and 
dates written. The publishers do not hold themselves responsible for any statements found in them. 



ADAMS WILLL\M, Bedford township, shoe- 
maker, postofRce West Bedford, born in 1S2(I, in 
Jefl'erson county. He came to this county in 
1834 with his father, John Adams, who was born 
in 1792, in Maryland. He came to Jetlerson county 
in ISOG, and was married in l.slS to Miss I\Iar- 
garet Donley, of that county, who was born in 
Pcnibsylvai^ia. He died in 1875, and she died in 
1872. They were the parents of five children, 
the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He 
was married in 18.5o to Miss Ann McCullough, 
of this coun,ty, who was born in 1827, in Dela- 
ware. 

ADAMS E. W., Ro.scoe postoffice, farmer and 
lumber dealer, liorn January 24, 1832, in Keene 
township, son of J Q. Adams, a New Englander 
bv birth and of English descent: married Octo- 
ber .3, 1866, to Miss Olivia M., daughter of Alan- 
son Gleason, of A.shtiibula county. Their family 
consists of five children, viz: Lora L., John Q , 
Dorothy A., Edward G. and Clitibrd G. In 1872 
the firm, Adams it Gleason, linnber dealers, 
was established in North Roscoe. Their stock 
consists of both rough and dressed lumber and 
they manufacture frames and all kinds of supplies 
used for building purposes. 

ADAMS THOMAS, White Eyes township, 
farmer, is a native of this county, and was born 
in 1839. His father, John Adams, emigrated to 
this country from Ireland and settled in White 
Eyes at an early date. Thomas was drafted in 
1862, and employed Jnhn Bowman, of Columbus, 
as his substitute. He married November 29, 
1866, Miss -Vngeline Wilhelm, daughter of Sam- 
uel Wilhelm. She was born in this county in 
1844. They have two children— Ida R., born in 
1867; Reo Alva, born 1877. 



ADAMS G. W., Virginia township, born in 
Coshocton county, Ohio, February 23, 1827; mar- 
ried January 2. 1854. Mr. Adams has been blessed 
with eight children, two of whom are married 
and six are still living with their parents. Mr. 
Adams is engaged in farming. Postoffice Dres- 
den, Muskingum county, Ohio. 

ADAMS C. E., Virginia township, born in 
this county March 15, 1822, son of Beal and Bet- 
sey Adams, grandson of George and Anna 
Adams. He was married January 12, 1843. Mr. 
Adams has been blessed with twelve children, 
si.x of whom are living and six are dead. Postof- 
fice Adams' Mills. 

ADAMS ALEX., White Eyes township, far- 
mer, born in 1847, in this township, the son of 
John Adams and Jane (McCullcJugh) Adams, 
who were both natives of Ireland, and came to 
this coinitry in 1832, and settled in Keene town- 
ship. They then moved upon eighty acres he 
entered in Wliite Eyes, and subsequently bought 
the Cassady place, where he now' resides. Aug- 
ust 9, 1877, Alexander Adams married Margaret 
Cutshall, of Crawford townsHip, the daughter of 
John Cutshall. They lived on the McBratney 
place one year, next moved to George county, 
Nebraska, where Mr, Adams entced a quarter- 
section. After living on that one year, he sold 
it and bought eighty acres near the same place, 
on which he lived seven months, and then re- 
turned to White Eyes, where he now resides. 
Thev have one child, Jennie Rosalie, born July 
22, 1878. 

*ADDY SAMUEL, Adams township, farmer, 
postoffice, Evansburgh; born .lune 20, 1,843; son of 
Anthony T. and Sarah A. (Norris) Addy; grand- 

"'Siucc the above was written, Mr. Addy has gone to Iowa. 



628 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



son of Robert Addy and Samuel and Lvdia 
(Hai-tly) Norris. He enlisted February 22, 1864, 
in Company H, Fifty-first O. V. I., under Cap- 
tain Samuel Stevens. He took jiart in tlie en- 
gagements at Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Cassville, Dal- 
ton, Kcnnesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek. 
Arriving at Atlanta, they went to Jonesboro, 
thence to ^Vtlanta again, thence to Chattanooga, 
then to Athens, Alabama, from there to Pulaski, 
thence to Franklin and Nashville, then to winter 
quarters, thence to Nashville, and from there to 
Texas, and was discharged Nobember 4, 1865. 
He was married October 5, 1866, to Miss Sarah J. 
Norris, daughter of Matilda (Maple) and Jacob 
Norris. The ancestors were : William and Anna 
Smyth Norris, William and Sarah (Johnson) 
Maple, great great grand-daughter of Catharine 
(Bridgewater)"johnson. She Wiis born in Adams 
township, December 20, 1848. This union has 
been blessed with five chil<lren, viz : Mary A., 
born October 14, 1867; ^larlha E., born Septem- 
ber 26, 1869; Amanda E., born May 16, 1872; 
Matilda, born November 24, 1874; Orla, born Feb- 
ruary 20, 1878. 

ALMACK D. E., Jefferson township, was born 
Octol)er 15, 184.3, in Perry town.ship, Coshocton 
county, postofficc, Mohawk Village ; son of K. L. 
and Caroline (Johns) Almack ; was brought up 
on a farm and educated in district schools. At 
the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, 
Ninety-seventh O. V. I.; served three years under 
Captain C. C. Nichols, in the Army of the Cumber- 
land, Second Division Fourth Army Corps. He 
was in the battles of Stone River, Chattanooga, 
Chickamauga, Resaca, Dalton, Adairsville, New 
Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Columbia, 
Tennessee, Springhill, Franklin and Nashville. 
He was severely wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, 
and was taken to hospital No. 1, Nashville, Tenn- 
essee, where he remained three months, when he 
again joined his regiment at Chattanooga. In 
1865, He was honorably discharged at Nashville, 
and mastered out at Columbus. He was married 
to Miss Delila Meredith, November 4, 1867, who 
died September 12,«186S. Mr. Almack was mar- 
ried to his second wife. Miss Rebecca Richards, 
January 4, 1870, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca 
(Meredith) Richards. Their children are Fran- 
cis M., .Jay Quincy, and Kinsey D. Mr. Almack 
has been engaged in merchandising siuQe 1868, in 
Jlohawk Village, where he is doing a good busi- 
ness. 

ALMACK L. F., Jefferson township, was born 
January 15, 1846, in Perry townsliip, Coshocton 
county^ son of K. L. and Caroline (Johns) Al- 
mack, and grandson of Thomas and Dorcas (Cul- 
lison) Almack, and David Johns. He was 
brought up on a farm, and educated in district 
schools, and followed farming till 1872, when he 



began the grocery business in Mohawk Village, 
and continued three years, since when he has 
been engaged as clerk in his brother's store. He 
was married to Miss Hester Mikesell, February 7, 
1869, daughter of Philip and Orpha (Gerrard) 
Mikesell. James R., born November 6, 1869, is 
their only child. 

ALMACK J. W., merchant. Pike township. 
He was born in 1846, in Perry township. His 
father, J. C. Almack, was born in 1800, in Balti- 
more countv.Marvland, and came to this county in 
1827. He was married in 1826 to Mary Richards, 
who was born in 1806, in Belmont coimty, Ohio. 
Mr. Almack died in 1873 ; Mvs. Almack, in 1880. 
They were the parents of eight children. The 
subject of this sketch, the seventh, was married 
in 1876 to Sarah Preston, who was born in this 
county in 1856. Mr. Almack was in the mercan- 
tile business in Mohawk Village and Coshocton 
prior to locating in West Carlisle, to which place 
he came in 1878, and where he now has an ex- 
cellent stock of goods. 

ALPETER J. J., Crawford township, farmer, . 
postoffice, Buena Vista, Ohio; son of John Al- 
peter, deceased, who was a farmer and stone ma- 
son. He wasborn January 12, 1814, in Hesse Darm- 
stadt, Germany; came to America in 1848, and 
located first near Rogersville, Tuscarawas county, 
where he remained nearly two years ; thence to 
near Carlisle, Holmes county, where he remained 
five years; after which he came to the homestead, 
where he died April 3, 1876. Mr. Alpeter was 
married in the fall of 1840 to Miss Catharine, 
daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Miller) Hoop- 
ricli. They became the parents of seven chil- 
dren, viz : Adam, John (deceased), Frederick, 
Elizabeth, Caroline, John J. and Henry. Mr. 
Alpeter began business in America with but 
S200, but, by industry and good management, he 
left a good farm for liis children and aged widow, 
who shared the toils and hardships of his earlv 
life. 

ALTMAN B. F., Jeilerson township, miller, 
postoffice, Warsaw; born September 6, 1847, in 
Holmes county, Ohio; son of Elijah and Mary 
(Beck) Altman, and grandson of Isaac Altman 
and Michael Beck. Until the age of twenty-three 
he attended school and assisted his father on the 
farm, saw-mill and fiouring-mill. He then went 
to Indiana, then back to Ohio and then to Mis- 
souri, and remained there about six months, after 
which he came home and has been engaged at 
milling in the following named mills, viz: Becks' 
Helmeck's, Princeton and Warsaw mills, where 
he is at present doing a good business. He was 
married October 17, 1875, to Mi.ss Lydia Cro.ss. 
daughter of John and Roda (Swan) Cross. They 
have two children— Flora N., born June 30, 1877, 
and Kosa N., born November 5, 1879. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



629 



AMANS BENJAMIN, Oxford township, far- 
■nior, postofficc, Evansburgh, Ohio; son of Isaac 
and Jane (Robinson) Anians; was born in 1843, 
in this county. He was raised on the farm and 
•has always follow'-d that occupation. Mr. Amans 
enlsited, in 1862, in comiiany G, Fifty -second 
regiment O. V. I., and served tliree years He 
fouglit under Sherman and McCook, and was en- 
gaged in tlie battles of Chicamauga, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Stone River and numerous others of 
less importance. He was married September 3, 
18CS, to Miss Anna M. Loos, of this county They 
are the parents of live children, viz: Isaac (de- 
ceased), John W. (deceased), Ananias, Eliza E., 
and Ro.sa A. (deceased). 

ANDERSON DR. J. & SON, druggists. No. 218 
Main street, Coshocton. Dr. Anderson is a native 
of Guernsey county, Ohio, where he was born 
September 8, 1820. He received his education 
in the district and select schools of that county, 
after which he attended the Cincinnati college of 
medicine and s>irgery, from which he graduated 
in 1862. He entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession at Port Washington, Tuscarawas county, 
where he remained one year. He then came to 
Keene, this county, where he practiced with suc- 
cess and acceptance some years. In 1868 he came 
to Coshocton and engaged" in the drug business 
in which he still continues. He occupies jileas- 
ant and comniodious rooms in Central hall block, 
where he keeps a very large and complete stock 
of pure drugs, cliemicals, patent medicines, 
trusses, toilet articles, fancy goods, paints, oils, 
varniishos, dye stutt's, miscellaneous and school 
books, wall paper, etc., etc., etc. 

ANDERSON GEORGE H., Bedford township, 
farmer, postofRce, Tunnel Hill, born in 1827, in 
Muskingum countv, Ohio, and was married in 
1856 to Mi.ss Elizabeth Story, of Zanesville, who 
was born in 1835 in Perry county, Ohio. They 
came to this county in 1862, and are the parents 
of three children, viz: J. A., Clara E. and Isaac G. 

ANDERSON WILLIAM, Pike township, 
postoffice, Fraysburgh, Muskingum county, 
farmer and stor'k raiser, born in Maryland, in 
1807, settled in this county in 1817 : son of Joshua 
and Sarah (Fairall) Anderson. Mr. Anderson's 
father died in 1800. and his mother in 1880. The 
subject of this sketch \vas married in 1831, to 
Miss Mariah Rilev, daughter of William and 
Hannah (Long) Riley. They are the parents of 
the following children, viz: George W., Isaac 
C, Mary J., John H., wlio enlisted in. 1862 in 
Company A, Scventv-sixth resriment. Captain 
Lemert: Phoebe A.," Eunice T., Truman B., 
Joshua B. and Sarah M. All are married. 

ANDREWS JOHN, Keene townsliip, farmer, 
•born June 14, 1815, in Philadelphia ; came to Ohio 

27 



in 1817, and settled in Steubenville, lived there 
four years, then came to Coshoctf)n county, 
Keene township. Mr. Anderson .says he remem- 
bers distinctly of sending about tliree miles to 
get William Boyd and the onlv ax in the neigh- 
borhood, to cut the brush from between the 
George Be.aver farm and Mr. Andrews' present 
home. He is a son of Gabriel and Catharine 
(Bechtol) Andrews, and grand-son of John An- 
drews. He was married to Miss Pricilla Snyder 
April 9, 1840, in Harrisburg, Pennsvlvania, 
daughter of George and Marv (Kersy) Snvder ; 
grand-daughter of Noah and Hetty (Bechtol) 
Kersy; and great grand-daughter of John and 
Catharine (Ritter) Kersy. The children born to 
them were Secillia, born January 1, 1843; G. G., 
born March 29, 1845; and John L., July 20, 1855. 

ANDREWS G. G, Coshocton; liveryman, of 
the firm of Snyder & Andrews; was born RIarch 
27, 1845, in Keene township, Coshocton county, 
Ohio; son of John Andrews, American born, of 
Irish ancestry. Young Andrews was raised on 
the farm, where he remained until he was about 
twenty-three years old, when he look a contract 
from the government to carry United States mail 
from this city to Millersburgh, Holmes county. 
He held this route for eight years. In July, 
1874, he engaged in his present "business, at tlie 
corner of Main and Second streets. This firm 
keep an average of ten horses and suitable rigs, 
such as barouches, carriages, buggies, sample 
wagons, sleighs, etc., also keeps a sale and feeding 
stable Mr. Andrews was married January 12, 
1871, to Miss Sarah L. Munn, daughter of Samuel 
Munn, of Keene township. 

ANGLE DANIEL, Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice, Evansburgh ; born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania. Marcjh 18, 1811; son of Jacob and 
Rebecca (Smith) .\ngle, and grandson of John 
Angle and Adam Smith. He went to Cambria 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1.844, and in 1850 came 
to Jefferson county, Ohio, and after remaining 
there about thirteen years, he moved to Adams 
township, Coshocton county, and has remained 
there since. He was married March 11, 18.S0, to 
Nancy Gossaid, daughter of John and Mariah 
(Keifer) Gossaid, who died October 15. 1853. 
They were the parents of three children — Daniel, 
born January 12, 1835, Jacob, born April 0. 1833, 
and Malachi, born November 5. 1839. He was 
married in February, 1855, to Sarah Gillv. who 
died December 2, 1879. Tliey had one "child, 
William, born October 31, 1855. Malachi was 
married Ajiril 12, 186S. to Alice Craw.shaw, 
daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Ellis) Crawshaw, 
born in Chester, England, July 4, 1842. They 
have three children— Joseph C, born December 
12, 186S, George, born May 22, 1873 and Lucy J., 
born January 12, 1878. 



630 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ARMSPAUGH GIDEON, Monroe township; 
was born May 25, 1803, in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, son of George and Catharine 
(Lookenliill) Arnispangh, and grandson ot'Geoi-ge 
Arnispaugh, who is of German descent. In 1811 
he came, with his parents, to Oxford township, 
Coshocton county, where lie lived until 1863, 
when he removed to Monroe township, and re- 
sides there at present on his farm. By honest 
industry and economy he has acquired and saved 
enough to keep him in comfort dui-ing the re- 
mainder of liis days. He says he rememhers 
distinctly the first Indian he ever saw, was Chief 
Doughty, who came down the Walhonding river, 
crossed" the Muskingum to Colonel Willian's so- 
loon and got a eofiiae pot fidl of whisky and re- 
turned the way he came. Mr. Armsj^augh was 
married to MissiNIary Groom, daughter of George 
and Nancy A. (Fletcher) Groom, who were Eng- 
lish. Lewis T., horn November 21, 1837, is their 
only child. Mr. Armspaugh is a farmer in Mon- 
roe township. He was married to Mi.ss Margret 
McPeek. Their children are Marshall and Ida 
Bell. Mrs. Armspaugh died March 30, 1864. 
After her death he married Mrs. Pardy, a widow, 
whose maiden name was Blary Conner, daughter 
of James and Ann (Douglas) Conner, granddaugh- 
ter of Cornelius and .\nna (Powelson) Douglas. 
The children by his first marriage are Calvin C, 
Isaiah, Francis, James, Isaac and Martha I. 

ARTHURS THOMAS, city of Coshocton; 
foreman paper mills; born in 1828 in Ireland; 
son of Edward Arthurs. Young Arthurs was 
raised on the farm until 17 years of age, when he 
came to America and went into a paper mill in| 
Steubenville, Ohio, where he remained until lsC3, 
when he took charge of the mill where he is at 
present engaged. Mr. A. was married Ajiril 27, 
l<s.")2, to Miss Anne Kalley, daughter of Gilbert 
Kalley, of County Down, Ireland. They have 
had ten children, three of whom — John, Eliza- 
beth and Thomas— have deseased. Their living 
children are William K., Ellie, Mary Anne, Jo- 
sephine, Amiie, James and Edward. 

ASCHBAKER JOSEPH, Linton township; 
farmer, postoffice, Plainfield : burn June 2S. l.Si'JS, 
in Linton townshiji; son of John and Mary Anne 
(Bordenkir<'her) Aschhaker, natives of Germany, 
i-ame to America about 183!» and located <_in the 
farm now owned by their son Joseph, who was 
married September 14, 187.") to Miss Magdalena, 
daughter of George and Elizabeth (La.-^h) Shue, 
a native of Alsace, France. They became the 
])arents of two children — Henry Edward, and 
Mary Elizabeth. He also ha<l two brothers, Dav- 
id and Jacob, in the late war, in which David 
cont 
Jos( 



itracted the disease which caused his dealijr--Qyp.'^,.^g {^^^.1^ j 
eph's father died September 22, 1857. i^^^g ■ Ge'rmanv ;j 

ASHCRAFT JACOB, Pike township; post- 



office, West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; 
born in this county in 1832, son of Jacob and 
Martha Ashcraft. He was married in 1857 to 
Miss Liddie Russell, daughter of William and 
Harriott Russell. They are the parents of twelve 
children — William S., George W.. Thomas (de- 
ceased), Norah, Mary N., Harriott K., Russell E., 
A'rthur and Jacob L. Two are married. 

AXLIXE JOHN, Jeflerson towhship: farmer; 
liostoffice. War.saw ; was born in Jliiskinguni 
county, Ohio, April 6, 1845; son of Philip and Elea- 
nor (Lyle) Axline, and grandson of Jacob A.xline, 
and Robert and Ellen Si. Lyle. and is of German, 
Scotch and Irish descent. He attended school and 
farmed until the age of nineteen ; he then worked 
in Wise's woolen mills, in Holmes county, for over 
two years, then in Beck's mills the greater part 
of three years. After that he worked on a saw- 
mill and farmed for about six j-ears in Holmes 
county, then moved to Jeflerson township, this 
county, where he has followed farming for the 
past six years. He was married December 12, 
1866, to Miss Parmelia Wise, daughter of Peter 
and Esther (Batnn) '\^'ise. and granddaughter of 
Daniel and Elizabeth (Tombaugh) Wise, also of 
Peter and Rachel (Bryfogle) Baum, of Pennsyl- 
vania (of German descent), and great grand- 
daughter of George Tombaugh. She was born- 
May 2, 1845. They have three children, viz : 
Jesse F., born Ajiril 1, 1868 ; Laura E., born Au- 
gust 10, 1871, and William S., born October 29, 
1877. 

AYRES S. H., born March 18, l&41,in Coshoc- 
ton county, Jeflerson township; son of James and 
Mary (Killpatrick) Ayers, and grandson of Wil- 
liam and Su.san (Hall) Ayres, and of Hugh and 
Sarah (Quick) Killjiatrick. He was born on a 
farm and lived with his parents till the death of 
his father, when at the age of eight years he went 
to live with his brother-in-law where he remained 
till the age of twenty-one. Being a natural 
genius he began the shoemaker trade without an 
instructor, at which he made rapid progress, and 
soon he engaged as a journeyman for White, of 
Ctishocton, where he worked for some time. He 
then took uj) the carpenter trade in like manner. 
On the 20th of December, 1878, he was appointed 
postmaster at Spring Mountain. He was married 
to Miss Mary E. Conner, December 18, 1868, 
daughter of James and Mary (Holt) Conner, and 
granddaughter of James Conner. 



BA.VD CHRISTIAN G., Crawford township; 
boot and shoemaker; jiostoffice. New Bedford, 
Decemlier 25, 1830, in Werteni- 
son of John Godfried and Chris- 
tiana (Schiess) Baad. He came to America in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



031 



1846, and located in Crawford township, and went 
to his present trade wlien about sixteen years of 
age. October 1, 1S(>4, lie enlisted in Coniiwiny G, 
Thirty-eighth O. V. I., .and served one year 
under General Sherman, nnd was honorably dis- 
charged at Columbus. Mr. Baud has held the 
otlicc of notary public and several townshi]) offi- 
ces, all of which ho efliciently lilled. Married 
January 9. 1855, to Sliss Doratlia Grainmos, and 
thev are the ]iarents of four children. Daniel J., 
Christian F., .John G. and Frcderirk E. L. Mr. 
Baad was married the second time May 17. 18G0. to 
Mary Anne, daughter of Michael and JIary Anne 
(Ried) Schweitzer. Their chililren are George M., 
Mary A., Lizzie J., Rosalee M., Charles H. and 
Franklin 0. Mr. Baad is an intelligent, first-rate 
work man. 

BABCOCK D.W., Mill Creek township; nier- 
cliant; postoffice, Mnund; born in IS.SS, in this 
county. His father, Eleazer Babcock, was born 
in 1801, near Dartmouth college. He came to 
this county in 1812, and was married in 1831, to 
Miss Elizabeth Elliot, of this county. She was 
born in 1809, in New York. He died in 1873. 
She died in 1859. They were the parents of 
eight children, the subject of this sketch being 
the fourth. He was married in 1875, to Miss 
Sarah Allishouse, of Holmes county, Ohio, who 
was born in 1849. They are the parents of two 
children, Nora A. and Londa. Mr. Babcock built 
the store room he is in, and put in the stock of 
merchandise in the spring of 1880. He has lots 
for sale near his store. 

BACHMAN BARTHOLOMEW, dealer in 
groceries, provisions and liquors, corner of Sec- 
ond and Chestnut streets, Coshocton. Mr. Bach- 
man is a native of Austria, and emigrated to 
America in 18l>7,and located in Coshocton, where 
he engaged in .<tonc-cutting, which he followed 
until 1875. He then cstabli.shod his present busi- 
ness. He occupies rooms in his own building, 
twenty by sixty feet, where he keeps a large, first- \ 
class stock of staple and fancy groceries, confec- j 
tioneries, bread, plain and fancy cakes and pies j 
of all kinds, tobaccos and cigars, fruits and vege- 
tables, and dealer in all kinds oi country jiroduce, j 
stone and wooden ware, sugar-cured and pickled ! 
meats, bologna and lish, flour and salt, and a full j 
line of miners' and laborers' wear and supplies. 
Also a large stock of foreign and domestic bran- i 
dies, wines, gins, beer, ales and blackberry wines 
of the best American brands. 

BAHMER VALENTINE A., Adams town- 
ship: shoemaker; postoffice, Bakersville; born 
in Bucks township, Tuscarawas countv. .Tune 15, 
1841; son of Valentine and Elizabeth "(Thomas) 
Bahmer, and grandson of Valentine and Louisa 
(Metz) Bahmer. He began his trade in the fall 
of 1850, with John Eckhart, of Kogersville, re- 



maining about two and one-half years. He then 
worked in Canal Dover about two years, and a 
short time at Shnnesville; then returned to Rog- 
orsville and enlisted in Company K, Fifty-first 
O. V. I., October 13, 18G2. and"serve<l eleven 
months, being discharged in September. 1863. 
He then resumed his trade, working in Mans- 
field, A.shland, Na.shville, Tennessee; LouiSville, 
Kentucky; Cincinnati; Covington, Kentncky; 
Columbus, Ohio, with Reed, Jones & Co.; Gallion, 
and Ashland, Ohio; then returned to Bakersville, 
where he has been carrying on a flourishing busi- 
ness since 1869. He "wa.s married January 3. 
1866, to Elizabeth Schweitzer, daughter of Valen- 
tine and Phebe (Froelic'h) Schweitzer, and grand- 
daughter of ^'■alentine Schweitzer and Nicholas 
Froelich. Thev are the parents of seven children, 
namely: Phebe, Charles ^^, William H. (de- 
ceased), Lewis, Edward, Harry and Carrie. 

BAHMER A.. Coshocton; livery man; born 
November 20, 1852, in Tu.scarawas county, Ohio; 
son of Valentine Bahmer, of French ancestry. 
Young Bahmer spent his childhood on the farm. 
At the age of fourteen he entered a store as 
clerk, at Bakersville, this county, and contin- 
ued six years, when he went to Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania, and clerked in a provision store 
until 1877, when ho came to this oity and engaged 
in his present busines.s, Mr. Bahmer was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah M. Mizer. daughter of Wil- 
liam Mizer, of Adams town.^hip. The result of 
this union was five ohildren.all li\"ing, viz : Free- 
ling H.. Harriett Belle, Catherine E.. ISIichael V. 
and Josephine E. Mr. Bahmer keeps an average 
of about seven horses, with rigs to suit, such as 
barouches, buggies, wagons, sleigh.s, etc., and is 
doing a very fair business in feeding and caring 
for most of the best horses in town. He is the 
owner of Jerry Hadwig, who has a public record 
of 2:35. trotting, and can to-day beat his record 
several seconds. 

BAILEY STEWART, Tiverton township: far- 
mer; postoffice, (iann, Knox county; born Decem- 
ber 1, 1853, in this county. His father w.as born 
in 1802, in JIuskingum county. Ohio, and was 
njarried September 11, 1826. to Miss Phoslie Rich- 
ards, of Holmes county, who was born September 

7, 1810. He came to this county in 1836. She 
died November 15, 1847. They were the parents 
of eleven children. He was married June 20, 
1848, to Miss P. W. Humphrey, of this county, 
who was born April 15, 1818, and died Jamiary 

8, 1877. They w-ere the ))arents of eight children. 
The subject of this sketch being the fourth. 

BAIRD GEORGE, Jackson township; farmer; 
postoffice, Roscoe, Ohio; son of William and 
Nancy Baird; was born May 1, 1808. in West- 
moreland county, Peiuisylvania. He came to 
Ohio in 1828, and has since remained. The 



632 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



country was then a wilderness of woods, with 
few settlers and plenty of wild animals. Mr. 
Baird was married in' 1837 to Miss Elizabeth 
Clark, who was born in Virginia, but principally 
raised in this county. They became the parents 
of ten children, eight of whom are living, viz: 
Keziah, Nancy J., Louisa, Rachel, Wdliam, 
George, .Tohn, James (deceased), and Josiah. Mr. 
Clark's father served in the revolutionary vfur. 
He now owns a fine farm in the Walhonding 
valley. 

BAKER R. LANE, Linton town.«hip; farmer; 
born in Linton township, N(jvember 17, 1818: 
son of Rezin and Mary (Addy) Baker, daughter 
of William Addy, one of the earliest settlers of 
Linton townshij). Mr. Baker was married in 
1849 to Melinda Loos, daughter of John Loos. 
Five of his ten children survive, viz: Mary 
Ellen, Barbara Ada, William A., John H. and 
Jessie. He has served a term of three years as 
county surveyor, and has just been re-elected to 
a second term. 

BAKER IS.4.AC, Monroe town.ship; was born 
February 21, 18.3G, in Knox county, Ohio. He is 
a son of William and Mary (Ankncy) Baker, 
grandson of George and Susan (Brcillier) Ank- 
ney; was born and brought up on a farm; edu- 
cated partly in district scliools and partly at INIiU- 
wood and Danville. He taught school three 
terms then engaged as clerk with Robert Mc- 
Cloud in a general merchandi.se store, where he 
continued for some time. He then bought Mc- 
Cloud's goods and went into the business him- 
self, in 1.S64, where he remained till 1866, when 
he sold out and moved to Spring Mountain, Cosh- 
octon county, and engaged in the same business 
with Ed. Lybarger, and is there.^it jjresent doing 
a very good business Mr. Baker was married 
first to Miss Adelia Shroyer in 1864. The chil- 
dren by this marriage are : Edwin W. and Claude 
A. Mrs. Baker died October 11, 1878. After the 
death of Mr. Baker's first wife he married Hattie 
A. Hogle, September 1, 1880, daughter of John 
Hogle. 

BALCH GEORGE, miller; postoffice, Canal 
Lewisville, Ohio; was born May 4. 1838, in Clay 
township, Knox county; son of John W. and Ma- 
linda fHull) Balch. His father was a native of 
New York State, and hisTuotherof Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Balch's first occupation was a sawyer, but 
has successfully followed carpentering, mill- 
wrightinS and farming. He came to this county 
in lSo2 and remained in the county to the pres- 
ent time, with the exceptions of the years 1865-6- 
7 he lived in Missouri. Mr. Balch was married 
September 19, 18G.5, to ISIiss Nancy, daughter of 
John and Elizal)eth Boyd, of White Eyes town- 
ship. They are the parents of eight children, 
viz: Charles H., deceased, Emma, (twins), Nan- 



nie Eda, Laura Malissa, Lola Jane and Lucius J. 
The last three are triplets, growing well, of good 
health and ordinary size. At about eight years 
old they were all of exactly the same weight. ' At 
jiresent Mr. Balch is principal owner of the fine 
flouring mill in Lafayette township, where the 
Conotten Valley railroad crosses the canal. 

BALO FRANCIS, Virginia township; horn in 
Switzerland, November 18, 1810; settled in this 
county in 18.53; son of Francis and Susanab Balo. 
He was married October 24, 1835, to Elizabeth 
Strom, daughter of David and Anna Strom. 
Their union has been blessed with seven children 
five of whom are living and two dead. Abram 
died in the army. Postoffice, Adams' Mills. 

BALO STEPHEN, Virginia township; born in 
Switzerland, in 1836; son of Francis and Eliza- 
beth Balo; married in 1865 to Martha Bird. Their 
union has been ble.ssed with six children, all of 
whom are living. Mr. Balo is a farmer. Post- 
office, Adams' Mill. 

BALO DAVID, Virginia township; born in 
Switzerland in 1837; settled in Coshocton county 
in 1853; a son of Francis and Elizabeth Balo, and 
was married, in 1860, to Mariah J. Newell, daugh- 
ter of Alexander and Jane Newell. He enlisted Au- 
gust 2, 1862, in company H, Ninety-seventh regi- 
ment Army of the Cumberland, and participated 
in the battles of Perrysville, Chattanooga, Mission 
Ridge, Tunnell Hill, Reseca, Dallas, Sjiermey 
Camp, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw, Atlanta, 
Jonesboro', Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville and 
Lovejoy Station. Mr. Balo wasdischarged June 15, 
1864, at Nashville. He has been blessed with five 
children, four of whom are living and one dead. 
Postoffice, Adams' Mills. 

BANKS BENJAMIN,Linton township; farmer; 
born in INIaryland, in 1821; sou of Sanniel and 
Mary (Piper) Banks, the youngest of eight chil- 
dren. When about fifteen months old, he came 
with his parents to Linton township. His father 
died the same year in which he came to Ohio; 
his mother survived until March, 1870. Mr. 
Banks was married in 1840, to Elizabeth John- 
son, daughter of James Johnson, formerly of 
this township. Children — Samuel (deceased), 
Ragan, Sarah Jane, M:iry, Martha, Ellen, Dwight 
(deceased) and Seldon. He was married in 1864 
to Frances C. Glenn, daughter of John Glenn, of 
Linton township. By this marriage, he had four 
children — Clara, Maggie, Laura and John R. 
His wife died March 4, 1876. 

BARCROFT ELIAS B„ Franklin town.ship; 
born in JefTerson county, Ohio, August 30, 1820; 
soi of Lee J. Barcroft, In 1836, he moved, with 
his father's family, to Lafayette township ; learned 
the wagonmaker trade, in Linton township, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



633 



worked at it for a number of years; moved to 
Franklin towns-liip, in 1856, and has lived hero 
since, engaged in farming. lie was married 
October 19, 1843, to Sarah Rodruck, daughter of 
Lewis Rodruck, a pioneer settler of ' Franklin 
township. Daniel A., Lewis B., WiUiam H. 
Sarah A. (Moore) and John B., are their children. 

BARCKOFT W. H., M. D., Coshocton; born 
Februarj' 9, 1851, in Linton township, this coun- 
ty; son of E. B. Barcroft, of Jett'erson county, and of 
Englisii ancestry. Young Barcroft was raised on 
the farm until he was about eighteen years old, 
when he began teaching school and going to high 
school in this city. In 1871, began reading medi- 
cine with Dr. Ingraham, of this city. On finish- 
ing his preliminary reading he entered the med- 
ical college at Columbus, Ohio, and attended two 
years, where he graduated in the spring of 1875, 
with the title of M. D. The doctor first began 
professional practice at Jacobsport, and con- 
tinued there from March, 1875, to November, 
1870, when he came to this city, where he has 
continued his practice to the present writing. 
Dr. Barcroft was married December 27, 1877, to 
Miss Susie J. Patterson, dflughter of H. E. Patter- 
son, of Detroit, Michigan. 

BARGE J. D., Adams township; farmer; post- 
ofiBce Bakersville; born March 20, ]s44, in Tus- 
carawas county ; son of Robert and Achsah (Fore- 
man) Barge, and grandson of Robert and Eliza- 
beth (Tailor) Barge and Thomas and Elizabeth 
Foreman. He was married March 24, 1867, to 
Miss Susanna Myser, daughter of Joseph and 
Catharine A. (Shanks) Myser, and granddaughter 
of Jacob and Catharine (Fancier) Myser and 
James and Christina (Helwick) Shanks. " She was 
born January 4, 1844. They are the jiarents of 
two children — Carrie, born" April 17, 1808 and 
Byron W., born September 10, 1S7(). August 13, ! 

1802, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred 
and Twenty-second O. V. I., went to Camp Zmes- 
ville in September and was mustered into service 
October 8, and in the latter part of the month 
went to Marietta, thence to Parkersburg, remain- 
ed there a few days then went to Clarksburg, Va., 
thence to Winchester, arriving there January 1, 

1803, where on June 15 our forces were atUicked 
by Early's command, aided in repulsing them. 
lie was one of 200 of his regiment that wen> left 
in the fort and was made prisoner, having been 
detiiiled to the hospital as nurse for P. Worley. 
He was marched to Staunton, Va., under guard 
of the Fifty-fourth X. C. Infantry, thence by rail 
to Libby Prison, at Richmond", Va., remained 
there four days, was fed on squaw-pea soup, con- 
sisting of three pints of water to two ounces of 
peas boiled a few minutes, was soim removed to 
Belle Island and kept there abciut thirtv davs, 
and then paroled and taken to City Point," thence 



by water to Annapolis, Md., at which place he, 
with Daniel Shook, S. D.uighcrty and Samuel 
Worlz, received a verbal permit to go home until 
he could be exchanged. Not having a furlough, 
they avoided all guards through the country, also 
kept clear of all towns and railroad stations, trav- 
eling through fields, over hills and hollows via 
Baltomore, Chaml)ersburg, Gettysburg, Browns- 
ville, Pittsburgh, Florence and Steubenville, a dis- 
tance of 575 miles, in 12 days, and remained at 
home until notified of his exchange, then went 
to his regiment at Brandywinc station and took 
part in the engagements at Winchester, Mine 
Run, Locast Grove, Spottsylvania, Cedar Creek, 
Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He lost one 
brother, L. T. Barge, belonging to the Fifty- 
seventh O. V. I ; also had a brother in the Fifty- 
first O. V. I. He was discharged July 1, 1805. 

BARKHURST J. W, Coshocton, Ohio; manag- 
ing sewing machine agent, 408 Maiii street. Born 
October 8, 1843, in Guernsey county, Ohio, son of 
James and Elizabeth C. (Welling) Barkhurst. 
He was brought up on a farm with his parents, 
in the southwest corner of Jackson township, 
where he remained until Scptendier, 1861, when 
he was the first man to enlist in Company D, Fif- 
ty-first O. V. I. He re-enlisted Jan. 1, 18M, and 
was discharged on accoimt of a wound received 
June 22, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain, (ieorgia. 
After his discharge he retmncd home to his 
parents, where he remained about one year, then 
entered the Ohio Wcslyan university, at Dela- 
ware, Ohio. He then located in Coshocton, but 
only remained one year, after which he located 
at his present residence in Ro.scoe. Some two 
years after he gave up his purchase of the home 
property, his parents made an amicable division 
of their eft'ects, and have since made their home 
with their son, J. W. He was married in the 
spring of 1868, to Miss Mary Virginia, daughter of 
George E. and Letitia(Niciiolas) Edwards. They 
became the parents of live children, Charles W., 
Shelley E., Ada (deceased), and Minnie Harvey. 

BARNES RICHARD, Jackson township; born 
in Pennsylvania in 1813; son of Mordecia and 
Matilda Barnes; married in 1846 to Miss Charlotte 
Kirker, daughter of William and Ellen Kirker. 
Mr. Barnes is the father of seven children, five 
living and two dead. Mr. Barnes departed this 
life September, 1876. His widow still survives 
him, and lives upon the old homestead. Post- 
office, Tyrone. 

BARNES WILLIAM, Jackson township; born 
in this county in 1^47; son of Richard and 
Charlotte Barnes, and grandson of Mordecia and 
Matilda Barnes. He was married in 1^71 to Miss 
Lillie D. Cox, daughter of C. 1!. and Elizabeth 
Cox. Mr. Barnes is the father of three children, 
viz: R. B., 0. C, M. M. Postotfice, Roscoe. 



634 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



BARRETT JOHN, Perry township; New Guil- 
ford postoffice ; farmer; liorn in this county in 
1830; son of Hugh and Mary (Neldon) Barrett, 
and grandson of Hugh and Nanoy M. Barrett, 
and of John Neldon; married in 1854 to KVv/ai- 
beth J. Almac, daughter of John and Mary Al- 
mac. They are the parents of twelve children, 
viz: Mary N., Manda M., Celestia R., Sarah B., 
John W., Elizabeth E., Margaret L., Dora A., 
James E. (dead), Cora E., Ira, and Oda F. Three 
are married. Mr. Barrett enlisted in the 100- 
days service, in 1804. 

BARRETT ISA AC, Bedford township ; farmer ; 
postoffice, Mohawk Village ; born in 1838, in this 
county. His fathar was born 1802, in Ireland, 
settled in Delaware in 1808 and in this county in 
1812. He was married in 1826, to Miss Sarah 
Todd, of Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, who 
was born in 1808. They are the parents of nine 
children. The subject of this sketch was married 
in 1801, to Miss Mary E. Piersol, of this county, 
who was born in 1840, in Muskingum county, 
Ohio. They are the parents of six children, viz : 
Elmer G., Sarah J., Luella A , Melvin, Zora and 
William W. 

BARRICK DANIEL, Crawford township; far- 
mer; was born July 20, 1847, in Crawford town- 
ship; son of Simon and Susan (daughter of Wil- 
liam Stiill) Barrick. Mr. Barrick started in life 
for himself as a hired farm laborer, but now 
ownes a good farm of his (jwn. Pie was elected 
justice of the peace, of Crawford township, when 
but twenty-three years of age and served two 
terms. During this time he married twenty-two 
couples. 'Squire Barrick was married Septem- 
ber 14, 1871, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Henry 
and Louisa (Baad) Stroup They have one child — 
Daniel H. 

BARTH ANDREW, Crawford township, New 
Bedford postoffice ; retired farmer ; born Decem- 
ber 13, 1811. in Wurtemburg, Germany; son of 
Frederick and Eve (Long) Barth. After com- 
pleting the usual school course, at fourteen he 
went to the tailor's trade, which he followed until 
he came to America, in August, 1838. He land- 
ed at Baltimore, Maryland, and by way of Phila- 
delphia went to Pittsburgh, where he worked 
on the Beaver and Erie canal with a lot of Irish- 
men, who, not affiliating with him, treated him 
very unkindly. Being a .stranger, in a foreign 
land, entirely destitute of money or friends, he 
endured this rather than beg, and by persever- 
ence, honestj- and industry, obtained a good farm, 
the rent of which aflbrds him ample means to 
live free from labor in his old age, at a good pub- 
lic house. He worked at his trade (tailoring) in 
many towns in eastern Ohio, among them Zoar, 
where he was married in 1840, to Miss Catharine, 
daughter of Christian Ceogle. The fruit of this 



marriage was four children, Rachel, Christian 
Frederick, Andrew and John; all dead except 
Christian Frederick, who is the head of a large 
family of children. Mr. Barth lost his help-mate 
July 20, 1880. Being left alone, he has now a 
pleasant home at the Commercial hotel, its genial 
host being Charles C. Hinkle. 

BEACH D. C, Coshocton; merchant tailor, 412 
Main street; born Jmie 12, 1819, in New Bruns- 
wick, New Jersey; son of El»nezer Beach, a na- 
tive of New Jersey. Young Beach was raised in 
Newark, New Jersey, until fifteen years of age. 
At the age of thirteen he went to his trade in 
Newark, New Jersey; at fifteen went to Brook- 
lyn, New York, and continued his trade, where 
he remained until 1844, when he removed to 
Knox county. In 1862 he established business in 
Mount Vernon as merchant tailor and clothier. 
In 1863 came to this city and was cutter for dif- 
ferent firms until 1872, when he established his 
present business, which he has conducted to the 
present time. Mr. Beach was married in 1848 to 
Miss Lucy Eliza Amadou, of New York State. 
They have had five children, Alice, (deceased), 
Henry D., Louis Kossuth, Lillie Dale, Frank and 
James. Mr. Beach is doing a good business, hav- 
ing all that himself and several workmen can do. 

BEALL C. N., Keene township; farmer ; born 
February S, 1825, in Harrison county; son of John 
and Margaret (Noble) Beall, and grandson of 
Colmire Beall. His mother's parents were 
George and Mary Noble. In 1850 he came to 
Coshocton county, settling in Keene township. 
He was married October 5, 1848 to ISIartha Jlil- 
liner, born July 17, 1823, daughter of Edward 
and Elizabeth (Randle) Milliner. They have but 
one child, John S., born July 14, 1849, who was 
married October 21. 1875, to Sarah J., daughter of 
John and Seneth (Ramer) Beaver, and grand- 
daughter of George Beaver. They have one lit- 
tle girl, Zura Mary, born March 7, 1878. 

BEALL J., Keene township; farmer; son of 
John and Margaret (Noble) Beall ; was born April 
2, 1828, in Harrison county, Ohio. He came to 
this county in 1852. Mr Beall was raised on the 
farm and "has alwa3-s followed that occupation. 
He was married October 8, 1.847, to Miss Rhoda 
Smith of Washington county, Pennsylvania. They 
became the parents of six children, viz: William 
E,, Joseph S , Mary J. (deceased), Alva, John (de- 
ceased), and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Beall are 
prominent members of the M. E. church at Keene, 
and are respected by all who know them. Mr. 
Beall has held different offices in his township 
for many years. 

BEALL ROBERT, Lafayette township;; stsi- 
tion agent, express agent, postniiister and grain 
dealer; was born in Harrison county, June 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



635 



1829; lived on the farm until the fall of 1855, 
when he went to Doods county, Wisconsin, and 
engaged in the lumber busines, for three years; 
then went to Illinois, and spent three years in 
the wagon and carpenter business; came back to 
Ohio, and spent nine years in the broom busi- 
ness; then, from that, came to West Lafayette, 
and is now station agent, express agent, post- 
master and grain dealer ; was justice of the jieace, 
six years; was married, in the fall of 1849, to 
Miss Rogers, of Harris(jn county. They have had 
seven children — Mary D., Sarah E., Frank A. 
(decea.sed), Ella, Viola, Rosa (deceased) and 
Jennie. Mr. Beall is kept very busy, attending 
all his business, but always has time to treat his 
customers, and others with whom he may come 
in contact, in a gentlemanl)- manner; is a cash 
dealer throughout, and has got what he is pos- 
sessed of, by honest hard work. 

BEAM WILLIAM T., Crawford township; 
postoffice. Chili; farmer and stock man ; born Sep- 
tember 28, 18.35, in Somerset county, Pennsylva- 
nia; son of Christopher and Margaret (Deters) 
Beam. He came to Carroll county, Ohio, when 
about three years of age. When about eigliteen. 
he began stock dealing in Holmes county, and 
came to his present residence in May, 1877. Mr. 
Beam was married May 10, 1877, to Jliss Lucin- 
da, daughter of Peter and Cathrite (Netl) Snyder, 
of Crawford township, but a native of Switzer- 
land. One child (Mary Dell), was born to them. 
Mr. Beam has had a very extensive experience 
in stock dealing, having been a successful shipper 
for many years. 

BEARDSLEY 0. M., Virginia townsliip; post- 
•ofRce, Dresden; born in Xew York, in 1801, set- 
tled in this county hi 1837; son of David and Han- 
na Beardsley. He was married in 1837. Mr. 
Beardsley has four children, viz : Laura, Charles 
E., Louisa, and John. 

BEAVER JOHN, Coshocton county, treasurer; 
was bcjrn January 19, 1827, in Tuscarawas county ; 
son of George Beaver, born June 20, 1800, in Tus- 
carawas county. 

John Beaver was raised on the farm, where he 
remained until September G, 1880, when he took 
charge of the office above named, to which he was 
fleeted October 14, 1879. 

Mr. Beaver was married April 21, 1850, to Miss 
Sarah Reamer, daughter of George Reamer, de- 
ceased, formerly of Keene township. This union 
was blessed with eight children, one deceased 
(Catharine), and seven living, viz: ISIary M., 
Sarah J., George C, .Vngeline L., J. D. and Charles. 
Mr. Beaver's grandfather, John Beaver, when 
seventeen years old, was with Bouquet's expedi- 
tion. 

BECK SAMUEL, miller, Monroe township; 



postoffice, Spring Mountain; born in 1847, in 
Holmes county. He come to Bloomtield, this 
county, in 1.S71, and was married, in 1872, to Miss 
Martha Frederick, of this county, who was born 
in ]8i34. They are the parents of one child, 
Eugene. Mr. Beck purchased the grist-mill, where 
he now lives, in 1874. He has since attached a 
saw-mill and can run by water or steam. He 
does custom work only in the grist-mill. 

BECK JAMES, Warsaw, Jefferson township; 
miller; postoffice, Warsaw; was b<jrn in Holmes 
county, Ohio, March 18, 1800; son of Benjamin 
and Julia (Butron) Beck, and grandson of 
Michael Beck. He received his education in the 
district schools in Holmes county At the age 
of sixteen he began learning the millers' trade, 
under Peter Widner, of Holmes county, and two 
years later he took charge of the Hendrick mills, 
and acted as foreman of that mill about nine 
months, when he came to Warsaw and took 
charge of the Warsaw mills for Beck it Welling, 
and fhe business is progressing finely under his 
management. Mr. Beck is a very promising 
young man, and possesses more than ordinary 
ability in his profession 

BERRY L. F., New Castle township; farmer; 
postotfice, New Castle ; wna born in Perry town- 
ship. Coshocton county, September 9, 1850; son 
of Enoch and Mary E. (Buxton) Berry, and 
grandson of John and Elizabeth Berry and Fran- 
cis and Sarah E. Buxton. He attended school 
and assisted his father on the farm until he was 
twenty-one years of age, after which he attended 
college at Delaware, Ohio, a term of six months, 
since which time he has been farming, excepting 
from November, 1876, to November, 1877. during 
which time he w;is engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness with his brother and Mr. McKee. He was 
married December 11. "1873, to Jliss Emma Lash, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Barrow) Lash, 
and granddaughter of Peter and Catharine Lash 
and William and Elizabeth Barrow. She was 
born May 21, 18.52. They are the parents of two 
children, Ralph S., Ijorn December 22, 1876, and 
Zella Mabel, born November 6, 1879. His father, 
Enoch Berry, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, 
May 1, 1818; son of John and Elizabeth (Yost) 
Berry, and grandson of John Berry and Peter 
Yost. He moved to this county in 1.828, with his 
parents, and has remained a resident ever since. 
He married Miss Mary Buxton, who died in Feb- 
ruary, 1877, leaving a husband and three children 
to mourn her loss. She was born in the village 
of East Union, June 9, 1824. 

BERRY ENOCH, New Castle township; post- 
office, New Castle; farmer; was l)orn in Belmont 
county, Ohio (near St. Clairsville), on May 1, 
1818; "son of John and Elizabeth (Yost) Berry, 



636 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and grandson of Peter Yost, of German-Irish 
descent. He moved with his parents to this 
county in the year 1828, has resided here ever 
since, and is a highly respected and energetic 
farmer. Ho was married July 15, 1843, to Jliss 
Mary A. Buxton, daughter of Francis and Sarah 
Buxton, who wa.s born in East Union, Perry 
township, June '.), 1824, and died February 5, 
1877. They had born to them four children, of 
whom three are living, viz: Sarah E., John W., 
and Leonidas F. He was a resident of Perry 
township about nineteen years, and had received 
his schooling by going a day or two now and 
then when his services were not needed on the 
farm. 

BERRY JOHN W., New Castle township; son 
of Enoch and Mary E. (Buxton) Berry; was born 
in Perry townshiji, Sejitcmber 25, 1848. He re- 
mained with his parents until the age of twenty- 
one, attending .school and assisting on the farm. 
At that age he married Miss Elizabeth Copland, 
daughter of James and Margaret (Baily) Cop- 
land, and granddaughter of James and Elizabeth 
(Horton) Copland, and James and Elizabeth 
Baily. The date of this marriage is October 2, 
1869. Mrs. Berry was born May 13, 1852. Her 
father lost his life in attempting to cross the ^Val- 
honding river on horseback, when she was but 
three years of age. They have been bleesed with 
three children, viz: Georae, born January 25, 
1871; Albert, born August 6,1874; and Wilber, 
born January 18, 1877. 

BERTON EUGENE, Franklin township; iron 
worker; postoffice, Wills Creek; born April 28, 
1853, near Metz, France ; son of Francis and Anne 
(Beandonin) Berton. At the age of fifteen he 
went to his present trade in Harnes, France, and 
remained five years; for the first two he received 
no wages, he having to board and clothe himself. 
In July, 1.S73, he came to his present place in 
Franklin township. Mr. Berton was married 
January £6, 1875, to Miss Mary, daughter of John 
and Annie (Grant) Davied. They became the 
parents of two children, Estella and Francis. Mr. 
Berton has been eight years in America and is 
doing a very fair business. 

BEST JOHN M., Keene township; born March 
23, 1845, in Coshocton county. He is a son of 
Jacob and Susan (Miller) Best, native of Penn- 
sylvania, and grandson of John and Christina 
(Hootnian) Best. He is a farmer by occupation. 
Married to Miss Malinda Wilson. They have two 
children: William, bom December 22, 1873; 
Alpha, August 30, 1875. 

BIBLE JACOB, Bethlehim township; farmer; 
born in 17V6, in Rockingham county, Virginia. 
He was married in 1820, to Miss Elizabeth Richey, 
of the same county, who was born in 1802. They 



came to this county in 1821 and located in Keene 
township, and remained imtil 1837, when they 
removed to Bethlehenr township. They became 
the parents of ten children, tive of whom are liv- 
ing, viz: Philip, born in 1829, George, born in 1831, 
Josiah, born in 1834, Hannah, born in 1823 and 
Mary, born in 1828. Philip was married to Miss 
Courtright, of this county, and now lives on the old 
homestead. They have hve children, viz: Eliza- 
beth, Catliarine, Margaret, Eliza and Jacob. George 
Bible was married to Miss Randies, of this county ;. 
and nowlivesin Keene township. Josiah was mar- 
ried to jMiss Walton, of this county, and is now liv- 
ing in Illinois. Hannah was married to Mr. Henry 
jMumford,of this county, and now lives in Keene 
township. Mary was maried to Mr. George Tur- 
ner, of this county, and now hves in Bethlehem 
township. Mr. Bible, the subject of this sketch, 
was a carpenter in his younger days, but later 
has followed farming. He was also an old hunter 
and trapper. He had four sons in the late war 
at one time, all of whom enlisted from this 
county. Mrs. Bible died in 1860, aged sixty-seven 
years. Mr. Bible is now in his eighty-fourth year, 
and is still active in both mind and body. 

BIGGS WILLIAM, Jackson township; born 
in this county in 1828; son of William and Hes- 
ter (Markley) Biggs, and grandson of William 
and Mary Biggs and Andrew and Mary Markley; 
married in 1853, to Mary Smith, daughter of 
Newman and Hester Smith. Mr. Biggs is the 
father of twelve children, viz: Palina, James, 
John (deceased), Frederick, Frank (deceased), 
Josepli. Evalina, Elizabeth, Hester, William, 
Mary, Samuel. Two are married and living in 
this county. James is a teacher. 

BIGGS F. F., Roscoe, Ohio, of the firm of 
Wright, Biggs & McCabe, general merchandising. 
West IMain street, Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Biggs 
was born June 7, 1858, in Jackson township; son 
of William Biggs, a native of America, hut of 
Irish ancestry. He was brougfit up on the farm 
until nineteen, when he began teaching school, 
and tauglit three years. Then he became a 
partner in the above firm. Mr. Biggs was mar- 
ried December 31, 1876, to Mi.ss N. E., daughter 
of John L. Dougherty, of Jackson town>hip. 
Thev are the parents of two children, viz: Lelia 
and "Ethel. * 

BIRCH JACOB, Pike township; postoffice. 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; horn in 
Virginia in 1805, and settled in this county in 
1851 ; son of William and Nancy (Simmons) 
Birch He was married in 1835, to Miss IMary 
Cookscy. Their childreii are Eliza A., Mahala, 
Evaline, Edward and Anderson. Mr. Birch was 
married to his second wife. Miss Mary Connard, 
in 1865. They have one child, Elvin. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



637 



BLACKMAN HOLDER Dr., Jefferson town- 
ship; {lostoffice, War.-ilw; bom April, 1822, 
ne:\r Itaverill, Suttiillc county, Eniiiaml; son of 
William and Susan (llcaUler) Blackinan, natives 
of EnuiUuul. He came to America in 1832, and 
settled in Gambier, Kno.x county, Ohio. He went 
to school until the .age of twenty-iaie, when he 
began tlie liouse-joiner trade with William Rice, 
of Wooster, and followed that for about two 
years. He then took an irregular course at Ken- 
yon college at Gambier for two years. He then 
studied medicine with Prof. Homer I\I. Thrall for 
two yaars, attending a course of lectures at the 
Cleveland medical college during the winter of 
1848--l:9, after which he began the practice of 
inedicene in the spring of 1849, at Walhonding, 
Coshocton county, and remained there two years. 
He then came to Warsaw, where he is at present, 
having a fair practice. He was married in Janu- 
ary, 18.^0, to Miss Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of 
Eiiward Spencer. They had four childrcu, viz: 
William K., born November 15, 1850; Anna, born 
June 14, 1853; Frank, born March 25, 185.3, and 
Lillie, born March 1, 1859. 

BLUCK WILLIAM (deceased), Lafayette 
township; was born in England, Shropshire 
county, about 179G; was married to Miss Price, of 
England. They have had four children, two of 
whom only are living. His wife dying, he mar- 
ried Miss James, of England, who became the 
mother of seven children, six of whom are living, 
as follows: Thomas P., Edmond, Edwin, Joseph, 
Lucy, Arthur, Lucretia, William and Rose. 
Edwin was born in England, in 1843, and, com- 
ing to this State and county, with his jiarents, in 
1853, located in this tow'nsliip, where ho now re- 
sides. He enlisted in Company A, One Hun- 
dred and Seventy-fourth 0. V. I., at Newark, 
Ohio, and returned home, when peace was de- 
clared. He was married, in 1806, to Miss Mary 
C. Whiteside, of this county, to wliom one child, 
F. E., was born .Vugust, 1867. Black's father 
and mother died in 1867, at the ages af seventy- 
one and forty-seven years. 

BOCK GEORGE J., Coshocton city ; proprietor 
barber-shop, Main street; was born June 14, 1852, 
in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. At sixteen, 
he learned his trade, and worked in tiic city of 
Pittsburgh, and in several towns in the Pennsyl- 
vania oil region, and in Maryland. In 1875, he 
established a shop in this city, which he has car- 
ried on to the present writing. Mr. Bock was 
married May 10, 1874, to Miss Mary L. Barer, of 
Erie, Pennsylvania, who was a native of New 
Jersey. This union has been blessed with three 
children, Mary V., Catherine B. and George Je- 
rome Bock. Mr. Bock is doing a very good 
business. 

BODKIN AMMI, Perry township, New Guil- 



ford postoffice; born in West Virginia, in 1841; 
settledin Licking county, Ohio, 1863; son of John 
and Rebecca Bodkin, and grandson of Jacob and 
Hanna (Stewart) Bodkin He was married in 
1872, to Alice Boyd, daughter of John and Jemi- 
ma Boyd. Mr. Bodkin is the father of four chil- 
dren, viz : Nellie, John, William and Maud. Mr. 
Bodkin entered the Southern army in 1862, Com- 
pany A, Fourteenth regiment, and was engaged 
in the battles of Bull Run, Chancelhjrsville, Stone 
Wall, Scotts Spring, Fisher's Hill, Gettysburg and 
others. 

BOERING JOHN D., merchant; postoftice, 
West Lafayette ; was born in this county, in 1846, 
and educated at tlie public school of Roscoe. He 
was married in 1880, to Jliss Hannah Weather- 
wax, who was born in Clark township, in 1847. 
Mr. Boering established the hardware trade in 
West Lafayette, in 1880, and keeps in stock a gen- 
eral line oi' hardware, cntlery, etc., and is having 
a liberal trade. 

BONHAJI T. W., Pike township; postoflice. 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
Tuscarawas county, in 1837, settled in tjiis county 
in 1840; son of Evan and Mary A. ( Worley) Bon- 
ham, and grandson of David and Tacy Bouham. 
He was married in 18G(), to Miss Nervy J. Chaney, 
daughter of Franklin and Margaret (Gibbins) 
Chancy. They are the parents of two children, 
L. M. and Plawra E. 

BORING P. W., Coshocton ; helper to miller 
in Empire Mills, Ro.scoe, Ohio; born January 
22, 1852; son of Joshua Boring, a native of Mary- 
land. P. W. Boring was raised on the farm 
where he remained until 1879, when he engaged 
in his present employment where he has re- 
mained to the present writing. 

BOSTWICK W. W., Coshocton; jeweler. 224 
Jlain street; was born January 9, 1847, in tCnox 
county; .son of Nathan Bostwick, American born, 
but of Scotch ancestry. Young Bostwick lived on 
\ the farm until twelve years old, when he went into 
I a dry goods store as clerk, where he remained 
seven year.s. He then attended the McNeely nor- 
mal school at Hope Dale, one year. On leaving 
school he spent the next three years learning his 
trade with Hide it Young, Mount Vernon. Jan- 
uary 15, 1870, he came to this city and estal)li^hed 
his present business in company with his brother, 
H. C. In 1872 he became sole" proi)rictor. Mr. 
Bostwick was married April 16, 1873, to Miss Kate 
Hay, daughter of H. Hay of this city, which union 
has been blessed with two children, Houston H. 
and Frank B. Mr. Bostwick is doing a very ex- 
tensive business in his line of goods, having the 
most extensive stock of the kind in the county. 

BOSTWICK, J. A., jeweler, Main street, near 



638 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



depot, Coshocton. Mr. Bostwick is a native of 
Kno.-c county, born August 24, 1S52, and was 
educated in the public schools of Mt. Vernon. 
His tirst business engagement was in learning 
the jewelry businesss with H. C. Bostwick, of 
Newark, Ohio, whom he served four years. He 
then came to Coshocton and engaged in business 
for himself, in November, 1875, and in which he 
still continues. He occupies spacious and elegant 
rooms south side Main street, where he keeps a 
very large and well selected stock of first-class 
foreign and American watches, solid and jilated 
silverware, cutlery, clocks of all styles, and a 
large and elegant assortment of ladies' and gents' 
jewelry, all of the latest patterns; also, all kinds 
of watch, clock and jewelry repairing a specialty. 

BOWEN, C. J., Crawford townshij) ; teacher ; 
postoffice, is^'ew Bedford, Ohio; born April 21. 
1.S53, in Holmes county; son of John and Catha- 
rine (Liniback) Bowen. He commenced teach- 
ing when nineteen years of age. and h,is taught 
to the present time, excepting one year's clerk- 
ing in store. Mr. Bowen is one of the good 
teachers of the county, having thoroughly pre- 
pared hinxself for his profession at the National 
Normal School, at Lebanon. 

BOWER LORENZO, Monroe town.ship; was 
born October 22, 1833, in Holmes coimty, Ohio; 
son of William and Corrida (Barnes)Bower, and 
grandson of Leonard Bower and of Nancy Price , 
also, great grandson of Richard Barnes. He has 
followed farming all his life. In 18G4 he came to 
Coshocton county, where he yet lives. He mar- 
ried Cordelia McKee, December, 1860, daughter 
of Andrew and Julia A. (Corns) McKee, and 
granddaughter of William Corns. She died De- 
cember 2, 1873. The children are Alex. Q., Silas 
C, Charles E. and Leonard P. 

BOWER IRWIN, Monroe township ; was born 

May 9, 1831, in Holmes county; son of William 
and Corrida (Barnes) Bower, and grandson of 
Leonard B<3wer and Nancy Bower, an<l great 
grandson of Richard Barnes. He followed farm- 
ing in Holmes county till 1861, when he came to 
Coshocton county. He was married tirst to Cath- 
arine Brightwel'l October 25, 1854. After the 
death of his tirst wife he married Mary Wilson, 
May 6, 1878. 

BOWMAN G. W., of the firm of Bowman & 
Shanwecker, merchants; postoffice. New Bed- 
ford ; born May 27, 1844, in New Bedford ; son of 
John and Susanna (Noel) Bowman. When a boy, 
he assisted his mother in a hotel, his father hav- 
ing died when G.W. was nine years of age. In 
1865he enlisteil in Company E, One hundred and 
Ninety-first O. V. I., and served to the close of 
the war. On his return, he established business 
with his brother, A. J., firm name of Bowman & 



Brother, and continued the business together until 
l!S76, when G. W. sold hi"s interest to his brother, 
who conducted the store one year, then the pres- 
ent firm took charge, and are doing a very satis- 
factory business. Mr. Bowman was married 
Jidy 4, 1867, to Miss Mariah, daughter of Daniel 
and Lydia (Newman) Forney. Lottie, May, 
Charles W., Ida, Alice and Mary Elizabeth are 
tlie names of their children. 

BOWMAN JOHN, White Eyes Township, is 
a native of Tuscrawas county, and was born in 
1828. His father, John Bowman, came to this 
county in 1831, and settled at Adams Mills; 
moved to New Bedford, in 1840, and blacksmithed 
there. He died in 1853, at the age of fifty-three 
years,and his wife died March. 1.878, aged .seventy- 
I'our years. The junior. John, learned tlie black- 
smith trade with his father, and worked at the 
trade for fourteen years. He went to Jlssouri, 
in 1.852, remained there one year, and returned 
to Ohio. He went to Iowa, in 1.855, remained 
tiiere one year, and then went on to California, 
where he staid four years, and returned to Ohio. 
In 1861, he married Miss Agnes Erwin, of Tus- 
carawas county. They have three sons — Benja- 
min, born in 1863; James G.. born in 1.S65, and 
Erwin F., born in 1.S71. From 1.860 to l.%5. Mr. 
Bowman lived in Holmes county, and then he 
located on a mill property, south of Chili, where 
he now resides. 

BOWN H. E . Virginia township ; born in Co- 
shocton county, in 1858; son of J. T. and R. E. 
Bown, and married in June, 18.80, to IMiss Theo- 
docia Slaughter. Postoflice, Willow Brook. 

BOYD WILLIAM R., White Eyes township; 
born in the county of Donegal, Irekuul, Octo- 
ber 1801. He came to this county with his par- 
ents about 1824, who .settled in. White Eyes 
town.ship. He was married in 1.S36. to Miss 
Isabella Finley. She was born in the ctainty of 
Donegal, Ireland, February, 1816. They became 
the parents of ten children — John F., Jane M., 
Ramsey W., Magaret A., George B., Alice A., 
Richard W., Florence R., Alexander F. and 
Robert E. All married, except Robert E.. and 
Margaret A., who is a widow. George B. enlisted 
in Company H, Eightieth O. V. L, at Coshocton, 
in 1.861. He was killed at Vicksburg. and was 
buried on the battle-field. Ramsey W. enlisted in 
the i;K)-day service. Jane M. married i)r Chap- 
man, of this county, and is now living in Woodford 
county, Illinois, where the doctor has a large 
practice. Ramsey W. was married to Charlotte 
Hagle, of Bethlehem township, and is now living 
in Illinois. Margaret A. was married to John 
W. Bell, of Wakatomika, who is now deceased. 
Alice A. married George W. Kraut, and lives 
near Wakatomikn. Richard W. married Lucy 
Dunemyer, of Illinois, and is now living in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



639 



Keene township. Florence R. married Howard 
Lawrence, of Keene township. Alexander F. 
married Pauline Compton, of Roscoe. Rohert 
E. i.s single and lives at home with his parents. 
Mr. lioyd and family are members of the M. E. 
church. 

BOYD WILLIAM M., Keene township; born 
March IS, 1803, in Pennsylvania; a son of Robert 
Boyd, who was born September 5, 1709, died 
November 28, 1.^20, and Mary McMaster, born 
August 27, ]77;>, died January 23, 1.^72. and grand- 
son of William Boj'd and James McJMa,ster. Mr. 
Boyd caine to Jefferson county in l.St):S, and re- 
mained there till 1814, when he came to Coshoc- 
ton count)' to the farm where he now lives. He 
has traveled considerably in the United States, 
and was married to Miss Bowl. April 1, l,s24, who 
was born April 12, l.stH, died September 3, 1.S73, 
a daughter of James and Nanc)' (Thompson) 
Bowl. Their children were; Nancy, born Feb- 
ruary 11, 182.5; Gilbert, Februarv 11, 182(), died 
January 21. I,s4;i; Mary, born April 12, 1831; 
Robert, September in, l,s,33; Sarah, June 28, 18.30, 
and John C., February 2-5, 1841, died December 
2o, 18.32. 

BOYD ROBERT R., White Eyes town-ship; 
postolfice, Canal Lewisville; farmer; was born in 
August, about 1811, in county Donegal, Ireland; 
son of Robert and Jane (Ram.sey) Boyd. He 
came to America and located with his parents on 
the farm wliere he now resides. He was married 
May 23, 1S30, to Miss Mary Anne, daughter of 
Robert and Jane (Stephenson) Johnson. They 
have had fourteen children: William J., married 
to Elmira Elliott, now residing in Caldwell coun- 
ty, Missouri; Jane, married to Tliomas Hamilton, 
residing in White Eyes township; Samuel F., 
married to Elizabeth IJrown, living in the same 
town hip; Robert A., married to Mary Jane Mc- 
Murray, residing in Marion county: Mary Anne, 
married to .^^le.xander Adams, residing in Keene 
township; Hester Ellen, married to James P^Uiott, 
residing in Mill Creek townshi]); Elizabeth, mar- 
ried to John Clark, residing in White Eyes town- 
ship; Daniel, married to Matilda Compton; Zel- 
ma, Carbettii. Evert Richard and ("aroline, de- 
ceased. Mr. Boyd has given his entire attention 
to mixed husbandry and agriculture, and by hon- 
est industry has obtained a competency. 

BOYD FRANCIS, farmer; White Eyes town- 
ship; Chili postofiice ; born February 10, 1S2-S, in 
Washington county, Penn.sylvania; son of Robert 
and Margaret (Ca,ssi<ly) Boyd. His grandfather's 
name was Robert Boyil, a native of Ireland, and 
his mother was also of Irish descent. She died in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania, and is buried 
at Bethel clnirch, in that county. Young Boyd ! 
lived about four years in West Virginia before 
coming to this county, which he did in I.S34, and 



located in White Eyes township. He was married 
November 13, 1,8.34, to Miss Jane, daughter of 
Alexander and Rebecca (Virtue) Lockard, of 
Irish ancestry. They have four cliildren — Alex- 
ander, married to Caroline Carnahan, Robert 
Dayton, married to Elizabeth Beaver, James D. 
and Rebecca Jane. Mr. Boyd has devoted his 
attention to mixed husban<lry and agriculture, 
but princijially to wool gmwing, having a very 
line farm well adapted to sheep husbandry. It 
is kept in good condition, making an elegant 
home for himself and family. 

BOYD AV. S., Virginia township; born in 
Coshocton county, October 7, l.'^^O, and was mar- 
ried April 23, 1.SG2. Mr. Boyd was blessed with 
live children, viz: Cora A., Emma L., Sarah E., 
William W., ami P>dward S. He died in 1875. 
His widow survives him. 

BOYD SAMUEL A., of the lirm of Wier & 
Boyd, groceries and provisions, 220 Main street, 
Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Boyd was born May 18, 
1850, in White Eyes township; is son of Samuel 
and Nancy (.Vllen) Boyd, both natives of the 
county Tyrone, Ireland. William Boyd, grand- 
father of Samuel A., was one of the hrst settlers 
of White Eyes township, having emigrated with 
his family to the township in 1833. He identified 
himself with the anti-slavery movement from its 
beginning, and was one of the strongest advocates 
of human liberty. He lived a consistent and pi- 
ous life, and died May 17, ls7'.t. Young Boyd, 
*he subject of this sketch, wsxs brought up on the 
farm, educated in the public schools of his native 
townshij), and at West Minster college. New Wil- 
mington, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. He 
began teaching when about eighteen and tivught 
thirteen terms, farming during the stmimer. In 
the .spring of 1875 he visited Nebraska and taught 
two terms of school while there. Also in com- 
pany with a hunting expedition visited southern 
Nebra,ska, northwestern Kansas and eastern Colo- 
rado, killing buffalo on the plains. He returned 
to his native home in 1-'^7(J and resumed teaching 
and farming. Mr. Boyd was marrie<l December 
25, 1877, to Miss Nannie G. J., daughter of Robert 
and Angcline (Hammond) Dickey, of White Eyes 
township. They are the parents of one child, 
viz: Charles Hammond, born August 11, 1879. 
Mr. Boyd established his present business April 
11, 1881. This firm keeps a first-class assortment 
of goods in their line. 

BRECHT VALERIAN, Franklin township; 
farmer; postottice. Wills Creek, Ohio; born Jan- 
uary 0, 1845, in Baden, Germany : son of Ben- 
hart and Catherine (Harwidel) Brccht, natives of 
Baden, Germany. They emigrate<l to .Vmerica in 
1854, bringing their family with them, and located 
near Adamsville, Muskingum county. The 
father was born in 17'JU, and died in 18G2. The 



640 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



mother was born in 1801, and died in 1867. Val- 
erian, the subject of this sketch, began Mfe for 
himself as a hired hand on a farm, but by econ- 
omy and industry, he has obtained a good farm. 
Mr." Brecht was "married tirst to Miss Mary A., 
daughter of Solomon and Bridget (Rodenburger) 
Gossman. They became the parents of two chil- 
dren, William" Solomon and Annie Varonica, 
Their mother died July 1, 1875. Mr. Brecht 
married April 18, 1876, Miss Mary A., daughter 
of George and Elizabeth (Lash) Shue, natives of 
France. 

BRINK JOSEPH \V., Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postoffice, Warsaw, Ohio; was born 
October 14, 1830, in Knox county, Ohio. He was 
married January 15, 1857, to Mrs. Annis N. Mof- 
fet, who was born J)ecember 22, 1809, in Otsego 
county, New York. She was married May 14, 
1829, to Mr. Sanuu'l Moflet, of Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio. Mr. Motlet built the brick residence where 
Mr. an<l Mrs. Brink now reside, in 1840, It was 
the first brick residence built in Bethlehem 
township. Mrs. Brink's maiden name was Stone 
She has been a member of the M. E. church for 
forty-si.x years. Mr. Brink is a member of the 
M. P. church. 

BRILLHART DAVID, Monroe township; 
was born October G, 181G, in Buckingham county, 
Virginia. He was a son of Samuel and Susanah 
(Wiiitezel) Brillhart, and grandson of John 
Brillhart and of Anthony Whitezel. At the age 
of fifteen he came from Virginia to Coshocton 
comity, Ohio, where he has spent the most of his 
time since in farming. As he always possessed a 
natural liking for tools, he learned several trades 
without an instructor, such as the cooper trade, 
wagonmaker, blacksmith, and house-joiner. He 
is a careful, well-to-do farmer, and is the owner 
of about 1,0(K) aci'cs of good land in Monroe 
township. Mr. Brillhart was married to Mi.ss 
Mary A. Drake, -Vugust 5. 1S41. She was a 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Swollams) 
Drake. Their children were, Phcebe, Samui'l 
(deceased), I.'^aac (deceased), Martha, Tobitha, 
David W., Hamilton R. and William L, (de- 
ceased). After the death of Jlrs. Brillhart, Octo- 
ber 25, 1857, Mr. Brillhart married Martha 
Drake, August 7, 1S58. Their children by this 
marriage were, Louella (deceased), John C, 
Mary F., Milin E., Emma R., Laura L., Hanbie 
W. and Victor D. 

BRILLHART HARRISON H., Jefferson town- 
ship; postoffice, Warsaw ; born A])ril 9, 1841, in 
Monroe township, Co.«hocton county; son of 
Samuel and Maiy (Chambers) Brillhart, and 
grandson of .\den Chambers. His father was a 
Virginian. He remained with his father until 
the age of twenty-one, then enlisted in Company 
G, One Hundred and Forty-second O. N. G., anil 



served his engagement of 100 daj's; came home 
to Monroe township and began farming, and re- 
maineil until the fall of 1874, when he moved to 
his present location in Jefi'erson township. He 
married April 2, 1868, Miss Caroline Heaton, 
daughter of Aaron and Dorcas (Welling) Heaton, 
and granddaughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Bar- 
ret) Heaton and Thomas Welling. Mrs. Brill- 
hart was born in Bedford township, July 30, 1844. 
This union is blessed with one child— Charlie ; 
born in Monroe township, May 9, 1869. 

BRILLHART WILLIAM R., Tiverton town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice, Gann, Knox county; 
born January 1, 1846, in this county. His father, 
John F., was born in 1818 in Virginia. He came 
to this county while yet small, and was married 
in 1830 to Miss Julia A. Robinson, of Knox 
county. He died in 1860, and she died in 1870. 
They were the parents of eight children, William 
R., being the second. He was married in 1870 to 
Miss Milinda Burnes, of Knox county, who was 
born in 1849. They are the parents of four 
children— Charles O., Royal I., Sarah B. and 
I\Iaggie. 

BRILLHART B. F., Monroe township; born 
April 28, 1849, on the farm where he now lives; 
son of Samuel and Mary (Chambers) Brillhart, 
Samuel Brillhart was brought up in Brocking- 
ham cf'unty, Virginia; born in 1795. Mary 
Chambers was born July 30, 1806, in Fayette 
county, Virginia. He is a grandson of William 
A. and Anna (Smock) Chambers, and great- 
grandson of Edward and Mary (Si.?sel) Chambers, 
and of John and Margaret Emock. Jlr. Brill- 
hart was horn and bred a farmer. He is a good 
citizen and a good neighbor. He has a very 
fine farm near Spring Mountain, Monroe town- 
ship, to which he devotes his entire attention. 
Mr. Brillhart was married to Miss Eliza A. Miller, 
Novendx'r 27, 1873, daughter of Saul and Eliz- 
beth Miller. (For ancestry, see the biography of 
her father, Samuel Jliller, elsewhere in this 
book.) 

BROADY WILLIAM J., tinner; postoffice. 
West Lafayette; born in Jefferson county, Ohio, 
in 1854, and was married in 1880, to Mary S. 
Shafer, who was born in this township, in 1858. 
Mr. Bniady learned the tinner's trade in Steuben- 
ville; estnblished business in West Lafayette, in 
the spring of 1881; successor to Frank Famil- 
ton, and deals in heating and cooking stoves; 
manufactures all kinds of tin, copper and sheet- 
iron ware. Tin roofing and spouting a specialy. 

BROWER JOHN JACKSON, M. D., Coshoc- 
ton, corner of Walnut street and Burt avenue; 
born August 17, 1S37, in Carroll county; son of 
Joseph Brower, a native of America, whose pa- 
rents were Highlanders. Mr. Brower was raised 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



6il 



on the farm until twelve years of age, when he 
entered New Hagerstown academy, and re- 
mained four years. At sixteen he began teach- 
ing public school. At nineteen he entered Dela- 
ware college, at Delaware, and graduated when 
lie Wiis twenty years of age. He then entered 
Sterling medical college in l.S5'.t, and wa.s gradu- 
ated by that institution in 1860, and began the 
practice of his profession at Leesville, Carroll 
county, the same year. In 1861 he was coniniis- 
sioncd Second Lieutenant of Company I, Seven- 
teenth O. V. L (thirteen months' men), and rein- 
listed as surgeon of the Ninety-eighth O. V. I., 
and served till the close of the war. Dr. Brower 
was graduated at Cincinnati eclectic medical in- 
stitute in 1868-69. At the close of the war lie es- 
tablished a practice at West Lafayette, where he 
remained a short time, then came to Canal Lew- 
isville, where he remained until December, 1875, 
when he came to this city and established a prac- 
tice and has remained to the present time. Dr. 
Brower was married February 10, 185!), to Miss 
Susan E. Benedum, daughter of .John Benedum, 
of Virginia. They had three children, two of 
whom (Carrie Orea and Burt Sherman Lincoln) 
have died. Lucy I. A. is their only living child. 

BROWN JONAS, White Eyes township; 
farmer; native of White Eyes, and was born in 
1831, on the farm where he now resides. His 
father, Jonas Brown, was born in Pennsylvania, 
in 17.88; came to Tuscarawas county when but 
thirteen years old, and remained in that county 
until the spring of 1.828, when he located in 
White Eyes. He was the father of nine chil- 
dren, and all are living. All have removed from 
the county, except Jonas. Mr. Brown married 
Miss Margaret Hamilton, in 1857. She is the 
daughter of John Hamilton, and was born in 
1.840. They are the parents of six children, one 
deceased. Those living are, John L., Levi M., 
Lewellcn, Mary D., Lizzie A. Mr. Brown has 
always resided in the townshiji, and the peojile 
have given him offices of trust. He has been 
treasurer and trustee of his township, having 
several terms of each. Mr. and Mrs. IJrown be- 
long to the M. E. church at White Eyes. Mr. 
Brown's mother lives in Madison county, Iowa, 
and is in her eightj'-first year. 

BROWN JONAS, Crawford township . of the 
firm of Brown it Craft, hardware merchants; 
postoffice, New Bedford; born June 5, 1.S49, in 
White Eyes township; son of Henry and Reb- 
ecca (Snyder) Brown. At twenty years of age 
he began teaching school and taught and attended 
school about four >-ears, after which he clerked 
in store in New Bedford until 1■'^7G, when the 
above firm was established. This firm does a 
good business in general hardware and farm im- 
plements. Mr. B. was elected justice of the peace 



of Crawford township, in the spring of 1880, and 
holds the office at the present time. He was 
married May l7, 1877 to Miss Catharine A., daugh- 
ter of Nicholas and Jeremiah Fisher. Vernet 
Orwin, born May 20, 1878, is their only child. 

BROWN G. J., Bedford township; real estate 
and insurance agent ; postofl^ice. West Bedford ; 
born in 1,825 in Jeflijrson county, Ohio, came 
to this county in 1.851, and was married in 1,853, 
to Miss Lorinda Parrott of this county, who was 
horn in 183.3, in New Brunswick She came to 
this county with her parents in 1.837. They are 
the parents of nine children, viz: Oswell C, 
Sarah P., \A'illiani P., Elmer E., Anna B., Dora, 
Horten.se, Robert G., and Howard. 

BROWNING JAMES, Tuscarawas township; 
postoffice, Coshocton; farmer; was born in Mont- 
gomery county, Maryland, March 12, 1813; son 
of James and Mary (Smith) Browning. Young 
Browning was raised a mechanic, and worked at 
wagon making until he was twenty-four years of 
age, when he engaged in farming which he has 
followed to the present time, with the exception 
of one year spent in Indiana, working at mill 
building, Mr. Browning was llrst married July 
13, 1837, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of John El- 
son, of this county. Their children were Oliver, 
Mary Jane, Samuel, killed at the battle of Mur- 
freesboro, Tennessee, James Edward, and Hamil- 
ton. Mr. Browning was married to Mrs. Mary 
Jane Jennings, daughter of Andrew and Eliza- 
beth (Brown) Shrawyer. 

BROWNING OLIVER, Franklin township; 
farmer; horn in Franklin township, March C, 
1840; son of James Browning; enlisted October, 
1.861, in Company F, Fifty-lirst 0. V. I., and was 
in service four j-ears and two months; captured 
at Stone River, paroled at Murfrcesboro, and ex- 
changed about eight months afterward ; re-joined 
regiment November 12, 1.^63; was in battles of 
Lookout Mountain, Franklin, Tennessee, Nash- 
ville, and all through the Georgia campaign; 
married in ISGG to Mary E. Gaumer, of Adam.s- 
ville, Muskingum county, and has five children 
living, viz: Rebecca Anna, James L., Harvey Al- 
len, Melinda Jane and Eleanor Olive. 

BROWNING J. E., Franklin township ; born 
in Franklin township, July 23, 1847; son of 
James and Rebecca ([Elsoii) Browning. His 
father, a native of Maryland, moved from Vir- 
ginia to this township about 183.5. When seven- 
teen years old. in October, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company E, Twenty-ninth O. V. I., and served 
nine months; was with Slierman in his march 
from Atlanta, Georgia, to the scji. He was mar- 
ried February 4. 1,873, to Josejihine Conlcy, of 
this township, and has two children, viz: Charles 
H. and Edna. 



642 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



BRENNEMAN JAMES, Bedford township; 
farmer; postofRce, Tunnel Hill ; born in ls;;!3, in 
Allegheny oounty, Pennsylvania. He went to 
Kansas, with a roniiiany of 100, in 1S66, and 
came to this county from there in 1H57. He 
went to California in 1840, and remained there 
eighteen months. He was in the KKVday serv- 
ice. He was married in 1864, to Miss S. S. Eng- 
lish, of this county, who was born in 1S42. They 
are the parents of four children, viz : Almira, Su- 
san J., Josephine and Thomas S. David Brenne- 
man, the father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in 18(111, in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and was married to Jane Pinkerton, of the 
same county, who was born in 17iHi. They came 
to this comity in 185(1. She died in 1868. They 
were tlie parents of three children. 

BRYAN AMBROSE, Pike township ; postoffice. 
West Carlisle ; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county, in 1827; son of John and Mary I. 
(Deyarman) Bryan. Mr. Bryan's father came to 
this county in 1816, from Maryland, died August 
19, 1850. " Mr. Bryan was married October 6, 
1856, to Miss Mary A. Huf3, daughter of Eleven 
and Louisa Huff". They are the parents of five 
children, viz: Sarah I.," Robert B., Elizabeth E., 
Louisa, Martha J. 

BURCHFIELD EDWARD, Roscoe village; 
blacksmith; jiostoflice, Roscoe; born Marcli 21, 
1835, in Jetlerson county; son of Andrew Burch- 
field, a native of Ohio, of Scotch ancestry. Young 
Burchtield was raised on a farm until sixteen 
years of age, when he went to his trade and 
worked at it until August, 1861, when he enlisted 
in Company I, Ninety-seventh O. V. I., and 
served to the close of the war. He was a pris- 
oner about tifteen minutes at Kenesaw, Georgia. 
Mr. Burchiicld came to this county in 1858 and 
worlvcd journeyman work two years In 1860 he 
established a shop and conducted it until his en- 
lishment in the service of his country. At the 
close of the war jSIr. Burehfield resumed his 
trade, and has followed it to the present writing. 
He was married first in March, 1860, to Miss 
Susan McNabb, daughter of Geo. jNIcNabb, of Jef- 
ferson townshi]). This union was blessed with 
six children— Mary, Charles, Martha, George 
(deceased), Ann and William. Mrs. Burehfield 
died February 14, 1.872, and is buried at West 
Bedford. Mr. Burehfield was .subsequently mar- 
ried to iMrs. Maragret J. Noble, daughter of 
Major Richard Lauding (deceased), of Coshocton 
city. This marriage was blessed with three 
children — Ida May, Lottie, Fay and David. 

BUCKLEW WILLIAM, Clark town.shij); far- 
me; postoffice, Helmick; born in Clark town,ship, 
February 10, 1818; son of Park and Elizabeth 
(Methany) Bucklew, and grandson of Andrew 
Bucklew. He owns a farm of 231 acres, in the 



southwest corner of the township, where he has 
lived all his life. He was married, in April, 1848, 
to Miss Mary JMaggs, daughter of Joseph and 
Eleanor (Stewart) Maggs. of English descent. 
She was born in Bethlehem township, March 15, 
1826. They are the ])arents of eight children, 
viz: Elizabeth, born March 10, 1850; Emeline, 
born October 20, 1S51 ; Francis M.. born t)ctober 
1, 1853; Howard M., born October 21, 1855; Lam- 
bert O., born April lH, 1,^58: Joseph O., born Jan- 
nary 27, 1.S60; Ida ]\I., born December 26, 1861 
(died May 7, 1873), and Lemuel E.,' born January 
9, 1864. 

BUCKLEW JAMES, Clark townsliip; farmer; 
postoffice, Clark's; born in Clark township, Co- 
shocton county, April 7, 1.S44; son of George and 
Sarah (Purdy) Bucklew, and grandson of John 
Bucklew. lie was married, December 28, 1,805, 
to Miss Catharine Mullet, daughter of Benjamin 
and Barbara (Zinimermann) Mullett, and grand- 
daughter of John and Catharine Mullet. She was 
born in Clark township. December 6, 1843, and 
was the mother of six children — Melinda, born 
January 6, 1807 (died June 21, 1870); Cordelia N., 
born May 17, 1868; Elizabeth M., born August 12, 
1870; George A., born December 27, 1.873; Ed- 
ward, born September 25, 1875 (died June 17, 
1870); Ella A., born Marcli 3, 1879 (died January 
18, 1881). 

BUNN & SON, grocers and confectioners. 
Main and Sixth streets. Coshocton, Ohio. Alfred 
Bunn, senior member of this firm, is a native of 
Sussex county. New Jersey, where he was born, 
March 13, 1817, and emigrated to Ohio in 1845, 
locating in this county, in which he resided ten 
years. He then went to Knoxville, Marion 
county, Iowa, where he resided eight years. In 
1864, he returned to Coshocton county, and in 
1877, he, in company with his son David H. 
Bunn. engaged in the grocery business, which 
they conducted until 1878, when they sold to 
Williams & Co., and in July. 18,S0, they bought 
back the stock, since which "they have been con- 
ducting the business. They occupy pleasant and 
commodious rooms in Thompson's block, twenty 
by sixty feet, and have a lirst-class stock of staple 
and fancy groceries, confectionaries, tobaccos, 
cigars, stove and wooden wares, sugar-cured and 
and pickled meats, fish, salt, flour, etc, 

BURK:M .\STER peter, Perry township ; post- 
office. New Gilford ; farmer ; born i n Mercer county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1807; settled in this county, in 
1.802; son of John and Rachel (Barns) Burk- 
master, and grandson of Joshua Burkmaster and 
of Peter Barnes. Mr. Burkmaster has been mar- 
ried three times — first in 1830, to Miss Mary 
Nevill, daughter of John and Ehzabeth Nevil!. 
This union was blessed with seven children, viz: 
Rachel, Rebecca, Peter, Sarah, Mary E., Elizabeth 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



643 



(dead), Hester (dead). His first wife died in 
\M4. ITc married in 1847, Miss Jane Mattock, 
dau^litor of Henry and Jane Mattoclc. This 
union was blessed with two cliildrcn, vi/, : John 
K. and S. J. His secnd wife died in LS-W. He 
was married in 1861, to Sarah Shaw. Mr. Burli- 
master's son, S. J., married Miss Martha J. Tliorn. 
Tliey h ive one child, viz : Anna M. 

BURKLEW B. E., Monroe township; was 
horn October 15, 1848, in Monroe town.shi]). He 
is a son of W. H. and Martha J (JMcBride) 
Burklcv^', and grandson of Samuel and Hannah 
Burklew, and of William and Eliza (McKce) 
McBride. Jlr. Burklew was born and bred a 
farmer, and educated at Spring ^Mountain acad- 
emy and Danville high school, of Kno.x county. 
At tbe age of sixty he enlisted in Company I, 
Fifty-first O. V. I., and served fifteen months 
in the Atlanta campaign, and under General 
Thomas, at Franklin, Spring Hill, Columbia and 
Na.slivillc, w'here he lost an arm. Since the war. 
he has spent his time in teaching, farming and 
selling patent washers. He was married to Miss 
Sopln'onia Thonias, in April, 1871, daughter of 
Uriah and Jane (Crawford) Thomas, and grand- 
daughter of P>unice and ]\Iargaret (Cameron) 
Thomas. Their children are Emerv T., born 
March 22, 1872; Howard L., May 6,'] 874; Wil- 
liam H., June 17, 1876, and Clyde JlcBride Jan- 
uary 20, 1878. 

BURNS WILLIAM, Jr., jeweler. No. 402 Main 
street, Coshocton. Mr. Burns is a native of Cosh- 
octon: born June 29, lS.59, and received his edu- 
cation in the public schools of this city. He en- 
gaged in the jewelry bii.sine.ss in 1877, (having 
previously served the required time to qualify 
hini.self for this department of business), and now 
occui)ies a ]>laee in Compton's drug store, wliere 
he has a well selected stock of first-cUuss .Vmeri- 
can watches, clocks, jewelry, solid and i)lated sil- 
ver ware, gold pens, etc. General repairing a 
siiecialty. 

BUllNS & ROBINSON, proprietors of Miner's 
st(.)re. Main street, Coshocton. 0. F. Burns, man- 
aging partner of this firm, is a native of Coshoc- 
ton, where he received his jirejiaratorv education, [ 
after which he attended the O. W. "U., at Dele- 
ware, Ohio. His first business engagement was 
with his father under the firm name of Burns A 
Son, which continued until his father's decea.sc, 
after which the business was conducted in the 
name of C. F. Burns. In 1877 he engaged in the 
milling business, at the city mills, under the firm 
name of Raich & Burns, in wliich he continued 
until 1.S73, when he formed a partner.shi]i with 
L. W. Robinson, and engaged in the grocery 
business, aijj^ieir ])resc'nt location, where tliey oc- 
cujjy comi^uius rooms, twenty-four by si.xty-five 
feet, and carry a large first-class stock of staple 



and fancy groceries, confectionaries, wooden and 
stone-ware, miners' supplies, and deals in all 
kinds of country produce. 

BURRELL THOMAS H., Bethlehem town- 
.ship; farmer; postofflce, War-saw, Ohio; son of 
S. C. Burrell ; was born in 1845. He was mar- 
ried in 1870, to Miss Amedia Darling of this 
county. They are the jiarents of five children, 
viz : Julia, Charles, Ernest, Bessie and Blanche 
G. Mr. Burrell owns a fine farm oi 150 acres, in 
the Walhonding valley. He is trustee of the 
township. He is a member of the 1. 0.0. F. and 
F. and A. M. 

BURT JAMES M., retired ; postoffice, New 
Comerstown. He was born in Orange county. 
New York, December 11, 181(1; was married 
Ajjril 15, 18.34, to Mary Ann Bradner, who was 
born December 20, 181;5, in the same county, 
and emigrated to Ohio in 18,36. They left their 
home October 24, arrived in Coshocton county 
November 0; located first in Bedford township, 
and remained there till April, 1837, then bought 
in this township, and was a citizen here fort^y-one 
years. He was elected justice of the peace in 
1844, and was elected rei)resentative in the State 
legislature in 1848. and re-elected, serving two 
terms. In 18.50. he was elected a.ssociate Judge, 
and continued to hold this position till the con- 
stitution abolished the office. He was elected a 
member of the board of equalization from tliis 
and Tuscarawas counties, in 1859-60. He was 
elected a member of the senate in 1865, re-elected 
in 1871. They had twelve children, viz : Marga- 
ret, now JMrs. Carhart, of New Comerstown ; 
James B., of this township : JIartha A. (deceased), 
was married to Perry Keller, and died in Fred- 
cricklown. Knox county, on her twenty-ninth 
birth-day; Daniel. (deceased); Caroline, (deceased); 
Harriet, now j\Irs. Rodgers, of this township; 
Clara, (deceased); Louis P., resident of this town- 
phip ; an infant son and daughter, (deceased) ; 
Mary, (deceased); William, now resident of New 
Comerstown, civil engineer and operator. 

BURT J. B., Lafayette township; farmer; 

liostoffice. West Lafayette; was born in 1837, 
on what is now the fair grounds; was married 
in 1805, to ISIiss Margaret Bell, of this township, 
and they have had five children: Perry E., 
Mary, Jennie, Carrie (decea.sed, in February, 
1877,) and James R. Mr. Burt was elected jus- 
tice of the jieace, in 1875, liis connnission bear- 
ing date .Vpril 12. He and Ins wife are mem- 
bers of the Baptist church — Mr. Burt since 1856, 
and Mrs. Burt since 1866; lie has lieen a deacon 
in said church since 1866. IMr. Burt owns 200 
acres of land in this toiviishij), and is one of its 
representative men. 

BURT L. P., Lafayette townsliip; farmer; was 



C44 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



bom in this township, the 3d of February, 1S56; 
eon of Judge Burt; was married the 15th of Oc- 
tober, 1870, to Miss Frances C. Conaway, of 
Adams township. They have had four children: 
an infant (deceased), Nellie Bell, James Lewis 
and Charley Conaway. Mr. Burt lives on his 
farm of 188 acres in this township, and owns 200 
acres in Chase county, Kansas. He is .su]ier- 
visor in this township this year. INIr. Burt and 
his wife are members of the Baptist church. 

BUSBY AARON, M. D., Crawford township; 
Chili; born in Caroll county, Ohio, 1.S44; son of 
John W. Busby and Ann (Murryman) Busby, 
both natives of this State. Dr. Busby was mar- 
ried in I860 to Rebecca B. Wallace. They liave 
a family of five children; Earl W., Carrie, Grace, 
Clyde and Wade. The doctor began practicing 
at Tippecanoe, Harrison county, Ohio, remained 
there two years, and then located near Perrys- 
ville, Coral county, Ohio, and came to Chih in 
1878, where he is now practicing. 

BUSH N. C, Perry township; postofhce, Mo- 
hawk Village; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county'in 1841 ; son of John and Anna (Cle- 
get) Bush; married in 1861 to Miss Susanah R. 
Ahnac, daughter of John and Mary Almac. He 
married December 22, 1866, Miss Louisa Cullison, 
daughter of Ei)hraim and Harriet Cullison. They 
have one child, viz : Alma. He enlisted in 1862 
in Company A, Ninth Ohio Cavalry, (Captain 
Sims), Colonel Hamilton (commanding), Army 
of the Cumberland. Mr. Bush was engaged in 
the battle at Cumberland Gap, siege of Knoxville, 
Jone-sborough and Aikin This gallant regiment 
had the honor of fighting the last engagement 
prior to Johnston's surrender, which occurred 
near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Colonel Ham- 
ilton was promoted by General Grant for gallant 
conduct during this engagement. 

BUTLER FELIX, New Castle township; was 
horn in New Castle township, Co.shocton county, 
Ohio, September 10, 1810; son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (Scverns) Butler, who came to Musk- 
ingum County in 1795, and remained there until 
the following'year, Avhen he came to Coshocton 
county and settled near the junction of the Tus- 
carawas and ^^^^lhonding rivers, where he re- 
mained three years, he then removed to New 
Castle township, where he remained imtil he 
died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. 
He is a grandson of Joseph Butler, who came to 
Coshocton county in 1801, from Monongahela 
county, Virginia. The name of great grand- 
father Butler was either Joseph or Thomas; was 
a native of Ireland, and was killed in 1740, in 
Virginia, by the Indians, at which time his wife 
and son James were taken prisoners by the Indi- 
ans. The wife escaped the second night, but 
James was kept eighteen months, when he was 



released by treaty. Benjamin Butler, an uncle 
of the subject of this sketch, in company with 
Joseph Walker, laid out the town of Mt. Vernon, 
Knox comity, in 1805. He was married in 1852 
to Miss Nancy Farquahar, daughter of Enoch and 
Nancy (Moore) Farquahar, and granddaughter 
of Samuel Farquahar, who came to Mt. Vernon 
in 1807, from Frederick county, Maryland. 

BUXTON LEONE, Newcastle township; was 
born in New Castle township, January 1, 1859; 
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Butler) Buxton, 
gr:ui<ldaughter of Thomas and Frances Buxton 
and James and Elizabeth (Rodehaver) Butler, 
and great-granddaughter of Thomas Butler. Her 
grandfathers were both soldiers in the war of 
1812. She has one brother and two sisters, viz : 
James, Constance and Mary. 

BUXTON N. W., Perry township; postoflTice, 
West Bedford; born in this county in 1842; son 
of Noah and Katharine Buxton, grandson of 
Thomas and Frances Buxton. He was married 
in 1862, to Miss Hannah Mikisell. BIr. Buxton is 
the father of six children, viz: J. W., G. B. (de- 
ceased), N. D., Warner W., Mary V., Marion and 
Sarah H. Mr. Buxton's father was one of the 
early settlers of this county, and still lives, enjoy- 
ing the fruits of his early toil. 

BUXTON JAMES, JefTerson township; post- 
oflfice, Warsaw ; was born in Jefl'erson township, 
Coshocton county, August 13, 1844; sou of 
Thomas and Mary (Butler) Buxton, and grand- 
son of James and Elizabeth (Rodehaver) I3utler, 
who settled in Tuscarawas county, in 18(>4. He 
lived on the farm until the age of twenty, then 
began clerking in a store in Walhonding, for N. 
W. Buxton, and continued two years. He then 
engaged as clerk with James Foster, of Warsaw, 
and remained with him two years; returning to 
Walhonding, he clerked a year and a half for J. 
S. McVey, after which he engaged in bridge 
building for three and a half years, then returned 
to James Foster's and clerked six months. He 
then engaged with Nickols & Gamble in mer- 
chandising in Warsaw, and has been there near 
three years. In 1804 he drove 1,200 sheep to Val- 
jiaraiso, Indiana, and from there went to Cedar 
county, Iowa, remaining one year. He is a kind, 
genial young man, highly esteemed and well 
adapted to business. 

BUXTON M. W., Jefferson township; born 
April 15, 1830, in Coshocton county, at East 
Union ; son of John and Elizabeth (Todd) Buxton 
(distant relation of ex-governor Todd). Mr. Bux- 
ton lived in East Union till about the age of nine 
years, when his parents took him to the farm, 
where he lived till the age of eight^i, when he 
engaged in various kinds of woi-^ grubbing, 
clearing and farming on the shares for three 



o 
o 

a 
o 
o 

H 
O 




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



647 



years, when he went into the grocery business 
with his uncle, Thomas Buxton, for two years; 
after that he followed farming in Union county 
awhile, then moved to Knox county, then back 
to Coshocton county; was butchering and mer- 
chandising some time; then began Uiking con- 
tracts for stone work for county bridges, etc., at 
which he was very successful. j\lr. Buxton was 
married, in 1.S.),'5, to Miss Lorinda Butler. daughter 
of James and Elizabeth(Rodehaver) Butler. Their 
children are James B. and John M. James mar- 
ried Miss Malinda Trout and resides in Knox 
county. John is reading medicine under Dr. 
Russell, in Jlount Vernon. After the death of 
Mrs, Buxton, he married Miss Cadence C, Buxton, 
in 1862, dauglUer of Thomas and jMary (Butler) 
Buxton, and granddaughter of James and Eliza- 
beth (Rodehaver) Butler, and great granddaugh- 
ter of Thomas Butler. William T.,"01ive, Mary 
E., and Gertrude E., were the names of their 
children. 

o 

CAMPBELL THOMAS, (deceased), was born 
May 21, 1816. in Steubenville, Ohio; attended 
school while a boy until fifteen years of age, when, 
with his father, he settled on a farm in Adams 
township, this county. In 1832 he entered Frank- 
lin college, and remained two years. In 1835 he 
came to this city, and spent the first year clerk- 
ing and teaching school. In 1838 he entered, as 
a student, the law office of James Matthews, and 
was admitted to the bar March 4, 1.841, at Steu-- 
benville. In 1842 he commenced the practice of 
law in this city, and was elected tlie following 
year to the office of prosecuting attorney, and was 
re-elected for the two succeeding terms, serving 
six consecutive years. In 1852 he was elected 
probate judge, being the first judge under the 
new constitution of tlie State, term of office, three 
years. In 1866 he was associated with R. M. Voor- 
hes, firm name, Campbell & Voorhes, attorneys 
and counselors at law. Judge Campbell was mar- 
ried August 5, 1841, to Miss Martha Wallace, of 
Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. This union was 
blessed with six children, two of whom, John 
and Patrick Steel, died at Corinth, Mississippi, 
Those living are, Dr. James Campbell, married 
to Miss Maggie Crimm, of Dennison, Ohio, and 
now residing in Iowa county, Iowa; Mary Jane, 
married to Robert A. McKellev, of Upper San- 
dusky; Isabelle, married to Dr.'Robert H. Brad- 
ley, now a resident of Marshal county, Illinois, 
and William F., residing in Iowa county, Illinois. 
Judge Campbell died very suddenlv on" Wednes- 
day morning, July 6, l.SSl. Up to the time of 
his death he was in his usual health. He had 
been at work about his office table the same 
morning. A moment before the final summons 
he walked to a front window, looked out and re- 
marked upon the probability of a rain-fall during 

28 



the day, and then turned and stretched out his 
hand in the direction of a chair, when he sud- 
denly fell to the floor. Charlie Hunt, a law stu- 
dent, was the only person in the office. He hast- 
ily stepped into the hall and called to IMr. Bargar, 
who was in the next room. Mr. Bargar and Jlr. 
Triplett in an instant were at the side of the jn-os- 
trate form. His collar was loosened and the body 
straightened to an easy position, but by the time 
this momentary work was done there was no 
sign of life. The vital spark had fled with his 
fall to the floor, so quickly. j)erha])s, that no sensa- 
tion of p.ain came to tlie body befoi-e the sj)irit 
had flown. Life went out as suddenly as the light 
of a candle is extinguished. 

CARHART J, M., tanner and leather dealer, 
of the firm of J. A- H. Carhart, Main street, Ros- 
coe; born May 10, 1841, in Roscoe; son of John 
Carhart (deceased). J. M was raised in his na- 
tive village. At eighteen he went into the dry 
goods store of J. G. Stewart as clerk, and re- 
mained until April, 1861, when he enlisted in 
Company A, Sixteenth O. V. I. (three months' 
men), and .served to the close of his enlistment. 
In September of the same yf'ar he enlisted as 
musician in Regimental Band Fifty-first O." V. I., 
in which he served about ten months. In July, 
1863, he re-enlisted in Com]iany M, Ninth O. V. 
C, and was appointed first sergeant of the com- 
pany, and, subsequently, commissioned second 
lieutenant, which office he resigned in March, 
1865, on account of the lop of the left eye. He 
engaged in the present firm December 6, 1874, 
which does a general tanning business, and deals 
extensively in leather of all grades. Lieutenant 
Carhart was married February 8, 1.S64, to Miss 
Emily C. Taylor, of Roscoe. They are the par- 
ents of three children— Estella, Gertrude and 
John E. Carhart. 

CARNAHAN WILLIAM, Coshocton; farmer; 
was born February 24, 1829, in White Eyes town- 
ship; son of John and Sarah (Marshall) Carna- 
han. Sarah iMarshall's grandparents (Mr. and 
Mrs. Maxwell), were killed by the Indians, in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania. Her sister 
was taken prisoner, by the savages, and kept four- 
teen years, but escaped, on an armed vessel, at 
Quebec, disgui.sed as a soldier. John Caruahan, 
father of William, came to White Eyes town- 
ship, in 1826, being one of the eight "who were 
the only inhabitants of the township. He assisted 
to organize the township for official and election 
purposes, and also was one of the first justices of 
the peace. Esquire William Carnahan owns the 
old homestead on which he lived forty-five years, 
but, in 1874, he built his present residence, corner 
of Orange and Eighth streets, which he h.as oc- 
cupied to the present time. He was elected 
' justice of the peace, in 1864, and served until his 



C48 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



removal from the township, having been elected 
four times. He was miirried May 22, 1850, to 
Miss Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Thomas 
Miller, of Holmes county. Mary Alma is their 
only child. 

CAKR MICHAEL B. (deceased), Linton town- 
ship; born January 18, 1824, in Massachusetts; 
son of James and Hannah Carr ; when about 
twenty-one years old, moved to Linton township; 
here married Jane Glenn, born January 4, 1830, 
in Jetlerson county, daughter of John and Jane 
(Lamb) Glenn. Mr. Glenn was born in Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, and moved from 
Jeflerson to this county in I8;i2. Mr. Carr was a 
shoemaker and followed his trade in Plainiield, 
except four years — lS49-5o — spent in Ottawa, un- 
til he moved to the farm where Mrs. Carr now 
resides, in 186(3. He died March Vi, 1875. His 
children are John Calvin (deceased), James C, 
Sarah A., William B., Hannah J. (Jones), Thomas, 
Ward, Clark M., Sarah C, Mary Bell, Elizabeth 
A., Elias Glenn, George M., and Bertha Alice. 
Four of his sons are school teachers. James C, 
the oldest has taught nine years ; he was married 
April 3, 1872, to Eliza J."Tedrick, daughter of 
Eeed and Amelia Tedrick.and has three children, 
Charlie Keed, Earnest M. and Mary Belle. 

CARR E. C, M. D., Coshocton, Ohio, Main 
street. Dr. Carr was born April 17, 1850, in East 
Union, Coshocton county, Ohio; son of Dr. James 
G. and Eliza (Bond) Carr, of English and Irish 
ancestors. He received his education in the pub- 
lic schools of the county, Newcomerstown high 
school and Mt. Union college. His first profes- 
sion was school teaching, which he followed three 
years. In 1872 he began reading medicine with 
his father. He was graduated in the science of 
medicine in the spring of 1875. His first pro- 
fesisional practice was at Millersburg, Holmes 
county, with Dr. Pomerenc ; after wliich he prac- 
ticed at Holmesville until April, 1.881, when he 
came to Coshocton, Ohio. Dr. E. C. Carr was 
married July 6, 1875, to Jliss Anna M., daughter 
of Tliomas and Eliza (Holmes) Jack, of Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of 
three children, viz : Jas. G., Eliza H. and Emma P. 

CARR J. S., M. D., Clark townshiii; postoffice, 
Clark's; born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 
ly, 1825; son of Thdmas and Orjiha (Seaward) 
Carr, and grandson of Jolm anil Maragret (Mc- 
Guire) Carr, and Eli and Ellen Seaward. His 
father's ancestors were from Ireland, and his 
inother's parents were Puritans. His father 
was a minister of the M. E. church; was admit- 
ted to confarence in 1820, and remained in active 
service until 1848, then served as suiiernumerary 
until 1856, when he died. Mr. Carr began the 
study of medicine with Dr. A. E. Bassett, of Por- 
tage county, Ohio, in 1846, and, after reading 



three years, he attended lectures at the Western 
Reserve Medical College, of Cleveland, Ohio, and, 
in the spring of 1849, began practice in East 
Union, Coshocton county, where he remained 
five years, then moved to Bloomficld, Avhere he 
has had a successful practice since. He cnlsitcd 
during the war in Company I, One Hundred and 
Sixty-sixth O. N. G., in the cai)acify of assistant 
surgeon, and was also appointed as assistant sur- 
geon in Twenty-sixth O. V. V. I. He has been 
thrice married, the first marriage being on the 
12th of April, 1849, to Miss Caroline E. Bond, 
daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth Bond, who was 
born July, 21, 1826, and died July 3, 1851. She 
was the mother of one child — Edmund C, born 
April 17, 1850, who is now a practitioner of med- 
icine. Mr. Carr's second marriage was on tlie 
8th of January, 1852, to Anna McCauglian, 
daughter of A. and Ann McCaughan, by whom 
he had one child— James Mc, born October 14, 
1852, died February 4, 1863. His last marriage 
occurred February 15, 1858, with Elizabeth B. 
Stover, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth 
(Story) Stover, and granddaughter of Ebenezcr 
and Elizabeth Stover, and Ephraim and Jemimah 
(Clark) Story. She was born in November, 1824, 
in Canterberry, Conneticut. 

CARROLL RICHARD, Linton township; shoe- 
maker; residence, Plainfield; born March 11, 1820, 
near Belfast, Ireland; son of Richard and Martha 
(Hobson) Carroll. His mother's parents were 
Quakers, but she was converted to Methodism 
when eleven years old. His father was weigh- 
master of the grain market at Belfast and land- 
steward of the large estates of Ste])hen May. Mr. 
Carroll learned the shoemaker's trade in Belfast 
and conducted a large trade there. In 1856. he 
emigrated with his family to Plainfield, and has 
carried on his trade there since. He entereil ser- 
vice, September 6, 1864, in company F, Fifteenth 
O. V. I., performing detailed duty in Sherman's 
eastern campaign, and was discharged June 8, 
1865. In 1842, he was married to Jane Russell, 
born at Port Adoun, Ireland, daughter of James 
Russell. Their children are Margaret Jane (Ted- 
rick), John, Sophia C, Richard, Sarah Flora, x\nna 
B. (deceased), and Thomas Benjamin (deceased). 

CARROLL J. C, Lafayette township; boot 
and shoe manufacturer; born in Belfast, Ireland, 
in 1847, and came to this country in 1856; was 
married, in 1872, to Miss Agnes McCune. They 
have had four children: Thomas, Maggie, an in- 
fant, and Charles. Mr. Carroll took an active 
part in the late war, going out in company H, 
Eightieth O. V. I., and served with that reginn-nt 
fifteen months, and served three years in the 
regular army afterward; was census enumerator 
of this township in 1880, and is an enterprising, 
and skillful workman. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



()49 



CARSON JAMES, Keene township; former; 
born in Stcubenville. Ohio, December 11, 1818; 
son of John and Ann Carson; grandson of 
James and Esther (Kecd) Carson and of James 
and Ann Swain. His father's family consisted 
of four children: Esther, William (deceased), 
S.irah and James. At the age of three he was 
brought to Ci>shocton county, and remained here 
till 18.54, and then went to California and spent 
five years in Bute and one year in Hierrc county. 
He next moved to Virginia City, Nevada, where 
he engaged in the lumber Imsincss about two 
and a half years, then returned to Coshocton 
county and has followed farming hero since. 

CASSINGHAM J. W., county auditor; was 
born June 22, 1840, in Co.shocton city; son of 
George F. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Cassinghani. 
His paternal ancestry is Engli.sh, and his maternal 
Irish. Mr. C. began business as clerk in the 
comity treasurer's office, in 1857, where he re- 
mained until 1868, when lie engaged in the 
grocery business, firm, name of Cassingham & 
Crowley. This firm dissolved in 1874, when Mr. 
C. engaged in the coal business, firm name of 
Prosser & Cassingham. Mr. C. withdrew from 
this firm in the spring of 1881. From 1872 to 
the present time he has been partner in the 
Co.sliocton Paper Company. Mr. Cassingham was 
elected to his present office, auditor of the 
county, in the fall of 1881. He was married 
November o, 1863, to jMiss Caroline, daughter of 
Samuel and Julia (Crowly) Laniberson. They 
are tlie parents of two children, viz: Charles L., 
and George W. 

CASSINGHAM GEORGE F , was born April 
19, 1812, in Kent county, Ireland; son of Thomas 
and Pliebe (Ford) Cassingham ; catne to America 
in the fall of 1818, and located in Muskingnm 
county, Ohio, where they remained until the old 
gentleman's death. He had eight sons and four 
daughters, viz: Thomas, Richard, .Tames, John 
P., Henry, William, Ford and George F., the 
subject of our sketch. The names of the four 
daugliters are as follows: I'hebe, Elizabeth, So- 
phia and Mary Jane. In 1S3.3, George F. came 
to this city, and engaged in shoemaking. In 
1845, he was elected justice of the peace, and, 
in 18-lC, recorder, and held both offices nine 
years, and, in 1879, was again elected justice of 
the peace, which office he now holds. Esquire 
Cassinghani was married Mav 23, 1835, to IMiss 
Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wilson. They 
became the parents of four children, viz: Julia 
(deceased), Sarah, JMary Jane and John W. 

CASTEEL THOMA.S, Perry township; post- 
office. West Carlisle; born in Pennsvlvania, in 
1799; son of Jes.se and Sarah Ciistecl. Mr. 
Casteel has been twice married; first, in 1819, to 
Miss Rutha Dicken. His lirst wife died in Sep- 



tember, 1836 They had ten children, viz: Amos, 
Darcus (deceased),' Jessie, Eliza E., John W., 
Urias, Perry, Druzilla, Etha and R\ith. In l.S,3G, 
he married" Susannali Bottonifield, daughter of 
Henry and Rachel (Flagle) H<ittomfieki They 
have seven ciiildren, viz: Rachel. Jackson, Jacob 
(deceased), James ;M. (decea.-ied ). Sarah, Susan and 
Thomas. Mrs. Casteel has lived in this county 
lifty-six years, and has been in the town of 
Coshocton only once in all that time. 

CATON GEORGE R., White Eyes township; 
farmer; postofficc. Chili, Ohio; born December 
18, 1831, in White Eyes township ; .son of Thomas 
and Mary (Ringer) Caton; a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, but came to White Eyes township among 
the lirst settlers of the township; George R. was 
brought up in the townshij). Mr. Caton was 
married in February, 1855, to Miss Lucinda. 
daughter of Thomas and Sarah* Hughes JIcCol- 
lum, formerly of Pennsylvania. They became 
the parents of nine children, viz: Franklin, La- 
fayette, Mary Alice, married to Michael Sherman, 
now residing in White Eyes township, Sarah 
Jane, Thomas J., Elsworth C, James L., George 
W., Solemma Bell and U. S. Grant. Mr. Caton 
has succeeded well as a farmer, having a good 
home for a large family. 

CATON A. S., Roscoe postoffice; merchant, of 
the firm of Moore & Caton, White Woman street; 
born June 28, 1852, in Berrin county, Michigan ; 
son of Andrew Caton, American born, of German 
ancestry. When one year old he came to this 
State with his parents, and settled on a farm in 
Jlarrow county, and after a few removes, settled 
in Knox county. At seventeen years of age, he 
began teaching school and taught two years. He 
then entered the Ohio Wesleyan college, at Dela- 
ware, and attended three years. On leaving col- 
lege, in company with his brother-in-law. settled 
on a farm in West Bedford township, where they 
remained one year, when tliey exchanged the 
farm for the building and stock of goods owned 
by A. Pettit. and continued the business at the 
place named above. This firm has been very 
successful, notwithstanding their having had no 
previous mercantile experience. Their business 
has increased largely in the last few >-ears. Mr. 
Caton was married September 11, 1874, to Miss 
Dottie Moore, daughter of William Moore, of 
West Bedford township. 

CHADWELL JAMES T., Linton township; 
farmer; born in Tuscarawas county, July 25, 
1825; son of George and Ruth (Taylor) Chadwell, 
both grandfathers were English born. His grand- 
father, Thomas Taylor, was br()nght*(o America 
as an English soldier, during the revolutionary 
war, but deserted the ship before he landed and 
swam ashore. He was the only one of three to 
reach the shore. His grandfather, John Ciiad- 



650 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



well, settled in Virginia. His father, born in 
Loudon county, Virginia, came to Jefferson coun- 
ty in 1814, when sixteen years old, and afterward 
moved to Tuscarawas county, where James was 
raised. In 1850, Ajiril G, Mr. Chadwell married 
Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Magdalcna 
(Minnick) Updegroft', born in Carroll county, and 
at five years of age was brought to Tuscarawas 
county by her parents. Their children are Mary 
(Welker), Jane (Marlatt), Samantha (Marlatt), 
Phojbe (deceased), Maria (deceased), and Ella 
May. In 1853 Mr. Chadwell moved to Koss coun- 
ty, and lived there eleven years. He spent the 
summer of 1865 in Tuscarawas county, and has 
resided in Linton township since. He entered 
military service in May, ISG-t, as a member of 
Company F,One Hundred and Forty -ninth O.N. 
G., serving four months. 

CHAIMBERLW 0. P., Linton township; 
born in Lafayette township. May 1, 1842. His 
father, John G., emigrated from Vermont about 
183S. His mother, Gertrude Shafl'er, daughter of 
Peter and Elizabeth Shaffer, was born at Albany, 
New York. He was married February 7, 1801, 
to Miss E. J. Moore, daughter of Rev. John and 
Rosanna Moore ; born in Allegheny county, 
Pennsylvania. Her grand parents were Joseph 
and Eliza (Glenn) Mgore, both of Irish nativity, 
and Henry and Jane (Lyle) Uonnell, of Virginia 
birth. Mr. Chamberlin has two children, Olive 
P. and Gertrude R. He enlisted February, 1862, 
in Company K, Eightieth 0. V. I.; mustered out 
September, 1865. He participated in the siege 
of Corinth, battles of luka and Corinth, siege of 
Vicksburg, battle of Mission Ridge, and Sher- 
man's engagements in Georgia. In 1873 he moved 
to Linton township, and has lived here since. 

CHALFANT H. M., farmer; Washington 
township ; postoflfice, Dresden ; born in 1840, in 
this county. His father was born in 1807, in 
what is now Perry county, and came to this 
county with his father in 1808. He was married 
in 1830 to Miss Delilah Hayes, of this county, 
who was born in 1813. They are the parents of 
eight children, five of whom are living. H. M. 
Chalfant, the subject of this sketch, was married 
in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Mossman, of this 
county, who was born in 1840. They are the 
parents of seven children, viz: D. A., Lena L., 
Sybil J., John C, Mary L., George W. and Ina M. 

CHANEY JONATHAN, Pike township; post- 
office, Frazeysburgh, Muskingum county; farmer 
and stiick raiser; born in this county in 1850; 
son of Emanuel and Jlargret (Ashcraft)) Chaney, 
and grad.soit of Jose))h and Elizabeth Chaney. 
He was married in 1876, to Miss Mary E. Moran, 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Moran. They 
are tlie parents of two children, viz: Flaura B. 
and Charles K 



CHANEY S. F., Pike township; merchant; 
born in 1854. in Muskingum county, Ohio; came 
to this county in 1860. He was married in 1879 
to Nancy E, Forrest, of this county. She was 
born in 1842, in this county. They arc the 
parents of one child — Otto Clay. He bought an 
interest in the store of L. V. Cox, in 1878, who 
died in March, 1879. In the same year he pur- 
chased his interest of the heirs, and now contin- 
ues the business alone, dealing in dry goods, 
groceries, hats and caps, boots and shoes, queens- 
ware and notions. Sole agent for Rambo's woolen 
goods. 

CHAPMAN DR. BARZILLAI W., Adams 
township, Bakersvilie, Ohio; was born October 2, 
1835, near Wa.shington, Pennsylvania; son of 
Richard and Catharine (Updegraff') Chapman, 
who were the parents of thirteen children, nine 
sons and four daughters. The father was of Irish 
and the mother of German ilescent. Dr. Chapman 
was brought up in Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania. At twenty years of age, lie began reading 
medicine with Dr. Solomon Beers, of Newcomers- 
town, Ohio. He began the practice of his pro- 
fession at New Albany, Ohio, in May, 1S58. In 
1862, he went to Morristown, where he remained 
until 1864, when he came to his present residence. 
He was first married, December 20, 1855, to Miss 
Mary A., daughter of Samuel and Isabella (^lajor) 
Spencer. By this union he became the father of 
three children, viz : Alexander L., who died 
March 30, 1859, Isabel C. and Lucinda B. Their 
mother died January 5, 18 — . The doctor was 
m.arricd, April 10, 1873, to his present w-ife. Miss 
Catharine, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Win- 
ger) Zimmerman, natives of Bern, Switzerland. 
They are the parents of one child, viz : Edwin B., 
born August lt'>, 1,S74. The doctor's grandfathers, 
to the fifth generation, have all borne the name 
of " Richard." He has a relict of his grandfather 
which is here given, vi'rl>atin: "That Richard 
Coppmann and his wife, Sarah Coppman, alias 
Patterson, are Protestants, regular members of 
this congregation; honest and sober and free from 
scandal or ground of church censure known to 
us. is, by order of session, certified at Castleblaney, 
county IM(5naghan, Ireland, September 12, 1783, 
by James M. Attley, District Minister." 

CHASE LESLIE, Clark township; hardware 
merchant; postoffice, Clark's; horn in Bloomfield, 
Coshocton county, June 22, 1857 ; son of John and 
Rebecca (Lewis) Cha.sc. He learned the tinner's 
trade with Mr. D. St. John, of Cardington, Mon- 
roe county, Ohio, and worked -in his emjiloy for 
three years; then came to Bloomfield and en- 
gaged in the hardware business in the fall of 1876, 
in which he has been engaged since. In connec- 
tion with his store he has a tin-shop, in which ho 
carries on his trade, paying particular attention 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



651 



to roofing and spouting. He does a fair business, 
both in hardware and at his trade, and is an ac- 
commodating, practical business man. lie was 
married October 18, 1878. to Miss Emma Duncan, 
daughter of William and Fannie (ElUott) Dun- 
can. They have one child, Fannie, born May 30, 
1880. 

CHURCH JOHN R., Monroe townsliip; was 
born November, 1850, in Tiverton townshiji; 
son of Benjamin S. and Margret E. (Cox) Cliurc-h : 
grandson of Lemuel and Elizabeth (Simmons) 
Church, who are natives of Fall River, Massa- 
chusetts. Mr. Church lived in Tiverton Center 
till the age of twelve years, when he went to 
farming and attended country school. His edu- 
cation was completed in the Spring Mountain 
academy. At the age of twenty-one he began 
teaching, which he has followed in the winter 
sciisons ever since. Mr. Church is a^hriving 
young farmer and resides at present in Jlonroe 
township, Co.shocton county. He was married 
to Mi.ss Rachel \. Bantum, October 25, 187t;, who 
was born in 1851, daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth (Easter) Bantum, and granddaughter of 
John and Anna Bantum, and of George and 
Elizabeth Easter. She was educated at Warsaw 
and Spring Mountain, is a member of the Evan- 
gelical church. They have two children, Robert 
v., born December 10, 1877, and Nellv, born 
October G, 1880. 

CLARK JOHN, Tuscarawas town.ship ; farmer ; 
postotfice, Co.«hoclon ; was born April 28, 1814, in 
Fawn towhship, York county, Pennsylvania. He 
came to his present farm residence about the 
year 1863. Mr. Clark was married January 1, 
1866, to Miss Mary Ellen, daughter of John "and 
Lucy (Swaringum) Morgan, of Lafayette town- 
ship. This union was blessed with one child, 
John James, born October 2i), 1868. Mr. Clark 
has by honest industry possessed himself of a 
good farm, from which he realizes a comfortable 
living for himself and family. 

CLARK JOHN, Bethlehem township; farmer; 
postofhce, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Samuel Clark: 
was born in this county, in 181;?. His father 
came to this county in 1810 or 1811, and was of 
Irish descent. He was one of the oldest citizens 
of Coshocton county. When he came to the 
county, he found it a wilderness, with here and 
there a cabin, surrounded by a small lot of cleared 
land. He was county commissioner t\Vo terms. 
and served as justice of the peace in his township 
for a number of vears. John Clark was married 
February 3, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth N. Skillman, 
who was born in New Jer.sey, in 18111. They be- 
came the parents of eleven children, viz : James 
A , Mary W., Margaret J. (deceased), Thomas, 
Isaac M., .John A., .\nna C, Ennna, Lizzie and 
Edward E. Lizzie follows the profession of 



teaching. Mr. Clark owns a fine farm in Bethle- 
hem township, and is esteemed by all his neigh- 
bo«B. He and his wife are prominent members 
of the M. E. Church. 

CLARK JAMES W., Franklin township; far- 
mer; born in Linton township, November 17, 
1829; .son of James Clark, born in 1811, and 
grandson of William Clark, a pioneer of this 
county. He has always lived in Linton and 
Franklin townships, e.\cei)t a year sjient just 
across the Muskingum. Taught school nine 
years, beginning in 18.50; then oi)ened a store in 
Maysville, which he conducted for si.x years, then 
engaged in farming; married in 1853, to Mary 
Ann, daughter of Henry Piper, of Muskingum 
county. Of his eleven children, only four sur- 
vive, "viz: William Albert, Elizabeth Olive, 
Richard Oliver and Stella Ann. Walter, in 1877, 
at sixteen years of age, was drowned while bath- 
ing in the Muskingum river. Nancy Jane, died 
in 1878, of consumption, aged eighteen years. 
The other children died young. 

CLARK WILLIAM W., Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Tuscarawas townshij), April 18, 
1813; son of AVilliam and Nancy (Valentine) 
Clark. His father, born in 1775, came to Tus- 
carawas township from Virginia before 1809, 
was a .soldier in 1812, and died Jlay 11, 1842. His 
family consisted of Margaret (McCleeary), Hugh, 
James, Nancy (Bainter), John, Elizabeth (Pres- 
ton), William W. (the subject of this sketch), and 
Samuel. Only the youngest three now survive. 
Mr. Clark married" Dorotha N., daughter of 
Sylvester and Hannah (Snyder) Preston. Her 
father emigrated with his family from New York 
in 1838. She was the youngest of eleven child- 
ren, viz: Sarah (Ronton), Zerah, Robert W., 
Zachariah S.. Lewis B., Otis A., Joseph W., Har- 
riet (Wilcox), Mary J. (Wilcox), Julia A. and Doro- 
tha, Mr. Claik has had eight children, fourljf whom 
survive, viz: James P., Elizabeth P., Hannah, 
Jane (McCollough), of Guernsey county, Mary 
Catharine (Emler). 

CLARK WILLIAM M., Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Linton townshiii, June 27, 1825; 
son of James, and giandson of William Clark; 
one of the earliest settlers of tlie county; emi- 
grated from Maryland, and moved to Franklin 
township in 1864; was niarri(>d Febriiary 12, 18.")0, 
to Rebecca A. Bryan, who was born in Franklin 
township, and is the daughter of Stephen K. Bry- 
an. Their family consists of six children, viz: 
Martha Jane, Mary, James, Stephen, John and 
Thomas. 

CLARK BENTON, Tackson township; farmer; 
postofhre, Roscoe, Ohio; son of Archibald and 
Sarah (Hogland) Clark; was burn September 29, 
1837, in this county. His father was of Iri.sh de- 



652 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



scent, but was born and raised in this county. 
His mother was of Enghsh descent, and was also 
born and raised in this county. They were ani^ng 
the oldest pioneers of the county. Mr. Clark 
was raised on the farm, and has always followed 
that occujiation. He was married in 18.57, to 
Miss Elizabeth Thoinpkins, of this county. They 
became the parent.s of four children, viz : Henry, 
Archibald, James and Adam. Mr. Clark owns a 
fine farm in the Walhonding valley. 

CLAEK S. B , Jackson township; born in this 
county, in 1839; son of William and Hannah 
Clark, and grandson of Samuel and Kachel 
Clark; married, in 1863, to Nancy E. Boring, 
daughter of Kinzy and Margaret Boring. Mr. 
Clark is the father of live chidren, viz: Wil- 
liam C, H. K., Marion, Wealthy and Milton. 
Postoffice, Rosco. 

CLARK JOSHUA, New Castle township; 
farmer; postoffice, New Castle; was born Febru- 
ary 10, 1808, in Harrison county, where the town 
of Harrisville now stands, and which was, at that 
time, in the woods. He is the son of John and 
Marj- (Boothe) Clark, who were the parents of 
ten children. His father was Welsh and his 
mother of English descent. They were Quakers, 
from the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 

He came to New Castle township, with his 
father, when he was eighteen years old, and set- 
tled on the land now occupied by the village of 
New Castle, and, about three years later, his 
father laid out the village of Liberty (now New 
Castle). 

At the age of twenty-one he married Miss 
Mary Given, daughter of William and Elizalieth 
(Barr) Given. She was raised on Wheeling 
creek, near Wheeling, ^'\'est Virginia. They then 
moved to Morrow county, Ohio, and settled in 
the woods; l:)Ut their stay here was short, on ac- 
count of the scarcity of food and labor, being 
three miles from the nearest settlement where 
they could obtain the necessaries of life. While 
there they lived in a cabin with a fire-place in 
one end, the backwall and chimney being but 
six feet high, and were therefore in danger of 
attacks from wolves. They lived the first week 
in this cabin without its being daubed, and the 
snow fell about ankle deep. 

He attended eleven raisings and log-rollings 
during the first two weeks of his sojourn in that 
place. At the ex])iration of about six months 
they had consumed aliout all the jirovisions they 
had brought with them, and then began to think 
it time to move, so they returned to New Castle 
township, Coshocton county, where he is still 
living. 

He is situated nearly two miles southwest of 
New Castle, at the headwaters of the Wakatomica 
on a well improved farm of about oOO acres. He 



has been twice married. His first wife bore him 
four children, viz : William, Love M., Allen and 
Elizabeth. William resides near Ea.st L^nion, 
Coshocton county ; Love married \^'illiam ^^'ar- 
ton, of Butler township, Knox county; Allen is 
a farmer of Jackson township, Knox county; 
Elizabeth is the wife of Je.sse Mercer, of Jackson 
township, Knox county. He was married a sec- 
ond time to Miss Eleanor Wilson, on the twen- 
tieth of June, 1841, daughter of William and 
Rebecca (Jlelick) Wilson, granddaughter of James 
and Rebecca (Jones) Wilson ; also of John and 
Eleanor Slelick. She was born January 28, 1813, 
in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. 

This union resulted in eight children, viz: 
Thomas (deceased). Rebecca, Joshua, Martha, 
Charles H., Robert H., Hannah S. and Samuel Mc. 
Mr. Clark relates that when his father was mov- 
ing to this county, they came to Coshocton on 
Sunday, and had to cross the river on a ferry 
boat, and that the whole town came down to the 
river to help them across, and that in ferrying 
the cattle across they had a good deal of trouble, 
some of them jumjnng overboard and swimming 
back. Among those of the village that turned 
out to assist them, were Mr. Adam Johnson and 
Colonel Williams. He also relates, that on ar- 
riving in New Castle township, after two days 
heavy driving from Coshocton, they moved in a 
house with one or two other families, and lived 
two weeks there, until they could build one of 
their own, and that there were about twenty per- 
sons in all occujiying the house during those two 
weeks. On the farm where he now lives stands 
the trunk of an apple tree, that measures ten 
feet, three inches in circumference, that the seed 
or sprout had been planted by Johnny Appleseed, 
who then lived upon the Mohican. The trunk is 
about seventy years old, and in one specially fa- 
vorable season, bore 140 bushels of apples. 

CLARK NATH.\N,Pike township; postoffice, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county in 18.3ii; son of Mauley and Mary 
Clark. He was married in 1860, to Miss ]\Iary E. 
Magruder, daughter of Hezakiah and Sarah A. 
(Lake) Magruder. They are the parents of three 
children, viz: Rollen, George V. and Iva J. The 
subject of this sketch died in 1870. His widow 
still lives on the home farm, together with her 
daughter and two sons, surrounded by all the 
necessary comforts of life. Mrs. Clark's father 
died in "lSr>8, her mother in 18,30. She is the 
oldest of a family of five children. 

CLARK WILLI,\M, Perry township. New 
Guilford postoffice; born in this county in 1828; 
son of Joshua and Mary Clark, and grandson of 
William and Elizabeth (Barn) Giffin, and of 
John Clark ; was married in 1861 to Miss H. L. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



053 



Veiitc'h, daughter of Ellis and Elizabeth Veatch. 
They have nine children, viz : Elmer V., Walter 
H., Harriet E., Duette, Mary E., William H., T. 
F., Sylvia M. and Cliarles H. 

CLEMMENS W., Coshocton; carriage black- 
smith, West Main street; was born July 11, 1841, 
in Mt. Vernon, Knox connty. He is son of Wil- 
liam Clemmens, a native of Virginia. Young 
Clennnens was apjirenticed to his traile, at al>out 
the age of fifteen, to William Sanderson. When 
about twenty-one, he came t<j this city and worked 
iis a journeyman with E. McDonald. In 1875, he 
establislied liis present shop, and is doing a good 
busine.ss in all kinds of carriage-smithing. Mr. 
Clemmens was married. April 5, ISOl. to Miss 
Mary Taylor, daughter of John Taylor, of this 
city. They have had five children, two of whom, 
John William and Allie Jlay, have died, and 
three, Cora Belle, Clarance Carl and Edith Lu- 
vane, are living. 

COCHRAN JAMES, Jefferson township; born 
in East Union, Coshocton county, Ohio, De- 
■oember 4, ISoS; son of Caleb and Anna (Duncan) 
Cochran, and grandson of William Cocliran an<l 
Matthew Duncan. His grandfather, Duncan, 
came to America, at twelve years of age, and set- 
tled in Maryland. His father was born Febru- 
ary 5, 1806 ; died September 28, 1877. His 
mother was born, February 29, 1812, in New 
Ca.stle township. 

He enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth 0. V. I., 
April 15, ISGl, under Captain McClain, and .served 
three months; then enlisted December l,lSGl,in 
Company F, Eightieth O. V. I., under Caj)tain 
Metham; went into camp at Camp Meigs, then 
to Camp Jackson, at Columbus, Ohio; from there 
he went to Cincinnati; thence to Fort Holt, Ky.; 
thence to Paduca, thence to the rear of Corinth, 
and assisted in the siege; thence to luka, Missis- 
sippi, and took part in the engagement there; 
thence back to Corinth, and assisted in the two 
days' fight between Rosecrans and Price; thence 
to Holly Springs, and to Memphis, Tennessee, 
where they took charge of the ilivision train and 
guarded it to Forest Hill; thence to Helena. 
Arkansiis, via Memphis; thence four miles below, 
and went into camjj on a sand bar to arrange for 
the Ya/.oo Pass exjiedition. and after taking part 
in the expedition came back to the sand bar, and 
from there to Young's Point, Louisiana; thence 
to Hardtinies landing. on the Mississijipi; thence 
via Port Gibson, Raymond, .Jackson, Champion 
Hills, Black River, to a position in the rear of 
Vicksburg. He remained here forty-eight days; 
thence via Memphis and Cliattanooga to the bat- 
tle of Mi.ssion Ridge; thence to camp near Chat- 
tanooga; tlience to Bridgeport, Tennessee. 

Ho then came home as a recruiting oHicer.and 
■itn the Uth of May, 18G4, returned to" liuntsville, 



Alabama, thence to Rosaca, and thence to Atlan- 
ta, and to the sea with Sherman ; to Riehnnjnd, 
Virginia, and from thence to Washington, and at- 
tended the grand review ; thence to Louisville, 
Kentucky, and to Columbus, Ohio, where he re- 
ceived his discharge, August 28, 1865. He filled 
all the stations from ])rivate to capUiin, was cho- 
sen aid-de-camp for (Jcneral Rice, also acting a,s- 
sistixnt inspector general for General James. He 
engaged in farming in the spring of ISOti, and in 
1.S67, went to Illinois, and engaged in teaming, 
and in the spring of ISGIt, came to Warsaw and 
beg.an hotel-kee]iing, where he remained until 
the spring of 1875, .when he took a trip to Cali- 
fornia, and visited many places along the Pacific 
coast and the Pacific railroad, being gone about 
fifteen months. On his return he again engaged 
in hotel-keeping, and remained in business until 
November, 1.S80. He was married July 1, 1866, 
to Miss Ada Hayes, daughter of John J. and Su- 
san (Lochary) Hayes, and granddaughter of Wil- 
liam and Agnes (Sheridan) Hayes, and Patrick 
and Sarah (^Martin) Locharj', and great-grand- 
daughter of .losejih and Nancy (]\Ioore) Hayes, 
and John Lochary, and finally, great-great-grand- 
daughter of Anne (Xixon) Hayes. Lulu Gracia, 
born February 15, 1872, is their only child. 

COCHRAN JOSEPH A., farmer; postoffice, 
West Lafayette; was born in this county in 1839, 
and married in 1804 to Mary Ann Miller, who 
was born in this township in 1843. They have 
seven children —Hattie E., Jeremiah A., Samuel 
M., Charles E., Perry O., William M. and Jesse. 
He was a soldier in the late war, a member of 
Company D, Sixteenth regiment O. V. I., and 
served out the time of his enlistment. 

COCHRAN JOHN M., Lafayette township; 
carpenter. West Lafaj'ette; born August 9, 18,'?0, 
in EUallsville, Jetl'er.s(Mi covuity; son of Jacob 
Cochran, a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish de- 
cent; lived on a farm until about twenty-six years 
of age, when he commenced his jiresent trade, 
after which he spent two years prospecting in the 
west. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Six- 
teenth 0. V. I., (three months' men) and re-en- 
listed in Company I, Fifty-first 0. V. I., and 
served two years and nine months, and re-en- 
listed as a veteran in same company and regi- 
ment, and served until the close of the war, get- 
ing his discharge late in the fall of 1H65, having 
served nearly live years; was captured twice but 
soon re-ca|)turcd by his own comrades. At the 
close of the war, Mr. Cochran located in West 
Lafayette and resumed his trade, and has followed 
it to "the present tiine. Mr. Cochran was married 
in 1865 to Miss Eliza Cutter, daughter of Benja- 
min Cutter, of Lafayette township. They have 
had four chiklren, Casatler, Clessou, Loney and 
Berdell. 



054 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



COCHRAN ALEXANDER, Perry township; 

posloffice, New C4uilford; farmer and speculator; 
born in this county in 1845; son of Joseph and 
Mary A. {Under^^ood) Cochran, and grandson of 
WiUiani and Elizabeth (Hutrman) Cochran, and 
of .Joshua and Sarah Underwood; married in 
1SG8 to Miss Mary S. Board, daughter of Thomas 
and Elizabeth A. Board. They are the parents 
of four children, viz : Charles J., Foy, Maud and 
Claud Carl. 

COE WILHA5I H, painter and printer, Co- 
shocton, Ohio; was born December 14, 18.S4, in 
Coshocton, Ohio; son of Benjamin and Ruth A. 
(Decker) C»e. Young Coe was brought up and 
educated in his native city. At eighteen he 
went into the Coshocton Republican Printing 
office, where he remained about three year^. 
From the Re])ublican office he went to the Dem- 
orat office, where he remained until he enlisted 
in Company A, Sixteenth O. V. I., for four 
months. On his return home he went into the 
Coshocton Paper Mills, where he remained about 
three years. Then he followed painting until 
.the Coshocton steel works opened, when he went 
into these works, where he has continued to the 
present time. ]Mr. Coe was elected city clerk in 
1862, and re-elected in 186.3, 4 and 5, and also 
elected to the same office in 1872 and 3. In 1879 
he was elected township clerk and served two 
years. Mr. Coe was married October 7, 1SG2, to 
Miss Susan, daughter of Gabriel Clark. They are 
the parents of seven children, viz: Emma, Mary, 
Nora, Glen AV. (deceased), infants, twin boys, 
died, not named, and Edna. 

COE E. v., Coshocton, Ohio; photographer, 
220 Main street. Mr. Coe was born December 9, 
1837, in Coshocton, t)hio; son of Benjamin and 
Ruthanna (Decker) Coe, of Orange county, New 
York. They came to Coshocton about 188;^ and 
were married in the house now occupied by John 
Burt, Sr. They became the parents of" eight 
children, viz: William H., Elias V., Henrietta 
(deceased), Benjamin, Annie, Reuben, (deceased), 
and Almeda. All are married and live in this 
county, excepting Annie, who resides at Dennison, 
Ohio. Elias V. began the practice of his art 
September 1.5, 1862, with G. A. McDonald, with 
whom he was associate<l thirteen years and one 
month. Then he bought out Mr McDonald and 
became sole 4)roi)rietcir of his j)resent gallery, 
which is supplied with all the modern imjirove- 
ments and facilities for doing all kinds of photo- 
graphic work in first class order. Mr. Cce was 
married June 7, 1808, to Mi.'.^s Eliza E.. daughter 
of Gabriel and Catharine R. (Rogers) Clark. 
They are the parents of four children, viz : George 
B., Agnes M., Stella and Samuel R. 

COE BENJAMIN, Coshocton, Ohio; dealer in 



stoves and manufacturer of tin, copper and sheet 
iron w'are; also tin roofing and spouting. Mr. 
Coe was born December 6, 1847, in Coshocton, 
Ohio, where he has silent almost his entire life. 
When about fifteen, he began working in the 
Coshocton paper mills and continued there two 
years. In 1804, he began his present trade and 
worked three years, then went to Oden, Illinois, 
and remained there but a short time, then re- 
turned and engaged with Shaw & Sandswith. of 
whom lie learned his trade. He next engaged 
with liarbaugh & Smith, with whom he con- 
tinued until April, 1809, when he became jiartner 
in the firm of Robertson & Coe. In 1871, this 
partnership was dissolved and 3Ir. Coe succes- 
sively became foreman in the shops of Palmer & 
Robinson, Slavton ct Palmer, Palmer it Robinson 
and G. W. Rickets & Co. Mr. Coe bought the 
tools of the last named firm and formed a jiartner- 
ship with R. M. Elliott, which firm continued 
until February, 1877, since which time Mr. Coe 
has conducted his business alone with marked 
success. Mr. Coe was married, March 30, 1871, 
to Jliss Katie L., daughter of Urial Mills, of 
Salem, Marion county, Illinois. They are the 
parents of two children, viz : Laura A., and 
Harry W. 

COFFMAM ADAM, Jefferson township; har- 
nessniaker; postolfice, Warsaw; born in Tusca- 
rawas county, Ohio, June 2, 1.850; son of Freder- 
ick and IMarv (Swift) Cofl'man, and grandson of 
Adam and Elizabeth (Darner) Swift. Mr. Cofl'- 
man labored on the farm, in his boyhood, until 
about the age of 17, when he began clerking in 
a grocery store, for William Baad, in Warsaw, 
and remained with him about two years. He 
then engaged as clerk with Shafliier Brothers, 
and remained one year. He then returned tohar- 
ncssniaking, which he had learned with his uncle, 
Charles Senft, between school hours. In De- 
cember, 1872, he nurchased an interest in S. 
Hook's harness shop, and continued aliont two 
years at it; then became the sole proprietor, and 
is, at this writing, doing a very fair busines.s. 
He was married October 1, 1874', to Miss Susan 
Bumgardner, daughter of John and Mary (Line- 
haugli) Bumgardner. Thev are the parents of 
two'Children: Wilbert O., born April 10, 1870, 
and Evert D., born October 11, 1877, died in 
December, 1877. 

COFFMAN WILLIAM. Jeflerson township; 
harncssmaker; postcffice, Warsaw; born in Jef- 
ferson tC)wnship, Coshocton county, October 23, 
18.54, brother of Adam Cofl'man ; son of Freder- 
ick and Mary (Senft) Coflman. He attended 
school and worked on the farm until the age of 
twenty-one, when he began learning the harness- 
making business, with his brother, in Warsaw, 
with w horn he is still engaged. Mr. Coflman is a 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



OSS' 



line workman, nnd makes light worlv a specialty. 
He is a promising young man, esteemed and re- 
spected by all. 

COGNION STEPHEN, Linton township; far- 
mer; postotfice. Wills Creek; born June (i, 1852, 
in Franklin township; son of Stephen and 
Kosella Cognion, natives of France ; came to 
America about the year 1S4S, and located in 
Franklin township, from \vhich he came to his 
present residence in Linton township, in 1868. 
They are the parents of live children; three sons 
and two daughters. When Mr. Cof,iiion came to 
America he was poor, but by the united labor and 
economy of himself and family, they have ob- 
tained a good home and farm. Of the children, 
Mary is married to William Kron)inaker; John 
is married to Cathariene Doll; Magdaline is mar- 
ried to John Switzer, Stephen and Nicholas are 
unmarried. 

COLLIER THOMAS W.. Coshocton; born 
April '22. 1844, in Carrollton.Ohio; son of Thoma.s 
W., a native of Virginia, of English ancestry. 
At seven years of age he began to set ty])e, and 
remained six years, then attended .school one 
year, and then resumed his place in the printing 
office. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
F, Si.xteenth O. V. I., and served three months. 
In November following, he enlisted as a private 
in Company F, Eightieth O. V. I., and served to 
the close of the war. He was successively pro- 
inoted to first .sergeant, second lieutenant, first 
lieutenant, and appointed adjutant and commis- 
sioned Captain of Company A, in October, 1SG4. 
He was provost marshal from June 1, 18G.5, until 
mustered out. Captain Collier was married April 
14, l.S(>4, to Mi.'^s Kate Pinehart, of New Phila- 
delphia. This union was blessed with one child, 
a daughter, ^Minnie Wylly. Captain Collier was 
appointed postmaster of Coshocton, in Jlav, 
186;>. and hold the office until 1881. He wa.s 
editor and proprietor of the Coshocton Age from 
September 1, 1866, to April 1, 1878. 

CAGLE GEORGE T., Coshocton ; boot and 
shoe maker, Clerry street, between Sixth and Sev- 
enth streets; born August 9, 1842, in Frederick 
county, Maryland ; son of John C, a native of 
Wurtcmberg, Germany. He worked on a farm 
until he was fifteen, when he went to his trade 
and served three years; then established a shop 
in the spring of 1862, in Uniontown, Maryland. 
In November, 1865, he came to this city and estab- 
li.<hed a shoj), but soon sold out, and was a tran- 
sient journeyman until 187;i, when he established 
his present shop, in which he is doing a good lius- 
incss, employing several workmen, and working 
himself, also. Mr. Cagle enlisted in Battery F, 
Third P. V. H. A., and served until tlje dose of 
the war. Mr. Cagle was married February 18, 
1880, to Miss :Mattie Brister, of this city. 



COLLOPY THOMAS, Linton township; far- 
mer; born in Limerick county, Ireland ; the son 
of Patrick and Catherine (Stanton) Callopy. In 

1825, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of 
Richard and Nora (Donaly) Bulman. She was 
born in county Cork, November W, 1805. In 

1826, they emigrated to America, remaining in 
Albany county. New York, till the fall of 1835, 
when they came to their present home in Linton 
township. Their children, ten in number, are as 
follows : Catherine, Hannah, John, Richard, 
Mary J., Margaret, Lizzie, Anna, Michael and 
Thomas. 

COMPTON ELISHA, Jackson township; re- 
tired farmer ; postolfice, Roseoe ; born in Culpep- 
per county, Virginia, September U, 1816; son of 
George and Sarah (Duke) Compton, of Iri.sh an- 
cestry. Elisha was raised on the farm, which 
business he successfully followed during his long 
life. Mr. Compton was married December iir 
1841, to Huda Anne, daughter of Jeremiah Hays, 
of Virginia township. This union was blessed 
with nine children, John, Marj' Ann, R. T., Jere- 
miah, George, deceased, Harvey, Eliza Jane, de- 
ceased, Alice and Camilla. 

COMPTON A. N., Coshocton, saddle and har- 
ness manufacturer and dealer in saddlery hard- 
ware; was born November 5, 1846, in Rappahan- 
nock county, Virginia; son of A. P. Y. Compton, 
who was American born, of English ancestry. 
Young Compton was raised on a farm until four- 
teen years old, when he was apprenticed to the 
saddlery and harness trade for three years. He 
then went to Loudon comity, Virginia, and 
served under instructions three years. In 1868 
he opened a shop at Flint Hill, in his native 
county, and conducted it about four years. In 
1872 he came to this county and settled at Ro.s- 
coe, where he continued his business until April, 
18.S0, when he occujiied his present room, which 
is sixty-five feet long by twenty-two and a half 
feet wide, being the largest in the county used for 
like business This large room is well tilled with 
goods manufactured in the establishment, to- 
gether with a fine stock of saddlery hardware. 
IMr. Compton was married November 22, 1S74, to 
Miss Mary F. Carroll, daughter of Michael Car- 
roll, deceased, of Roseoe. This luiion was 
ble.ssed with two children, a daughter, Annie 
L., and a son, Edward JI. 

COMPTON J. A., Coshocton, dealer in musi- 
cal instruments and sewing machines; was 
born January 10, 1S50, in Jackson townshi]); son 
of Elisha Compton. born in Virginia, of English 
ancestry. Young Compton was raised on the 
farm, and left it when about twenty-one years of 
age and entered the Ohio We.sleyan University, 
and remained three years, with the exce])tion of 
teaching school one term. In the year 1873, Mr. 



656 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON .COUNTY. 



Compton established his present business, in which 
he is doing well, having handled during the past 
year from 300 to 400 sewing machines, about 
fifty organs and a number of pianos. 

COMPTON R. T., Coshocton; piano, organ 
and sewing maeliine dealer; born January 19, 
18-18, in Jaclcson township; son of Elisha Comp- 
ton, a native of Virginia, of English extraction; 
was raised on a farm. At the age of nineteen he 
entered' the Ohio Wesleyan University, and re- 
mained one year, after which he taught school 
eight years in Illinois and six years in Ohio, 
teaching in the towns of Chili, the ^''alley school, 
Adams' Mill scliool, in Muskingum county, and 
one year in this citv. He then traveled two 
years for George H Grant it Co., of Richmond, 
Indiana, .school furniture dealers. He then en- 
gaged with his brother in the present business, 
and established it for himself in 1880 Mr. 
Compton deals in three popular makes of organs, 
three of pianos, and the P>ldridge sewing machine. 
Mr. Compton was married March 11, 1S71I, to 
Mi.ss Mary Ellen Dickey, daughter of Hiram 
Dickey, of Mill Creek township. He was organ- 
ist in the Roscoe Methodist church for about 
eight years. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Compton 
bought a residence on the east end of Chestnut 
street, which he now occupies. 

COMPTON JOHN M., Coshocton; attorney; 
born February 3, 1843, in Jackson township, this 
county, worked on the farm and attended public 
school imtil he was nineteen years of age, when 
he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-seventh O. V. 
I., and served to the close of the war. On his re- 
turn he completed his education by going to 
school and teaching. In 1807 he entered as a 
fitudent in the law office of Lee and Pomerene 
and was admitted to practice in 18G9, and since 
that time he has given his entire attention to his 
profession. Attorney Compton was elected Mayor 
of the city in 1872 and re-elected in 187-t, serving 
two consecutive terms. Mayor Compton was 
married June 2, 1870, to Miss Camilla Burns, of 
Jackson townshij). The result of this union is 
four children, viz : Charles B., William M., Jessie 
and Edward C. Mr. C. takes an active interest 
in educational afl'airs. 

COMPTON J. F., druggist, 402 Main street, 
Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Compton is a native of 
this county ; was born in Jackson township, 
December IG, 1847, and received his preparatory 
education in the district of that vicinity, and also 
took a course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, 
Delaware, Ohio, and afterward taught school 
for several years. In 1870 he engaged in the 
drug business in Roscoe and was burned out in 
1874. He then engaged in the insurance business 
and continued in the same until 1877, after which 
he engaged with the firm of Barker, Moore it 



Co., wholesale druggists, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, as traveling salesman. In 1880 he estab- 
lished business for him.self at his present location. 
He occupies a pleasant, commodious room, 2Gx40, 
where he keeps a large stock of pure drugs, 
chemicals, patent medicines, oils, paints, dye 
.stutls, glass, toilet articles, fancy goods, trusses, 
surgical instruments, etc. 

CONE EDMUND, farmer ; Washington county ; 
postofRce, Wakatomaka; born in South Wilbra- 
ham, Hamden county, Connecticut, in 1.^10. He 
came to this county in 1828, and immediately en- 
gaged as teacher oi' the school that was about a 
quarter of a mile south of the present village of 
Carlisle. The building was a round-log one, the 
tireplace extending across one entire end. There 
was a spelling-book for about every five or six 
scholars, the cost of a speller being a bushel of 
wheat delivered in Zanesville. He had an attend- 
ance of seventy scholars. He commenced the 
study of medicine with his brother, J. Cone, Jr., 
who was practicing at this time, and was ad- 
mitted to practice by the board of censors at 
Zanesville. He was first married to Miss Seward, 
who died, and he married Miss Hawthorne. Both 
were of this county. 

CONNER ISAAC, Monroe township ; born June 
20, 18;;!7, in Monroe township, Coshocton county, 
Ohio; postoffice. Spring Mountain; son of James 
and JIargaret (Holt) Conner, and grandson of 
Daniel andPheobe (Penrose) Conner, and of John 
and Elizabeth (Conner) Holt; also great-grandson 
of James and ]\Iary Conner, and of Jesse Penro.se. 
Mr. Conner is a farmer and was educated in the 
common schools. He was married to Mary J. 
Bingler, May 12, 18G1, who was born November 
10, 1843, daughter of Michael and Mary J. (Hog- 
bin) Bingler, and granddaughter of Jessie and 
Catharine Bingler, and of William and Charity 
Hogbin. Their children are Joseph E., born 
January 1, 18G3; Emily N. and Susie G., Septem- 
ber G, 18GG ; James S , July 10, 1873, and Mary E., 
January 28, 1879. 

CONRAD JOHN, Mill Creek township, farmer ; 
postofflce, Clark. Ohio; WiW born Soi)tember 25, 
1817, in West Moreland county, Pennsylvania; 
son of Jacob and Mary Conrad; married Novem- 
ber 5, l.'^40, to Rebecca King, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Mary M. King, who was born Decem- 
ber 26, 1822, in' York county, Pennsylvania. The 
children born to them are as follows: ^Nlary 
Anne, born November 1,1841; Margaret, born 
November 9,1842; Jacob William Henry, born 
December 24, 1845; John Wesley, born February 
10. 18.)8; Rebecca Jane, born July 29, 1851 ; Maria 
Catharine.^ born August 22, 18.54; Henry Wash- 
ington, born June 22, 185G,and Elizabeth Barbara, 
born April 18, 18G1. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



657 



COOK D. R., Linton township, farinor; born 
in Washington county, Pennsylvani.T, March 11, 
•180.S; the son of George and Mary (Kobb) Cook. 
His father was born in Ireland, anil emigrated to 
America when a young man. His mother was a 
native of Pennsylvania. In the fall of ISll he 
came with his father to Guernsey county; there 
remained till 1S.31. when he moved to Logan, 
and carried on farming and milling for sixteen 
years. In 1>47 he took up his residence in Lin- 
ton townshiji, and has been here since. He was 
married April 8, 18.31, to Catharine, daughter of 
Thomas Johnson. Ten children resulted from 
this marriag: Thoniiis, George. William C, de- 
ceased, Xancy J.. John. Sarah. Amanda, deceased, 
Melona, deceased, James H., deceased, and David 
Y. His wife having died, he was united in mar- 
riage with Lydia, daughter of Henry and Sarah 
Snyder, of Logan county. Their children are, 
Joseph Snyder, deceased, ]\Iary Isabel, deceased, 
Catharine J. and Charles T. 

COOK D. Y., grocer and confectioner, Sixth 
street, between Main and Chestnut, Coshocton. 
Mr. Cook is a native of Logan county, 0., where 
he W!XS born February S, 1847. His jtarents came 
to Coshocton county when he was quite young, 
and he has been a resident of the county ever 
since. He received his education in the district 
schools of Linton township, and he followed join- 
ing as a business until the fall of 1879, when he 
came to Co.shocton and engaged in the grocery 
and huckster business. He carries a good stock 
of staple and fancy groceries and confectioneries, 
and deals in all kinds of country produce, and 
makes a specialty of butter and eggs, in which 
department he runs a wagon and visits diflerent 
]iarts of the surrounding country, in order to sup- 
ply his custom with fresh sup])lies in this line. 
He was married to M. E. Hawthorne, by whom 
he has four children — three daughters and one 
son. 

COOKSEY JAMES, Perry town.ship; postoffice, 
West Carlisle ; born in Muskingum county, in 
1833; settled in this county in 18o7 ; son of Will- 
iam and Elizabi'th (Oden)' Cooksey ; married in 
1857 to Sarah L.-igg, daughter of Harrison and 
Isancy B. Cooksey. They are the parents of 
three children, viz : Celestia J., Izadora B., and 
Leora M. ; two are married. Mr. Cooksey was 
raised on a farm, and has continued farming ever 
since. He also deals pretty extensively in thor- 
ough-bred sheep. 

COOPER JOSEPH, Keene township; son of 
Ludlow H. and Mary F. Coo]ier, both of whom 
were born in Orange county. Xew York; grand- 
son of Joseph and Susan (Halsev) Cooper, and of 
John and Mary (Howell) Seward, who was the 
daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth (Poppen) 



Howell. His father enlisted in Captain Free- 
gift's company, in 1814, and served three months. 
He came to Oliio, in 1834. Joseph learned the 
blacksmith trade, at eighteen, under C. C. Ramer ; 
enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth O.-V.I., April 
18, l.SGl; was discharged in July following, and 
re-enlisted. His war record, copied from a 
memorial, is given below: "Jose))h Cooi)er was 
mustered as .sergeant of Comi>any I, Ninety 
seventh O. V. I., August 5. lSt;2, at Zanesville, 
Ohio; captain, Martin Wiser; colonel,Johu Lane; 
wounded at Murphreesboro', Tennessee, January 
2, 1863; wounded again, at Mission Ridge, No- 
vember 24, 1803, and wounded, at Franklin, Ten- 
nessee, December S, 18G4. The battles he was en- 
gaged in, were Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 
1862; Stone River, Tennessee, January 2, 1863; 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sc])tember 8, 1863; Chick- 
amauga, Tennessee, September 20, 18G3; Lookout 
Mountain, November 22, 1S63; Mission Ridge, 
November 25,1863; Buzzard Roost, ]\Iay 14, 1,«64; 
Altoona, Georgia, May 25, IStU; Dallas, Georgia, 
May 25, 1864; Marietta, Georgia, May 31, 1.S64; 
Peach Tree Creek, June '22, 1.S64; Kene.saw 
Mountain, June 27,1864; Atlant^v, July 21,1S64; 
Spring Hill, Tennessee, Decendier 6, 1S64; Frank- 
lin, Tennessee, December 8, 1864, and Nashville, 
January 24, 1865. He was discharged June 10, 

1865, at Nashville, Tennessee." January 6, 1866, 
he married Lucy C. Cowee, daughter of James 
and Augusta (Adams) Cowee, who was the daugh- 
ter of John Q. and Dorothea (Elliott) Adams. 
Their children are Charlie, born December IS, 

1866, and Mary Augusta, April 13, 1872. 

CORBIT GEORGE, Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice. Evansburgh, Ohio; son of Robert and 
Susannah (Fuller) Corbit; was born December 6, 
1835, in Coshocton county, Ohio, anil has re- 
maind a resident of the county all his life. Mr. 
Corbit was raised on the farm, and has always 
followed the occujiation of a farmer. His father 
was of Irish and his mother of German descent, 
and were old pioneers of this county. Mr. Cor- 
bit was married November 21), 1.S57, to Miss Mar- 
garet A. Morris, of this county. They become 
the parents of twelve children, viz: Amanda, 
William R., Albert, Aaron, Melinda, an infant 
not named, Robert H., Mary, Charles, John M., 
Elmer and an infant not named. 

CORBIT LEWIS, Adams township; farmer; 
postofhce. Bakersville ; born in Adams township, 
June 1, 1.S21; son of Robert and Susan (Fuller) 
Corbit. and grandson of Jesse Corbit and James 
and Catlmrine Fuller. His father came to this 
country about the year l.'<t>4. with James Miskim- 
mins. born in May. 1790. He was married Au- 
gust 27. 1842, to Miss Eliza Carp, daughter of 
.Vdam and Mary (Cocharn) Carp, born July 21, 
1822, in Guernsey county, Ohio. They are par- 



658 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ents of thirteen children, as follows: John, Rob- 
ert and William, deceased ; James, Wilson; Sarah 
A. deceased ; Edward, George W., Adam; Susan, 
Mary E., Laura A. and Almeda, deceased. 

COULTER J. jr., Perry town.ship, postoffice, 
New Guilford; born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- 
vania; settled in this county in 1.S14. He was 
born in 181.3, and is a son of William and Susan 
(McCoy) Coulter. Mr. Coulter's father held the 
office of county surveyor for twelve years, sur- 
veying being his calling the greater portion of 
his life. J. M. Coulter was a grandson of Thomas 
and Lydia (Connor) Coulter, and of William and 
Lydia Connor. Mr. Coulter has been twice mar- 
ried, first to Miss Nancy Pigman, who died in 
1>S47. In 1S57, Jlr. Coulter married Miss Sr.rah 
A. Robinson, daughter of John and Bewly Rob- 
inson. Three children, viz: Mary J., J. R. and 
Joseph, were born of the first marriage ; and four, 
viz : Bewly, Susan V., Benjamin and Wallace, of 
the second. i\Ir. Coulter's son, J. R., enlisted in 
Company X, Scventy-si.xth regiment Ohio volun- 
teers, in IsGl, Captirin Lemert, participating in 
the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburgh Landing, 
Corinth, Vicksburg, and others. 

COX HAMILTON, Virginia township; born 
in East Virginia, in 1805; settled in this county 
in 1830, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth 
Cox. He was married in 1831, to Rachael Har- 
desty, daughther of Edmund and RutaHardesty. 
Mr. Co.x has ten children living, and one dead. 
They are all married and living in this county. 
Postoffice, New Moscow. 

COX J. E., Kcenc township; postoffice, Keene, 
'Ohio; wa.s born, in 18.30, on Jlill creek, Keene 
townshij), Coshocton county, Ohio. He attended 
the common schools of the town.-^hip until twelve 
years old, walking three and one-half miles, morn- 
ing and evening. When twelve years old, he at- 
tended a select school in the village of Kcenc, 
taught by Rev. J. I>. Whitham, and received in- 
struction in the higher English branches. He 
attended this school three years, having to walk 
over three miles, morning and evening. Sir. Co.x 
began teaching in 184G, and is, perhaps, the oldest 
teacher in the county. He taught his first school 
in district No. 4, Clark township, in an old log 
house, formerly used as a dwelling. There was 
no blackboard, no desks, no furniture of any kind. 
The seals were made of slabs and fence-rails, with 
wooden pins for legs. The balance of the furni- 
ture consisted of hickory withes, used toencourage 
refractory pupils up the hill of science. Wood 
was used tlieu instead of coal. Many times the 
teacher fciund no wood in the morning, and was 
either com])elled to dismiss for the day, or send 
and borrow an ax and, by the aid of the pupils, 
furnish his own wood. After he had finished his 
lirst school, Jlr. Cox began the study of medicine 



with Dr. W. F. DeLaMater, working part of the 
time to pay his board and tuition. During the 
winter of 1846-7, he taught school in White Eyes 
township. 

He then continued the study of medicine 
under Dr. J. Anderson, teaching in the winter 
and studying in the summer until he had com- 
pleted the course required. He then went West 
to earn money to attend a course of lectures. 
While in the West he met with an accident 
which rendered him a permanent crijiple. there- 
by changing his intentions in life. He returned 
home and concluded to follow the profession of 
teaching, which he has successfully done ever 
since. His first certificate is dateil March 2, 
1852, and signed by Thomas Campbell, Esq., who 
was then acting as county examiner. The only 
school that he began and did not finish was in 
Bethlehem township ; and the failure was caused 
by a tree falling on the house and rendering it 
unfit for further use. Mr. Cox has taught in 
many of the country and village schools in this 
county. He has always been successful, and has 
never beeij compelled to ask the directors to aid 
him in governing a school, which is something 
remarkable considering the long time he has 
been teacliing. His last school was taught in 
district No. 8, White Eyes township, during the 
winter of 1S80-'S1. 

COX W. W., Virginia township; born in this 
township in 1833; son of Hamilton and Rachel 
Cox; married in 1856 to Margaret P. Marquand, 
daughter of John and Martha Marquand. They 
have had eleven children, ten of wlwrn are liv- 
ing. Mr. Cox has been twice elected justice of 
the peace of Virginia township. Postoffice ad- 
dress, Dresden. 

CRAWFORD J M., Coshocton, county record- 
er; born May 30, 1852, in Roscoe, this county; 
was educated' in the public schools of his native 
village, and at McNeely normal school. Mr. C. 
commenced teaching in 1869, and taught until 
he entered upon the duties of his present office, 
in 1877. He was re-elected to the office of re- 
corder in 1879. !Mr. Crawford was married Oc- 
tober 29, 1875, to Miss Paulina J?ipgs, of Jackson 
township, this county. The result of this mar- 
riage is one son, Frank L. 

CRAWFORD J. R., clerk in the firm of Hay 
& Jlorley; born September 27. b'49, in Crawford 
township; son of Scott R. Crawford, a native of 
the County Tyrone, Ireland. He was raised on 
the farm until seventeen years of age, when he 
began clerking for John J. Stewart and continued 
a clerk to the present time. He was married in 
March 1872, to Miss Mary Le Retilley, daughter 
of George Le Retilly of Roscoe. To"them have 
been born two children, George R. and another. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



659 



CRAWFORD WILLIAM, miller in Empire 
mills, Rosroe: was born .Time 18, ISo", in Hoscoc ; 
son of Robert Crawford, born in ISiS, in Steiiben- 
villc, Ohio, of Irit^h descent. William entered 
the above niill.< in 1875, where he has remained 
to the pre-sent time. 

CRAWFORD WILLIAM H„ Mill Creek; 
farmer: po.stoffiee, New Bedford; born in 1839, 
in this township. His father, Andrew Crawford, 
was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and came 
to this county in 1820. He was married in 1837, 
to Miss JNIarjiaret Irwin of this county, who was 
born in 1813. in Ireland. She came to this coun- 
try in 18124, and died in 1807. They were the 
parents of four children He married in the 
same year Miss Mary Ramsey of I'ittsburgh. 
The subject of this sketch is the oldest child. 
He was married in 1865, to Miss IVIary Colloredo, 
of Holmes county, who was born in 1844. They 
are the parents of three children, viz: Sarah, 
Angle and Augusta. 

CRAWFORD JAMES. Mill Creek township; 
farmer: ])ostoffice, Mound: born in LSBti, in this 
county. His father, Oliver Crawford, was born 
in 1808, in Ireland. He came to this county in 
1819, and was married in 1831, to Miss Jane Ir- 
win, of this county. She was born in 1813, in Ire- 
land, and died in 1855. They were the parents 
of eight children, the subject of this sketch being 
the third. He was married in 18t)2, to Miss Jane 
McCormick, of this county, who died in 1864. 
They were the jjarents of two children. He, in 
1874, married Miss Lncinda Babcock, of this 
county. They have one child. 

CRAWFORD J. W., Pike township ; farmerand 
stock raiser: i>ostoftice. Frazeysburgh, Muskin- 
gum county: born in this county, in 1847: son of 
John and Rebecca (McCann) Crawford. He was 
married in 1874, to Miss Sarah M. Anderson, 
daughter of William and Mariah Anderson. 
They are the parents of three children, viz : Wil- 
liam J. and elide. Youngest is not named. 

CRAWFORD 0.,Pike township: farmer; born 
in 1841, in this township. His father, J<ihn, was 
born in 1806, in Ireland. He came to this coim- 
tryand county in 1813, and was married in 18;32, 
to Miss Rebecca McCann, of Muskingum county. 
She was born in 1807,inStrasburg, Virginia He 
died in 1851. They were the parents of si.x chil- 
dren. The subject of this sketch was married in 
1862, to Miss INIargarct Moore, of this county. 
She was born in 1839, in this county. They are 
the ]iarentsof four childrn, viz: Edmund, Loret- 
ta, Mary B., Rebecca E. 

CRAWFORD ANDREW, Clark township; far- 
mer; postolKce, Clark's; born in Crawford town- 
ship, June 3, 1830; son of James and Mary (Roth- 



well) Crawford, and grandson of Thomas Craw- 
ford, who came from Ireland. He was married 
February 14. 1S6(). to Miss JIarian Shilling.daugh- 
ter of Jose))h ;uid Nancy (IIowenstinc)"Shilling, 
and granddaughter of (ieorge Howcnstine and 
Joseph Shilling; she was born in Medina county, 
Ohio, July 13. 1838. His father was one of tlie 
first settlers of Crawford township. Their child- 
ren are as follows: ^^'alter W . born December 
15, 1862; Cora, born Scptoudjer 28, ISW: Frank 
H., born J.lnuary 19, 1868; Charles, born May 22, 
1870; James P., born February 11, 1872; Jesse L., 
born March 10. 1874; Frederick, born September 
4, 1876; Stella, born September 5, 1878, and Rich- 
ard, born March 20. 1880. 

CRIDER J AMES, laborer: Tiverton township; 
postofiice, l^nion, Knox county; born June 15, 
1854, in Holmes county. He came to this 
county in 1868, and was married May IS, 1876, 
to Mi.ss Alvira Strieker, of Holmes county, 
who was born in 1860, in this county. They are 
the parents of two children, viz: Anna O., born 
April 11, 1877, and Joseph A., born March 7, 1879. 

CRILE MICHAEL, Crawford township; far- 
mer; postoffice, Chili; born March 21, 1833, in 
Holmes county; son of Conrad and Elizabeth 
[ (Holderbum) Crile. Mr. Crile was married, Jan-, 
! nary 24. 1856, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Jacob 
and Mary (Rider) Deeds, of Pennsylvania. They 
have had eight children — Mary E.. married to 
i George W. Everhart, Jacob C. JIargaret M., mar- 
ried to Bvron Johnston. Jlichael A., George W., 
Austin D., Cora C. and Caroline F. Mr. Crile 
has a comfortable home for himself and family. 

CRISWELL JOHN. Linton township; wagon- 
maker at Plainlleld: born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, April 19, 18.3;^ son of James and 
Margaret (Miller) Criswell. His mother's parents 
emigrated from Ireland. His father came to 
Guernsey county about 1836, and to O.xford town- 
shi]) about 1847. John remained on his father's 
farm there two years, then learned his trade with 
his brother Robert, at Adamsvillc, and, after 
working in Coshocton six months, he, in 1854, 
ojiened a wagon shop in Plainticld. During the 
greater part of the year 1864, he was employed 
by the government, in the wagon department, at 
Nashville and Chattiuiooga. In March, 1865, he 
enlisted in the service and was discharged the 
following November. Since that time he has 
followed his trade in Plainlleld. He was married. 
October 4, 1855, to Mary, daughter of John Bonce, 
born in Loudon county, Virginia, and emigrated 
with her mother to Muskingum coimty when a 
young girl. His children are Sarah Jane, de- 
ceased, James H., deceased, Mary Alice, Nar. O., 
David Martin and Delora May, twins, and Susan. 

CRITCHFIELD MARION, Tiverton town- 



660 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ship; farmer; postoffice, Yankee Kidge; born in 
18&1, April 22, in Knox county. He was mar- 
ried October 7, 1S5S, to Mi.ss Mary S. Blocl<;, of 
tlie same countv, who was bom October 24, 1S41. 
They came to this county, in 18G7, and are the 
parents of one child, Clinton A., born July 8, 
ISoS. 

CROFT CONRAD, Crawford township; farmer; 
postoffice. Chili; bom March 3, 1843, in Mill 
Creek township; son of John and .Catherine 
(Conrad) Croft; came to Crawford township in 
the spring of 1SC8, and to his present residence in 
1872. He married December />, 1867, Catherine, 
daughter of Christian and Rebecca (Lower) 
Fisher. Sarah Ellen is their only child. ^Slr. 
Croft has succeeded well, having a" comfortable 
home for himself and family. 

CROFT JOHN J., Crawford township; post- 
office. New Bedford; of the firm of Brown ct 
Croft, hardware dealers; was born April 20, 1841, 
in Mill Creek township; son of John and Cath- 
erine (Conrad) Croft. Ho followed farming until 
1876, when the present firm was formed. Mr. 
Croft was married April 16, 1872, to ISIiss Mary 

Ann, daughter of Henry and Rebecca . 

They have three children, Milton H., Percy A. 
and Claudius 0. 

CROFT SOLOINION, Mill creek towiship; 
farmer; postoffice, New Bedford, Ohio; born in 
Mill Creek township, October, 30, 1847; son of 
John and Catharine Croft; was married Novem- 
ber 11, 1875, to Amanda Olinger, daughter of 
Isaac and Sarah Olinger, who was born May 18, 
1857. The children born to them were as fol- 
lows: John F., born October 28, 1876, and Cath- 
arine, born March 25, 1881. 

CROFT FREDERICK, Mill Creek township ; 
farmer; nostolfice. New Bedford, Ohio; was born 
August 20, 1837, in jSIill Creek town.ship ; son of 
John and Catharine Croft; was married in 1868 
to Lucinda Kechn, who was born in Holmes 
county, February 1, 1849, daughter of Frederick 
and Mary Keehn. 

CROFT JOHN, Mill Creek tomiship; farmer; 
postoffice, New Bedford; born in 1809, in Wurt- 
emlicrg. Germany. He came to this country in 
1817, landing at Philadelphia, and came to this 
county in 1821. He was married in 1828, to Miss 
Catharine Conrad, of Holmes county, Ohio, who 
was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylva- 
nia, in 1810. 

CROSKEY JOHN, Clark township ; postoffice, 
Hehnick ; farmer; born in Jetlerson county, Ohio, 
December 8, 1831; son of Michael and Rachel V. 
(Lewis) Croskey, and grandson of Joseph Lewis. 
His father was "one of" the first blacksmiths in 
Clark township, and came from Ireland when he 



was 16 years of age. He was married October 
4, 1854,' to Emma M. Simpkinson, daughter of 
Charles and Sarah (Keeling) Sinii>kinson, who 
Wii-s born in Carroll county July 11, 1830. They 
are the jia rents of the following children: Sarah 
L. J., born July 5, 1855; Michael C, June 13, 
1857; Hannah," Januarv 9, 1859; Emma M., 
March 5, 1861 ; Floretta S. P., December 16, 1866. 
and ElsworthR.,born March 13, 1877, an adopted 
son. Mr. Croskey owns a farm of forty acres on 
the Killbuck. 

CROUCH R. B., Jackson township, postoffice, 
Tyrone ; born in this county in 1846, son of Dan- 
iel and Elizabeth Crouch, and grandson of Robert 
and Mary Crouch ; married in 1874 to Rebecca 
E. Gott, daughter of John and Mary Gott, of Jef- 
ferson county, Ohio. Their union has been 
blessed with one child, viz : Mary G. 

CROUCH DANIEL, Pike township; postoffice, 

West Carlisle ; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
Harrison county, Ohio, in 1815; settled in this 
county in 1836 ; son of Robert and JIary (Merrit) 
Crouch, and grandson of Daniel and Nancy 
(Johnson) Crouch. He was married in 18:36 to 
Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth Brown. Mr. Crouch is the father of 
eleven children, viz : Nancy J., John M., Plessey 
Elizabeth, deceased, Mary, deceased, Robert B., 
William S., James J., Roda A., Martha and Sarah 
E. Mrs. Couch died in 1879. 

CROUL WILLIAM, Monroe township; post- 
office, \VarsiXW ; was born in JefTerson township, 
Coshocton county, November 28, 1843; son of 
Lewis and Elizabeth (Miller) Croul, and grand- 
son of William and Dorotha E. Miller. His 
father was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1802; 
was one of the first settlers of Jeft'erson town- 
ship, and helped build the Walhonding canal, 
^[r. Croul has always been a farmer, and is a 
highlv respected man. He was married April 3, 
1864. 'to Miss Mary Frederick, daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Brillhart) Frederick, and grand- 
daughter of George and Christina (Leaner) Fred- 
erick, and of Samuel and Susan (Whitezel) Brill- 
hart. She was born December 9. 1843. They 
have two children, viz : William F., born Janu- 
ary 1, 1865, and Elizabeth S., born INIay 3, 1868. 

CROWELL W. S., Coshocton: attorney : born 
Jlarch 28, 1843, in Morgan, Ashtabula "county, 
Ohio; .son of S. B. Crowell, born in the United 
States, of English ancestry. The son obtained a 
good rudimentary education in the public scliools 
of his native county, and at the age of fourteen 
vears obtained a certificate for teaching school. 
"From the age of sixteen he taught during the 
winter, and labored during the summer, until 
the beginninc: of the late civil war, when lie en- 
listed 'in Company D, Sixteenth O. V. I., (the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



661 



first conipnny accepted from his county), and 
participated "in the battle at Kich Mountain, 
West N'irginia, one of the first of tlio war. On 
his return home, in August, IStil, he rc-cnliste<l, 
and wa.s elected second lieutenant of Company 
A, Twenty-ninth O. V. I. (Uiddings' regiment). 
In Fcliruary, 1S62, lie was promoted to first lieu- 
tenant, heiiig only eighteen years old In the 
spring of the same year he resigned and raised 
Company G, One Hundred and Fifth O. V. I., and 
was commissioned its captain. He remained 
with the I'ompany through the campaigns of 
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, until after 
the fall of Atlanta, in the summer of 1SG4, when, 
for the first time, he was Uiken sick, and sofin 
after discharged as unfit for military duty, having 
served about forty months. He received honor- 
able mention in the reports of the battles of 
Perryville, Kentucky, and Milton, Tennessee. 
On his return home, he entered, as a student, the 
law office of W. P. Howland, and was admitted to 
practice in 1806, but his health not being good, 
he did not enter upon his profession until 1870, at 
Coshocton. He was married May 4, 1860, to 
Miss Emily H. Wood, of Keene, Coshocton coun- 
ty, Ohio. Captain Crowell wixs elected prosecut- 
ing attorney, in 1872, and re-elected, with an in- 
creased majority, in 1874. Since the expiration 
of his second term, he has given his entire time 
to his profession. 

CKOWTHER GEORGE, Perry township ; far- 
mer ; postoffice. New Guilford; born in Mary- 
land, in 1818 ; son of James and Delilah Crow- 
ther, and grandson of Jesse Cullison ; married in 
1839, to Miss Elizabeth Cullison, daughter of 
Carlton and Hanna Cullison. They are the p.a- 
rents of three children, viz: Caroline, William 
and Alonzo. All are married. One lives in Kno.x 
county, Ohio, the others live in this county. Mr. 
Crowther has taken into his family a little girl, 
named Nerva Rush. 

CROWTHER JESSE E., Perry township: far- 
mer and stock raiser : postoffice. New Uuilford ; 
born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1825; settled in 
this county about the year 1820; son of James 
and Delilah (Cullison) Crowther, anil grandson of 
Jesse and Xettic Crowther. He was married in 
1857, to Miss Mary \. Mills. Mr. Crowther is 
the father of three cliildren, viz : Lina L., Frank 
and William L. 

CRAWFORD THOMAS W.,0.xford township; 
farmer; White Eyes Plains postoffice: son of Al- 
exander and Elizabeth (Wilson) Culbertson,both 
of this county. Mr. Culbertson was raised from 
the age of ten years by Mr. Solomon Vail, one of 
the pioneers of this county. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Keene township, in 1836, and 
was married to Miss Martha J. Rehard, of this 
township. They have had seven children, as fol- 



lows: Ellsworth, two years, deceased; Clara B., 
Walter, Leonio, Charles, deceased; Lucy and Ora 
O. Mr. Crawford went out in Comi)aiiv E, One 
Hundred and Forty-second O. N.G.. for ItK) days; 
then, in January, 1865, he enlisted in the Eighty- 
eighth regiment, and served five months and 
twenty days, until mustered out by order of the 
secretary of war. Mr. Crawford 'and wife are 
members of the Protestant Methodist church, and 
are highly respected by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. His daughter, Clara, is also 
a member of the .same church. He owns a good 
farm of ninety-seven acres in this township, and 
is an enterprising citizen. His mother jjassed 
away in 1851, and his father afterward married 
Jliss Jennie Powelson, who died in April, 1858, 
and he died in May, 1859, one year and one 
month after his second wife. 

CULLISON MARTIN, Bedford township; far- 
mer ; postoffice, West Bedford : born in 1828, in 
this county. His father, Carlton Cullison, was 
born in 1705, in Mar\-land. and was married in 
1818, to Miss Hannah Passingham, of the same 
State, who was born in 1708. They came to this 
county in 1825. He died in 1865, and she died in 
1873. They were the parents of nine chddren, 
the subject of this sketch being the fourth. He 
was married in 1852, to Jliss Emily Clark, of this 
county, who was born in 1834, in this county. 
They arc the parents of five chiUlren, four of 
whom are living, viz: Ami, Harvey V., Mary J., 
Martha E. 

CULLISON JOSEPH A., Perry township; 
postoffice, New Guilford ; born in Plarrison 
county, Ohio, in 1828; settled in this county, in 
18.33; son of Abner and Lydia Cullison, "and 
grandson of Joseph and Teri'tia (Shei>ard) Culli- 
son, and of William and Susannah McCoy. Mr. 
Cullison has been twice married, first to Mi.ss 
Katharine Bavlcv. Tliev had seven children. viz: 
Willis, Edgar, William C. and Lydia E., de- 
cea.sed ; Charles W. and George W. He was 
married in September, 1872, to Miss Jlargaret 
Wolf, daughter of George and Sarah Wolf. 

CULLISON N. W., Perry township; postoffice. 
New Guilford; born in Maryland, in 18;i4; set- 
tlc<l in this county, in 18,36; son of Wheeler and 
Katharine (Watts) Cullison, and gramlson of 
Shcdrick and >[argaret Cullison, and of Nathan- 
iel and Mary Watts. He married Evaiinc Birch, 
daughter of Jacob and Mary Birch. Tliev have 
three children, viz : Sylva B , Laura V. and 
Lizzie M. 

CULLISON T.W., Perry town.ship; pastoffice. 
New Guilford; born in Baltimore county, Mary- 
land, in 1S20; settled in this county in ISJio; son 
of Wheeler and Catherine (Watts) Cullison, and 
grandson of Shedrick and Margaret Cullison, and 



<662 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



of Nathaniel and Mary Watts. Mr. CullLson has 
been twice married ; tirst, in 1.S40, to Mi.ss Nanc,\- 
Cullison. They hadoneeliild, J. W. His second 
marriage was "in 1.S49, to Louisa J. Lee. They 
have eleven children, viz: Austin C, John N, 
Sanford,, Charles F., Harvey W., Rolla L., Elhner 
E., Milton S., Thos G., Adda W. and EttiX A. 

CULLISON EPHRAIM, Perry township; post- 
office, Mohawk Village; farmer and stock-raiser; 
born in Baltimore county, Maryland. July 11, 
1822; settled in this county, in 1S24; son of Carl- 
ton and Hamiah Cullison, and orandson of Jessie 
and Notie (Wheeler) Cullison : maried, in 1S43, 
to Miss Harriet Wantling, who died May 10. 1880. 
Mr. Cullison is tlie father of six children, viz: 
Mary E., William, Louisa, Hannah, deceased, 
Daniel and Caroline. 

CULLISON JAMES W., Franklin township ; 
born in New Castle township, July 16. 1831 ; son 
of Moses Cullison, who was born in Maryland, 
and married there Mary ^^'antla^d, of Connecti- 
cut, both of English ancestry. His grandfather 
Cullison was an emigrant from Scotland. In 
1836, he moved to Ferry township, where his 
mother died the following year. In June, 1841, 
his father's household was scattered by the mar- 
riage of his eldest daughter, and James found a 
home with William and George Given, of Jefler- 
son townshiji. Two years later, his father died, 
and he was bound out to the Givens till lie was 
eighteen, when he began the struggle of life for 
himself, working on The farm in summers, and 
attending school in winters, first in the country, 
then several years at the West Bedford academy. 
He then learned the carpenter trade with his 
cousin, Jeremiah Cullison, worked at it during 
summer and taught school in winter till his mar- 
riage, December 30, 1858, with Sarah .V., daughter 
of George A. MeCleeary. Since then he has been 
iarming, also dealing in stock and selling agricnl- 
tiiral implements e.xtensively. His children are 
William Bell, deceased, Seth INIcCleeary, George 
Harvey, Kinsey Sherman and John Elmer. 

CUNNINGH AM MAHLON,Washington town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice, Tunnel Hill; born in 
1836, in this county. His father was born, in 
1808, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was 
married, in' 1827, to Miss Rebecca Trego, of the 
same county, who was born in 1805. They are 
the parents of nine children. Muhlon Cunning- 
ham was married, in 1861, to Miss Catherine 
Tilasten, of this county, who was born in 1840. 
They are the parents of two children, viz: S. E. 
and Mary J. 

CUTSHALL SAMUEL. Adams township; 
farmer; postoffice, Eivansburgh; born in Carroll 
■county, Ohio, January 18, 1818; son of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (West) Cutshall, grandson of Nicholas 



Cutshall and Robert West. Grandmother Cut- 
shall lived to the advanced age of 110 years. Mr. 
(-'utshall came to Coshocton county in January, 
1841, located in Adams townshija, and has resided 
here ever since. He was married, in 1841, to 
Jliss Margaret A. Boop, daughter of Michael and 
Elizabeth (Winnings) Boop, and granddaughter 
of Jacob and Margaret (Sigman) Boop and Samuel 
Winnings. She was born February 1, 1822, in 
Jetlierson county, Ohio. The\- are the parents of 
six children, viz: Elizabeth A., Rachel, Mary. 
George ^^'., Harriet A. and Emma. 

T>. 

DAILEY FRANK B., Coshocton, Ohio; car- 
riage wood-worker for Y. O. Jefler's factory. Mr. 
Dailey was born in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, 
August 21, 1.847; son of John and Julia (Delano) 
Dailey. Hi8- jjaternal ancestors are Irisli, and 
his maternal '^French. He enlisted August 2, 
1802, Company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania V. I., and served until July 3, 1805. 
During his service he participated in thirteen 
general engagements; among them the battles of 
Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville. Gettysburg, Spottsylvania and 
before Petersburg, besides many skirmishes. 
He came out of all these unscathed. When the 
war was over, he went to; his present trade, at 
Lancaster City, Pennsvlvania, where he remained 
until July, 1871. when he came to Coshocton' 
which has since been his home. Mr. Dailey was 
married December 20, 1872, to Miss Annie M., 
daughter of .Vndrew Denic, deceased, formerly 
of Roscoe. They are the parents of three chil- 
dren, viz : Frank, Edward and Mary Agnes. 

DARLING ISAAC, Bethlehfim towm.ship; 
farmer; ]:)ostoffice, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Isa:ic 
Darling, Sr.; was born December 7, 1839, in Co- 
shocton county. He was married December 8, 
1865, to ]Miss Almeda Butler, of this county, who 
was born August 18, 1843. They are the parents 
of five chiklren, three of whom are dead. Jean- 
ette was born March 21,1867; Glendora was born 
October 6, 1878. Mr. Darling was raised on the 
farm, and has always followed the occupation of 
farmer. He and his wife are prominent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church: Mr. 
Darling has served as trustee and clerk of his 
township for several years. 

DARLING WILSON, deceased, Bethlehem 
township; farmer; son of James Darling; was born 
in July, 1830. He was married in 1850, to Miss 
Barbara Frederick, of this county, who was born 
January 19, 1835. They became the parents of 
four children, viz : Mary P., born in December, 
1853; Camille L. and Colona, twins, born Julv 23, 
1858; William F., born August 10, 1860. "Mr. 



a 




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



665 



Darling was raised on the farm, and always fol- 
lowed that occupation. He died very suddenly 
on October IS, ISSO, of apoplexy. Mr. Darling's 
father was one of the old pioneers of the county. 
Mr. Darling was a prominent member of the 
Methodist Episcoi)al church. Mrs. Darling is 
still a mendjer. Mr. Darling was esteemed and 
lionored by all who knew him. 

DARLING AARON, Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postotfice, Warsaw, Ohio: son of James 
Darling; was born in 1882, in Coshocton county. 
His father came to this county in ISOd and was 
one of the old pioneers. Aaron Darling was 
married in 1S61, to Miss Nancy A. Moore, who 
was born June 18, 1839, in Coshocton county. 
They are the parents of three children, viz : Flor- 
ellaB., Charles and William. Florclla B. is en- 
gaged in teaching .school. Mr. Darling was 
raised on the farm, and has always followed that 
occupation. He owns a good farm and is esteemed 
by all his acquaintances. 

DARLING L. C, Bethlehem township; farmer; 
postoffice, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Jacob and Har- 
riet A. (Spurgeon) Darling; was born January 14, 
1849, in this county. His parents were of Irish 
descent. His father came from Virginia and his 
mother from Knox county, Ohio. Mr. Darling 
was raised on the farm, and has always followed 
that occupation. He was married January 8, 
1874, to Jli.ss ^lary A. Bantuni, of this county, 
who was born JIarch 23, 1848. They arc tlie 
parents of one child, ntz : Cora, who was born 
teeptember 31, 1874. 

DAUGHERTY S.VMUEL M., Adams town- 
ship; farmer; postoftice, Evansburgh; born in 
Keene township, July 2, 1826; stn of John and 
Jane (Mitchell) Daugherty, and grandson of 
James and .lane (Lawson; Daugherty, and Sam- 
uel and Nancy (Lyons) Mitchell. His grandpa- 
rents came from Ireland to America in 1778. 
His father was born in Ciiambersburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1788. and moved to Keene township, 
this county, in 1818, where the subject of this 
sketch was born. He began the carpenter trade 
at the age of eighteen, and continued until the 
age of twenty-three; then moved to his present 
location, where he worked at the trade and 
farmed for about six years. He was then bereft 
of his companion, and compelled to quit house- 
keeping, but worked at his trade three years; 
then turned his attention to farming, and is still 
following that business. He lives on a farm of 
two hundred acres, pleasantly located in the 
southern part of the township. He has also a 
farm of two hundred and seventy-four acres one 
and one-half miles east of the home farm. He 
was married November 29, 1849, to Miss Mary 
Beaver, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Clous) 
Beaver," of Irish and English descent. Mrs. 

29 



Daugherty died February 2;^, 1856. She was the 
mother of one child, Mary, born February 4, 
1856. JNIr. Daugheity was inarried February 3. 
18.59, to Jliss Eliza Watson, daughter of Robert 
and Agnes (M unco) Watson, and granddaughter 
of John and Mary (Xeely) Wat.soii, and Thomas 
and Margaret (M<'Knight) ]Munce, and great- 
granddaughter of Mary Moultrie. Mrs. Daugh- 
erty is of Irish and Scotch j)arentage. She has a 
son, Robert ^y., born March 25, 18t)l). Mr. 
Daugherty is a gentleman of high standing, and 
is at present tilling the office of county commis- ■ 
sioner. 

DAUGHERTY J. L., Jackson township; Roscoe 
postoffice; born in Keene township, in this 
county, in 1829; son of John and Jane (Mitchell) 
Daugherty; married in 1851, to Nancy Karr. 
daughter of J. W. and Mariah Karr." Mrs. 
Daugherty died in 1880. Mr. Daugherty is the 
father of seven children, viz: Priscilla '.\., Wil- 
liam T., Mariah J., Nancy Fl, G. C, Emma "B., 
Lula M. F'our are married and living in this 
county. Mr. Daugherty enlisted in the army as 
captain of Company G, One Hundred and Forty- 
third Ohio regiment, in 18154 — Army of the Po- 
tomac. 

DAUGHERTY ROSS, Oxford town.ship; White 
Eyes Plains postoffice; farmer; was born in this 
township in 1831 ; son of James D., a native of 
Wilmington, Delaware, of Irish descent. His 
mother was a native of this town.ship. Both 
parents have died. The sultject of this sketch 
was married to Miss Sarah Wurtsbaugh, of 
Keene township, daughter of Harrison W. and 
Lucinda (Spira) Wurtsbaugh. They have had 
six children, as follows : David Peaft, deceased, 
aged eleven months; jNIartha Ann, Byron, Mack, 
John, Jennie May. Mr. Daugherty took part in 
the war, going out in Company A, Eighty-eighth 
Ohio V. I., and and served two years and eleven 
months. He owns sixty-three acres of good 
land, and is honest and well spoken of by all. 
They are members of the Baptist Church. 

DAUGHERTY ROBERT M., Oxford town- 
ship; farmer; i)Ostoffice, Plaintield. Mr. Daugh- 
erty was born ^lay 19, l.Sgn, in Harrison county, 
Ohio. He was raised on the farm, and had fol- 
lowed that occupation all his life. In ]s;i9, he 
went to Tuscarawas county, and remained two 
years. He then went to Jcflerson coimty, and 
lived there two years ; then came to Cosliocton 
county, and has resided here ever since. Mr. 
Daughert)' was married, .\pril 9, 1K59. to Miss 
Mary Jones, of this county. They are the parents 
of seven children: Seth, Charity J., Willis, John, 
Frank. Marv and Clara B., all of whom are liv- 
ing. One, Charity J., is married. His oldest 
son,Seth, is engaged in teaching, having taught 
successfully for five years. Mr. Daugherty has 



66C 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



always been esteemed and honored by his own 
townsliip. Ho lias served as trustee for tweh'e 
years, and has held other offices. 

D.VVIED JOHN, Franklin township; born 
January 22, 1S14, in Vittoncourt, Favilgueniont 
Canton" Moselle Department, France; son of 
John Oavicd. In 1S47, he emigrated to .\nierica, 
landing at New Orleans, and coming up to Zuncs- 
ville, by water. He had been a stonemason, in 
France, but engaged in farming here, the first 
two years in Muskingum county; then a year in 
Fountain county, Indiana; next in Franklin 
township. Married, in 18&3, to Ann Grand- 
Girard, born in Voinehaute, France, January 25, 
1S25, I5y a former marriage to John N. Daniel, 
she had 'two children, viz : John N , born Janu- 
ary 14, 1. "^54, and Margaret (Burton), born Novem- 
ber 30, 1,''51. Mr. Davied's children are Ferdi- 
nand, born .\prd 23,1850; Mary (Burton), born 
Ai)ril 3, 1S5S; .Vnna (Collet), Marcli 31, 1800, 
John, November 20,1801; Leo, March 14, 1803, and 
Matilda, March 14. 1800. 

DAVIS BENTON, Lafayette township; farmer; 
Plainfield postoffice; only son of John Davis; was 
liorn in this township, in 1840; was married to 
Miss Blanche Beelsford, of Linton township, who 
became the mother of four children, viz: Beels- 
ford, Stejihen, Blary and Blanche. The sidijoct 
of this sketch was educated at Vermillion Insti- 
tute, Ashland county, and is a progressive young 
farmer. 

D.A.VIS JOHN N., Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice, Evansburgh ; born in Adams township, 
Coshocton countv, Ohio, .Vpril 26, 1850; son of 
James and Kachcl J, (Kimball) Davis, and grand- 
son of John and .\nn Davis and Abner and Nancy 
(Jefi'ries) Kimball, He remained with his father 
until twenty-three years of age, when he married 
and began farming for himself. The date of his 
marriage is September 15, 1874, to Mi.ss Hannah 
McFariand, daughter of Ezekiel and Isabella 
(Corbit) McFarla'nd, and granddaughter of Rob- 
ert and Ann McFariand, and Robert and Susan 
(Fuller) Corbit, She was born October 30, 1845, 
They are the parents of three children: George 
C, born July 10, 1875; Richard G,, born January 
19, 1877, and Isabel J,, born July 15, 1878. 

D.'lVIS J. T., O.xford township; physician; 
Orange, Evansburgh postoffice; son of Thomas 
Davis; was born in 1845,in this county, and after 
receiving a good high school education, he took 
up the study of medicine about the year 1865, 
under Dr. Bates, of Wheeling, and finished under 
Dr, Chapman, of Bakersville. and commenced the 
practice in 1860,in Harrison county. After prose- 
cuting his ]irofession in that county about two 
years, he met with misfortune, loosing his entire 
accunudalions by fire, and his next location was 



at his present place, where, by strict attention to 
business, he has had a flattering degree of success. 
He has a good practice, and is surrounded by the 
comforts of a good home. He was married in 
1800, to INIiss R. E. Spurgeon, of Kno.v county, 
and they have one child, a boy, Charles H., now 
in his twelfth year. The doctor finds time to 
handle better road horses than any body in this 
part of the county, and is a genuine lover of a 
good horse, of which he has handled a good 
many. 

D.VVIS JAIMES R., Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice, Evansburgh; born in Hereford.sliire, 
England, November 4, 1818 ; son of John and .\nn 
(Baily) Davis. He came to America in .lime, 1,832, 
on the Sarah, of Petersburg, Virginia, landed in 
New York, from thence he came to Adams 
township, Co.shocton county, via Hudson river, 
Erie canal, Lake Erie and Ohio canal, and has 
been a resident of this township since. He was 
married May 5, 1,S41, to Miss Rachel J. Kimbah, 
daughter of Abner and Nancy (JetiVie.s) Kimball. 
They are parents of eleven children, viz : Emily 
A,, liorn December 20, 1842, died October 19, 
1807; MvraJ„born September 29,1844; Curtis, 
born October 19, 1840; Charles W„ born .\ugust 
17, 1848, died October 17, 1875; John N., born 
April 20, 1.S50; Abner T., born February 18, lSo2. 
Ernest J. S., born December 1, 1853; Eleanor M., 
liorn March 28. 1850: Hereford H. C, born De- 
cember 12,1858; Horace F, H., born November 
8, 1800, and Laura L„ born August 14, 18<i3. 
John is married and living in Adams township; 
Abner and Ernest are farming in Kan.sas; Curtis 
is in Knoxville, Iowa. He formerly lived in Idaho 
and while there was representative two years. 
Mr. Davis' father died in September 1833, and 
his mother died September, 1840. 

DAWSON MARCUS, Virginia township; born 
in East Virginia, in 1808; settled in Coshocton 
county in 1829; son of ^^'illiam antl Hanna Daw- 
son. Mr. Dawson has been married three times. 
His first wife was Mary Reed, who bore him four 
children.' His second wife was the mother of 
eight children. His third wife was Katlierine 
Clark. Postoffice, Willow Brook. 

DAWSON WILLIAM, Jackson township; 
born in this county, in 1833; son of Marcus and 
Mary Dawson; married November 2, 1801, to 
.\ugusta M, Adams, daughter of John Q. and Lov- 
ina".\dams. Their union was blessed with nine 
children, one of whom is dead, viz: J, Q., Mur- 
rell E,, Effie L., Ora B,, Aba M,, Kate L., William 
M., Glide W. Postoffice, Roscoe. 

D.VY WILLIAM H., Tuscarawas township; 
farmer; Canal Lewisvilte; born March 15, 1.Sd3, 
in Wayne county, Pennsylvania ; son of Barney 
Day, of Irish ancestry ; raised on the farm, came 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKEI'CHES. 



667 



to this county in the spring of 1847, and settled 
in Jaekson township, near Roscoe, and came to his 
present residence in 1852, and has followed farm- 
ing during his entire life. He at present is liv- 
ing with his brother-in-law. 

DEAN EGBERT, Bedford township; farmer; 
postofRee, ^^'arsaw, Ohio; son of Samuel and 
!Mary (McCurdy) Dean; was born April 5, 1810, 
in Jetl'erson eounty, Ohio. He came to this 
county in 1848, and has since remained. Mr. 
Dean was raised on the farm, and has always fol- 
lowed that occupation. He was married April 3, 
1851, to Miss Margaret J. Hamilton, of this 
county. Thev are the parents of five children, 
viz: Charlotte J., Mary A., John H., William L. 
and Wilbur S , all of whom are living. Mr. 
Dean owns a good farm, in Bedford township, 
and is respected by all his neighbors, as a man 
of integrity and business qualities. 

DECIOUS CORNELIUS, Jackson township; 
Roscoe postoflice ; born in Page county, Virginia, 
in 1813, settled in this county in 1843; son of 
Frederick and Magdaline Decious; married, in 
1830, to Katharine Davis, daughter of William 
B. and Jane Davis. They have six children, viz: 
Charles, .John, Frank, Lewis, Howard, decea.sed, 
and William. All are married but two. Those 
married are all living in this county. 

DEAN WILLIAM, Bedford township; farmer; 
postoflice, Tunnel Hill ; born in 1823, in Jefferson 
county, Ohio, and was married in 185.3, to Miss 
Asmath Starr, of the same county, who was born 
in 1836. They came to this county in 1853. 
They are the ])arent3 of ten children, seven of 
whom are livintr, viz: George H., decea.sed, Mary 
M., John H., Eliza J., William H., Dennis, Nettie, 
Henry H., Lina, decea,sed, and Ella B., deceased 
Mr. Dean ha.s lived where he now is since 1868. 
He is one of the large land owners of the town- 
ship, having about 325 acres. 

DEEDS ABRAHAM, O.xford township; farmer; 
postofflce, Plainfield, Ohio; son of John and Mary 
(Seabault) Deeds ; was born September 23, 1802, 
in Westmoreland county, Penn.sylvania Mr. 
Deeds was raised on the farm, and has followed 
that occujiation all his life. In 1830, he removed 
from Pennsylvania, and came to this county, re- 
maining nine years. He then removed to Athens 
county, Ohio, and resided there six years, return- 
ing then to this county, where he has since re- 
sided. Mr. Deeds was married September 11, 
1828, to Miss Agnes Singson, of Harrisburgh, 
Pennsylvania. They became the parents of ten 
children, viz; John, Susannah, Samuel, deceased, 
Sarah, Abraham, deceased, Drusyla. Fannie, Jose- 
phus, decea.sed, and Williani H., dece.ased. 
When Mr. Deeds came to this county, it was gen- 
erally a wilderness, the few settlers living in 



cabins, surrounded by a small lot of cleared land. 
He has by his own industry acquired a good 
farm, and is i)rosperous. 

DENMAN A. D, Tuscarawas town,ship; Co- 
shocton postoflice; of the firm of A. D. &. D. F. 
Denman, farmers and stock raisers. A. D. Den- 
man was born in Springfield, E<scx cjunty. New 
Jersey; son of David and Mary (Lyon) Denman, 
of English ancestry, and came to his present res- 
idence in October, 1834. He was married No^ 
vember 16, 1828, to Mi.ss Eliza A., daughter of 
Moses and Lydia (Mimn) Condit, of New Jersey. 
This union was blessed with three children. 
George and Matthias died, and only one is living. 
D. F. Denman, of the above firm, was born April 
15, 1830, in Essex county. New Jersey. He was 
married October 18, 1855, to Miss jNlatilda W., 
daughter of C. L and Sophronia (Hamilton) 
Whiting. This union has been been blessed 
with six children, three deceased, viz: Alfred 
W., E. Alida and Emma L. Their three living 
children are Clara B., Herbert and Matthias. 
This firm is engaged in stock raising and agri- 
culture, succeiling well in both, having their 
farm and buildings in first class repair and rais- 
ing the breeds of stock. The farm now owned 
by this firm was patented to Matthias Denman, 
grandfather of the senior member of the firm, 
April 24,1816. They also hold patent for lands 
granted to said Matthias Denman, March 28, 
1800, and signed by President John Adams. 
M^atthias Denman was, at one time probably, the 
largest landholder in the State. He was also one 
of three partners who founded the city of Cin- 
cinnati. 

DEVORE ELI, Tiverton township; farmer; 
postoflice, Gann, Knox county; born in 1844, in 
Holmes county, and was married in 1804, to Miss 
Elizabeth A. Crider, of Holmes county, who was 
born in 1847, in Knox county. They came to this 
eounty in 1808. They are the parents of five 
children, viz: Mary F., born February 11,1865; 
Nancy J., born March 23, 1867; Lucy, born Au- 
gust 24, 1870; James R., born February 12, 1875, 
and Lyman, born November 16, 1877. 

DEVORE WILLIAM, Tiverton township; 
farmer; postofRce, Gann, Knox county; born in 
1840, in Carroll county. He came to Holmes 
county with his parents in 1843,and to this coun- 
ty in 1855. He is unmarried, and has lived on 
the same farm since 1855. 

DeWITT IS.VAC C, Adams town.^hip; farmer; 
postoffice, Bakersville ; born in Adams towu.^hip, 
Coshocton county, October 14, 18:^9; son of Vin- 
cent and Eleanor (Oirdray) DeWitt, and grand- 
son of Tiiomas Cordray. He attended school 
until the age of maturity, and has since devoted 
his time to farming. He was married September 



668 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



1, 1864, to Miss Delila Smith, daughter of Bar- 
tholomew and Mary A. (Reed) Smith, and grand- 
daughter of George and Elizabeth (ElHs) Smith. 
She was born in Bucks township, Tuscarawas 
county, July 24, 1845. They are the parents of 
three children, Asmer A., born June 20, 1805; 
Francis M., born June 20, 1868, and Ira A., born 
June 17, 1872. 

DeWITT W. W., Lafayette township; wagon 
and carriage maker ; West Lafayette ; was born 
' in Adams township, this county, December IS, 
1849; son of Jonathan and Margaret DeWitt. 
W. W. followed carpentering and cabinet mak- 
ing for about nine years, then engaged in his 
present business, which he has been conducting 
seven years, and in that time has built up quite 
an extensive trade. He was married in 1877, to 
Miss Angeline McLain, of this township; they 
have had one child ; Clifford Monroe. 

DeWITT SOLOMON, Crawford township; pro- 
prietor of hotel, Chili; born in Adams township, 
August 23, 1820; son of Vincent DeWitt and Ele- 
nor( Cord ray) DeWitt, both of whom were na- 
tives of Maryland. Mr. DeWitt left home in 1853 
and followed farming until 1870, when he went 
into the dry goods business at Chili, married 
Miss Nancy Fisher October 13, 1853. Her par- 
ents, Ab.so'lem Fisher and Harriet (Johnson) 
Fisher were both native born. Their family con- 
sists of four children; Lenox, Phebe, John, Alice 
and Frank. 

DICKEY WILLIAM, Keene township, farmer ; 
born July 28, 1857, in Mill Creek township ; son 
of Hiram and Jane (Ling) Dickey, and grand- 
son of John Dickey. At the age of twenty Mr. 
Dickey left home and traveled through Iowa, 
Illinois and Indiana; then came home, but soon 
returned to Indiana, where he was married July, 
1, 1877, to Jennie J. Belser, born June 23, 1860, 
in Decatur county, Indiana, daughter of Augus- 
tus and Catharine (Hazelrigg) Belser, and grand- 
daughter of Godfrey and Abbie (Dupee) Belser. 
Her grandmother, Abbie, was a native of Boston, 
of French descent. Her maternal grandparents 
were Charles and Caroline (McCoy) Hazelrigg. 
Karl F., born December 17, 1879, was their only 
child. 

DICKEY JOHN, Jackson township; born in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1810; son of 
William and Elizabeth Dickey; settled in this 
county in 18;31»; married in 1845, to Miss Jane 
Thompson, daughter of John and Mary Thomp- 
son. Mr. Dickey is the father of five children, 
two of whom are dead, and two are married. 
The names of those living are as follows : Wil- 
liam J., A. W., J. F. Postoffice, Tyrone. 

DICKEY WILLIAM, deceased, Bedford town- 



ship ; born in 1771, in county Tyrone, Ireland : 
came to this country in 1785, and was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Graham, who was born in 1781, 
and died in 1832, in Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. 
Dickey came to this county in 1840, and died in 
1848. They were the parents of eleven children, 
only three of whom are living; one in Cincin- 
nati, one the wife of Park Wheeler, of this coun- 
ty, and Fanny, who lives on the old homestead. 

DICKERSON WILLIAM, Bedford township; 
farmer and blacksmith ; postofiice. Tunnel Hill; 
born in 1827, in Fayette county, Pennsj-lvania; 
came to this county in 1847 with his father, who 
was born in 1788, in Fayette county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and was married in 1811 to Elizabeth Do- 
ney, of the same countv. who was born in 1795. 
He died in 187-1. She died in 1870. They were 
the parents of ten children ; the subject of this 
sketch being the eighth. He was married in 
1850 to I\Iiss M. J. Eaton, of this county, who was 
born in 1832 in this county. They are the par- 
ents of twelve children, all living. 

DICKERSON JAMES F., Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice. Tunnel Hill; born in 1829, in 
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and came to this 
county in 1847 with his father, who was born in 
1788 in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and was 
married in 1811 to Elizabeth Doney, of the same 
county, who was born in 1795. He died in 1874, 
and she died in 1870. They were the parents of 
ten children ; the subject of this sketch being the 
youngest. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mar- 
gie Fisher, of this county, who was born in 1839, 
in Harrison county, Ohio. They are the parents 
of one child, Ida M. 

DICKERSON JOSHUA, Bedford township; 
farmer ; postofiice. Tunnel Hill ; born in 1845, in 
this county. His father was born in 1798, in 
in Harrison conunty, Ohio, and was married in 
1820, to Miss Nancy Glasner, of the same county, 
who was born in 1796. They came to this county, 
in 1820, and he died in 1879. They were the par- 
ents of nine children, the subject of this sketch 
being the seventh child. 

DICKERSON JOHN, farmer; Washington 
township; postofiice, Wakatomaka ; born in 1822, 
in Fayette county, Pennsylvania ; came to this 
county in 1831, with his father, who was born in 
1783, in Fayettte county, Pennsylvania. He was 
married in 1811, to Miss Jane Morrison, of the 
same county, who was born in 1792. He died in 
1857, she died in 1878. They were the parents 
of eight children. The subject of this sketch be- 
ing the seventh. He was married in 1844, to Miss 
Elizabeth Crumley, of this county, who was born 
in 1828, in Harrison county. They are the par- 
ents of eleven children, viz : Susan J., Mary C, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



669 



AVilliam, Melissa; Telina, deceased; Sarah E., 
Florida; John E., Evaline, an infant, deceased 
and Minerva. 

DICKEKSON LEVI, farmer; Washington 
township; AVakatoniaka, born in 1832, in this 
county. His father was born in 1783, in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, and was married in 1811, 
to Miss Jane Morrison, of the same county, who 
■\vas born in 1792. He died in 1857, she died in 
1878. They were the parents of ei<j;ht children, 
the subject of this sketch beina; the youngest- 
He was married in 18.54, to Miss Sarah E. Middle- 
ton, of this county, who was born in 183i, in 
Pennsylvania. They are the parents of eleven 
children, viz: Morrison, Mary E., Hartley, Emma 
J., Harriet S., John C, Charles H., Carrie B., Efhe 
J., Armor and Daniel. 

DICKERSON JOSEPH, farmer; Washington 
township; postoftiee. Tunnel Hill; l)orn in 1820, 
in Harrison county. He came to this county in 
1834, with his grandfather, Levi Dickerson," his 
father having died in 1821, in Harrison county. 
Joseph was married in 1841, to Miss Mary Jones, 
■of this county, who was born in 1821, in Harrison 
county. They are the parents of eight children, 
viz: Elizabeth, deceased; Susan, Lavina, Sarah 
J., deceased; Martha, Aaron W.,Mary A., EmmaO. 

DICKERSON LEVI, farmer; Wa.shington 
township: postoffice, Wakatomaka; born in 1827, 
in this county. His father was born in 1798, in 
Pennsylvania. He settled in Harrison county, 
and was married there to Miss Nancy Glasmir, 
of this county, who was born in 17;»r), in Penn- 
sylvania. They came to this county in 1825. 
He died in 1879. They were the parents of nine 
children, the subject of this sketch being the 
fourth. He was married in 1850 to Miss Amy 
Howell, of Tuscarawiis county, who was born in 
1825, in Belmont county. They are the parents 
of seven children, viz: Joshua, Isabelle, Benja- 
min, David. Nancy, Amy and James. 

DIEFENBACH A. A., Crawford township ; boot 
and shoe manufacturer; postoffice. New Bedford, 
Ohio; was born December 10, 18,55, in Tu.scarawas 
county; son of .\dam and Louise (Greeannabold). 
He remained with his j)arents on the farm until 
eighteen years of age, when he went to his trade 
and, in 1874, established business in New Bedford 
■with Simon P. Sprenke, and continued the part- 
nership until October 1, 1879, wlien Mr. Diefen- 
baeh became sole ])roprietor. He is doing a 
first-class business for a country town. He and 
two other good workmen being const;uitly em- 
ployed. 

pINGLEDINE SEBASTIAN. Adams town- 
ship; saddler; postoffice, Bakcrsville ; born in 
Hesse Darmstadt. Germany, March 18,181.2; son 
of Bolthazer and .Vnica C. Dingledine, and grand- 



son of John Dingledine. He left his native 
country for .\merica in 1830, landing in Balti- 
more after a voyage of si.xty-four days, then came 
to Pennsylvania, whore he remained about four 
years, and from there came to Tuscarawas 
comity, Ohio, where ho resided about thirty- 
seven years, being the second ixistmaster of 
that village. He then moved to Illinois, and 
after remaining there about three years, he again 
moved to Ohio, and settled in Bakcrsville, where 
he has resided since, engaged at his trade, doing 
a fair business. He is at present serving his 
fourth term as justice of the peace of Adams 
town.'ihip. He learned his trade with Sampson 
Shalter, of Canal Dover, in 1838. Jlr. Dingledine 
was married May 7, 1846, to Miss Julia A. Gard, 
daughter of John and Susannah C. (Oswalt) Gard. 
She died in November, 1867, from injuries 
received by being thrown from a buggy. By 
this marriage he became the father of one child, 
James, born July 5. 1860. He was married Sep- 
tember 16. 1868, to Miss Delila Carnahan. daugh- 
ter ■of David and Eliza T. (McCuno) Carnahan, 
and granddaughter of James and Margaret Car- 
nalian. and James and Margaret IMcCune. She 
was b(jrn in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
December 15, 1837. They have "three children, 
viz: Agnes C. born September 12. 1869; Charles 
M., born May 25, 1871 ; Howard S., born Decem- 
ber 2, 1877. ■ 

DILLON ISRAEL, Coshocton; clerk of the 
courts of common pleas; born June 17, 1819, in 
Perry township and spent his entire life on the 
farm until elected to the above office in 1875 and 
re-elected in 1878, his entire tenure of office be- 
ing six years. Mr Dillon was elected a justice of 
the peace in 1853, and served three consecutive 
terms, and after an interval of two years again 
served three consecutive terms, making in all 
eighteen years of .service as justice of the pe'ace. 
Esquire Dillon has taken an active part in educa- 
tional matters, having served for a number of 
years on the board of education of the county. 
Mr. Dillon was married October 18, 1840. to Miss 
Elizabeth Jane Fitch, daughter of William and 
Mary Fitch, of Perry town.ship. This union has 
been blessed with twelve children, two deceased, 
viz: Rebecca Jane and William Melville, and ten 
living, viz: .\mos, Mary Catharine, Eliza, Leora, 
Deborah Anne, Josiah, .Samuel, Israel Budianan, 
Elizabeth. Emma and Sarah Frances. Mr.s. Dillon, 
consort of Esquire Dillin, died in March, 1870, 
and is buried at New Guilford, Perry township. 
Mr. Dillon's .second marriage was to Mrs. Isabelle 
Barrett, of JSIohawk village, September 24, 1874. 
The result of this marriage ■was one child, a 
daughter, Ida J?elle. The grandfather of Esquire 
Dillon was a native of Ireland but came to -Amer- 
ica and served in the revolutionary war for the 
indejiendance of the United Stiites. 



670 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



DILI.OX AMOS, Perry township; postoifico, i 
New Guilfonl; born in this county, in 1841 ; son 1 
of Israel and Elizabeth (Fitch) Dillon, granilstm 
of William and Deborah M. (Meredith) Dillun, 
also of William and Mary Meredith. Mr. Dillon's 
great-grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. 
Mr. Dillon, in l.'-'ti5, married Susannah C'asteel, 
daughter of Thomas and Susannah (Bottomticld) 
Castoel. Thev have eight children, viz: Sarah 
E., Israel T.," William J., Howard T., Ettie J., 
Kachael A., Bertha L. and John C. Mr. Dillon 
was engaged in the merchandise business some 
three years; followed farming since. 

DILLON F. J., Tu.scarawas township; Coshoc- 
ton postoftice; farmer; born February 10, 184o, 
in Knox county; son of Thomas and Eliza Jane 
(BuxtonI Dillon. His maternal grandfather was 
Francis Buxton. Young Dilhai was brought up 
on the farm. When about twelve years of age 
he located in New Castle township. May 2, 1864, 
he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and 
forty -seconil (). V. I. (lOO-days men); re-enlisted 
in Company I, O. V. I. for one year. At the 
close of the war he visited jNIissouri and soon 
returned ; then went to Illinois and taught one 
term of school, and again visited Missouri ; then 
home again, and back to Illinois, where he 
taught school. He again visited Missouri and 
returned home, and for the third time went to 
Illinois and taught school, and from there he 
went to Iowa and taught school ; then the fourth 
time visited Mi.ssouri, and returned to Iowa; 
then went to Minnesota and remained during 
the cold winter, and in the spring rettirned to 
Iowa, and from there went to the Pacific coast, 
visiting California and Oregon, remaining one 
year; then returned, in 1870, to Ohio, where he 
has remained to the present time. Mr. Dillon 
was married lirst August IS, 1868, to Miss Susan 
Clark, daughter of John Clark. They had four 
children, three of whom died in infancy. Willis 
elide is their only living child. His second 7nar- 
riage was on October 22, 1879, to Miss Carrie E. 
Wood, daughter of Andrew Wood, deceased, for- 
merly of Tuscarawas township. 

DIV.VN T. E, Perry township; farmer; post- 
office, West Carli-sle; born in this county in 1850; 
son of .Vdolphus and jMary (Hardenbrook) Divan, 
and grandson of Henry and Blary Divan ; married 
in 1869, to Miss Harriet Cochran, who died in 
1872. He married, in the same year, Anna A. 
Board, daughter of Thomas H. and Elizabeth A. 
Board. They are the j)arents of four children, 
viz: Ola M., Walter M., Floyd and Arazota. 

DOAK POBERT, Crawford township; farmer; 
postofiico, hili. Ohio; born March 9, l.s2ti, in 
Amwell township, Washington county, Penn.syl- 
vania; son of Williani Doak, of Crawford town- 
ship. In 1832 he located with his father about 



two miles east of Chili. He was married May 20, 
1.847, to Miss Slary Anne, daughter of Tlioinas 
M. and Sarah (Hughes) McCollum. She was born 
.\ugust 17, 1826, in Amity, Washington county, 
Pennsylvania. This union was blessed with four 
children, viz: William R., Thomas M., decea.sed; 
.Vdam J. and Sarah E. Mr. Doak has succeeded 
well, being blessed with a good family and a 
comfortable home. 

DOAK WILLIAM, Crawford township; retired 
farmer; postoftice, Chili, Ohio; born December 
5, 1804, in South Strabane township, Washington 
cotmty, Pennsylvania. His father and he were 
both born on the farm, jiatented to William's 
father. William is son of William and Nancy 
(Dill) Doak, of Irish ancestry. Mr. Doak came 
to his present residence in 1832. The entire 
coinitry was new then, his farm being nearly all 
timbered land, but has lived to enjoy the fruits 
of his toil. The cabin has changed to a com- 
fortiible frame, and the forest to lields of jiasture, 
grain and orchards. jMr. Dciak was married 
about the year 1824, to Miss Evaline, daughter of 
iVdam and Elizabeth (Mason) Gardner They 
are the parents of seven children, viz : Robert, 
.\dam, deceased, Mary Anne, deceased, Nancy 
Jane, married to David Ewing ; Elizabeth, mar- 
ried to Thomas Wilson; Andrew, married to 
Louisa Poeock ; and William, married to Sallie 
E. jMcNary. Mr. Doak started to j)rovide for him- 
self, without wealth, but has now a competency 
for himself and wife, who still lives to share the 
comforts of their united toil in early life. 

DO.\K A. J., Clark township; dry goods mer- 
chant; postoftice, Clark's; born in Crawford 
townshij), Co.shocton county, December 1, 1837; 
son of William and Evaline (Gardener) Doak. 
He attended school, and taught until twenty-fiva 
years of age, when he began the merchantile busi- 
ness in New Bedford, in the sjiring of 1862, 
where he remained imtil the fall of 1864, when 
he came to Bloonifield and engaged in the same 
business, and has continued here ever since. He 
has a lioiu-ishing trade, and carries a fine assort- 
ment of dry goods, groceries and ready made 
clothing, hats, caps, boots and shoes, and every- 
thing usually found in a general merchandising 
establishment. He was married February 29, 
1860, to Miss Louisa M. Poeock, sister of Colonel 
Poeock, of Coshocton, and daughter of Joshua 
and Catharine (Wilson Poeock). She was born in 
Keene township May 19, 1835. They are blessed 
with three children — Edgar A., born -Vpril 28, 
1862; William C, born August 13, 1803; Ella C, 
born December 23, 1870. 

DONAGHY CHARLES B., Coshocton; rail- 
road contractor and plasterer ; born .January 8, 
1849, in Wellsville, Columbiana county; son of 
William Donaghy, born in Lancaster county. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



671 



Ppnnsylvania, of Irish ancestors. Young Dona- 
ghy was raised in StenbenviUe, Ohio, attending 
pubHc sehodl until seventeen, wlien he entered 
Fairlield academy, and remained two and a half 
years, then attended Keynoldsville academy, 
under instruction of D. J. Snyder, two years. 
Messrs Di_inaghy, Sr. and ,Ir., have been remark- 
able railroad Iniilders, having completed large 
contracts on the Pan Handle, New Salem, Cin- 
cinnati and Louisville Short Line, CUie.sapeak and 
Ohio, Atlantic and Lake Erie; SpringlieUI, Day 
ton and Cincinnati Short Line; Cleveland, Mt. 
Vernon and Cokunbus ; Pittsburgh, Merictta 
and Cleveland, and Sciota railroads ; also built 
eight miles of Lancaster and Xew Salem turn- 
pike. Charles B. first came to this city in Novem- 
ber, 1873, and remained two years, and after an 
absence of a few years, building railroads, re- 
turned, and is now a contractor fiir plastering, 
doing a first-class business. 

DORSEY CLEMENT, Co.shocton; proprietor 
barber shop, corner Main and Fourth streets; 
liorn December 2.5, 1839, in ^Vashington county, 
Maryland; worked on a farm and canal boating 
until 24 years of age, when lie oamc to Parkers- 
burg, West Virginia, with I. Cuthber.son, a gov- 
ernment agent. In June, 1867, he went to Stuben- 
ville, Ohio, and followed steamboating; was on 
the C. E. Hillman when she collided with the 
Nannie Byers, which sinik at JIadi.-:on, Indiana, 
and forty-tive lives lost. In Sejitcmber, 1867. he 
went to Newark and worked m a barber shop 
and attended school until December 1, 1868, when 
he came to this city and established a shop, and 
continued his business to the present. Mr. Dorsey 
was the fir.st colored juror of this county, also the 
first colored citizen to be nominated for a county 
office. BIr. Dor.sey wa.'^ married, October 14, lt-61>, 
to Mrs. Martha Lucas, of Janesville, Wisconsin. 
This union w^as blessed with five children, viz: 
Mildred Ellie, Ishani C, .Jesse C, Gertrude Hays 
and Clement G. Mr. Dorsey came to this city 
with but $48, but now owns real estate and a good 
home. 

DOKSEY ELMOS, Pike township; postofRce, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
Muskingum county, in 1842; settled in this coun- 
ty in ISSO; son of .John and Prudence Dorsey. 
His father settled in Muskingum county in 1812, 
and died in 1877. His mother died in l.'^7S. The 
subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family 
of three children, one living in Missouri and one 
in Licking county, Ohio. He was married in 
November, 1870, to Miss Lizzie .Magruder, daugh- 
ter of George and Margera Magruder. 

DR.\PER S.\MUEL H., Tiverton township; 
farmer; [lostofiice, Yankee Ridge, Ohio; born 
September 8, 1808, in Knox county. He came to 
this county in 1830, and was married in 1837, to 



Miss Elizabeth Smith, of this county, who was 
born in November, 1818, in Pennsylvania. She 
died in 1S44. They were the parents of three 
children. He was married in 1845, to Miss Cath- 
arine Horton, of this county, who wa.< born in 
1.^23 and died in 1852. They were the jiarents of 
three children. He was married in 1S.")2, to Miss 
Elizabeth Hucy, of this county, who was born in 
1828 and died in 1871. He married, in 1871, Miss 
Isabella Lockard, of this county, who was born 
in 182.5. 

DRESHER JACOB, Crawford township; post- 
oflie, New Bedford; blacksmith; born May 24, 
1842, in Hesse-Homburg, Germany; son of Fred- 
erick and Margaret (Kline) Dresher; came to 
America in 18.55 and first located in Adams 
county, next in Crawford township, went to his 
trade in 18.58, and has followed it to the present 
time. He came to his present residence in 1876. 
Was married June 22, 1866, to Miss Louisa, 
daughter of John and Catharine (Lyman) Kesler. 
They have five children: John Frederick, de- 
ceased, Emily M,, Caroline R,, Karl H. and Au- 
gustus Jacob. 

DUGAN WILLIAM, Linton township; far- 
mer: born in January. 18.33, in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania ; son of Francis and s\.m\ (Smith) 
Dugan, who emigrated from county Down, Ire- 
land, in 1833, remained in Philadelphia a few 
years, then came out to Harrison county, lived 
there about ten years, and moved to Guern.«ey 
county. There Jlr Dugan remained till he came 
to Linton township, in 1875. He enlisted in Jan- 
uary, 1862, in Company I, Eightieth O. V. I., and 
served three years in the army. He was under 
fire at the siege of Corinth, battle of Corinth, luka, 
siege of Vicksburg, Jack.son, Champion Hill, etc. 
He was married in 18.55, to Hannah Walgamot, 
daughter of David and Sophia Walgamot, of 
(iuernsey county. Their children are Jemima 
Ellen, Jane. Mary, Lincoln, William, David, So- 
phia, Alva and Samuel, 

DULING DAVID, Linton township; saddler: 
postotfice, Plainlield; born October 18, l.'^45, in 
Lafayette township; son of William and Rebecca 
P. Duling. His grandfather, Edmund Duling, 
came to this county in l.s]5. His maternal 
grandparents, David and Lucy Richardson were 
early .settlers in the county. <'oining from Vcr- 
nunit. His father, a Protestant Methodist minis- 
I ter, died at Stcubenville, in 18.54. He lived in 
! Linton township from that time until (>ctober. 
l.StJl, when he enlisted in Company F, Fifty-first 
I O. V. I., and remained in the army four years, see- 
1 ing active service at Stone river, Ciiirkamauga. the 
numerous battles in the .\tlanta camiiaign, Frank- 
lin, Nashville, etc. .\fter his return lie kept a 
grocerv in Plainfield one year, then, in 1867, en- 
listed "in the regular army for three years, and 



672 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia, Huntsville, 
Alabama, Jacksonville, Alabama, Columbia, South 
Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Wilming- 
ton, North Carolina. After his discharge he 
owned a saddler shop in Coshocton till Is""), then 
moved to Plaintield, and has been lunning a 
.shop here since. He was married in 1872, to 
Cliristina Weisser, daughter of Jacob Weisser, 
of Coshocton. His children are Lizzie, deceased, 
and Maud. 

DULING HIRAM W., Linton township; far- 
mer: born April 4, lS2it, at his present home in 
Linton townshij) ; son of Edmund and Mary 
(Dean) Duling, and grandson of William Duling 
and of Thomas and Jane (Gihnore) Dean. His 
tither emigrated from Hampshire county, Vir- 
ginia, to Linton townshiii, in 1.S15. Mr. Duling 
has always lived in this township. He was mar- 
ried February 18, ISdll, to Sarah Catharine Law- 
rey, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Piatt) Lowrey. 
Their children are, Uriella, Joseph L.. James Ed- 
mund, and Lowel IMason. He was a member of 
Company E, One Hundred and Forty-second 
O. N. G., and was in service about four months 
in Virginia 

DUNCAN JONAS, Keene township; farmer; 
born June 27, 184.3. in Mill Creek township; son 
of John and Elizabeth (Long) Duncan. He was 
married April 30, 18(')S, to Amanda Shannon, 
whose ancestry is as follows : Parents, Nathan 
and Jfary (Endsley) Shannon ; grandparents, 
Isaac and Jane (Porter) Shannon, and John and 
Jane (Blane) Endsley; great-grandfathers, Robert 
Shannon, born in Ireland, Thomas Porter and 
Thomas Blane. 5Ir. Duncan's family consists 
of five children: Mary E., born August 4, 1869; 
Joseph A., January 9, 1871; Sophia L.October 
18, 1872; Cynthia Grace, September, 1874, and 
Martlia, January 11, 187S. 

DUNCAN T. D., Keene township; born July 
9, 1846, in Pittsburgli, Pennsylvania; son of Rob- 
ert (-'. and Nancy (Patterson) Duncan, of Scotch 
and English descent. His childhood and early 
youth was spent on a farm in Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania; from seventeen to nineteen he at- 
tended the academy at Beaver, then took a course 
at Washington and Jefferson college, Washing- 
ton, Pennsylvania, graduating in lSil9. The fol- 
lowing two years he spent at the Western Theo- 
logical Seminary, Allegheny City, and. after a 
year spent as principal of Callensburg academy. 
Clarion county, Pennsylvania, he returned and 
completed his theological studies, graduating in 
the spring of 1874. Th(> ne.xt year he was en- 
gaged as jjrincijjal of the Verona academy, Alle- 
gheny county, Pennsylvania, then in the spring 
of 1875, he received a call from Clark Presbyterian 
church, Bloomfield, which he accepted and was 
ordained in May. He remained there as pastor 



until Ajjril, 1.879. After traveling for some time 
he accepted a position in August, 18S0, as prin- 
cipal of the public schools and academy at Keene. 
He was married in June, 1S76, to Miss Ella, 
daughter of George and .lane (Douglas) Craig. 
Thev have one child — Robert C., born Julv 5, 
1877. 

DUNLAPJOHN, Bedford town.'^hip; farmer; 
postoffice. Tunnel Hill ; born in 1839 in this 
county. His father, James Dunlap, was born in 
1796, in Pennsylvania, and came to this county 
while yet unmarried, and was married to ]\Iis"s 
Hannah Baker, of this county. He died in 1879. 
She died in 1839. They were the parents of eight 
childrsn ; the subject of this sketch being the 
youngest. He was married in 1861 to Miss 
Rachel H. Philips, of this county, who was born 
in 1844. Tliey are the parents of four children, 
viz: Samuel L., deceased, Charlie, Sarah E., and 
John. 

DUSENBERRY JOHN, Bedford township: 
farmer: postoffice. Tunnel Hill; born in 1850 in 
this county. His father was born in 1799 in 
eastern Pennsylvania, and came to this county in 
1832. He was married in 1835 to Miss Rebecca 
Stevens, of this county, who was born in 1810. 
He died in 1879, and she died in 1880. They 
were the parents of seven children, the subject 
of this sketch being the youngest. He is un- 
married, and Hves on the old farm. 

DWYER JOSEPH W., Tuscarawas township; 
was born in Coshocton, Ohio, October 6, 1832; 
married Emma A., daughter of ,Tohn G and 
Emma (Denman) Titus, October 21, 1858. Has one 
child living, named David G. Commenced life as a 
merchant. Owned and published the Co.shocton 
Age from 18.56 to 1866. Appointed postmaster of 
Coshoctcm, Ohio, by President Lincoln in March 
1861, declined, and was appointed clerk in treasury 
dejjartment at Washington City in same month, 
and for a while w'as assistant private secretary to 
Secretary Chase, subsequently, being promoted 
through the various grades to be chief in charge 
of commissary accounts in the treasury deiiart- 
ment. Resigned this office to accept the office of 
pension agent for the Columbus, Ohio, i)ension 
district. It being a new district, he entered 
ujjon the new duties and organized the office in 
September, 1864, which office he continued to 
hold until June, 1869, with the e.xception of an 
interim oi six months. during President .Tohnson's 
swing around the circle. His successor failing 
of conlirmation by the Senate, Dwyer was reap- 
pointed by President Johnson. 

At tlie clo,se of his second and last term as 
pension agent at Columbus, he received notice 
from the chief accounting (ifficer of the treasury 
department at Washington, that his accounts were 
closed on the books of the department, and that 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



673 



"during his last term of office, he disbursed 
nearly tu<(i miUionx of dMtrs to pensioners, with 
liromptnoss and efficiency that meets the entire 
ai)j)robation of this dcjiartmenl." 

Allen Riitlierford, third auditory of treasury 
dei>artnient, on closing up his accounts and turn- 
\n% over the office to his successor, was appointed; 
by President Grant, chief of supervisors and de- 
tectives in the internal revenue service, head- 
quarters at Washington. Holding this office 
until December, l.'^ilii, when a vacancy occurred 
by the di-ath of Charles Hedges, of Manstield, 
Dwyer \va^ appointed supervisor of internal reve- 
nue for Ohio and Indiana, with heailquarters at 
Coshocton, Ohio, holding this office until July 1, 
1872, when his resignation was accejited by Hon. 
John W. Douglass, commissioner of internal 
revenue, in the following words: "I regret that 
you feel compelled to take this step, not only on 
account of the pleasant jiersonal relations which 
do now and ever have existed between us, but 
chiefly because the Government is about to lose 
the services of an intelligent, courageous and in- 
corruptible otHcer." 

On retiring from the foregoing office he was 
appointed one of the three United Slates com- 
missioners to visit, inspect and accept, if com- 
]5leted in accordance with the law, the Central 
Pacific railroad. He met Messrs. Sullivan and 
Brown, his fellow commissioners, at San Fran- 
cisco, California, from whence they made a minute 
inspection of the whole road and all its branches, 
culverts, bridges, grades, etc., and upon their re- 
port the government accepted the road as fin- 
ished, and gave to its company the subsidy of 
bonds and lands vote<l by congress. 

This ended his services in official position'. He 
accepted employment with the Atlantic and Pa- 
cific railroad com])any and was their agent at 
Washington, and among other duties, endeavored 
to induce congress to organize the Territory of 
Oklahoma out of the jiresent Indian Territory 
and open it uj) to white settlement, and to this 
end invited both houses of congress to visit the 
Territory. Over two hundred members accepted 
the invitation and made a trip to that country, 
extending their visit to Galveston, Texas and to 
New Orleans. Nothing came of the organization 
of the Territory, but the building of the Ea<ls' 
jetties below New Orleans at the mouth of the 
gulf was the outcome and result of this excursion. 

During his official career he found time to de- 
vote to farming and stock raising, and for a time, 
when })cnsion agent at ('olumbus, published the 
Farm/'r's Chnmidi: He engaged actively in what- 
ever would improve and interest the farming 
community, and to this end was one of the pro- 
m -iters of the ",Patrons of Husbandry "in its in- 
fancy, and has now in his possession the thiril 
charter, issued bv the originators of the institu- 



tion, authorizing the late secretary Klippart, of 
the State Board of Agriculture, Dugan and others, 
to organi/.e a grange at Coshocton. He is now 
a farmer and stock raiser near Co.shocton and a 
ranchman in New Mexico. He, with his jiartner, 
Mr. John S. Delano, of Denver, have ujion their 
New Mexico ranch over 1,400 cattle, 6,000 sheep, 
and 201) horses. 

EARLEY WILLIAM M., Oxford town.ship ; 
farmer; Evansburgh ; was born in this town.ship 
in 1854, and was married September 21, 1873. to 
Miss Enuna Mclntire, in Pennsylvania. Their 
children are, Rebecca ,Tane, deceased, Desmond, 
deceased, and Seburtis Mack. They are mem- 
bers of the M. E Cluu-ch in West Lafayette. 

EASTER DAVID, Bedford township; farmer; 
postoffice, Tunnel Hill; born in 1820 in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, and came to this county 
in 1830. His father was born in 1783 in Bedford 
county, I'enn.«ylvania, and died in 183'.i. his wife 
in 1871. They were the parents of ten children; 
David being the eighth child. 

ECKELS RICHARD, .Jackson townshi]); post- 
office, Roscoe; born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 
1816, settled in this county, in 1822; son of 
Thomas and Margaret (Porterfield) Eckels, and 
grandson of Richard and Elizabeth Eckels, and 
of Gabriel and Jane Porterfield; married in 1842 
to Martha Porterfield (first wife), and in 1849, to 
Mary E. Nichols, daughter of John and Rachel 
Nichols. Mr. Eckels is the father of ten children, 
seven living and three dead. Three are married, 
two living in this county, one in Columbus, Ohio. 

ECKERT C. C, Coshocton; proprietor of C. O. 
D. store, grocer, baker and dealer in produce, 
No. 430 Main street, Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Eck- 
ert was born in Ragersvillc, Tuscarawas county, 
August 22, 1850. His first business engagement 
was with his father under the firm name of C. A. 
Eckert & Son, in general merchandising, in which 
he continued about six years. He then went west 
and engaged in dealing in groceries and miner's 
supplies at Central City, Dakota, where he re- 
mained one year, after which he returned to 
Coshocton in 1877, and established his present 
business. He occupies pleasant and commodious 
rooms in the Eckert block, where he carries a 
large, first-class stock of staple and fancy grocer- 
ies and confectioneries. He also deals in all kinds 
of country jiroduce, and has a large bakery at- 
tached, whore he does an extensive business in 
baking bread, jjlain and fancy cakes and pies of 
all kind.s. He also roasts all grades of coflees, 
which are of a very superior quality. 

EDWARDS J. T., M. D., Pike township ; born 
in 1830, in this county. His father was born in 



674 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



1799, in Baltimore county, Marvlanil, and came 
to this county about IS'2.5. He was married in 
1828, to JNIiss Catharine Lee, of this county, who 
was born in 1804, in Pennsyhania. He died in 
1875, slic died in 1S74. They were the parents of 
two children. Dr. Edwards being the oldest. He 
began reading medicine in 18.53, under Dr. Rus- 
sell, of Mt. Vernon, and attended his first course 
of lectures in 1855-6, and graduated in 1857. He 
has been here ever since. He was married in 
1847, to Miss Sarah S. Marquand, of this county. 
She was born in 1833, in this county. They are 
the parents of five children, viz: Belle B., Russell 
C; Birdie, deceased, Edwin S. and Gracic. 

EHRICH HENRY. Crawford township; shoe- 
maker; born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1850. Son 
of Nicholas Ehrich and Margaret (Nye) Ehrich, 
both natives of the State t>f Bavaria. Mr. Ehrich 
emigrated to .\mcrica, February 23, 1869, and 
located in Massillon. He worked as a hand in 
the shop, until 1873, when he opened a shop of 
his own in Chili, and still continues to work at 
his trade there. In August, 1873, he married 
Catharine Shoemaker, of Crawford township. 
Her parents, William Shoemaker and Blargaret 
(Wentz) Shoemaker, are both of German ances- 
try. Mr. Ehrich has a family of three childrccn : 
Charles .lacob, born June 12, 1874; Margaret, 
August 23, 1877 ; Eliza J., January 23, 1879." 

ELDER CYRI'S, Jeflierson township; born 
January 25, 18;U, in JefTerson township, Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio, on the farm where he now lives; 
son of John, a native of Antrim county, Ireland, 
and Esther (McConnell) Polder, and grand.son of 
John Elder and John McConnell, natives of Ire- 
land. Mr. Elder came to Virginia in 1804, and 
remained there till 1806, when he came to Co- 
shocton county, where he lived till his death, in 
1852. At that time his sons, Cyrus and William, 
became possessors of the home farm. They have 
since divided it, Cyrus getting the homestead, 
310 acres. He was married to Miss Mary A. 
Waite, October 4, 18()(i. daughter of John and 
Mary (Boyd) Waitc, and granddaughter of Wil- 
liam and Sarah (Maines) Boyd, and of William 
and Margaret (Milligan) Waite. Their children 
were Ehvood, William J , Honorah M , John F.. 
and James H. :Mr. Elder was in the 100-day's 
service, a member of Company E., One Hundred 
and Forty-third regiment, O. N. G. 

ELLIOTT MISS KATE. Tuscarawas town- 
ship ; teacher ; postotfice, Coshocton, Ohio. Miss 
Elliott received a good conuiion-school education, 
also attended the national normal school, at Leb- 
anon, Ohio She tau.ght the first school in the 
Barnes district, Keenc township, in l,sO'.). and has 
been constantly employed ever since, often teach- 
ing as much as nine and ten months in the year. 



She has beeiTa successful teacher, having taught 
two years in the Coshocton schools. She has 
taught many schools in different parts of the 
country, always giving satisfaction. She is at 
present engaged in the Lafayette schools. 

ELLIOTT SIMON. Jefrer.^^on township; mould- 
er; postoflice, War.saw: was born in Millersburg, 
Holmes county, Ohio, December 15, 1832; son of 
Thomas and Lucy (Sanders) Elliott, and grand- 
son of John Elliott, and Nathan and Mary San- 
ders. Mr. Elliott is of Irish descent. Until'about 
the age of sixteen he attended school and worked 
with his father in the wagon shop. He then be- 
gan the moulder's trade in the foundry- at Ros- 
coe. and remained there about two years. He 
went to Walhonding in 1848. and remained until 
the year 1864, and the next spring went to Kan- 
sas, where he followed farnung fourteen years, 
and on account of his wife's ill health he returned 
to Coshocton county and resumed his trade. He 
has a small foundry in \\'arsaw, and has a very 
fair line of custom. He married. October 3, 1S.57, 
Miss Electa Butler, daughter of Allen and Mar- 
garet (Smith) Butler. Edward L., born August 25, 
1866. in the Osage Indian Reserve, in Kant-as, is 
their only child. Mr. Elliott is a nephew of 
Charles Elliott, the founder and editor of the 
Western Christian Adiveate, of Cincinnati, who 
never went to school, but was master of five dif- 
ferent languages, and was at one time elected a 
college president. 

ELLIOTT R. M., Lafayette township; tinner; 
postottice, West Lafayette; learned his trade in 
Coshocton, and has worked at the business about 
seven years, and at the present time is working 
for F. M. Familton; was married, in 1877, to Miss 
Miller, of this township. They have had two 
children: William, two years of age, and Agnes, 
an infant. Mr. Elliott has lived in this township 
about two years, and is steady and industrious. 

ELLIOTT ANDREW. Perry township ; post- 
oflice. New Guilford; born in West Virginia, in 
1798; son of John and Charity Elliott; married 
in 1825, to Miss Margaret McLewee, daughter f)f 
George and Katherine McLewee. Mr. Elliott 
died in 1858. They had eleven children, viz: 
Charlotte, deceased ; Simon. Katherine, deceased ; 
George, Isabelle, John. James, deceased ; Jane, 
deceased; Andrew, M. E. and Francis A., de- 
ceased. Mrs. Elliott still lives upon the old 
homestead. 

ELLIOTT GEORGE. Perry township; postof- 
fice. New Guilford; born in this county, in 18.31 ; 
son of -Vndrew and ^Margaret (McLewee) Elliott, 

i and grandson of John and Charity Elliott, and of 
George and Katherine McLewee. He was mar- 
ried in 1861, to iliss Margaret Dengan, daughtr 

' of Thomas and Margaret Dengan. Mr. Elliott 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



675 



spent some .six years of his life in the sold regions 
of California. He sailed from New York on the 
ship northern light, in October, 1853, and return- 
ed in 1800. Mr. Elliott at one time eanic near 
being buried alive, wliile engaged in mining ope- 
rations in California. 

ELLIOTT WILLIAM B., White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; was born in the State of New York, 
in 182.), and came to this conntv, with his parents. 
in 1828. His father, John H." Elliott, emigrated 
to this country from Ireland, about 182:3, and 
located in Keene township. He removed to 
White Eyes in 1832. William B. began working 
at the carpenter trade in 1.847, and followed his 
trade for about thirty years. He taught school 
during the winters for fifteen or si.xteen terms. 
In 18.11, Mr Elliott married Miss Mary Boyd, 
daughter of William JI. Boyd, who was born in 
1831, in Keene township. They have two chil- 
di'en: Milton, born in 18.52, and Almarinda, 
born in 185.5, both of whom are immarried and 
live at home. ^Ir. Elliott bought and located on 
the farm where he now resides, in the spring of 
1852. Mr. Elliott has served in the otKce of town- 
ship assessor two terms, land appraiser, one term, 
and one term each of clerk and treasurer of town- 
ship. His father is deceased, and his mother, 
who is a very old lady, lives in the township. 

ELLIOTT COLOXEL JOHN S., Coshocton, of 
the firm of Elliott & Mar.x, 114 and IIG Main 
street, is a native of Keene township; born May 
n, 1817; son of Findley and Catharine (Strong) 
Elliott, of Irish ancestry. He was raised on the 
farm. At the age of twenty-three he was elected 
justice of the peace of his native township and 
served nine consecutive years. Esquire Elliott 
was appointed by Governor Corwin lieutenant 
colonel of the State troops, and served tnitil tin; 
forces were disbanded by act of the Legislature. 
He came to this city in 1862, and has served two 
terms as mayor ; also, president of the National 
Temperance Christian Union of this city three 
years, and president of the Coshocton Agricul- 
tural Society for a number of years. He was 
married first to Miss Margaret, daughter of 
George MeCaskcy, of White Eyes township, and 
by this luiion had one son — Alonzo Milton. His 
second wife wa.s Miss Margaret jNIorrison, who 
died some thirteen years since. The above linn 
is doing a very extensive business in farming 
imi)lementsand heavy machinery. In 18.80 they 
sold three thousand two hundred pounds of wire 
to bind grain cut by machines sold by them. 

ELLIOTT ct MARX, General Agency, Nos. 
414 and 4Iti JIain street, Coshocton. This hou.se 
was first established in I8ti0 by William Elliott. 
decea.sed, and was conducted by him until 18(i2, 
when, in consequence of his demise his brother, 
John S. Elliott, succeeded to the business which 



he conducted and greatly enlarged during the 
years of 1S78-9, after which J. \V. Cullison was 
associated with him under the firm name ot 
Elliott it Cullison. This firm continued until 
1871, w-hen Mr. Cullison was succeeded by H. 
Marx, changing the firm name to Elliott & Marx. 
This firm carries a large stock of agricullural 
implements and does a general agency business 
in which they furnish repairs for all" kinds of 
machinery promi^ly on receipt of order. They 
keep posted in all the improvements of the age, 
and deal in the best articles in the market. They 
also furnish on lowest rates and best terms, mow- 
ers, reapers and binders, grain drills, jilows and 
points, field rollers, sulky cultivators, hay rakes, 
corn planters, straAV cutters, cider mills, corn 
crushers, farm and church bells, post hole diggers, 
wood pumps, churns, clothes wringers, washing 
machines, road scrapers, threshing machines, 
farm engines, wheelbarrows, sewer pipes, fruit 
dryersand bakers, ceiling and sheathing paper, etc. 

ELLIS GEORGE W., Tuscarawas township; 
farmer; postoffice. Canal Lewisville; born Janu 
ary 18, 1841, in Keene township; son of Andrew 
W. Ellis, and grandson of Samuel Ellis. His- 
mother's maiden name was Mary A. Crablet, 
daughter of '\^'illium Crablet. George W. was 
raised on the farm When about eighteen he 
learned the shoemaking trade and followed it 
about three years, and has spent his entire life to 
the present time in this county. He came to his 
present residence in 1867, and has remained to 
the present time. He was married Jlarch 11, 
186'.l, to ]Mi.ss Annie E. Reynolds, daughter of 
Abraham Reynolds, whose father's name was 
Abraham. Her mother's maiden name was 
Eliza Binning. Mary S. is their only child. 

ELY' JON ATH AX, Crawford township; teach- 
er; postoffice, Chili ; born February lit, 18.57, in 
Crawford townshi]); son of Frederick and Mary 
Magdalena (Y'ost) Ely. He was educated in the 
ptd)lic schools and national normal school at Leb- 
anon. Ohio. He has successfully taught two 
terms of school, beginning his first teaching Oc- 
tober 1.3, lS7;i, and is succeeding first rate. 

EMERSON ANDREW, Keene township ; farm- 
er; born December o, 1838, in Keene township; 
son of (ieorgc and Olive Emerson, and grandson 
of Jacob Emerson, a native of !Massarhusetts, 
.\n<lrew and Lydia (Fulton) Wealherwax. He 
was married December 21. 18.58, to I'hoebe, 
daughter of John and Phoebe (Stonehocker) 
Dickev. Thevhad the following children: George, 
born DeccMnber. 18;5!); Ella. died. February 28, 
18()1, and Angeline, February 1, 1863. 

EMERSON W.H., Oxford t<)wn.<hip; decca.scd; 
was born in this county, in 18.'?3; is a son of 
Timothy Emerson, and was married to Miss Ann 



676 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Nori'is, in 1855. The result of this union was 
seven children, as follows : William ¥., Marj- 
Anara, Tinmthy C, Henry Siegel, Sherman El- 
mer, U. S. Grant, Sheridan and Alverton. She i.s 
a member of the M. E. church, at Wesley chnpel; 
her father's name was William Xorris. Mr. Em- 
erson owned, at the time of his death, 253 acres 
of good land in this township, and was respected 
fis an honest, upright man. by a large circle of 
friends. He died on the 17th of April, ls74. 

ENGLISH J. M., Bedford township; farmer; 
postoffice, Tyrone ; born, in lS;i50, in this county. 
His father, Patrick English, was born, in ISOO, in 
Pennsylvania. He removed to Harrison county, 
and was married, in that county, to Miss Susan- 
nah Dickerson, of the same county, who Wiis 
born in 179G, in Fayette county, Peinisylvania. 
They came to this county in 1.S27. He died in 
1857. She died in 1870. They were the parents 
of eight children, the subject of this sketch being 
the si-xth. He was married, in 1852, to Jliss Isa- 
bella Ste))hens, of this county, who was born in 
1837. They are the parents of twelve children, 
eleven of whom are living, and two are iparried. 

EVERHART DAVID, White Eyes township; 
Chili, postoffice; farmer; born March 8, 18.34, in 
White Eyes township; son of Frederick and 
Elizabeth' (Miser) Everhart, formerly of Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania. David was mar- 
ried, January IG, 1862, to Miss Sophia, daughter 
of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stilgenbower) Gonter, a 
native of Pennsylvania. This union has been 
blessed with six children, five living, Calvin, Mary, 
Elizabeth, Saloma, Walter, Maggie, Ellie, and one 
died in infancy, not named. Mr. Everhart has 
obtained a comfortable farm home, and exerts a 
good moral influence in his community. 

EVERHART SAMUEL, White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; born in this county in 1832. His 
father, Henry Everhart. came to this county from 
Tuscarawas county. Samuel remained at home 
until he was twenty-five years old, and married 
Miss Florinda Hooliler, of Tuscarawas countv, in 

1857. Mrs. Everhart was born in 1839. they 
have had a family of six children, one of whom 
is deceased. Those living are Eliza J., born in 

1858, is married to Peter Farney, and lives in Tus- 
carawas county ; Isaac B., born 1859; Catharine, 
born 1864; John A., born 1872; Delia M., born 
1879. Mr. Everhart has always resided in this 
county. 

EVERHART CHARLES, West Water street, 
Coshocton ; livery man; born-September 1, 1856, 
in Franklin township; son of Michael Everhart, 
native of Virginia, and of English ancestry. 
Young Everhart was raised on the farm, where 
he remained until he established his present 
business at this place, in August, 1880. He keeps 



on an average seven good horses and rigs to suit, 
such as carriages, buggies, etc. 

EXLINE H. A., Washington township; farm- 
er; postoffice. West Carlisle ; born in 1822. in this 
county. His father was born in 1777, in Loudon 
county, Virginia, and was married in 1805, to Miss 
Elizabeth Betz,of the same county, who was born 
in 1789. They came to this county in 1818. He 
died in 1850 and she died in 1860. They were 
the jiarents of three children, the subject of this 
sketch being the youngest. He was married in 
1844, to Miss Mary Gault,of this county, who was 
born in 1827. She died in 1856. They were the 
parents of three children, viz: Elizabeth E., Elsie 
A. and Flora B. He afterward married, in 1861. 
Miss Elizabeth A. Yunker, of this county, who 
was born in 1833. They are the jiarents of three 
children living, viz: Nora W.. John H. and 
Charlie B 

IF 

FAIR DANIEL, Clark township; farmer; 
postoffice, Clark's; born in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, August 4, 1831 ; son of Charles 
and Catharine (Keefer) Fair, and grandson of 
Christopher and Elizabeth (Hofman) Fair. He 
moved to Holmes county, Ohio, with his parents 
in 1836, when lie was but five years of age; and 
at the age of eighteen he began to learn the 
blacksmith trade with Shrock & Miller, in New 
Carlisle, Holmes county, remaining about nine 
months. From there he went to South Bend, 
Indiana, where he finished his trade with Pres. 
Whitten, remaining about eighteen months. He 
then went to INIisliawauka and engaged with 
Graham & Japen.and remained about six months. 
From there he came to Farmerstown, Holmes 
county, and began business for himself, where he 
remained nine years: then sold his .shoj) and be- 
gan the mercantile business, and continued at 
that six years, when he sold his store and pur- 
chased his ])resent farm of 237 acres, in Clark 
township, and has engaged in farming since, and 
is a successful and energetic farmer. He was 
married April 4. 18r)4, to Lucinda Snider, daugh- 
ter of Abram and ^lary (Fox) Snider, and grand- 
daughter of Abram Snider and Jacob and Mary 
Fo-x" She was born October 14, 1829, in New 
Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. Tliey have 
six children : Phineas F., born Januarv 21, 1855; 
William H., born August 5, 1857; Ch.irles B., 
born February 11,1860; Lorenzo D.. born March 
24, 1863; Lyman S., born December 24, 1866; 
Bellmina, born January 15, 1,870. Mr. Fair is a 
member of Millersburg Lodge No. 12(), F. A. M., 
of which he was made a member in 1864. 

FAMILTON JOHN, Linton township; nier- 
cliant at Plainfield ; born in Tuscarawas countv, 
Julv 3, 1854; son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Slid- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



677 



dleton) Familton. His father moved from Port 
Washington, Tuscarawas rountj', to Jjafayette, in 
ISti'.i. John remained with him there till 1875, 
when lie purchased Osborn's st«re, at Bacon post- 
office, this township. He remained there till the 
fall of 1877, at which time he moved liis stock of 
goods to Plainheld and opened a store there. 
The following year a partnershij) was formed 
with Lewis Carhart, which was dissolved in 1.S79, 
and Nicholiis Familton, his brother, was then ad- 
mitted as a partner. Nicholas died February, 
1880, and since then Mr. Familton has conducted 
the business alone. He w'as married June 4, 
1878, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William 
Gorseline, of Lafayette township. 

FAMILTON T. H., Lafayette township; mer- 
chant; born in Harrison county, in 1829. and came 
to West Lafayette in 18Gi>: was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Middlctou, of Tuscarawas covnity, in 
1852; they have had six children : Nicolas, deceased ; 
Dora, deceased; John, Frank, George and Will. 
Before he started business here, a pound of coffee 
or a yard of cloth could not be purchased in the 
place, but in his store to-day, you can find any- 
thing usuallj' kept in a first-class dry goods and 
grocery house. His numerous patrons have found 
him an honest and obliging gentleman, and his 
prices compare favorably with any house in the 
county. 

FARQUHAR FRANKLIN, Perry township; 
postoffice, New Guilford; born in this township 
in 1835; son of Caleb and Katharine Farquhar, 
and grandson of Samuel and Phebe (Yarnall) 
Farquhar, and of John and Ellen (Murray) Yar- 
nall. Mr. Farquhar is one of a family of ten chil- 
dren, six of whom are still living. 

FARQUHAR SAMUEL, Perry township; post- 
office, New Guilford; farmer and stock raiser; 
born in this county in 1S,38; son of Samuel Y. 
and Mary (Trimble) Farquhar, who came here 
from Maryland ; grandson of Sanuiel and Phebe 
Farquhar, and of John and Ellen (Jlurray) Trim- 
ble. He was married in 18(i'.) to Miss Harriet Blue, 
daughter of Daniel and Clara Blue. They have 
five children, viz: Rollie M., Mary L., Lyman L., 
Minnie P. and Carrie. He enlisted in 1S61 in 
Company K, Twenty-fourth regiment O. V. I., 
Captain Ginnis, and participated in the following 
battles: (Jreenbriar, Nashville. Pittsburgh Land- 
ing, Stone River and Chickamauga. He was dis- 
charged in 1804. 

FELLER GOTTLIEB, Crawford township; 
proprietor of a tannery at Chili ; born in Naflen, 
Kirchdorp, Anit Belb, State of Switzerland, July, 
1835; son of John Feller and Barbary (Krebs) 
Feller, natives of the same place. Mr. Feller 
emigrated to America in 18.54, and settled on 
Stone creek, Tuscarawiis county, and started a 



tannery at Chili in 1863, where he has followed 

the business succe.ssfully ever .since. In 1863, he 
married Catharine Lebold, of Tuscarawas comity. 
They are the parents of the following named 
children: John, born November 3, 18G3; Mary 
Ann Senora, August 31, 1865; .Jacob Edward, 
August 10, LSCS;" Catharine Amelia, October 28, 
1870; Frederick Albert, September 11. 1872; 
Clara Matilda, ^March 21, 1876, and Lissette Caro- 
line, August 4, 1878. One died in infancy, Jacob 
Henry. Mr. Feller ownos quite an extensive 
tannery, the largest in that section of the county. 
He also carries on the saddlery and harness mak- 
ing busiriess in connection with the tannery. Mr. 
Feller and family belong to the B. M. church at 
Chili. 

FELVER PIZARRE, Oxford town.ship; car- 
penter ; Orange postoffice, Evansburgh ; was 
born in 1840, in the town of Coshocton ; son of 
John Felver, a cooper by trade, who died in 1842. 
The subject of this sketch was married in 1861 
to Miss Josephine Richmond, of this township. 
They have three children, as follows: Alice, de- 
ceased, aged eight months and si.K days; Harriet, 
aged seventeen, and Edward, fifteen years of age. 
Mr. Felver has been working at his present trade 
about five years, having worked first at coopering 
under James Butler. He is a natural mechanic, 
and is honest and well spoken of. He has fol- 
lowed several vocations, starting out at boating, 
then coopering, then railroading, and was in 
Terre Haute, Indiana, for some four years, where 
he was, for some time, on the police force of the 
city. He has also worked for the Massillon and 
Canton bridge companies. 

FERGUSON VINCENT, Lafayette township; 
farmer; son of Andrew Fei-guson. who came from 
Ireland in 18flG and locatcil in Jetl'erson county, 
and was married in this county to Mary Roader- 
ick, January 6, 1825, whose parents were natives 
of Maryland. He was born in this township in 
1843. His father, Andrew F., was born April 2, 
1705, and died in 1870. His mother wiis born 
October 4, 1810, and died in 1866. The subject of 
this sketch was married in 1866, to Miss Rachel 
Bates, of Tuscarawas county, who became the 
mother of three children: Harry, Halston, de- 
ceased, and Homer, deceased. Mr. Ferguson 
keeps good stock on his farm of 438 acres, which 
his father bought in 1835. He has been township 
treasurer in his township for the past seven years, 
and he and his wife are members of the Protest- 
ant Methodist church. ( )f the fourteen brothers 
and sisters, one brother and five sisters arc living. 

FERRELL J. M., White Eyes township; mer- 
chant and jiostmaster at Avondale; born in Mc- 
Connellsville, Morgan county, .\pril, 1833; son of 
Josejih Ferrell, who was born in Mercer countj', 
Pennsylvania, about the year 1801, and emigrated 



•678 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



to Morgan county in 1826. He married Hannah 
Daugherty, in 1827; returned to Pennsylvania, 
in 1886; lived there two years; moved to White 
Eyes, and settled on a farm jiurchased of Klisha 
Swigart. His wife died in 1864. He marrioil 
Mrs. Mary Johnson, in 1867, and died in 187(» 
J. M. Fcrrell married Nancy M. Ma.xlield, of 
Orange, and lived in Orange imtil ]8r)6, when 
lie ni^oved to Kansas. On the breaking out of 
the rebellion, he left Kansas, and returned to 
White Eyes. He enlisted in the Fifty-lh-st O. V. 
I., in Company I, under Captain llcskett, and 
served three years. After the close of the war, 
lie located iii Avondale, and sold goods. His 
wife died in 187o. Their children are, Hattie, 
born in 1856, married David Tipton, in 1877, and 
now resides in Johnson county, Kansas; J. E., 
born in 1866, clerks in the store, with his father; 
Emzy, born in 1S69, and Walter, born in 1872. 
Mr. Fcrrell married Miss Mary Funk, in 187.). 
Mr. Ferril has been longer in business, in Avon- 
dale, than any other person doing business there 
now. 

FEREELL JOHN, Coshocton ; street commis- 
sioner; born July 13, 1819, in County Donegal, 
Ireland; son of William and Nancy (Lane) Fer- 
rell. He came to America in 1849, landing at 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained 
two years and lired an engine. He came to this 
county in 1851 and located in Keene township, 
where he mined coal about five years, then came 
to this city, in 1861, and remained several years, 
then ri^tvirned to Keene township and farmed 
until 1872, when he again came to this city and 
has remained to the present time. Mr. Fcrrell 
was appointed street conimissioner in Aj)ril, 1874, 
and has been reappointed until he is now serving 
his fourth term. ]\Ir. Ferrell was married in the 
fall of 1842, to Miss Jane, daughter of John Me- 
Gee, of Scotland. This union was blessed with 
four children, Matilda, married to Henry Ondian, 
now residing in Porter county, Indiana, Agnes, 
William, niarried to Miss Ella Mateer, of this 
city, and John. 

FILLMAN PETER, New Castle township; 
postoffi(^e. New Castle ; was born in Oldenburgh, 
Germany, on the 3d of May, 1832. He is a son 
of John "and Catharine Fillman, and grandson of 
David Fillman. He attended school from the 
age of five until he was fourteen, after wdiich he 
began to learn the tailoring trade with Bartholo- 
mew Ludwick. in Fishback. Germany, finishing 
his apprenticcshiii at the end of three years. He 
then traveled for four years on the Continent, 
seeing the sights, of which he gives many inter- 
esting narratives. After he finished his rambles, 
he entered the German army to serve his time 
there, but at the end of eighteen months he made 
good his escape, and embarked for America, 



landing in June, 1855, in the city of New York, 
riMnained there until the following September, 
when he came to Port Washington, Ohio, and 
engaged with Charles Detman to work at his 
trade remaining there until the summer of 1857, 
when he went to Dresden, Muskingum county, 
and worked for Alexander Marten, and in the 
fall of the same year came to New Castle, Co- 
shocton county, where he has remained ever 
since, following his occupation. He is also pro- 
prietor of the Buckeye hotel, and is doing well, 
both at tailoring and hotel keeiiing. He mar- 
ried Miss Mary Fulks, daughter of John and 
Jane Fulks, who was born in Coshocton county. 
Their union has been blessed with four children, 
viz: John, Dorca, Sophia, and Mary. John was 
born September 22, 18G1 ; Dorca, July 28, 1864 ; So- 
phia, December 19, 1868; and Mary, March 6, 1870. 
Mr. Fillman was made a member of the Masonic 
fraternity in the year 186S, and in the year 1872 
he joined the I. O. O. F. He is a kind, genial 
man, and welcomes rich and poor alike to his 
ho.spitalities. 

FUNK DAVID, White Eyes township; Chili 
postoffice ; farmer; was born September 20, 1842, 
on the farm on which he now resides. He is the 
son of Jacoband Anne — daughter of Abraham and 
INIargaret (Peck) Miller — Funk, who were the 
jiarents of eleven children, six living: Abraham, 
Morgan, Margaret, Ellen, Sarah and David. The 
latter was married Jlay 14, 1872, to Miss Harriett 
A., daughter of Simon and Sophia (Grimm) 
Stough; born January 18, 1850. This union has 
been blessed with two children, John Grant and 
Ellma Dottie. Jacob Funk, referred to before, 
is a n.ative of West Virginia, but when about four 
years of age was taken to Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, where he remained until about 
1845, when he came to his present residence with 
only about $700, but now has an ample compe- 
tence for his old age, raising and assisting to start 
in the world his family of sons and daughters. 

FINLEY R. E., D. D. S., of the firm of Finley 
& Wernett, Coshocton ; was born August 28, 1840, 
in New Salem, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 
He is the son of Eli H. Finley, and grandson of 
Ebenezer Finley, one of the first settlers at Red 
Stone "Old Fort," near the Monongahela,in Wes- 
tern Pennsylvania. He there shared the perils, 
hardships and privations of luoneer life in the 
wild forest, infested with savage Indian warriors. 
Young Finley spent his childhcX)d and youth on 
the farm with his father. .\t twenty-three years 
of age, he entered Dunlaji's creek academy, and 
on completing his studies there, in 1865, com- 
menced the study of dentistry with Dr. R. J. 
Cunningham, of Wooster, Ohio; next read with 
Dr. William Mitchell, a graduate of Philadeliihia 
dental college. He next formed a partnership 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



679 



with Dr. C. M. Kelsey, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, 
and renmineil with liini, .-itudyinf; and priietioins; 
in tlie adjoinin.s connlry and villages, until Octo- 
ber, 1.S70, when he entered the Oliio dental cdl- 
lege. at Cinciiuiati. and was i;radnated with the 
usual honors of the ela.ss of 1870-71. On receiv- 
in<x his diploma, he located at Dresden, and en- 
tered into partnershi]) with Dr. F. A. Wernett, a 
student of the Ohio dental college. Suon after 
forming the new lirm. they came to this city .and 
succeeded Dr. Mottiti. corner Main and Fifth 
street-s, their present location. Drs. Finley ct 
Wernett have greatly improved and furnished 
their parlors in a most elegant and tasteful man- 
ner. 

FINLEY JOHX A., Clark township; farmer; 
jiostoffice, Clark's; born in Holmes county, Ohio, 
October IS, ls.51 ; sun of George au<l Priscilla 
(Vanbuskirk) Finley. and grandson of .Varou and 
Alice Fiuly, and Josejih Vanbuskirk. His father 
was born in Jetfersou county; Ohio, his mother 
in Carroll county, Ohio. His grandfath(^r came 
from Ireland. He spent liis youth attending 
school and assisting his father on the farm. At 
the age of nineteen he began a two-yeai's' coiu'se 
at Vermilion institute, in Haysville, Ashland 
county. After that he engaged in farming, and 
lias continued successfully to the present. He 
was married August G, 1874, to Miss Martha 
Friz(dl, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth 
(Sowa.sh) Frizell, and granddaughter of John and 
Ellen (Kelly) Frizell and D.miel and Catharine 
(Spring) Sowash, also great great granddaughter 
of Jacob Spring and Absolom Frizell. She was 
born December 12, 1S51, in Holmes county, and 
became the mother of three children, viz: Eunna, 
born Ma_y 18, 1875; George C, born October 3, 
1878, and" William W., born August 10, 1880. 

FISHER HOX. J. C, Cosliocton ; editor of the 
Democrat; was born December 15, 1840, in Mus- 
kingum county, Ohio. At thirteen years of age 
he moved, witli his father, to a farm in Licking 
county, where he remained until 180(>, when he 
took charge of the above named paper, which he 
has conducted until the present time. His edu- 
cation was obtained in the ]iublic schools and 
teaching schools, also a four years course at the 
Denison university. He was elected to the State 
senate from the eighteenth district in 1873, and 
re-elected in 1877. He was also, by Governor 
Allen, appointed, in 1875. member of the Ohio 
State Fish Commission, for three years, and by 
Governor Bishop re-aiipointed, in 1878, for a like 
term. He was married December 15, 18()(i, to 
Miss S. A. Hawthorne, of Coshocton. The re- 
sult of this union is two daughters, viz: Annie 
and Shirly. Mr. Fisher has succeeded well as an 
oditor and legislator. 

FISHER GEORGE W., Franklin township; 



stone mason; born August 20, 1S50, in Mu.s- 
kingum county; srm of Clark and Mary (Myers) 
Fisher. His great-grandfather, Daniel Fisher, 
was born in Milford, Massachusetts, in 1752, and 
died in l.s2l), was the owner of a large estate, ex- 
ceeding I,00i) acres, at Newfaue, Vermont. Dan- 
iel Fisher, son of the above, was born February 
IC), 1770, and died August 17, 1802. He married 
for his first wife, Milticent Durren, of IS'cwfane, 
Vermont, in 1707. Clark, the eldest child by this 
marriage, born April 2;i 17!i.S, died July 1." 1874, 
engaged in farming in Vermont, and in 'iS^S 
moved to Canada East, in the spring of 1835 he 
removed to Xew York, and in 18;3S came to Co- 
shocton county; remained till 184ii — except one 
year, 1840-17, spent in ]\Ierccr county — then went 
to Muskingum county, having engaged in teach- 
ing school since he quit Vermont. He kept a 
boarding house in Zanesville a while, then on the 
pike near Si mora. The subject of this sketch 
was reared in Muskingum county, and about 
1872 came to this township. He was married, 
April 11, 1875, to Martha E. Adams, born May 8, 
1852, daughter of Charles and Susan Adams, of 
this county. They have two children— Charlie 
Clark, born June 10, 1876, and Bertha Elsie, born 
October ti, 187',>. 

FITCH JAMES, farmer; Tuscarawas town- 
ship ; Canal Lewisville postofHce ; born November 
30, 1S44, in Lafayette township; son of John jM. 
Fitch and grandson of David Fitch, of lri.sh 
ancestry. His mother's maiden name was Hes- 
ter McCleary, daughter of Abraham McCleary, 
a native of Maryland. James was raised on tlie 
farm and has always lived in this county. He 
came to his present residence in 1878. He was 
married August 11, ISGO, toMi.ss Lucy Jane Bab- 
cock, daughter of .\bel Babcock, of Linton town- 
ship. His children are, Samuel H,, Jesse, Cla- 
rinda and Wilbert A, 

FITCH JOHN M., deceased, Layfayette town- 
ship; .son of David Fitch; was born in Guernsey 
county, in 1820. He was married in 1845, to Miss 
Hester McClurg, who was born in Virginia, in 
1823. Their children were James, Elizabeth. 
Lucinda. Louisa. John, Margaret, Hannah, David, 
Sarah, Susannah, George, Hattie, Frank and 
Hester. Six are married, the rest are at home. 
Mr. F. died in 1874, aged (ifty-four years. He 
was a man of good princijiles, honest in all his 
dealings. He has always lived in this county 
and since their marriage they have lived on the 
farm, where his widow now lives. By his own 
industry he acquired the home he left to his 
family. They are a prosperous family and have 
the respect of all their acquaintjinces and friends. 

FLEMING ALFRED, plasterer: postofficc. 
West Lafayette. He was born in tliis township, 
in 1854; learned the plastering trade with Mid- 



C80 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



dleton Brothers; is an ingenious mechanic, and 
doing an extensive business. His father was a 
native of Virginia, and was married to EUza A. 
Gorseline. Tliey had eight cliildren, viz: Wil- 
liam, John B. Franklin, Alfred, Simpson, Hester, 
deceased, Charlie and Persian, deceased. The 
father, Thornton Fleming, has deceased. 

FLYNN JOSEPH, engineer at paper-mills; 
born March 13, 1847, in New York city ; son of 
Patrick Flynn, a native of Ireland. Young 
FljTin, when a small boy, sold newspapers at the 
newsboys' home, New York city. When about 
sixteen years of age, came to this county, and 
worked for Washington Darling, about two years ; 
also worked for Anthony Wimmer, about one 
year; then came to this city, and engaged in the 
mill where he is now employed. Mr. Flynn was 
elected constable, in 1809, and re-elected, in ISSO, 
which ofKce he now holds. He was married, 
July 19, 1868, to Miss Mary Reynolds, daughter 
of Abraham Reynolds, of Canal Lewisville. 
Their children arc, Susan, William. Eliza, Ellie, 
Josie and Matilda. 

FORBES J. P., Coshocton ; born April 28, 1855, 
in Tuscarawas county, Ohio; son of T.J.Forbes; 
American born, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He 
obtained a rudimentary education in the public 
schools of Uhrichsville, Ohio, and finished his 
studies at New Hagerstown academy, Carroll 
county, Ohio, and Denison university, Granville, 
Licking county, Ohio. In 1877 Mr. Forbes en- 
tered, as a student, the law office of F. Douthitt 
and read one year, and then came to this city 
and finished his reading with G. H. Barger, and 
was admitted to practice by the supreme court 
of the State of Ohio, I\Iarch'4, 1879. In the same 
year he formed a partnership with his recent 
preceptor, under the present firm name of Bar- 
ger & Forbes. Attorney Forbes was married 
December 30, 1879, to Miss Maria E. Hay, daugh- 
ter of Robert Hay, deceased. 

FORKERW. R., Coshocton; insurance agent, 

Norris block, Blain street ; born August 28, 1849, 
in West Carlisle, Pike township; son of Daniel 
Forker, of English ancestry. W. R. was brought 
up on the farm till seventeen, when he began 
teaching school and taught three terms. At 
twenty-one he began clerking in West Carlisle, 
and remained two years. In February, 1854, he 
went to California, but returned in July, 1855, 
and formed a partnership with his brother Sam- 
uel in the mercantile business at West Carlisle. 
In 1858 he went to Missouri and taught school 
one term, but returned in the fall of same year. 
In the spring of 1859 he came to Coshocton and 
served as deputy auditor for his brother Samuel 
four years. He also served as city mayor and 
justice of the peace of Pike township. In 1866 he 
was elected county auditor, and re-elected in 1868. 



In 1874 he engaged in the hardware business, 
which he continued till 1878 when he established 
his present agencv. Mr. Forker was married 
.'Vpril 11, IStit;', to Miss Sarah E., daughter of N. 
R. Welch, of this city. Their children are Julia 
A., Grace W., Early and William. 

FORNEY A. Z., Linton township; farmer: 
born in Linton township, April 14, 1828; son of 
Joseph and Susan (Miskimen) Forney; grandson 
of Abrani and Polly (Forney), and of James and 
Catliarine (Bartmess) Miskimen. His grand- 
father Forney moved his family from Baltimore, 
Maryland, in 1812. His father settled in this 
county about 1S26. Mr. Forney is the oldest of 
six children. He was married October 7, 1849. 
to Huldah Doty, daughter of Ismic and Maria 
(Sliaw) Doty, born in New Jersey, and came to 
this county when a little girl. His children are 
Clark D., Harriet, Joseph W., Franklin, John, 
Sarah, and Rachel. 

FORSYTHE JAMES, Oxford township : farm- 
er; postoffice, White Eye Plains; was born near 
Nashville, Tennessee, in 1847; son of Samuel and 
Mary (Whiteside) Forsythe ; came to this county 
with his parents when about six years of age. 
where he has since resided. He was married to 
Rebecca Lisk, of this county, in 1.S51, who was 
the daughter of James Lisk. His father passed 
away in 1872; his mother is still living. He has 
been township treasurer of this township. He 
and his wife are members of the Baptist church. 
He owns two hundred and fourteen acres of land 
in the best part of this township. 

FORTENBACHER CASIMER, Jefferson 
township; wagonmaker; postoffice, Warsaw; born 
in Londenbach, Baden, Germany, March 8, 1840; 
son of Andrew and Gertrude (Weimer) Forten- 
bacher. He commenced work at his trade at the 
age of eighteen, and at the age of twenty-one he 
enlisted, October 10, 1861, in Company B, Fortj'- 
sixth O. V. V. I., and was mustered out of service 
July 23, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He took 
part in the following engagements: Battle of 
Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battle of Vicksburg, 
Mission Ridge, the campaign to Atlanta, Sher- 
man's march to the sea, and the battle of Golds- 
borough. He was never wounded. After the 
war he took a trip west, but being disappointed 
he retiu'ned to Columbus, (^hio, and carried on a 
shop about five years. After leaving Columbus 
he located in Warsaw, this county, and has been 
carrying on his shoji to advantage since, having 
a very fair trade. He married, November 16, 
1876, Miss Emma Buckalew, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Mary Buckalew. Two children, Igna- 
tius and Lamburt, were born to them. 

FORTUNE ISAAC, Jackson township; born 
in Coshocton, in 1837 ; son of Isaac and Lucinda 



BIOGRATHICAL SKETCHES. 



683 



Fortune ; married in , to Susan Johnston, 

daughter of Jainos and Ellon Johnston. Mr. For- 
tune ha,< been twice married. His second wife 
was Gordie Hanna. He liad two eliildren with 
each wife. Postotlicc, Koscoe. 

FOSTER OORXELIUS, Jefferson township; 
born in March, 1.S44, in Coshocton county ; son of 
William R. and Elizalieth (Davis) Foster, and 
grandson of Mi.ser and Hannah (Randies) Foster, 
and of William Davis. Mr. Foster was brought 
up on a farm and educated in district schools. 
He lived at home with his parents till about the; 
age of twenty-eight, when he married Miss Garo- 
Hne Speeknian, in Mardi, 1872, daughter of John 
and Rose (Fredrick) Speeknian, and granddaugh- 
ter of George and Christina (Davis) Fredrick. 
He low owns a small farm, and by honest indus- 
try ^nakes a good living for himself and family. 
Angeline, Charles P. and Viola G., are the names 
of their children. 

FOSTER JAMES, Jefferson to\vnship; mer- 
chant; postofiice, Warsaw ; born in Jackson town- 
ship, Coshocton countv, October 12, 1830 ; son of 
William and Sarah A." (Drake) Foster. Mr. Fos- 
ter wa.s brought up on a farm, and, at the age of 
twenty-one, lie went to school at West Bedford, 
and attended tliere two years, then went to Jack- 
son and attended a select school for six months, 
after which he began teaching conunon schools, 
and continued ten years. He then engaged as 
clerk with Dr. Stanton, in a dry goods store, and 
continued about one and a half years, then 
formed a partership with Isaac Hogland, pur- 
chased the goods of Mr. Stanton, and, in 1874, Mr. 
Ebenezer Foster became his partner. He after- 
ward purchased his partner's share, and since 
then has been doing the business himself. He 
has a good paying custom. His average sales are 
about $1<5,000 per vear. Mr. F(5ster w-as married 
October L'4, 1872, to Miss S. S. McCov, daughter 
of Uriah and Elizabeth (Wolfe) McCoy, and 
granddaughter of William and Harriet •(Wal- 
raven) JlcCoy, and James and Sarah (Jleredith) 
Wolfe. This union has been blessed with three 
children — Louis A , born in September, 1873, 
died Jlarch 14, l.'^77 ; Gladys Pearl, born October 
10, 1874, and Glenwood Mc, born March 14, 1878. 

FOSTER RALPH, Keene township; farmer; 
born February, 1822, in Keene township; son of 
James and Nancy (Ford) Foster, and grandson 
of John and Catherine (Blain) Foster and of Wil- 
liam and Jane Ford, all natives of Ii-eland. Ho 
was married December 2, 1845, to Madeline Wil- 
son, daughter of .John P. and Grace (Vale) Wil- 
son. Their children were Catherine, Augusta, 
Etta, William E. and Mary. 

FOWLER RICHARD, Linton township; farm- 
er ; born July 22, 1818, on the farm he now occu- 

30 



pies, in Linton township; the son of Richard and 
Jane (Elson) Fowler. His father was an early 
settler in the county. Mr. Fowler was mari-ied 
July 13, 1842, to Sarah, daughter of Francis Wells, 
of Tuscarawas townshij). The children born unto 
them are John W., Richard; Isabel, deceased; 
Francis, Jeremiah ; Marv, deceased ; Hiram and 
William Albert. 

FOSTER JOHN, Monroe townshij,; son of 
John and Catharine (Boyd) Foster; was born 
February 9, 182.3, in Donegal, Ireland, came to 
America with his parents in 1825, and settled in 
Coshocton county, where he has since lived; is a 
farmer; was married in December of 18-55. to 
Miss Ann J., daughter of W. H. and Martha (Mc- 
Bride) Burklew; are the parents of two children. 

FOX MARTHA, Clark township; postofiice, 
Helmick; widow of Ira Fox; was born in Ire- 
land, June 13, 1841; daughter of Thomas and 
Jane Buchannan, who came from Ireland, in 1847. 
She was married to Ira Fox, August 21,1861; 
son of Ely and Louvina (Andrews) Fox; born 
January 25, 1816; died, February 8, 1870. She is 
the mother of seven children, viz: James H., born 
December 14, 1862; Thomas I., born July 6,1864; 
Isabel J., born June 5, 1866 ; Cora E , born January 
9, 1869; Joseph D., born January 9, 1872: Wilmer 
M., born July 18, 1874; George, born April 26, 
1878. 

FOX EDWIN, Clark township; postofiice, 
Helmick; born in Clark township, Coshocton 
county, November 2;^, 1852; son of Ira and Rox- 
anna (Davis) Fox, and grandson of Ely and Lou- 
vina (Andrews) Fox. He was raised on the 
farm, and has spent most of his time at farming, 
but has also worked at carpentry, and is, at pres- 
ent, partner in a .saw-mill, with George Lowe and 
Henry Marklcy. He was marrieil, February 23, 
1.873, to Miss Mary J. Akin, daughter of James 
and Sarah (Moore) Akin. She was born in Beth- 
lehem township, July 24, 18.52. They are parents 
of four children: George, deceased; Cora E., Ira 
N. and Rose. 

FOX ELY, Clark township; farmer ; postofBce. 
Helmick: born May 8, 1827, in Clark township, 
on the farm where he now resides; son of Ely 
and Louvina (.Vndrews) Fox. His father and 
mother were both born in Hartford, Connecticut, 
his father in 1789, and his mother in 17'.t4. They 
moved to Clark town.ship in 1822, entering a 
tract of land of one thousand acres, two hundred 
and lifty of which is now owned by the subject 
of this sketch, and on which he now lives. His 
father was a ship carpenter, and lived in Zanes- 
ville, Ohio, in 1812, and assisted in building the 
first (Buckingham) bri<lge. His grandfathers 
were both soldiers of the revolutionary war. He 
was married February 17, 1849, to Elizabetli Mc- 



684 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Coy, cLiiighter of John and Sarah McCoy, from 
whom he was divorced. He was married again 
May 17, 1862, to Ann M. Bills, daughter of Will- 
iam A. and Almira (Fulton) Bills, and grand- 
daughter of Allanson Bills and Sam]ison and 
Elizabeth (Quiglv) Fulton, who was born in 
Wheeling, West Virginia, July IS, 1832. They 
are parents of seven children, viz: Ivev I., born 

March 7, ; Marv, Fcbruarv 23, miS': William 

A., June 19, 18G-1; James E., September 24, 1805, 
deceased; Hannah A., July 20, 1807; Edwin G., 
December 10, 1808; and Martha J., December 20, 
1870. Mr. Fox was a soldier in the late war. be- 
longed to Company E, One Hundred and Forty- 
Second 0. N. G., and served about four months. 

FOX AMOS, Clark township; farmer; postof- 
fice, Helmick; born in West Zanesville, Muskin- 
gum county, (^liio, June 29, 1801 ; son of Eli and 
Louvina (Anilrews) Fox, and grandson of Amos 
Fox. He remiived from Zanesville with bis pa- 
rents, to Clark township, when he was ten years 
of age, where he has resided ever since. He is 
one among the oldest settlers of the town.ship,and 
•owns a farm of 3o6 acres Mr. Fox was married 
October 19, 1837,to Miss Chrissa Ann Stover, daugh- 
ter of Michael and Phebe Stover. She was born 
in Virginia, December 14, 1800, and came to Ohio 
at six years of age. They are the parents of eight 
children, John, decea.sed ; Thomas, deceased ; Ira, 
Michael H., Louvina, Matthias and Rebecca. John 
belonged to Company F, Fifty-first O. V. I., under 
Captain James Crooks. He enlisted Sejitember 
17, 1801, and died October 20, 1.803, near Chicka- 
mauga, Tennessee, where he is buried. 

FERGUSON S. T., manager of Coshocton Com- 
n-umwealth, of the firm of Ferguson Bros., pub- 
lishers and general job printers; born in Harri- 
son county, Ohio, August 24, 1848; resided there 
until between sixteen and seventeen years old, 
•when he enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Eighty-fifth O. V. I., and served as a ]irivate in 
Company I until the close of the war, then 
served on tlic Pan Handle railroad in tlie capacity 
of brakoman, freight conductor and pas.senger 
conductor, for over eleven years. He was mar- 
ried in .January, 1874, to Miss Maggie Ferguson, 
of Can onsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has one child — 
Carrie, who is now six years of age. In the year 
of 1878 be left the railroad and engaged in the 
fottndry and machine business at Newcomers- 
town, Ohio, and was burned out shortly after 
engaging in that business, when he located at 
Coshocton, Ohio, and is one of the jtartners of 
that popular sheet called tlie Coshocton O/inmon- 
irenltli. The paper was started on January 1, 
1880, the most inauspicious time for such an 
enterprise, but, through his eflicient manage- 
ment, it has been entirely successful, and reached 
the acme of excellence, and far surpassed the ex- 



pectations of the proprietors. It wilt, in the near 
future, become the paper of Coshocton county. 

FERGUSON W. M., editor Coslwdon O/mni'm- 
iiridth ; of the firm of Ferguson Brothei's, pub- 
lishers and general job printers; native of Harri- 
son comity, Ohio, and was born July 29, 1,857; 
youngest son of Benjamin M. and Cynthia (Has- 
kins) Ferguson. Went to school until about 
fifteen years old, when, without having ever been 
under instruction, took up the "art preservative," 
in company with a younger companion, and pub- 
lished a small paper. In two years he left home 
and engaged in the office of the Cadiz Sentinel, 
serving a three years' apprenticeship, being, how- 
ever, promoted to the foremanship after first six 
months. He next went to Newcomerstown, Tus- 
carawas county, there establishing a paper called 
Tlie Eye, and successfully managing it for over a 
year, when he disposed of his interest and retired 
for a short time, next, with his brother, jiurchas- 
ing an office in Coshocton and starting. January 
1, 1880, the Coiihoctim C'umriumuvdlth, which, as a 
result of their industry, energy and persistent 
efforts, has now grown into a large, influential, 
independent weekl}-, ranking among the very 
best coimty papers in Ohio. The prosperity of 
the Commonwealtli is evinced in the fact that a 
new power press and outfit of type has just been 
added to its office. 

FRECK W. C, New Castle township; postof- 
fice, Walhonding ; was born in Holmes county, 
August 25, 1851; son of Christian and Julia (Mi- 
ser) Freck. He attended school until the age of 
fourteen, at which time he began to learn the 
shoemaker's trade with Henry H. Geiger, of New 
Bedford, Coshocton county. From there he went 
to Meadville. Pennsylvania, and engaged with 
(Carpenter & Mathews in building the court-house 
of that place. He then went to Garretsville, Ohio, 
and assisted in building the college and bank in 
that place, and from there he went to Cuyahoga 
countf , and assisted in building the court-house 
in that coimty ; after which he went to Millers- 
burg and served as clerk with R. C. & J. T. Max- 
well, in a retail clothing establi-hment, and re- 
mained two years. He then went to Lima, Ohio, 
and engaged with Koch & Levi, retail clothers, 
and after remaining with them one year he went 
to St. Louis, and engaged in a wholesale clothing 
store with L. E. Green & Co., and remained with 
them three years. His health being impaired he 
took a trip through the AA'est. visiting Colorado 
and the Hot Springs, and on returning home to 
New Bedford he clerked for G. C. Brenner in a 
general dry goods store eighteen months, after 
which he formed a partnershiji in general mer- 
chandising linder the firm name of Freck & Fair, 
doing business a year, when he bought the en- 
tire stock and moved it to Walhonding on the 1st 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



685 



•of March, 1879, where he has since been doing a 
fair business. He was married to Miss Selecta C. 
Fair August 16, 1S77, daughter of Fenice and 
Catharine Fair, who was born July 8, 1.S.59, in 
Hohiies county, Ohio. They liave been blessed 
with two children, viz: Charles and Mollie. 

FREDERICK J. M., Jeflerson township ; farm- 
er; postijffice, Warsaw; born in York county, 
Pennsylvania, July 13. 1825; son of Jacob and 
Christina (Frederick) Frederick, who came from 
Wurtemberg, Germany, and grandson of Casper 
and Barbara Frederick, who came to Monroe 
township, Cashocton county, when he was but 
eight years of age. He never received any school- 
ing, as there were no scho(-ils imtil he was fifteen 
years old. He was married, November 10, 1S4G, 
to Miss Sarah Parrot, daughter of John and Dora 
(Bateman) Parrot, who came from Ireland. She 
was born March 13. 1826, died June 19, lS5i. 
They had four children, viz: Robert C, born 
October 4. 1847; Dorenda A., born September 3, 
1849; Martha J., born October 6, 18ol : and Wil- 
liam W., born Novcndier 8, 18,53. He was mar- 
ried, November 20, 1854, to Mrs. Phebe Brillhart, 
daughter of Samuel and Susan (Whitzel) Brill- 
hart, born June 12, 1833. The children of this 
marriage were ; Mary J., born February IS, 1.S57 ; 
Samuel J., born August 14, 1859; Surah L., born 
September 3, 1862; Elizabeth A., born January 
22, 1865; Laura M., born August 18, 1867; Rosa 
C, born October 13, 1869; Emma C, born April 
14, 1872; Harriet G., born October 10, 1875, died 
June 19, 1879. Mr. Frederick is a member of the 
M. E. church and has been for the past thirty-five 
years; is a highly respected, pious man. and has 
raised a large, intelligent family. 

FREDERICK BENJAMIN J., Bethlehem 
township; farmer; son of John C. Frederick; 
was born August 27, 1856, in Bethlehem town- 
ship. Mr. Frederick was raised on the farm, and 
has always followed that occupation. He was 
married February 12, 1878, to Miss Katie Lay- 
man, of this county, who was born in February, 
1860. They are the parents of one child, James 
Clayton, born in August, 1880. Mr. Frederick's 
father and mother died in January, 1879, aged re- 
spectively eighty and sixty years. Tliey were 
among the first settlers of the township. 

FREDERICK JOHN G., Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postoflice, Warsaw, Ohio; son of ,Iohn 
C. and Mary A. (Frieze) Frederick: was born, 
April 10, 1828, in Bethlehem town.sliip, Coshoc- 
ton county. Mr. Frederick's father was one of 
the old pioneers of the county. John G. Fred- 
erick wa.s married. October 31, 18.50, to Miss 
Emma Curran, of this county. They are the 
parents of five children, viz: Laura E., born De- 
cember 11, 1852; Silva F.. born Mav 14, 1859; 
Millie S., born July 16, 1863; Perry W., born 



October 19, 1865; Carrie A., born June 10, 1871. 
Two, Laura E. and Silva F., are married. Millie 
S. was educated at the National normal school, at 
Lebanon, Ohio, and is now teaching school. Mr. 
Frederick was raised on the farm, and has always 
followed that oci-upation. He has, b)' industry, 
secured a fine farm, in Bethlehem township. Mr. 
and ^Irs. Frederick are prominent members of 
the Methodist Protestant church, and are es- 
teemed by all who know them. 

FREDERICK R. C, Jefferson town.-<hip; was 
born in Ctishocton county, Ohio; son of John M. 
and Sarah J. (Parrott) Frederick. He lived on a 
farni until the age of sixteen, when he accepted 
the position of clerk in W. tt J. W. Stanton's dry 
goods store, where he continued till the dissolu- 
tion of that lirm, when he engaged with Jackson 
Hay, of Coshocton, in the same business, where 
he labored for five years. In 1870, he engaged in 
the hardware business, in partnership with G. R. 
Gamble, and in 1872, he sold his hardware inter- 
est to his partner, then formed a partnership with 
James Frederick, and opened uji another hard- 
ware store, which they managed successfully till 
1874, when they had a burn-out and lost every- 
thing. He then traveled with J. Kitzmiller & 
Co., of Canton, Ohio, for four years, on a salary of 
$6.00 per day. After this he went into the hard- 
ware business again, under the firm name of C. 
Kaser & Co.. and are at present doing a lively 
business at Warsaw, Ohio. Mr. Frederfck wa.s 
married to Miss Lizzie Myers in March. 1870, 
daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina Myers. 
Their children are Clara, May and Russell C. 

FREDERICK JOHN, Jefferson township; 
born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 21, 1813; 
son of John George and Christina (Deaner) Fred- 
erick, and grandson of Ca.sper and Barbara Fred- 
erick and John De.aner. He came to America 
at the age of nineteen, landing in Baltimore after 
a voyage of eleven weeks on a Holland vessel. 
From there he came to Bethlehem township, Co- 
shocton county, and after remaining there about 
two years, moved to Jefferson township, where he 
has resided since. He is one of the first settlers 
of the township, is a highly respected citizen, 
owns a farm of 320 acres, well improved. Mr. 
Frederick was married Se))tember 10, 18.'37, to 
Miss Elizabeth Brillhart, daughter of Samuel and 
Su.san (Whitezel) Brillhart, of Buckingham coun- 
ty, Virginia. Mrs. Frederick died December 3, 
1879. He is the father of ten children, viz: Su- 
s,an; Samuel, dece-ased ; Pollie, George, David, 
Louis, William, Benjamin ; Christina and .Tulia, 
deceased. He has twenty-four grandchildren and 
one great-grandchild. 

FREESE WILLIAM L., farmer; postoflice, 
Mohawk village; born in 1845. in this cfninty. 
His father was born in 1803, in Frederick county, 



686 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



Maryland, and came to this county in 1S,34. He 
was "married in 1S35 to Miss Annie M. A\'eatlier- 
wax, of this county, who was born in ISlo, in New 
York. They are the parents of ten children, the 
subject of this sketch being the fifth. He was 
married in 1877 to Miss ^lary J. Ogle, of this 
county, who wa.s born in 1855. They are the par- 
ents of one child, Asbury. 

FKEW W. C, J[. D., Coshocton ; born, October 
31, 1844, in this city; son of John Frew, a native 
of Washington county, Pennsylvania, of Irish an- 
cestry. He was raised, and received a primary 
education, in his native -city. In 18t)2, he en- 
tered the University of Michigan, at .\.nn Harbor, 
and was graduated, in 1866. In lh(> same year, 
he began the study of medicine, with Dr. Harris, 
of this city. In 1867, he entered Long Island 
college hospital, at Brooklyn, New York, and at- 
tended three courses of lectures, receiving the 
degree of M. D , in 1869, and served one year in 
the Long Island college hospital house, as physi- 
cian and surgeon. He began practice in this 
city in 1.870, and has continued to the present 
time (1880). Dr. Frew was married, January 2, 
1877, to Miss L. V. Hackinson, daughter of Robert 
Hackinson, of this city. 

FREY FREDERICK, New Castle township; 
postoffice, Walhonding; born September 3,1820, 
HI Pfalz of Bavaria in Germany ; son of George 
and Elizabeth (Eresman) Frey, grandson of 
Frederick and Catharine Eresman, all natives of 
Germany. Mr. Frey came to America with his 
parents, on the 17th of August, 1837, stopped in 
Buflalo a month, then came to New Castle town- 
ship, Coshocton county, and has lived here ever 
since. The first four years of his sojourn in this 
county were spent working on the Walhonding 
canal, then in process of construction. After its 
completion, he engaged with Mr. Noah Butler to 
work on the farm, and remained several years, 
then began farming for himself, and has been 
successful. He has a good farm of 160 acres in 
the northern part of New Castle township. He 
married Miss Dor(3thy Branstool, Jime 13, 1.846, 
daughter of Godfrey and Elizabeth Branstool, 
who was born in the year 1827, in Alsace, France. 
They have eight children, all living, viz: George, 
born May 24, 1.848; Elizabeth, born December 1, 
1.849; Mary, born JIarch 6, 1852; John, born Feb- 
ruary 12, 1.856; Lewis, born October 2.5, 1.857; 
Caroline, born February 29, 1862; William, born 
October 20, 1865, and Clara, born January 10, 1870. 

FROCK MICHAEL, Keene township; farmer; 
born October 28, 1,847, in Coshocton county, 
Ohio; son of George, born May 21, 1.824, and 
Rachael Sheneman, born September 29, 1829, 
grandson of Michael, born May 9. 17.85, and Eliza- 
beth (Seldenright) Frock, and of Christian and 
Catliariue (Moore) Sheneman. He was married 



to Miss Mary McCaskey, born April 4, 1844. She 
is a daughter of William and Eliza (Graham) 
McCaskey, and granddaughter of George Mc- 
Caskey. Their children were — William G, born 
April 7, 1.875 ; Solernma D., December 24, 1876, 
and Donella May, August 22, 1878. 

FROCK GEORGE, White Eyes townshisp; 
farmer; born, on the farm where he now re- 
sides, in 1.824. His father, Michael Frock, was 
born, in Chester county, Georgia, in the year 
1795, and was married in Georgia. He emi- 
grated to Tuscarawas coimty in 1814, and came 
to White Eyes townshij) in 1818; bought eighty 
acres of land, and entered the balance of the 
200 acres where his son George now lives. He 
was the fifth settler ixi the township; came here 
before it was organized, and had to cut his way 
through the woods, from Sugar creek to his farm. 
He was the first justice of the peace, and served 
in that office three term.s. His son George has his 
first docket, which is quite a curiosity. It is 
made (ait of coarse, unruled paper, and is bound 
in buckskin and pasteboard. The first entry was 
made in 1824. 

The first law-suit was against James Hender- 
son. Pat. Ravenscroft charged him with killing a 
dog and scalping it, and drawing on it the prem- 
ium paid by the State for wolf scalps. He was 
bound over to the court of common pleas. In the 
same year, a Sabbath-breaker Wiis fined seventy- 
five cents. Another was charged with " swearing 
two finable oaths," tried, found guilty, and was 
fined fifty cents, twenty-five cents for each oath. 
He styled some of his cases "assault and struck," 
and in several places where an adminstrator was 
plaintitV, he entered it thus: " A, B,, administrator _ 
for the State of C, D., dec'd." A large portion of ' 
the docket was filled with suits for bastardy. 

The following is a fair specimen of some of the 
entries: "Appeared before me, Michael Frock, 
a justice of the peace for said township, on the 
7th day of August, William Cutshall personally 
appeared and paid one dollar for to fight fisti- 
cutt's with John Shook, on the 23d day of July. 
Received by me, Michael Frock, J. P." This 
docket is highly prized by the family, and they 
have also many other ancient papers that are in- 
teresting to the antiquarian. Michael Frock was 
of German descent, and had a good German edu- 
cation; but, judging from his papers, his English 
was defective. He served the township as trus- 
tee several terms; was an honorable gentleman, 
and highly esteemed. He enjuyed hunting, and 
was fond of relating his adventures with the 
wild animals that prowled through the woods 
that surrounded his home in pioneer times. He 
was drafted in the war of 1812. 

He died in 1.871, age eighty-five years, and his 
wife, who was well known in the community as 
an obstetrician, died in 1856, at si.\ty-nine years 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



687 



■of age. Tlicir family consisted of the following 
chililren: .\nu;i Mary, married .laoob Xiliart and 
lives in Williams county; .Jariib, married Cath- 
arine Sampscl, and are both deceased; Michael, 
married Susan Nihart, and they are both dead; 
John, died when about fifteen years old; Daniel, 
married Catharine Lint, and lives in Indiana; 
Christina, was mtirried to Wash Richardson, and 
has decea.sed; George. married Rachel Shonenian, 
June 2o, 1840, and their children are: Michael, 
born October 2S, 1847, married Mary Mc'CUosky 
in 1S70, lives in Keene township, and his wife 
has deceased: Margaret, born November 14. 18.)0, 
married Danied Arney in 187!', and lives in Clark 
township; Leah E., born January 24, 1853, mar- 
ried Thoma.s Doak in 1873, and is a widow; John, 
born Sei)tember 8, 18.35, married Sarah Sampsel 
in 187i>, and lives on his father's place ; Rachel, 
born December 17, 1862, is unmarried, and lives 
at home. 

FRY J. P.. New Castle township; was born in 
December 1823, in Pfalz, Bavaria, in Germany; 
son of George and Elizabeth C. Eresman Fry, 
grandson of William Fry and Frederick Eres- 
man, all natives of Germany. In August, 1837, 
he arrived in America, stojiping in Bufiido until 
Si^ptember, when he came to Coshocton county 
and worked on the canal and farm for seven years. 
He then leased land, cleared, and farmed until 
1S48, when he purchased a small farm, since 
which time he has been gradually advancing and 
now has (jver 4(i0 acres of land. He wa.s married 
to Miss Anna Branstool, on the 2'.Hh of June, 1849, 
daughter of Godfrey and Elizabeth Braustool, 
and they have had .seven children, viz : William, 
John, Jacob, Levi, Elizabeth, P>lvina and Louie. 
Mrs. Fry died November 2. 18G1. He afterwards 
married Mi.ss Barbary Breidcnbucher, daughter 
of (Jeorge and Margaret (Olier) Breidcnbucher, 
granddaughter of George and Barbery ( Weimer) 
Olier, n.itives of France, and by their marriage 
liad five children, viz: Daniel, Franklin, Samuel, 
Edward and Otto. 

FRY W. S., Perry township; born in this 
county in 18411, Son of Samuel and Darcus (Cul- 
lison) Fry, grandson of John Fry and of Jes.se i 
and Notie Cullisrm. He was married in isdl. to ' 
Miss Caroline Crowther. They are the parents 
of three children, viz: William A., Willis and 
Emmet. 

FRY JONAS, Jackson township; postoffice, 
Warsaw; was born in this county in 18.3('); son of 
Jonas and Mary (Crowther) Fry. and grandson of 
Enoch Frv and James and Delilah Crowther. 
Married in ISfiO, to jNIiss Sarah F. Hughes, 
daughter of William Hughes. !Mr. Fry is the 
father of three children, viz: Lincoln, Joshua 
juid William F. 



a- 

GAMBLE SAMUEL K., groceries and provis- 
ions. East Chestnut street, at the inter.scction of 
Chesttntt and Main streets, Coshocton. Mr. 
Gamble is a native of Cookstown, Tyrone county, 
Ireland, where he was born June 12, 184ti. He 
enugrated to America in the spring of 18G5, and 
located in Coshocton, where he engaged as sales- 
man in the grocery of W. G. ^loflit, where he re- 
mained one year, .\fter this he engaged in rail- 
roading and coal mining, until 1879, when he es- 
tablished his jircsent business. He carries a good 
stock of stajile and fancy family groceries and 
confectioneries, stoneware, woo<lenware, sugar- 
cured and pickled meats, salt fish, flour, salt, and 
all kinds of canned goods; also deals in all kinds 
of countrj' produce. 

G.AMBLE G. R., Jefferson townshi)); merchant; 
postotlice, Warsaw ; born in New Castle township, 
Coshocton county, Ohio, August 8,1842; son of 
Ronaulus and Margaret (Riley) Gamble. He was 
raised on a farm, and educated in the graded 
schools of New Castle; remaining on the farm 
until twenty-six years of age. In the spring of 
1870 he opened a hardware stcire in Warsaw, in 
partnership with R. C. Frederick, and continued 
in that business until 1878, when he solil his in- 
terest in the hardware, and purchased the half 
interest in Nickol's store, where he is at present, 
doing a lively bnsine.-<.s. They deal extensively 
in grain also. He was married in December, 
1868, to Mi.ss Lizzi<' Cratz, of Coshocton, daughter 
of Leoi^old and Marilla Cratz. They are blessed 
with four children : Romulus, JMilla, Maggie and 
Lou Ella. Mr. Gand)le is a gentleman of stand- 
ing, a thorough business man, and respected by 
all who know him. 

G.VMBLE LEVI, Jefferson townshiii; teacher 
and civil engineer; ])ostofftee, War.saw; born in 
Huron, December 10, 1834; son of James and 
Elizabeth (.Vshley) Gamble, and grandson of 
William and Nancy (Robison) Gand.ile, and of 
Warden and Susannah (Turner) Ashley. His 
grandfather. Gamble, came from Ireland, in an 
early day, and settled near Philadel])hia Penn- 
sylvania. From there he came to Zanesville, 
and, after remaining there for some time, moved 
to Delaware county, and thence to Huron county, 
where he died. He was father of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom James the youngest, moved 
to Coshocton county, in 1837; located in New 
Castle .township, and served as justice of the 
peace, for about twelve years. He was sent to 
the Legislature, from this count)" in I860, and 
served one term, and, in 1S62, was elected mem- 
ber of th(> board of ))ublic works, in which ca- 
pacity he served until March 18, 1864. when he 
(lied, in his tifty-eighth year. Levi is the only 
son, and followed teaching, from the age of 



688 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



twenty to 1864, at which time he was appointed 
civil engineer on public works, and served one 
year. He was appointed comity surveyor, by 
the county cdnimissioners, in June, 180"), and 
served twelve years. Mr. Gamble is at present 
teaching. He was married, .January 0. ]f-'6S, to 
Miss Mary A. Bueklew, daughter of Nathan and ; 
Jlary A. (Chambers) Bucklcw, and granddaugh- 
ter of Parker and Elizabeth (Mathena) Bueklew, 
and of William A. an<l Anna (Smock) Chambers. 
She was born September 30, 1845 in Clark town- 
ship. They are the jiarents of three children: 
James H., born December 16, 186'.i; Nathan 
AVard, September 21, 1871, and Clvde A., March 
9, 1873. 

GARDNER SAMUEL, leather and findings. 
Sixth street, Coshocton; was born in Saratoga, 
New York. December 22, 1823; son of Jabez and 
Sarah (Brone) Gardner, of American ancestry. 
Young (jardner lived until nine years of age, at 
Troy, New York, from thence moved to tJtica, 
New York, from which place he came to this city, 
in 1844. Mr. Gardner learned the shoemaking 
trade when about eighteen years of age, and has 
followed it as a secondary business to the present 
time. About the year 1849, he learned tele- 
graphy and was an operator about live years. He 
was apiMiinted collector of tolls on the Ohio and 
Walhonding canal, June 1, 1861. and served to 
Ajiril 15, 1880. In April, 1871, he was elected 
justice of the peace, and served three consecutive 
terms. He was also elected county" infirmary 
director and served two terms. He was married 
Septembr 1, 1.S44, to Miss Margaret E , daughter 
of Henry and Jennette (McFarland) Vanvalkin- 
burg. New York State. They have brought up a 
family of seven children, viz : Clinton J.; Jennie 
and Julia, twins; Kate, Benjamin, Mamie and 
Elbe. 

GARDINER JAMES A., Pike township; po,st- 
office, West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; 
born in this county in 1829; son of Archibald 
and Martha (Stewart) Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner's 
father settled in this county in 1819, and died in 
1868; and his mother died in 1879. He is a 
grandson of Hugh and Barbara (Neal) Gardiner, 
and of William and Anna Stewart. He was 
married in 1852 to Miss Minerva J. Beckham, 
daughter of William and Nancy Beckham. They 
are the parents of five children, viz : William H., 
'Samuel A., George N., Martha E., and Nannie A. 
One is married and lives in Licking county. 

GAULT JOHN, Pike township; postofTice, 
West Carli.-;le ; farmer and sfi.ick raiser ; born in 
this county in 1837 ; son of Adam and Sarah 
Gault, and grandson of Adam and Margaret 
(jault. He was married in 1867 to Miss Susan 
M. AVhite, daughter of Lewis and Sarah AVhite. 



They are the parents of three children, viz : Sarah 
I., Darl F., and Tilden A. 

GAULT ADAM, Perry township; postofficc 
West Carlisle; born in Mercer county, in 1806, 
settled in this county in 1814; son of Adam and 
Margaret (Stewart) Gault, and grands<jn of James 
and Margaret Gault, and of William and Margaret 
(Neal) Stewart. He was married, in 1831, to 
Miss Sarah Miller, daughter of Francis and Isa- 
bella Miller. Mrs. Gault died in 1876. They had 
nine children, viz : Isabella, Margaret, John, Anna,. 
William, Eliza and George. 

GAULT W. R.. Coshocton ; attorney; born Jan- 
uary 20, 1848, in Pike township, this county; son 
of Adam Gault, who, at an early day, came to this 
county from Washington county, Pennsylvania. 
In his childhood and early youth he faithfully 
performed the duties of a farmer boy. His rudi- 
mental education was obtained in the public 
schools of his native county. In 1869, he entered 
Wittemberg College, Springfield, Ohio, and was- 
graduated in 1873. In the same year he entered 
as a student in the law office of Messrs. Nicholas 
& James, and was admitted to the bar Julj' 20, 
1875, since which time ho has pursued his profes- 
sion. June, 1879, Mr. Gault was appointed a 
member of the board of school examiners, which 
position he now honorably fills. 

GEESE GEORGE, Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice, Avondale ; born in Cnmberland coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1808; son of George 
and Catharine (Stall) Geese, and grandson of Con- 
rad Geese, who was of German descent. He 
came to White Eyes township, Coshocton county, 
in 1837, remained there two years, then moved to 
Crawford township, remained there one year, then 
came to his present location, where he has been 
a resident ever since. He was married in May, 
1831, to Miss Mary McFadden, daughter of 
Thomas and Barbara McFadden. She died April 
1, 1S54. They became the parents of fourteen 
children, eight of whom are living, viz: William, 
Samuel, George, Jacob, Christian, Henry, Sarah 
and Jane. He married, in February, 1855, Miss 
Margaret Wimer, who died in 1863. He then 
married Mrs. Sarah Fuller, daughter of John and 
Susannah (Noel) Bowman, and granddaughter of 
Nicholas and Mary (Slonaere) Noel, of German 
descent, and became the mother of two children, 
Alonzo and Harry. 

GEESE CHRISTOPHER, White Eyes town- 
shiji; a native of Cumberland county, Pennsyl- 
vania; emigrated to this county about 1837. 
April 27. 1845, he married Miss Jennie Kimble. . 
She was a native of Jefferson county, was born in 
1818, came to this county with her parents, who 
were among the first settlers of White Eyes. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



689 



Mr. and Mrs. Gccsc were the parents of four chil- 
dren, two of whfmi are living, viz: (^oUniil)US and 
Washington. Colunibns was born March 22, 1S46, 
in White Slycs; remained at home until he was 
married, which was in 1868, to Miss Catharine 
Endlicli, she is a native of the county, was born 
in 1847, and is of German ancestry. They have 
four children — Ehner E., Clarinda C, LaCira ,T., 
Cordelia M. Washington Gee.se was born August 
22, 1848, and is married to Elizabeth Cutsludl. 
Christopher Geese bought the farm, wliere his 
son Columbus now lives, in 18.^7. Before Mr. 
Geese came to this county, he followed naviga- 
tion. He made eighteen trips across the AtUm- 
tic, and was captain of a crew on the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers for some time. He was on the 
water about tw-enty-eight years, and came to this 
county in 184.5. He, at one time, owned about 
8tKt acres of land in White Eyes. The elder Geese 
died September 26, 1S70, aged sixty-five years, 
and his wife died October 21, 1863, and they are 
both buried at Kimbles. Cohunbus Geese was 
elected clerk of White Eyes and is serving out 
his term now, he is also a notary public. 

GETDEL CHAKLES H., of the firm of Hack, 
Geidel & Co., general merchants, Iloscoe, Ohio. 
Mr. Geidel was born June 2S, 1852, in Newark, 
NewJer.sey; son of .John Conrad and MiU'ia L. 
(Beatze!) Geidel. In 18.36 they came to Koscoe, 
where young Geidel was brought up. In 1S71 he 
entered the room (where he is now partner) fts 
a clerk. In September, 1880, he entered tlie rail- 
way mail service on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati 
ife St. Louis Railway. This position he resigned 
November 6, 1880, and became a mendjer of the 
present lirm January 1, 1881. >Ir. Geidel was 
married December 29, 1881, to Miss Sadie A. 
Huthchins. 

GEIGER HEXRY H., Crawford township; 
boot and .shoe manufacturing; postofiice. New 
Bedforil, Ohio; born in Somerset. Somersetcoun- 
ty, Pemisylvania, August 27, 18.30; son of Henry 
and Susannah (Hess) Geiger. In 1840 became to 
Holmes county, and in 184.5 to Crawford town- 
ship, anil in 1.S40 located in New B(^dford where 
he has since resided, excepting six years sjient at 
Coshocton. Mr (iJeiger was mail carrier between 
Coshocton and New Bedford from l.'^tll to l.'^d:?. 
He was married .lanuary (i, l.S.5(), to Mi-^is Drusilla, 
daughter (jf Charles and Elizabeth (Kreiger) Sren- 
kle. By this union he had fi)ur children: i^len 
S., Elmer E., Elizabeth A. and Henry S. Mr. Gei- 
ger was appointed iiostmaster at New Bedford in 
1864 and held the office two years, and was re-ap- 
pointed in 1.H77, and has since held it. 

GETZ ERNHEST, Crawford township; of the 
firm of Getz ct Brollier, marble cutters: post- 
office, New Bedford, Ohio: born June 18, 185'.), in 
Berlin township. Holmes county ; son of John 



and Annie Mary (Schiller) Getz. His childhood 
and early youth were spent on the farm and 
attending school, one term of which was at the 
Lebanon normal school. When about twenty 
years old he began his present trade. Mr. Getz 
takes an active part in the prrsent literary soci- 
ety of New Bedlord, being the editor of the soci- 
ety's paper. The above lirm is doing a fine bus- 
iness in cemetery and other work in their line. 

GIANQUE D.VVIL), Clark township; firmer 
and shoemaker; postoffice, Helniick; born in 
Holmes county, Ohio, in September, 18-50; son of 
David and Sophia (Williard) Gian(iue,and grand- 
son of David Gianquc. His father came from 
Switzerland. He learned his trade with Benja- 
min Gessaker of Wilmont, Holmes county, I'e- 
mained there two years, tlien came to Clarke 
township and after remaining four years removed 
to Holmes county, w'here he remained three 
years. He then moved back to Clark township, 
purchased a farm and has been here since, work- 
ing at his trade and farming. He has a very fair 
trade. He was married November 10, 1873, to 
Miss Caroline Fulmer, daughter of George and 
Mary (Shcdecker) Fulmer, who was born No- 
vember 11, 1.S48, in Wayne county, Ohio, where 
her parents settled on coming fmrn Switzerland. 
They have two children — Benjamin F., born May 
25, 1875, and Nellie May, born August 30, 1878. 

GIFFIN FRANKLIN, Perry township; post- 
office. New Guilford; born in Knox county, Ohio, 
in 1846; son of Hiram and Mary (Trimble) Gif- 
; fin, and grandson of William and Elizabeth Gif- 
fin, and of William and Anna Trimble. He was 
married in l■'^6'.•, to Jliss Laura J. Blue, daughter 
of Peter and Mary Blue. INIr (iittin is the father 
of six children, viz : Charles E., Alice M., Edward 
H., John W., Raymond D. and Lloyd E. 

GIL JIORE H. M'.,Washington township ; farm- 
er; postoffice, Wakatomaka ; born in 1856, in this 
county. His fatlier was born in 1830, in Green 
county. Pennsj'lvania; was brought in .same year 
to tills county, and was married in 1855, to Miss 
Ella J. Mc.Vdow, of this county, who was born in 
l.s;i6, in this county. He died in 1877. They 
were the jiarents of four children, the subject of 
this sketch being the ol<lcst. He was married in 
1877, to JSIiss Ettie Mctiinnis, of Muskingum 
county, who was born in 1.S56. They are the pa- 
rents of two children, viz : Oscar E., deceased, and 
Charlie. 

GIVEN WILLIAM, Jeflerson township: born 
in January, 1806, in County Tyrone, Ireland ; son 
of John and Rebecca (Moore) Ciiven, and grand- 
.son of .James and Sarah (Boak) Moore. He fol- 
lowed farming in Ireland \mtil the age of twenty- 
six, when he came with his mother and brother 
' James, and settled in Brooke county, Virginia, 



690 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



T\-here he remained until 1840, when he came 
■with a colony of twenty-eight persons, his mother 
and brother James included, to Coshocton 
county. They purchased large tracts of military 
land, Icnown as the " Bell section," and in a short 
time all became rich. Mr. Given married Miss 
Margret Alexander in 1832, daughter of James 
and Rebecca (Hamilton) Alexander. The chil- 
dren of this marriage are : Rebecca A.; Isabelle, 
deceased, and Sarah. Mrs. Moore died in Vir- 
ginia in 1S.30. Mr. Moore tlien married Miss 
Margret McFarland, who was born in 1S24, and 
died October 27, 1.S5.3, being the daughter of 
Robert ilcFarland. Their children were : John 
J., Robert and William, all living in Co.shocton 
county. John married !Miss Nora McNabb, in 
Sejjtember, ls77, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 
daughter of John and Susan (Adams) JIcNabb, 
and granddaughter of Jacob and Rachael (P(_)W- 
ell) .\dams, and of John McNabb. William and 
an infant son that is not yet named, are their only 
children. 

GLAZE ZACHARIAH, Franklin township; 
born October 7, 18.37, in Montgomery county, In- 
diana. His great-grandfather emigrated from 
England to Delaware, and his grandfather from 
that State to Montgomery county, Indiana. In 
his youth he clerked in a store. In January, 
l.S(32, he married Anna Engle, of Frederick coun- 
ty, ISIaryland, who died two years after. In 18G4 
he came to Ohio. In 1867 he enlisted in the 
United States army, and served three years, eigh- 
teen months at Florida Keys and eighteen months 
at Boston Harbor, Ma.ssachusetts. In March, 1874, 
he married Mrs. Elvira Simon, and is the father 
of two children, viz : Albert Alonzo and Milbcr J. 

GLOVER JOSI AH, Coshocton ; dealer in books, 
sheet music, etc., 421 Main street. Mr. Glover is 
a native of this jountv. and was born Octol.)er 30, 
1830; son of Joel and Elizabeth (Shannon) Glo- 
ver. He was educated in the public schools of 
this county and at S]nithtield, Jeftisrson county. 
At Sinithiield he learned the carriage and wagon 
making trade. On comi)leting his trade lie trav- 
eled for some time in Illinois, working at his 
trade at ditTerent places. In ISoO he returned to 
Coshocton, and in 1853 he resumed liis trade, 
which he followed until 1871, when he established 
his present business in which he has been suc- 
cessful, having a fine stock of school and miscel- 
laneous books, sheet music and musical instru- 
ments, pictures and picture frames. Mr. Glover 
is one of the pioneers of this county in music, 
and has done more than any other to develop this 
fine art, having been a teacher since 1.S50. He 
wiis married, lirst, in Septemlier, 1.'^.33, to Mi.ss 
Malona L., daughter of William W. and Loni.sa 
(Lee) Jamison. By this marriage he had two 
children, viz : Samuel L., deceased, and William J. 



Mr. Glover was afterward married to Miss Leonora 
E., daughter of Timothy A. and Mai-y A. (^A'ood- 
rutt) Condit. They are the parents of eight chil- 
dren, viz: Alfred, deceased; Edwin W., Ada L., 
Frank E., Mary and two infants, (twins), not named, 
died in infancy. Timothy A. Condit, named 
at)0ve, was one of the early settlers of Coshocton 
county. He was born in Orange, Essex county. 
New jersey, in November, 1800, and came to Co- 
.shocton county in October, 1834. He identified 
himself at once with every plan that would ad- 
vance his ado])ted county and State. In jiolitics 
he was a strong Whig, and had the distinctive 
honor of being the only member of the legislature 
from this county elected by the Whig party. 
This was in 1850. He was a friend of education 
and always readv to help the poor, which gave 
him a leading position with the best men of his 
community. He died leaving a wife and four 
daughters, all of whom moved to the AVest ex- 
cepting Mrs. J. Glover. Mrs Condit and one 
daughter, have deceased. 

GOODIN S. R., Jackson township; postoffice, 
Roscoe; born in this county, in 1844; son of 
Amos and Katharine Goodin. and grandson of 
Samuel and Sarah Goodin; married, in 1S74, to 
Mary Underwood, daughter of Lewis and Lucy 
T'nderwood. Jlr. Goijdin is the father of two 
children, viz: Sylva and Willis. 

OOODIN SAMUEL, Jackson town.ship; post- 
office, Roscoe; born in Perry county, Ohio; son 
of Amos and Katharine Goodin, and grandson of 
Samuel and Sarah Goodin; married, in ISGfi, to 
Katharine Rush, daughter of Daniel and Mary 
Rush. Their union has been blessed with two 
children, viz: John and Charles. 

GORH AM WILLIAM, New Castle township; 
born November 23, 1808, in Kent county, Parish 
Westwell, England : son of Thomas and Sarah 
(West) Gorham. He followed farming in his na- 
tive country till his twentieth year. He left Liv- 
erpool April 7, and landed in New York June 15, 
1828 ; settled in Middlefield, New York, and 
moved from there to Cherr.y Valley, New York; 
then to one or two other places, including Put- 
nam, Muskingum county, Ohio, New Castle, Dres- 
den, Coshocton, and finally to New Castle in 1835, 
where he yet remains In 1834 he began to 
study a.strology, which he is now practicing. Be- 
fore this he had no particular trade. He now 
has corresjiondence from all parts of the United 
States a« a fortune-teller. He married Miss Sa- 
rah Scott Fcliruary 20, 1840, daughter of Arthur 
Srott, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Their 
children were Elizabeth, deceased; ISIary A., .\d- 
aline C, Ebenezer S., Louisa Jennie, Rajihael A., 
and Amelia L. He cleared a great deal of land 
in New Castle. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



G91 



G0S3ER MICHAEL, Franklin township; 
farmer; postoflico, Wells Creek, Ohio. Mr. (Jo.s- 
ger wa.s born May '2'.i, 1S4.'^, in Linton township; 
son of Georii'e and Magdalene (Long) Gosser. 
Mr. Gosser enlisted in Conii)any G, Eightieth O. 
V I., and serveil nearly four years. He was mar- 
ried Xoveinher H», 1SG7, to Miss Margaret, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Barbara (Hang) Hennel. They 
are the parents of two children, viz: Barbara 
Catharine and Henry Edward. Mr. Gosser is of 
German and Mrs. Gosser of French ancestors. 

GOSSER GEORGE, Coshocton; manager groc- 
ery, bakery and boarding-house, Second street, 
lietween Cliestnut and Main ; was born in France 
December 17, 1S3:?; son of George Gosser. In 
1841) he came to America, with his parents, and 
settled with them in Linton township. At the 
age of fourteen he began life for himself, and 
worked at several occupations. In 1863 he came 
to this city. Mr. Gos.ser was married April 2, 
18.57, to Miss Annie Michael, daughter of David 
Michael, of Linton township. They have had 
seven children, one of whom (David), is dead. 
Their six living children are William, George 
AV., Samuel, Charles, Clarence and Frank. 

GORSELINE WILLIAM, Lafayette township ' 
merchant ; postofhce. West Lafayette ; started his 
present business in 1878, dealing in dry goods 
and groceries. Previous to 1878, he taught 
scliool eight years, three years in the graded 
schools of West Lafayette and three years in 
Frazysburgh. 

GOULD JOSEPH H, Keenc township; born 
October 11, 1842, in Summit county, Ohio; son of 
J. T. and Eunice (iould. and grandson of Jolin 
and Olive Gould, and John and Rachel Walker. 
At the age of thirteen he came to Co.shocton 
county, and was employed on the jiublic works. 
He enlisted in Company D, First O. V. A., Sep- 
tember, 1861, served about a year and was mus- 
tered out, on account of disability. He ajiplied 
to re-enlist, but was rejected. In 18i')r) he learned 
the blacksmith trade in Mill Fork, and has 
worked at it since in various localities in this 
vicinity, and .-iIsd in Illinois, for thr(>e years. He 
is at present situated in Keeno. Married May 
2G, 18t')t.i, Mary E. Hughes, daughter of Absolom 
and Susan (Hawk) Hughes, born August 4, 184G, 
Their children arc Sarah E., born September 28, 
1867 ; Eunice V„ October 13, 1868; Cora E., July 
24, 1871, deceased; William J., October 2-), 1873"; 
Rachel E., August 1875; Jo.seph M., Julv 21, 
1877, and Emma J., April 8, 1879. 

GRAHAJI CHARLES H., Tuscarawas town- 
ship; postolTice, Canal Lewisville; merchant of 
the tirm of Henderson it Graliam, Canal Lewis- 
ville; was born July 7, 18.')C», in the county of 
Sligo, Ireland; son of Thomas Graham. His 



mother's maiden name was Charlotte Martin. 
They came to America in 1853, and located in 
Franklin township. Yoimg Graham was raised 
on the farm, where he remained until about 
twenty-one years of age, when he entered the store 
of Burns it Hack as clerk, with whom he remained 
three or four years, and subsequently clerked for 
C. F. Burns, and for Hamilton Brothers and Bal- 
chire it Biu'ns. In 1880, the ])resent firm was es- 
tablished, which carries a general stock of goods 
suited for the retail trade. They also deal exten- 
sively in grain. Mr. Graham was elected justice 
of the jieace April 5, 18.s(), which office he now 
holds. He was married, April 10, 187'.t, to Miss 
Lizzie Clendening, of Canal Lewisville. This 
union has been blessed with one son — Bernard. 

GRAHAM THOMAS, Clark township; farmer; 
postoflice, Clark's; born in Ireland, June 25, 1828; 
son of Thomas and Mary (A\'ilkinson) Graham, 
and granddaughter of James Graham and Eliza- 
beth Wilkinson. He came to America when he 
was nine yeai'S of age with his mother, four 
brothers and one sister, and settled in Clark 
township, where he has resided since. He was 
married July 25, 1854, to Miss Massey Casey, 
daughter of John and Hannah Casey, who WiJS 
born in Holmes county, March 20, 1830. Her 
father was a soldier in tlie war 1812. They are 
the parents of six children — John T., deceased ; 
Mary II„ deceased ; Hannah M., born Slarch 3, 
186t); JIartha, born December 7, 1863; ^\'illianl 
J,, born September 12, 1868; Nannie M,, born 
October 18, 1871. 

GRAHAM ROBERT, Clark township ; farmer ; 
postoffice, Clark's ; born in Ireland, June 2-5, 1826 ; 
son of Thomas and Mary (Wilkinson) (Iraham, 
and grandson of James Graham and Elizabeth 
Wilkinson. He came to White Eyes township, 
Co.shocton county, in 1839, and remained until 
1842, when he moved to Keene, where lie learned 
the shoemaker trade with John Boyd, and folr 
lowed that occupation twenty-three years; from 
there he moved tt> Bloomfield and worked at his 
trade seventeen years; then jiurchased the 
Bloomfield mills, and followed milling six years; 
then moved to Medina coimty and dealt in grain 
two years; then came back to Clark t<iwnship 
and purchased a farm, and has been engaged in 
farming since. He was married April 19, 1847, 
to Miss Mary Ramsey, daughter of Henry and 
Margaret (Cullen) Ramsey. She was born in 
Keene, .\ugust 15. 1829; died June 21, 1852. They 
were blessed with three children : Richard, born 
March T.i, 1.848; Mary J., Ajiril 27, 18.3(1, and Wil- 
liam T., June 11, 1852. He was married June 22, 
18,53, to Marian Edwards, daughter of Je.ssc and 
Harriett (LiUey) Edwards, and granddaughter of 
Jourdan and Marv (Wren) Edwards, and John 
and Frances (Smith) Lillev ; born June 22, 1830, 



692 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



in Sussex county, Virginia, and has been the 
mother of six children : F. 0., born August 23, 
1854; \Valt,er, born October 7, 1856, died July 6, 
185S; Delano E., born November 6, ISCt), died 
March 8, 1865; Cora A., born December 8, 1862, 
died March 21, 1865; Robert, born May 2, lS(i7, 
and Herbert, born August 26, 1872. Mr. Graham 
joined the F. and A. M., at Coshocton, in 1854. 

ffRAHAM JAMES, Clark township ; farmer; 
postoliice, Clark's; born in Ireland, March 2'..l, 
1818; son of Thomas and Mary (Wilkinson) Gra- 
ham, and grandson of James Graham and Eliza- 
beth Wilkinson. He came to America in 183'J, 
settled in White Eyes township, and remained 
there until 1846, when he moved to his present 
location, where lie has remained since. He was 
married in Ireland, April 13, 1839, to Catharine 
Peoples, daughter of James and Catharine (Bon- 
ner) Peoples, who is a second cousin of Mr. Bon- 
ner of New York. They are the parents of 
eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz : 
Catharine. B , I\Iary, JIargaret, John, Rebecca, 
Hannah M., and Francis. , 

_ GRAHAM JOHN C, Pike township; post.if- 
fice. West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born 
in this county in 1847 ; son of William and Eliza- 
beth (Crawford) Graham. He was married De- 
cember 24, 1868, t(j Jliss Mary j\l. Norris, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Mariah Norris. They are the 
parents of four children, viz: George E., Etta M., 
Ollie B. and Luna E. The subject of this sketch 
is a grandson of Alex, and Jane Graham, antl uf 
John and Nancy Crawford. Mr. Graham's father 
emigrated from Ireland to this country at a very 
early day, and died April 9, 1880. 

GRAHAM ALEX., Pike township; postoffice, 
Wakatomakn, this county; farmer and stock 
raiser; born in 1844; son of James and Matilda 
Graham, and grandson of Alex, and of John and 
Isabella McKce. He was married in 1865 to Miss 
Sarah A. McKec, daughter of James and Isaliella 
McKeo, They are the parents of three children, 
viz : James E., Lenna B. and George C. 

GREER JOHN, Jackson township; Roscoe 
postoffice: born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1820, 
settled in this county in 1849; son of John and 
Mary Greer, and grandson of William and Jlary 
Critchliidd. Married in 1850, to Mary Finnel'l, 
daughter of Thomas and Nancy Fin'ncll. Mr. 
Greer is the father of seven children, three of 
whom (Mary F.. .\lexander, Martha) have de- 
ceased. The living are Emma E., Charles W., 
Robert A., Mattie B. 

GROSS JOHN, Tuscarawas townshijj; grocer; 
postolKce, Coshocton, Ohio; born in Bavaria, 
Germany, December 24, 1818; son of Martin and 
Barbara (Hull'man) (iross. 'Mv. G. was an en- 



listed soldier in his native country for seven 
years, but was exempt from active military duty 
owing to the general peace of the kingdom at 
that time. In 1847 he was married to Miss Cath- 
erine, daughter of Philip and Christian (Kuegler) 
Metzger. They became the parents of ten chil- 
dren, viz : Philip P., Margaret, married to John 
Ingham ; Martin, married to Sophia Schumacher ; 
Elizabeth, deceased; Peter, married to Catharine 
Gass; Christian, deceased; John A.; Matthias and 
George, deceased. The iirst four named of these 
children were born in Germany. Mr. G. located 
first in Cleveland on his arrival in America in 
1850, next in New Philadelphia, afterwards in 
Coshocton, where he arrived in 1857. He has 
occupied his present residence since 1865. 

GRO"VE W. H , Jefferson township ; born 
April 5, 1845, in Jefferson tt)wnship, Coshocton 
county, Ohio; son of David and Mary (Stagger) 
Grove. Mr. Grove was brovrght up on a farm 
and educated in district schools. His parents 
died when he was quite young, and left him to 
battle with the world among strangers. At the 
age of fifteen he began school teaching, and fol- 
lowed teaching in winter and farming in sum- 
mer until the age of twenty-one, since that time 
has;.levoted his entire attention to farming and 
threshing. He has established quite a reputation 
as a thresher. He was married May, 1867, to 
Jli-ss Elizabeth Hohenshell, daughter of Jacob 
and Sarah (Kenter), Hohenshell. Marvin L., 
Enmiit O., Lulu G. and William, are the names 
of their children. 

GUENTHER FRANCIS JOSEPH, Coshocton ; 
engineer ; was born in 1839, in Pittsburgh, Penn- 
sylvania; son of Francis Joseph and Vaberga 
(Waggoner) Guenther, who was of German an- 
cestry. Young Guenther, when a boy, began do- 
ing work about an engine, and has followed the 
same to the present time. He is now engineer 
at the Coshocton planing-mills. Mr. Guenther 
was married about the j-ear 1863. 

GUITTARD FRANCIS JOSEPH, M. D.; post- 
oliice, New Bedford; born September 28, 1828, in 
Alsace, France, now Germany ; son of J(.iseph 
and Genercuse (Georer) Guittard. He came to 
America in 1847, and located in Erie county, 
New York, where he worked on a farni a few 
years. -\bout 1849 he came to Middletown, 
Holmes county, and clerked in store, and read 
medicine during his leisure time, until 1853, 
when he began reading with Dr. Pomcrene, and 
attended the Cleveland medical college in the 
winter of 18.34-^'55; commenced practice in 
March, 1855, in New Bedfonl. He was subse- 
quently graduated at the Cleveland hospital 
medical college, and received an Ad eundeni de- 
gree at Wooster university medical dc)iartnient, 
at Cleveland. Dr. Guittard was married in Octo- 



BIOGRArmCAL SKETCHES. 



693. 



her, 18.56, to Miss Lydin, duughler of George and 
Sanih (Tamboughj Myers. They had eight 
children: Rosa Lee; C. O., doeeased; Alvin M., 
Victor G., Francis G., Virgil D., Sarah E. and 
Claud B. The doctor has be(>n successful in his 
profession, having the contideuce and resjiect of 
the comniunitv. 

TT. 

HACK M. G., postoffice, Roscoe; merchant, of 
the tirni of M. G. Hack & Co., Main street; born 
April 7, 1848, in Roscoe; son of Peter Hack, a 
native of Germany. M. G. was raised in liis na- 
tive village. At sixteen years of age he went into 
a store as clerk for Le Rettilley, McClintock & 
Co., and remained until 1871, when he became 
partner in the tirm of Burns & Hack, at Canal 
LewisviUe, where they conducted business until 
1874, when they moved to this place, and con- 
tinued the business in Roscoe until 1S78, when 
the present tirm was formed Mr. Hack was 
married September 20, 1876, to Miss Alice E. 
Burns, daughter of John Burns, of Roscoe. Tiiey 
have tw'o children, Rosa Lena and Burns Ray- 
mond. This establishment has a full stock of dry 
goods, groceries, queen and glassware, boots and 
shoes, hats and caps, carjiets, clothing, trunks, etc. 

HACK T. B., merchant tailor, 41.') ISIain street, 
Coshocton, O. He was born January o, 1852, in 
Roscoe, and brought up in his native village. At 
tlie age of thirteen he began the tailoring trade 
with his father. At twenty-one he became cut- 
ter for several establishments. In h^77 he be- 
came traveling salesman for Goodheart Bro. cfe 
Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, and did business for this 
firm until August 6, 1880, when he established 
his present business. This house is one of the 
first-class business ijlaces of the city, employing 
ten tiiilors, two clerks and one cutter. 

HACK CAPTAIN PETER, cutter for his son, 
T. B., mercliant tailor. Captain Hack was -born 
Ajiril 7, 1816, in Odenbach, Bavaria ; son of Mi- 
chael Hack. Peter was brought up on a farm 
until fourteen years of age, when he went to liis 
trade. In 1837, came to America and located at 
Roscoe. In 1861, enlisted in Company G, Eight- 
ieth O. V. I., and was commissioned first lieuten- 
ant, and after serving one year he was commis- 
sioned cai)tain of Company F, same regiment, 
and served to the close of the war. It is but jus- 
tice to state here that Cajitain Hack was never an 
inmate of the liospital, but always at his post of 
duty. At the close of the war. Captain Hack re- 
turned to his home in Roscoe, since which time 
lie has followed his firesent trade. He was mar- 
ried June 2i), 1845, to Miss Rosalena, daughter of 
Gotleib .\dams, a native of Pru.-isia. They are the 
parents of nine children, viz: ,\lbert \V., M. G.. 
John M., T. B., Louisa, C. H., Edward P. ; Cliar- 
lotte, deceased, and Mary. 



HAGER G. W., Coshocton; tobacconist and 
cigar manufacturer; was born June 14, 1849, in 
(ireene county, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob 
Hager, was born in llagerstown, Maryland, of 
German ancestors. Young Hager remained at 
home until he was about twenty-one years old. 
Then he engaged in several employments for a 
few years, after which he went into the cigar 
shop of Isaac Hooper of Waynesburgh, the coun- 
ty seat of his native county, and remained about 
three years ; then worked in several shojjs in 
this and his native State. In 1879 lie established 
liis present shop in this city, where he is doing a 
good business manufacturing cigars and dealing 
in tobacco and smoking supplies. Mr. Hager 
was married September 16, 1879, to Miss Emma 
H. Fitz, daughter of John Fitz, of Muskingum 
county. 

HAHN ADAM, Franklin township; born in 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio. December 27, 1838; 
son of Peter and Margaret (Marhofer) Hahn, 
who emigrated from Germany, in 1833. He 
learned the blacksmith trade, with his brotlier 
Peter, in Rogersville, Tuscarawas county. When 
about twenty-one years old, he moved to Franlc- 
lin township, Co.shochton county, and followed 
his trade, at Wills creek, until about 1873; then 
turned his attention to farming. He was mar- 
ried, in 1863, to Elizai)eth, daughter of Michael 
and Catherine (Sandels) Strohecker, who emi- 
grated from Alsace, France, to Muskingum 
county. By this marriage, he had four children, 
viz: John Henry, George Valentine, JIary Cath- 
erine and Howard Edward. 

HAIXS JOSEPH R., Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice. Tunnel Hill; born, in 1852, in 
tills county. He was married, in 1877, to Miss 
Arminta Taylor, of this county, who was born in 
18.")3. They are the parents of one child, Salina. 

HAIXS SAMUEL. Bedford township; farmer; 
postofiice. Tunnel Hill; born in 1850, in this 
county. His father, Amos Hains, was born in 
1820, in this county. He was married in 1840 to 
Miss Rebecca Drake, of this county, wlio was 
born in 1823, in Virginia. He died ni 1854. 
They were the parents of si.x children, Samuel 
being the iifth. He was married in 187.3 to Miss 
.Vnnie Norris, of this county, who was born in 
1855. They are the parents of three children, 
viz : May B., George O., and Edgar B. 

H.MXS LEVI, Bedford township; farmer; 
postoffice. Tunnel Hill; Iiorn in 1M7, in this 
county. His father was born in 17.'^2, in Bedford 
comity, Pennsylvania and was married in 1803 
to ;Mi'ss Hannah Lybarger, oi the .<ame county, 
wlio was l)cirn in U84. They moved to Licking 
county ill ISIO, and to this county in 1811. The 
Hains' cabin was the third in the township, 



694 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Richard Shelton's being the fii-.st, ami Ezra Hor- 
ton's the second. Mr. Hains died in 1803; hi.-< 
^vil'e in 1S4'J. They were tlie ]>arents of eight 
<'liildren. the .subject of this slcetch being the 
.si.xtli. He was married in 1S48 to Mi.-^s Lueinda 
Troutman, of this county, who was born in ISIS, 
in Kno.x county, Oliio. They are the pai'cnts of 
eleven children, nine of whom are linng. 

HAINES HIRAM, Bethlehem town.shiji; fann- 
er; son of Daniel Haines; was born in ls;M, in 
Coshocton county, Ohio. Mr. Haines' father 
came to this county in 1802, and was one of the 
earliest settlers. When he came to this county 
it was generally a wilderness, inhabited by Indi- 
ans and wild animals. He died November 6, 
1S7S, at an advanced age. Hiram Haines was 
raised on the farm, and has always followed that 
occupation He was married in ISiiO. to Miss 
Mary C. Milligan, of tliis county, who was born 
in 1830. They became the parents of two children, 
viz: Uriah F., born November 8, 1802. and Emma 
D., born December 27, 1803. Mr and Mrs. Haines 
lire influential members of the Evangelical church 
at Princeton, Ohio. 

HAINES HENRY, Bedford township; team- 
ster; postofKce, West Bedford. 

HALLER BROTHERS, GEORtiE J. A- C. J., 

202, Main street, Co.shocton ; butchers; born and 
raised in this city ; sons of Adam and Catharine 
(IMank) Haller. George J. learned the jilasterer's 
trade, and worked at it one year. He was mar- 
ried November 30. l.S7i>, to Mi.ss Sarah E., daugh- 
ter of George and Mary (McGigen) Mofhtt, of 
this city. Tiie father of these two brothers was 
a butcher, and the sons were brought up to their 
present occupation. They took possession of 
their jircsent shop .January 4, ISSl, and keep a 
fine assorted supply of sausages, fresh and cured 
meats. 

HALL JOHN H., Lafayette township; farm- 
er; iKistoffice, West Lafayette; was l)orn in West 
Virginia, in 1821; son of Dennis Hall; came to 
Ohiii in 1805, and located in Linton township, and 
came to this town.shiii in 1S70; was married in 
1S40, to Miss Ingraham, of West Virginia, daugh- 
ter of Jabob Ingraham. They have had ten chil- 
dren, Elihu W. ; Jacob I., decease<l in 1800, in his 
seventeenth year; Nanev A., Edith M., Marv V., 
J. H.; Williaiii M., Arthiir Lee. Sarah J. and An- 
derson Monroe. Mr. Hall is industrious and 
well spoken of by all. 

HALL WILLIAM R., Coshocton: proprietor of 
coal mine ; was born .Vpril 2. 1 821, in County Dar- 
ham . England ; son of Lancelet and Eleanor (Jack- 
son) Hall, and grandson of Lancelet Hall and Wil- 
liam Jackson. He landed at New York Sc])tember 
1, 1849; located at Massillon until August 10. 1850, 



when he came to this city, where he has remained 
tothe jiresent time. He was married February 11, 
1.S43, to Miss Mary, daughter of George and ^lary 
Lamb, of Darham county, England. This union 
was blessed with eleven children, viz: Luke, 
married to Mary Bassett; Mary, burned to death 
when about three years of age ; William, died (in 
the sea when about eight months old ; Lancelet, 
married to Mary Elizabeth Frazie; Isabellc, mar- 
ried to John Conley; AVilliam R., married to 
Clara Rice; John, Mary Anne; George, de- 
ceased, and Alice. When !Mr. Hall started busi- 
ness in America he had only one sovereign, but, 
by honest industry, he has secured a eomforable 
home, and raised a large, moral and respectable 
family. 

HAMERSLEY ISAAC L., Linton township; 
farmer and shoemaker; born in Linton township, 
June IS, 1817; first child of Peter and Lydia 
(Fuller) Hamersley, and grandson of Isaac and 
Mary (Wirick) Hamer.sley and of Thomas and 

( Hayes) Fuller. His great-grandfather. John 

Hamersley emigrated from the northern part of 
Ireland, in pre-revolutionary times, and six of 
his .seven sons were soldiers in the revolution. 
Mr. Hamersley 's father was born in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, in 17i'5, and, in 1805, moved 
with his father to Belmont county. One year 
after, they moved to Guernsey county, and, in 
1810, he married ami settled in Linton township. 
In tlie fall of 182.5, Isaac's father and grandfather 
built a pirogue on Wills Creek and moved their 
families by water to Lawrence county, Indiana. 
They remained their till 18,33, then returned to 
this coimty. On their way home, while en- 
camped at the mouth of the Wabash river, they 
witnessed the grand meteoric display of that year. 
Mr. Hamersley, in l.s4], married Sarah Ann, 
daughter of Thomas and jNIary (Johnson) Fuller. 
Their children are Henry, ilecea.sed; Thomas, 
deceased, and Peter. Two of his boys gave their 
lives to their country. Thomas died at home 
shortly after his return from the seat of war, 
from disease contracted there. Henry fell a vic- 
tim of typhoid fever, at Winchester, June 4, 1S03. 
Both were members of company B, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-second 0. V. I. 

HAMILTON JOHN. M'hite Eyes township; 
farmer; was born, in 1805, in the county of Ty- 
rone, Ireland. He married Jliss Mary Fair, of the 
same county. They came to this county, in 1842; 
settled in Keene, but afterward located in White 
Eyes, on the farm where he now resides. They 
have had seven children, two of whom have de- 
ceased. Margaret, born in l.'^40, is married to 
.Ton:>^ Brown. Thomas, born 1842, is married to 
jMi.ss Margaret Boyd, daughter of R.R. Boyd, and 
lives in White Eyes. Ciaudius, born in 184.-;. is 
married to Angle Jack, of this township, and is 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



695 



now living at B;ikorsvillc. Mary Ellen, born 
July 4, ISo.S, is single, and lives at home. .lohn, 
born in ls">'.l, lives at home. Jlr Hamilton anil 
liis family are members of the White Eyes Meth- 
odist Episcopal ehurch. 

HAMILTON CLAUD, White Eyes township; 
farmer, burn in 1S()4, in the couny of Tyrone, 
Ireland. In 1S32 he married Miss Mary A .lnhn- 
son,\vho was a native of the same place, and was 
born in 1S14. They have a family of six daugh- 
ters and two sons — Margaret, Matilda .!., Elizabeth, 
Mary A., John A., Lurinda D., Sarah J. and 
Thomas .1. All are married, e.xcejit INIary, Sarah 
and Thiimas, who are at home. Liicinda married 
Dr. R. A. Calvin, of Pennsylvania, and is now 
living in Crawford county, Pennsylvania ; John 
married 5Iiss Libbj- Miiser, daughter of Joseph 
Miser, and is living in this township; Matilda 
married Kev. J. N. Crawford, a minister of the 
M. E. church, and they reside in Pennsylvania ; 
Elizabeth married William Calhoun, a farmer, 
who lives in Oxford township. Mr. Hamilton 
and his family came to this countrj' in 1S72, and 
located on the place whc're he now lives, within 
the limits of Avondale. Mrs. Hamilton died 
January, 1866. Mr. Hamilton and family belong 
to the JI. E. church at Kimbles. 

HAMILTON SAMUEL, White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; born October 10, 1835. in Keene 
township; son of William and Mary (McCaskoy) 
Hamilton. His father was a native of Ireland, 
and his mother wa.s born near Steubenvillc,Ohio, 
and he came to this county when but a child 
with his parents. The parents of Mrs. (Adams) 
Hamilton were natives of Ireland, emigrated to 
the United States about the year 1821, settled in 
Jefferson county, and came to this county in 
18.>3. They were married about 183o,and located 
on the farm in White Eyes townshij), where Jfrs. 
Adams now resides. On July 4, 1860, Samuel 
Hamilton married Miss .Vdams, who was born in 

. After their marriage they moved upon a 

farm of eighty acres in White Eyes tow'uship, 
which Sir. Hamilton inherited, and subsequently 
added to it the 163 acres on which he now re- 
sides. They became the parents of the follow.ing 
named children : Monterville, born August 23, 
1862, died when six and a half years old ; Emma 
Florinda, born November 26, 1864; Olive Vesta, 
born May 23, 1870; Elmer, born May 17,1872; 
Edgar Llovd, born August 21, 1877 ; Leroy, born 
October 23, 1879. 

HAMERSLEY THOMAS J., Linton town- 
ship; farmer: born in Guernsey county, Ohio, 
March 24, 1825; son of Peter and Lydia Hainers- 
ley. (See sketch of Isaac L. Hamersley). Jlr. 
Hamersley has lived in Linton township during 
the greater part of his life. He was married in 
1860, to Mary Adams, daughter of Francis and 



Charlotte (Hogle) Adams, of Columbiana county, 
and has four children, Charlotte, Lydia, Lizzie 
and Francis. 

HAMILTON C. C, Adatns township; mer- 
chant; iiostoftice, Bakersville: born in Keene 
township, Coshocton county, Ohio, February 21, 
1845; son of John and Mary (Fair) Hamiltoii,ancl 
grandsoi\ of Thomas Hamilton. He remained at 
home with his parents until twenty-one years of 
age ; graduated at Eastman's business college, at 
Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1866, and in 1867, 
began business a.s a merchant, at Avondale, Co- 
shocton county; remained there about ten years, 
when he traded his store for land, and attended 
to insurance business for about two years. He 
then traded his land for a store in Bakersville, 
where he is at present doing a very fair business, 
keeping everything usually kept in his line. He 
was married December 24, 1868, to Miss Angle 
Jack, daughter of Jolm and Jane (Ford) Jack, and 
granddaughter of George Ford. They are the 
parents of six children, viz : Edwin, deceased ; 
Jennie M., Alfred E., Wilford C, William A. and 
Mary M. 

HAMILTON J. P., Washington township; 
farmer; postotficc, Wakatomaka; born in 1826, 
in Harrison county, Ohio, and came to this coun- 
ty in 1831, with his father, who was born in 1792, 
in Fayette county. Pennsylvania. He came to Har- 
rison county in 1805, and was married in 1816, to 
Miss Alfreda Bailey, of that county, who was born 
in 1793, in Boston." She died in 1863. They arc 
the parents of nine children, the subject of this 
sketch being the hfth. He Wixs married in 1868, 
to ^liss Susan Cornell, of this county, who was 
born in 1840. They are the parents of five chil- 
dren, viz: Robert L., Maria A., William W., Lu- 
cinda .1. and Albert D. 

HAjMMONTREE FRANKLIN, Jlonroe town- 
shiji; was born April 5, 1821, in Loudon county, 
Virginia; son of Samuel and Sarah (Brown) 
Hammontree, and grandson of David and Mary 
(Beech) Plammontree, and of John and Lydia 
(Burson) Brown. The Bursons and Browns were 
revolutionary soldiers. He lived in his native 
State till about the age of lifteen, when he went 
to Belmont county, Ohio, and remained there two 
years; from there he went to Wa.shington coun- 
ty, Ohio, near Beverly, where he remained about 
twenty-three years, in the cabinet business. After 
leaving there he went to Coshocton county and 
bought a farm, where he has been engaged in 
farming ever since. He married Miss P^lizaJ. 
McDonald in August, 1842, who was born June 
12, 1822, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
Foatherston (Haw) McDonald. and granddaughter 
of Thomas Wilkison Hazard Featherston and 
Margaret (Poland) Haw. Their children are: 
Rufus, born July 3, 1850; Ruth A., born June 11, 



•«96 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



1845; Elmer P., born May 10, 1853; Frnnk L., 
born January 9, 1856; Hattic M., born May 21, 
1859; Nanny M., born December 10, ISGl.and 
William E. F., born June 30, ISGS. Mr. Hani- 
montree enlisted in Company E, One Hundred 
and Forty-tbird Regiment, 0."N. G., in May, lsG4, 
and was Ilischarged in September, 1864. 

HANKINS DANIEL, Franklin township; 
farmer; jwstoffice. Wills Creek. Mr. Hankins 
was born, February 15, 1828, in Franklin town- 
ship, on the farm now owned by McBane; sun of 
William and Amelia (Pigman) Hankins; a na- 
tive of Virginia, of English ancestry. He came 
to Franklin township, at a very early day. He 
was a farmer, and renowned anctioneer. He was 
peculiarlv adapted to this profession, being 
sought liiany times to go a great distance to 
auctioneer imjiortant sales. He was born April 
14,1787, and his wife was born October 11, of 
the same year. They were married June 24, 
1813, and became the jiarents of eleven children, 
viz: Lucinda. deceased; Jane, formerly married 
to Elijah Duling, now deceased ; Moses P., emi- 
grated to Jlissouri; Anne, married to Lewis 
Rodruck; Nathaniel L., deceased; Mary, mar- 
ried to Orange Hagle; Cassandra, married to 
John G. Parker, and John (the last three live in 
Minnesota); Daniel, Elizabeth (Daniel's twin sis- 
ter), married to John C. McBane, of Franklin 
township; Catherine, married to Martin B. 
Hewett. now resides in Illinois. Daniel, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was married, October 7, 1852, 
to Miss Louisa, daughter of Isaac and Nancy 
(Barrow) Shambaugh. Mr. Shambaugh was a 
native of Virginia, of German descent, and a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812. Daniel's children are, 
Nancy C, married to William Fitz, of Zanes- 
ville, Ohio ; Alice A. B., married to John L. 
Ganner, of Franklin township; Mary Ellen, 
Isaac Edward and Elizabeth J. 

HANLON WILLIAM, Keene township; born 
in Jefferson county, Ohio, May 13, 1818; a son of 
Allen and Susan (Ford) Hanlon, natives' of Ire- 
land. He lived in his native county with his par- 
ents till 1852, when he canie to Ohio and bought 
the farm where he now lives. He was married 
January 20, 1845, to Miss Blary Stark, daughter 
of James and Elizabeth MrGeo. They had the 
followins; named cliildren : Edwin M., born De- 
cember 3, 1845; Eliza J., March 2-3,1849; Susan 
J., December 8, 1850; Robert R., March 23, 1853; 
Marv v., IMay IG, 1855; Usher A., November 21, 
1858; Ida M . June 2, 1863; infant son died Sep- 
tember 30, 1865. 

HANLON HON. ALEXANDER, Coshocton; 
judge probate court; born Mnrch 2, 1816, in Jef- 
ferson county, near Stcubenville; lived on a farm 
until twenty years of age, then worked at the car- 
penter's trade two more years, and came to this 



county in 1841, and engaged in farming and car- 
])entering until 1875, when he was elected judge 
of jirobate court; was re-elected in 1878. He 
married Elizabeth Jlitchell, of Mill Creek town- 
shij), June 17, 1854, and is the father of si.x living 
children, viz : John A., F. H., W. B., Clara, Laura 
and M. L. L. His parents came to America from 
Ireland when about twelve years of age, and were 
educated in the public schools of Jefl'erson county. 

HARDMAN JAMES, Bedford township; farm- 
er ; postofiice, West Bedford ; born in 1835, in 
this county. His father was born in 1790, in 
Pennsylvania, and married Miss Hannah Hains, 
of the same county. He died in 1851 ; she died 
in 1864. They were tlie parents of eleven chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the young- 
est. He was married in 1859. to Sliss Nota J. 
Richard, of this county, who was born in 1842, 
and died in 1870. They were the parents of two 
children, viz: Leonard 'and Belle. He, in 1872, 
married Miss Matilda Lydick, of this county, 
who was born in 1839. They are the jjarents of 
two children, viz : Allie E. and Bertha. 

HARDY HON. JOHN, O.xford town.ship, was 
born January 31, 1825. near the village of M'ar- 
rensburgh. Warren county, State of iSTewYork; 
son of William and Mary (McCoffrey) Hardy. 
He is of Scotch-Irish parentage, his father and 
mother having emigrated from Londonderry, 
Ireland, to New York in 1824. When »bout 
twelve years of age he removed with them to 
Ohio, when they settled in the wililerness near 
Newcomerstown. Tuscarawas county. By per- 
severence and close application yoiuig Hardy ac- 
quired about as good an education as our log- 
cabin school-houses could bestow. From the 
age of sixteen to eighteen he was employed as 
clerk in a store by the firm of Minnich, Nugexi 
it Co., in Newcomerstown, Tuscarawas county, 
after which he attended two terms at the Green- 
held Academy, in Fairfield county, Ohio. He 
afterwards engaged in teaching a district school 
and taught for si.x years consecutively in the 
same district. On giving up teaching he engaged 
in the employment of the State of Ohio as as- 
sistant engineer on the northern division of the 
Onio Canal, until the state leased the public works. 
He afterward acted as superintendent at difTerent 
places for the lessees till the breaking out of our 
civil war in 1861. In 1SG4 he married Miss 
Emily Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, of 
Washington township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. 
In 18G5 he bought the farm in Oxford township, 
Coshocton county, on which he built his present 
residence, where he now resides. He was twice 
elected representative of Coshocton coimty, first 
in the fall of 1877, to the Sixty-third General 
Assembly, and was re-elected in 1879 to the 
Sixty-fourth. He is at present living rather re- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



697 



tired. He says he has had enough of public life, 
that he ha.s his bout safely and quietly moored in 
Shady Bond of the Tuscarawas river and has no 
desire to again launch it out on the cross currents 
of men's interests and passions. 

HAKRAN CHARLES J., Crawford township; 
farmer; })OstolKce, Chili, Ohio; \\ as born in De- 
cember, ls51, near Biron, Germany ; son of Jacob 
and Margaret (Portz) Harran. Young Harran 
came to America in 1S53. His parents located 
in Tuscarawas county, where he remained imtil 
about ISGC), when ho came to his present resi- 
dence in Crawford township. His father died in 
June, 1SG8. Mr. Harran was married October 
2, ISSO, to IMiss Catharine, daughter of William 
and Nancy McCaskey, of \Miite Eyes township. 
Mr. Harran has given his entire attention to 
farming, in which he has succeeded well. 

HARRIS JOSIAH, M. D., Coshocton ; descend- 
ed from a very ancient family of New England ; 
and is from the seventh generation from Thomas 
Harris, an associate of Roger ^^'illiams, whose 
name first ajipears on the records of Provitlence, 
Rhode Lsland, in 1736. Dr. Harris was born July 
19, 1807, at Winthrop, Me., and was accustomed 
in childhood and youth to the hard farm labor of 
the New Englander. At the age of eighteen he 
entered Monmouth academy, and remained one 
year; then entered the Wesleyan college, Ken- 
nebec county. Maine, and spent four years there 
studying and teaching. In the spring of 1S50 lie 
went to Georgetown. D. C, and taught in a pri- 
vate family for a short time. Then traveled in 
Marvland, Pennsvlvania and Virginia. In the 
fall of 1830 he sett'led at Luthersburgh, Wii.shing- 
ton county, Maryland, and took charge of Luth- 
ersburgh seminary, and remained there until 
1837. In the meantime he attended medical lec- 
tures in the University of Maryland at Baltimore, 
and was graduated with the honors of M. D. in 
1837, in which year he came to this city, where 
he has continued the practice bf his profession 
until the present time (1880). Dr. Harris held 
the office of associate judge for several years 
prior to the ado)>tion of the })resent State.consti- 
tution, which abolished said office. The doctor 
possesses good literary and scientific attainments, 
and has been a member of the school board of 
examiners both in the county and city. Dr. 
Harris has been married three times— first. May 
27, 1841, to Miss Magdalene Zigler. daughter of 
Lewis Zigler, Washington county, Maryland ; the 
result of this union was one child, a son, Lewis, 
who died in infancy. Dr. Harris was next mar- 
ried January 16. 1844, to Miss Amelia D. Lewis, 
daughter of Dr. Webster Lewis, of Cumberland 
county, Peimsylvania. His last marriage was on 
April 12, 1855, to Miss Caroline Frew, daughter 
of John Frew, of Coshocton, Ohio. The result 



of this marriage was four children, two of whom 
are decea.ssd. viz: Charles and Frank; and two 
are living, viz: Mary Louise and John Mar.shall. 
Dr. Harris has a wide profes.sional reputation, 
and is highly respected at home for his moral 
and social qualities. 

HARTSOCK JOHN, Tuscarawas township; 
blacksmith; j>ostoffice, Canal Lewisville. Mr. 
Hartsock was born .Vugust 29, 1834, in New Castle 
township; son of Henry Hartsock, and native of 
Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Mary, 
daughter of Ivan Rogers. John was brought up 
on a farm; went to his trade at the age of 
eighteen, in Walhonding; came to his present 
village in 1855, but worked as a journeyman in 
Warsaw and Walhonding, returning" to his 
ado])ted home in 1857. Mr. Hartsock was mar- 
ried August 24, 1856, to Miss Jane, daught(>r of 
Abraham and Caroline (Parker) Brink. They 
are the parents of three cliildren, viz: The first 
died in infancy , William and James L. are living. 
Ur. and Mrs. Hartsock took a child from John T. 
Sinnnons, which they named Andrew Jackson, 
and raised him to maturity. 

HAVERICK VINCENT, Monroe town.shii); 
was born in February, 1825, in Bavaria, Germany ; 
son of Aloysins, who was born in 1785, and Mary 
A. (Anient) Haverick. He learned the boot and 
shoe and stonemason trades in Germany. He 
came to America April 22, 1,842, and settled in 
Jeflerson township, Co.shocton county, where he 
lived five years. From there he moved to Knox 
county, where he remained about twelve years, 
then returned to War.saw and worked at the boot 
and shoe trade until 1867, when he removed to 
Monroe township, where he has followed farming 
ever since. His brothers and sisters are Michael 
J., born in 1809; Mary A., Roduck, Francis and 
Helena. Mr. Haverick was married to Hester A. 
Majors, November 35, 1,846, daughter of William 
and IMargaret (Sapp) ]\Iajors. Their children 
were James L., a merchant in Iowa; William, 
Mary A., George H., Margaret J., Frances; Lewis, 
deceased, and Normanda, deceased. Mrs. Haver- 
ick died in ^larch. 1,863, and in April, 1864, Mr. 
Haverick married Miss .Vccy Foster, daughter of 
William and Elizabeth (Davis) Foster, and grand- 
dauchter of William Davis, and of Moses Foster 
and Elizabeth (Raymond) Foster. Elizabeth, 
Kernelons, Joseph and Clara were the names of 
their children. 

HAWK ANDREW, Adams township; farmer; 
postotfice, Bakcrsville, Ohio Mr. Hawk was 
born February 4,182-5, in Carroll county, Ohio. 
Ili.s parents arc of .German descent; his father a 
native of Penn.«ylvania,and his mother of- Jeflfer- 
son county, Ohio. Mr. Hawk was raised on a 
farm, and came to this county in 1827. When he 



698 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



came to this coimty it ■was generally a wilder- 
ness, with now and then a cabin surrounded hy 
a clearetl lot. jNIr. Hawk was married Jlay 5, 
184S, to Miss Mary J. Walters, of (iuern'sey 
County, Ohio. Thej- became the parents of five 
children : Mary E., Margaret A., Kaohel E and 
Tolethe E. are living. The other one died in 
infancy. His wife died February 8, 18G3. He 
was married May 10, 18G5, to Miss Lavina Lan- 
ders, of Coshocton county. Her father was of 
German and her mother of Swiss descent. They 
are the parents of seven children : William T 
Sherman, Howard A., E<lgar K., Avilla, Charles, 
Rutherford B. Hayes, and John, all of whom are 
living. Mr. Hawk was in the mercantile bus- 
iness'during 1850 and 1851, in Bakersvillc, Ohio. 
He hiis since followed farming, and has acquired 
a good farm and property. 

HAY JAMES, Coshocton; born in the County 
Derry, Ireland, January 6, 1S06, and, at eleven 
j-ears of age, came to America with his parents, and 
settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Mr. 
Hay was married October 6, 1834, to Miss Jane 
Burns, daughter of Samuel Burns, of this city. 
By this marriage he became the father of si.x 
children, four of whom are deceased, viz : Hous- 
ton, Samuel, Elizabeth and Mary; and two are 
living, viz: Sarah, married to James Wilson, of 
this city, and William, not married. Mr. Hay 
has been a very successful business man. Mr. 
Hay died Saturday evening, September 34, 1881. 

H.\Y GEORGE A., Coshocton; mayor and 
noUiry public; was born November 16, 1855, in 
Coshocton ; son of Houston Hay, American born, 
of Irish descent. Young Hay received a rudi- 
mentary education in the public schools, and, at 
the age of seventeen, entered the preparatory de- 
partment of Denison Univer.sity, at Granville, 
and was there four years. When twenty-one 
years old he entered the Junior class of Princeton 
college, and was graduated in June, 1870. Mr. 
Hay was elected mayor April 1, 1880, and took 
the oath of office on the 20th. 

HAY JOSEPH H., Coshocton; boot and shoe 
dealer; w,as born February 21, 1848, in Canal 
Lewisville, this county. He is a son of .lackson 
Hay, native of Ireland. Young Hay's first school- 
ing was obtained in his native village and finished 
in this city. Mr. Hay obtained a practical busi 
ness knowledge clerking fur the firm of R. & H. 
Hay, also in the hardware store of S. Harbaugh, 
botii of this place, then in his father's dry goods 
store in his native village. In 1865 he came to 
this place wit!) his father and continued with him 
as clerk until the business was sold out to the 
firm of JMcyers, Pocock & Co.) Mr. Hay continu- 
ing with tlie new firm until 1874, when he en- 
gaged as clerk in his father's bank (First Na- 



tional), and in the same year established his pres- 
ent business which he has continued to date. Mr. 
Hay carries a large stock of boots and shoes, hats 
and caps, umbrellas, etc. Mr. Hav was married 
August 10, 1870, to Miss F. E. Ranna, daughter 
of Joseph Ranna, of this city. This union was 
blessed with two children, both living, viz : Harry, 
born July 10, 1872, and Charles S., born October 
15, 1875. 

HAY HOUSTON, Coshocton ; merchant ; of 
the firm of Hay & Mortley, corner of Second 
and Main streets ; also proprietor of the Coshoc- 
ton iron and steel works, for the manufacturing 
of .springs and axles; was born, February 4, 1818, 
in Washington county, Pennsylv.ania; son of 
John Hay, who was a native of Ireland. Young 
Hay remained on the farm until ten years of 
age, when, with his father, he moved to Elders- 
ville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and re- 
mained there three years; then came to this 
State, and located at Martinsburgh, Knox county, 
where he lived two years. In May, 1835, he 
came to this city, and entered as a. clerk in the 
store of Renfrey & Hay, where he remained ten 
years. In 1843, he engaged as a clerk witli Ham- 
ilton Meek, and remained two years. In 1845, 
he was appointed collector of tolls on the Ohio 
canal, at Roscoe. In 1852, he became one of the 
firm of R.&H. Hay. In 1867, James S. Wilson 
was taken into the firm, which continued until 
June 1879, when the present firm was formed. 
The building of this firm, on the corner of Sec- 
ond and Main streets, is forty-five feet by seventy- 
five feet, three stories and basement, and all oc- 
cupied. They carry a large and complete stock 
of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, carpets, 
seeds, etc. In 1874. Mr. Hay parchased the Co- 
shocton iron and steel works, for the manufacture 
of springs and axles. This shop averages forty 
pairs of springs and 100 axles per day. Mr. Hay 
was married, July 1, 1852, to ^liss Detiah C. 
Roberts, of Licking county. The union was 
blessed with four children, all living, viz: Kate, 
George A., John H. and Warner. 

HAYS JOHN E., Tiverton township; farmer; 
postotiice, Yankee Ridge, Ohio; born, in 1844, in 
this county. His father. Zachariah Hays, was 
born, in 1814, in England. He came from Eng- 
gland to Rhode Island, and was married there; 
his wife was born in England also. After mar- 
riage, he removed to this county, and died, in 
1859. They were, the parents of four children, 
the subjectof this sketch being the second. He 
was married, in 1867, to Miss Delilah Draper, of 
this county, who was born in 1847. She died in 
1870. They were the parents of one child, 
Delilah. He was again married, in 1879; this time 
to Miss Elizabeth Reese, of this county, who was 
born in 1860. 



o 

1] 



H 
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M 
H 



H 
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



705 



HEBALL W., Jackson township; postofficc, 
Roscoe; born in Maryland in 1820; niovod 
Avith his father to Coshocton the same year, 
wliere he has continued to hvc ever since. He 
is a son of .lohn and Anna Heb dl ; married in 
l.SGC. to Dollv Bible, daughter of Philip and Mary 
Bible. 

HECK HENRY, Bethlehem township; farmer; 
was born in 1832, in Germany. He came to this 
county in 183->, and located in Monroe township. 
He was married in IHoG, to Miss Nancy Burrell, 
■of this county. They became the parents of si.\ 
children, viz: Emma H., born November 10, 
ISGl ; Richard C. born July 17, 1863; Rebecca J., 
born in 18(jo. The other three are dead. Jlrs. 
Heck died in IStJG. Mr. Heck's second marriage 
was in June, 18G7. to Mi.ss Mary J. Darlina;,of this 
county; who was born July, 1837. Mr. Heck has 
always followed the occupation of a farmer,'and 
lias a good farm. He has also cleared all his 
land, it being a wilderness when he came to this 
county. 

HEFT PETER, Pike township; po.stofRce, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock rai.ser; born in 
Be iford county, Pennsylvania, in 1805; settled in 
this county in 183S; .son of Peter and Mariah 
(S"hoch) Heft, and grandson of Peter and Eliza- 
beth (Dihel) Heft, and of .lacob and Magdaline 
Schoch. He was m.irried in 1.S4.5, to Miss Mar- 
garet Ganlt, daughter of William and Sarah 
Gault. They are the parent.s of ten children, viz: 
George W. ; Sarah, <leceased ; William H., Anna 
M., Perry O., Mary J., .Vmanda E.. JohnC., Adam 
T. and James M. Five are married. 

HEINZLE JOHN, grocer and confectioner, 
Main street, Coshocton. Mr. Heinzle is a native 
of Australia, and emigrated to .America in 1871. 
He (irst stopjied a short time in Cincinnati, after 
which he came to Co.shocton and engaged in quar- 
rying stone, in which he continued until 1870, 
when he engaged in the grocery business, in 
which he still contiinies. He has a good stock of 
staple and fancy groceries and confectioneries, 
and a first-ckuss stock of restaurant goods, con- 
sisting qf brandies, wines, gins, beer, ales and 
whiskies of the best American brands, and im- 
ported brandies, wines and gins. He also has a 
street stand, where he sells candies, nuts, fruit-s, 
cigars, etc. 

HENRY PROFES.SOR E. E.. Coshocton; su- 
perintendentCoshocton public schools ; born Aug- 
ust 8, 1.841, in Bainbridge, Geauga county, Ohio; 
son of John Henrv, who was .Vmerican born of 
Scotch ancestry. Henry spent his childhood and 
early youth on a farm. .\t eighteen, he entered 
the Eclectic institute at Hiram. James .V. Garlield, 
principal. On .\pril 23 1861, heenlisted in Com- 
pany A, O. V. I., being one of the first two 

31 



students who enlisted from that institute, in the 
three months' service, and re-enlisted for three 
years; was mustered out in 1864; was wounded 
at -Vntietam and was for .several months an inmate 
of Libby prison. At the close of the war. he re- 
turned and resumed liis studies, and Wixs gradua- 
ted by the Western Reserve college, at Hudson, 
Ohio. His lirst teaching was done in this State; 
he also taught in Indiana three years, and in Kan- 
sas ('ity three years. Was married May 16, 1872, 
to Miss Annie Langworthy, of Worthington, Ind- 
iana. 

HENRY CHARLES P.. Cosliocton; barber, of 
the firm of Henry ct Hill, 2.34Main street; was born 
January 29, 1847, in Newark, Licking county; 
son of William Henry, a native of Rockbridge 
county, Virginia. At twelve years of age Charles 
went to his trade with his father. At seventeen 
he enlisted in Company K., Forty-second U. S. 
Colored Volunteers, was commis.sary sergeant 
and served fourteen months, when he was hon- 
orably discharged at Na.shville, Tennessee. On 
his return he attended school during the day and 
worked in his father's shop evenings and morn- 
ings, until October, 1869, when he came to this 
city an<l became partner with C. Dorsqy, and 
continued the partnershij) until 1874, when Mr. 
Henry continued the business alone until Sep- 
tember 6. 1880, when the above /irm was formed. 
Mr. Henry was first married .Vugust 29, 1872, to 
Miss Mary L. Norman, of Newark. This union 
was blessed with three<'hildren, one. Mary Louise, 
deceased, and two living — Ora 1). and Blanch E. 
Mrs. Henry died .Vugust 31, 1878. Mr. Henry 
married .Tanuary 12, 1880. Mi.ss Eva Norman, of 
Newark. He came to this city without any finan- 
cial means, but has become the owner of a good 
real estate property. 

HENDERSON A. M, Franklin township; phy- 
sician at Wills Creek; born in Carroll county 
March 2, 1839, son of William H and Mary Hen- 
derson. He came with his father to Tiverton 
township when aljout si.\ months old, and lived 
there on the farm till he was twelve years old, 
when his father moved to New Castle township, 
where Mr. Hender.son remained till he was twen- 
ty-two, when he began clerking in Edward's drv 
goods store in Coshocton, at the same time read- 
ing medicine and reciting to Dr. Ingraham. This 
he continued more tlian three years. In 1867 
he attended lectures of the Starling Medical Col- 
lege, Columbus, Ohio, graduating Februarv 26, 
1869. H(^ came to Wills Creek March 26, "1869, 
ami has practiced medicine successfully there 
since. Married July 3, lsC)7 to Miss Henrietta 
Lvnch. daughter of Hugh Lvnch. of Coshocton. 
They have had three children, viz: Mabel A., 
deceased, Hattic \. and Nellie M. 

HENDERSON JAMES, White Eyes township; 



706 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



farmer; born in White Eyes, in 1840; is the son 
of George Henderson, and is of Irish deseent. 
Mr. Henderson was married in 1S(J8, to Miss 
Emma Koss, who was born in tliis county in 
ls-14. They are the parents of four children : 
Henry J., Isiwc K., Catherine M., and William 
N Mr. Henderson has always resided in White 
Eyes. 

HEXDEKSON B. F., White Eyes township; 
farmer; w;is born in this township in IS-t", and 
is the son of George Henderson. IMr. Hender- 
son married Miss Malinda Xormon, daughter of 
Christian Normon, in 18G8. Mrs Henderson 
was born in 1850. They became the i)arents of 
four children, one of whom has deceased. Hat- 
tie, Edmond, and Christian are living. Mr. Hen- 
derson and wife belong to the U. B. church. 

HENDERSON FR.VNK, Oxford township; 
farmer; postofiice. Evansburgh; son of Alexander 
Henderson; was born in Muskingum county, 
October 20, 1840, and came to this county in ISG.S; 
was out five months in company li, One Hun- 
dred and Sixty-second O. N. G. He was married, 
March 2(», 18(>"), to Mary ^^'olf, daughter of John 
Wolf. Their children were Dora, William, Frank, 
Leroyand Myrtle. He is a member of the M. 
E. church, has hoen school director for several 
terms, owns eighty-six acres of land in this town- 
ship, and is a highly esteemed citizen. 

HESKETT J. W., M. D., Bedford township; 
postofHce, West Bedford; born, in 1851, in this 
coimty. His father, B. F. Heskett, was born, in 
1823, near Jlartinsburgh, Virginia; came to this 
count}' in 183(J, and was married, in 1848, to jNIiss 
Hannah M. Barcroft, of this county. She was 
born, in 1828, in Jell'erson county. He was killed 
in battle at Murfreesborough, "January 2, 1803. 
He was captain of comi)any C, Fifty-first O. V. I. 
She died in 18;34. They were the parents of three 
children, the stibjcct of this sketch lieing the 
second. He entered the office of Dr. H. C. Dicus, 
of Martinsburg, Knox county, liut now of Utica, 
Licking county, as student, in 1870, and attended 
a cour.se of lectures at the Cincinnati College of 
Medicine and Surgery in the winter of 1872-.3. 
He came back and and read another year, when 
he attended another course, receiving a diploma 
in the spring of 1874. He was married, in 1874, 
to Miss A. E. Coulter, of Martinsburgh, Knox 
county, who was born in 1858, in Jefl'erson county, 
Ohio. They are the parents of two children, 
Leo B. and Daisy V. 

HESLIP JOSEPH S., Linton township ; farm- 
er; born December 22. 1827, in Linton tdwn.ship; 
son of Joseph and Eleanor (Walganiot) Hcslip; 
has always lived in this townshii); enlisted in 
1804, in Company K, Nineteenth O. V. I.; served 
on detailed duty as headquarters guard for Sher- 



man in his Georgia campaign. JIarried August 
13, 1857, to P:sther J. Lovill, daughter of John W. 
and Eliza J. (Gillespie) Lovill ; her father emi- 
grated from London. England, in 1830; her 
motlier was from New York. Mrs. Heslip was 
born in Ashtaliula County, IMarch 24, 1838, and 
moved with her jiarents to Guernsey county 
when six months old. Their children "are Eliza 
Ellen, William Osborn, Clara Jane, .\da Eliza- 
beth, Elma Susan; Sadie Bell, deceased : Bertha, 
deceased, and Matilda .'Lnn. George Milton Stone, 
the son of a deceased sister of Mrs. Heslip, is their 
adopted child. 

HICKSON WILLIAM; postoffice, Roscoe; 
manufacturer of boots and slioes ; born in the 
county of Jleath, Ireland, December 2, 1845. At 
twelve and one-half years of age, he began an ap- 
prenticeship to a .shoemaker, and upon its com- 
pletion in 18111, while yet a mere youth, left liis 
native land and his friends, and sailed for Amer- 
ica. Arriving at New York, he found emjiloy- 
ment there at his trade, and worked at it till I860; 
he then came to Roscoe, and has here followed 
his vocation uninterruptedly sinc^. .\pril, 1880, 
lie was elected justice of the peace for Jackson 
township; was married April, 1863, to Miss 
Bridget, daughter of James Meady, and has a 
family of three children, Margaret" A., William, 
James and Blaria Isa belle. 

HILL WILLIAM M., Coshocton ; barber, of 
the firm of Henry ct Hill, 234 Main street; was 
born March 20, "l85(l, in Taylor county, West 
Virginia ; son of John Hill, deeea.sed. William 
M. was raised on the farm until fifteen, when he 
became servant to Lieutenant Colonel Pierjjont, 
and remained with him four years, and until the 
close of the war. In ls70 he'went into the bar- 
bershop of George JNIickens, at Grafton, M'est 
Virginia, and remained one year, after which he 
successively worked at Mannington, 'SA'est Vir- 
ginia; Bellaire, Ohio, and Newark, Ohio. .Vugust 
20, 1878, he came to this city and worked with 
Mr. Henry, of the above firm, until September 
6, 1880, when he became partner. Mr. Hill was 
maj-ried, jMarch 30, 1880, to Miss Lucy ClintoU', 
of Zanesville, Ohio. 

HILL A. J., Coshocton; insurance agent; was 
born in Guernsey county, July 4, 1.S34; son of 
David M. .and Elizabeth (Gordeii) Hill. A. J. was 
brought up and schooled in town and city. His 
life has been yirincijially sjient in merchandising. 
In June, 1853, Mr. Hill was married to Miss 
Annie E., daughter of Adam and Mary (Huf- 
mam Kimble. They have been the parents of 
the following children, viz : Ray T., Osten D.,M. 
Lizzie, Ernest C. George F., Jennie A., .\nnie B. 
and Sarah B., deceased. In 1868 he formed the 
firm of McCleary it Hill, wholesale grocers, Cam- 
bridge, Ohio, and did a very successful business. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



707 



He was also partner in the linn of Thompson & 
Hill, hoot and shoe dealers, Cambridge, Ohio. 
From this place he went to Massillon, Ohio, and 
was proprietor of the Tremont House for two 
j'ears. Then lie moved to Newcomerstown, 
where his wife died, November 2, 1.S7G. He 
came to this city in 1877, and the sjiring of ISSO 
took the agency of the Jclloway JIutual Aid As- 
sociation, in which he is doing a ver}' satisfactory 
business. 

HILL GEORGE ROSCOE ; teacher; born Jan- 
uary 23, 1840, in Koscoc, Coshocton county, Ohio; 
son of James and Catharine (Dunlap) Hill, na- 
tives of Ireland, who came to America in 1832 
and located at Lockport, New York. In 1837 
they came to Roscoe, where tlie father died, No- 
vember 16, 1861. Young Hill obtained a good 
elementary education at the public schools of his 
native village. At the jiropcr age he began brick 
laying, at which he worked about ten years, dur- 
ing tlie summer seasons. When about twenty- 
five he began his present profession, in which he 
has been very successful. 

HIMEBAUGH WILLIAM, White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; born in Harrison county, Febru- 
ary, 1818. His father, Peter Hiniebaugh, was a 
native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
and was of German ancestry. William remained 
at home until he wa.s eighteen, when he appren- 
ticed himself to a cabinetmaker at Cadi/.. In 
1840 he came to this county, and he and his 
brother, Peter, started a shoj) at Chili, where they 
continued in the furniture business for eight 
years, William teaching .school during the winter. 
In 1843 he married Miss Sarah Alexander, daugh- 
ter of John Alexander. Mrs. Himcbaugh is a 
native of the county Tyrone, Ireland, and was 
born April, 1825. Her fatlier, John Alexander, 
was educated at Dublin. He studied medicine 
at the .same place, but never jiracticed his profes- 
sion He came to Buffalo, New York, in 1825; 
liveil there a short time, then moved to Pitts- 
burgh, where he staid a couple of years; then 
came on to White Eyes townshiji and purchased 
the farm on which he resided till his death, in 
1854, at the age of eighty-four. He was tlie sec- 
ond justice of the peace in the township, and 
held that office until lie was too old to serve. He 
w.is a ready writer, and an occasional contributor 
to the newspajiers. 

Mr. and Mrs. Himcbaugh became the parents 
of two children — Milton, born July. 184.5, enlisted 
December, 1861, at camp Meigs in Conijiany G, 
Eightieth O. V. I. lie was killed at the Ijatt'le of 
Jack.son, Mississij)pi, May 14, lsG3, at tlie age of 
seventeen years and ten months. He wa.s clerk 
of the brigade commissary department, but at 
the battle of Jackson he took a nuisket and went 
into the battle, and received a ball near his heart 



while fighting. He was patriotic and brave, and 

a young man of great promise. William A. was 
born May 28, 1857, is reading law, and is the only 
child livnig. Mr. Ilimebaugli moved to Wasli- 
ington county in 1848, and returned to Chili in 
1852. lie was elected county auditor in 1854, 
was installed in March, 1855, and was re-elected 
in 1856. He is the only IIe])id)lican in the coun- 
ty who has held a county ollice two terms in suc- 
cession, and the only one who has ever held the 
office of county auditor. In 1861 lie bought and 
moved on to the old Alexander ])lace in White 
P]yes, remained there until 1875, when he went 
to Avondale, anil in 1877 located on the farm 
wliere he now resides. 

Mr. Himeb.iugh was a strong and intluential 
union man. .Tune, ls()3, was appointed liy the iiro- 
vost marshal enrolling officer of adistrict includ- 
ingCrawford town.-ihip. The most interestingevent 
that occurred wliile discharging his duty in Craw-' 
ford, took place on Madison's run, in the vicinity 
of where a lodge of the "Golden Circle" was in 
the habit of holding its meetings. He called on 
a yoimg man who was -working in the cornfield 
for the purjjose of enrolling him. When asked 
for his name and age he rejilied, "I don't go niit 
dis abolition war. I fights nix for de nigger. I 
gives no name and I gives no how old. " Mr. 
Himcbaugh replied, "All right, sir, there is an- 
other way of getting your name and age," and 
turned to go to his horse. M'hile jiassing from 
the field to the road he saw two othei' persons 
cross the fence, with clubs in their hands, and 
join the Dutchman in the field. 

When about 200 yards away he heard some 
loud swearing from the Dutchmen, but could not 
understand what they were saying. He had to 
go by the Dutchman's house in order to get to 
his horse, and the three followed him, keeping at 
a disUmee, and jiretty quiet until Mr. Hinie- 
baugh was past the house, tb.en they Iiastened 
their i)ace, and as soon as they saw they could 
reach the house, the Dutchman interviewed in 
the field, began swearing, " Now you're as far as 
you gets, for I shoots you.'' He then went into 
the house and came out with a gun on his arm, 
still swearing that he would shoot. Mr. Hinie- 
baugh stood on the op])osite side of the fence with 
his hand on his revolver waiting for a motion 
from the Dutchman, and telling him at the same 
time that he was ready to o]ien the ball at any 
time. The other two were afraid to show theni- 
selves after they got into the house. 

However, the Dutchman did not shoot, but con- 
tinued his murderous threats, while Mr. Hinie- 
baugh walked deliberately to his horse that was 
hitched a few rods distant, when he found the 
.saddle girth was cut. One of the trin Wiis then 
immediately (lis])atclicd jiost haste to a magician 
in the neighborhood, and got him to use all his 



708 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



power in the black art to put a stop to "(lis en- 
rolling bizness." But, rcgnrdloss of the shot-gun 
anil the conjurations of tlic ch:iriner, the enrull- 
niciit of Crawford was completed. 

The Dutchman wa-s indicted by the United 
States grand jurv at Cleveland, was arrested and 
lay in jail an I the dungeon for a long while at 
that ])lace. Tlie other two ran ofi' and have not 
made their appearance since. 

From 18G2 to 18G9 Mr. Hmiebaugh was United 
States revenue assessor. He has been justice of 
the peace in Wh.te E-es township for twelve 
years, and holds that office at present. 

HINDS ELISH.A., decea.sed, .Vdams township; 
farmer; son of Ezra and Elizabeth Hinds; was 
born August 28, 1801, near Elizubethtown, New 
Jer-sey. He came to Steubenville, Ohio, and re- 
mained thirteen years; he then removed to Car- 
.roll county, Ohio, and remained until Ajiril, 1836, 
when he came to Co.shocton count}', and settled 
in Adams township, where he remained until 
his death. Mr. llimls was married February 10, 
1822, to Miss Nancy Berry, of Steubenville, Ohio. 
They became the parents of nine chddren,viz: 
Elia's, \Ve.stley ; David, decea.sed ; May J.; Elisha, 
deceased; John; Hannah, deceased; ;in infant 
not named, and Lewis. His wife died February 
6. 1804. He was married August 8, 1854:, to Miss 
M irgaret Huti". of Brownsville, Pennsylvania 
They became the parents of one child, James, 
who was born December 4, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hinds united with the M. E. church, December, 
1840, and remained members until death. They 
were descendants of the "Pilgrim Fathers." 
Mr. Hinds' father served in the revolutionary war. 

HOGAN D.INIEL, Coshocton ; restaurant, gro- 
cery and liquor dealer, 446 Main street; was born 
May 1,1850, in Waynesburgh, Virginia; son of 
Patrick Hogan, a native of Ireland. Mr. Hogan 
came to this county in 1860, and clerked for J.G. 
StewMrt three and one-half years, and for L. R. 
Miller four years. From Roscoe he went to War- 
saw and established a grocery ; in a few years he 
went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and established 
a restaurant, from whence he came to this city 
and estalilished his present business, in 1873, after 
having shippe<l horses a short time. Mr. Hogan 
was married July 12, 1873, to Miss Nancy Pain- 
ter, daughter of .lohn W. Painter, of Westmore- 
land county, Pennsvlvania. This union was 
blessed with three children. Wellington, Pearl 
and Belle. Mr. Hogiin commenced life for him- 
self a poor boy, but has succeeded well in his 
business. 

HOGLE JOHN, Bethlehem township; farmer; 
son of Michiiel ancl Polly (Langilon) Ilogle; was 
born November 7, 18'6, in Bethlehem township, 
Coshocton countv, Ohio; postoffice, W.-u'saw, 
Ohio. Mr. Hogle's father came to Bethlehem I 



town.ship in 1814, and found it a wilderness, in- 
haliited by Indians and wild animals; he was of 
Holland ])utch descent. John Hogle was married 
April 12, 1842, to Miss Lydia A. Skillinan, of this 
county, who was born February 22, 1822, in New 
Jersey. They are the parents of seven children, 
viz : Wilhelmina S., Leander, Charlotte L., Har- 
riet, Mary, Lizzie. Annie W. Mr. and Mrs. Ho- 
gle have been nifluential members of the M. E. 
church forty years. Mr. Hogle has been justice 
of the peace in his township twelve years, and is 
esteemed by all who know him. He owns one of 
the finest farms in this county. 

HOHENSHELL JACOB, farmer; Washing- 
ton township; postoffice, Wakatomaka; born in 
1810, in Wesmoreland county. Pennsylvania. He 
was married in 1832, to Miss Sarah Keister, of 
the same county, who was born in 1813. They 
came to this county in 1854. They are the par- 
ents of fourteen children, seven boys and seven 
girls; three boys and five girls are still living. 

HOLL RICHARD S., Newcastle township; 
postoffice, Newcastle; was born in Lancaster, 
county, Pennsylvania, in December 25, 1829; son 
of Jacob and Lydia (Potts) Holl, grandson of 
Peter and Christina (Miller) Holl, and Ephriam 
and Esther Potts. He attended school during his 
youth, and at the age of si.xteen began to learn 
the carpentry and pumpmaking trade, serving 
the proper time. He has been engaged in car- 
pentry ever since. He came to Newcastle in 
1855. and on August 5, 1862, he enlisted in the 
U. S. service under Captain Nichols, Company H., 
Ninety-seventh regiment, O. V I. He went with 
his company to Camp Lew Wallace, Covington, 
Kentucky, and while there received an injury 
while a.ssisting in unloading of medical stores, 
and was taken to West-End Hospital, Cincinnati, 
until he became convalescent and was then re- 
moved to Camp Dennison, where he remained 
until he received his discharge on December 25, 
1862, and came home. He has never recovered 
from his injury. After coming home he was 
unable to do anything for a year, and since then 
he is able to perform only light work about half 
his time. He was appointed postmaster in New- 
castle, in October, 1869, and has filled that office 
since. He was married to Miss Mary R. Spind- 
ler, on the 31st of January, 1850, dnughter of 
Frederick and Sarah (Campbell) Spindler. Mrs. 
Holl was born August 18, 1828, in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania. Thev have had seven 
chiMren.viz: Lydia, born November 20, 1850; 
Sarah, born November 6, 1852, died August 2.3, 
1S7S; Thomas J., born September 9, 1854; Mary 
E., born Julv 15, 1856; Hortense, born January 
26, 1859, died Julv 12, 1859; Richard A., borii 
M.irch 8, 1S61 ; Lovd N., born March 12, 1865, 
died October 16, 1870. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



709 



HOOD OLIVER T., White Eyes township; 
born in Ireliinil, in 1832; came to America in 
1842, and to this county in 1852, and located in 
White Eyes township lie commenced the 
mechanical trade as a machinist in his eleventh 
year, entering a large machine shop in (ilasgow, 
Scotland, but afterward turned his attention to 
engineering. He came to Montreal, Canada, and 
took charge of the steamer Kollin Hill, on the 
St. Lawrence river. In the spring of 1847, he 
came to Oswego, New York, and had charge of 
the steamer Victoria, running on the Bay of 
Fundy in the summer of 1847. In the fall of 1847, 
he went into a machine shop at Niagara Falls. 
In the spring of 1848. his parents moved upon a 
farm in Canada, where he remainc-d with them 
until 18.30, when he came to Erie, Pennsylvania, 
and took charge of a steamer on Lake Erie, « here 
he remained until 1.S32, when he came to this 
county. He was married, Septcnd.ier Ui, 1S.")2, to 
Mary .T. Graham, who was born in Steubenvdie, 
the daughter of Benjamin Graham, a resident of 
this county. They are the parents of six children, 
five living. S. W. was born in 1854, in this county. 
He was married, July, 188("l, to Miss Sailie Mar- 
shall, of Allegheny City, Peinisylvania. She was 
born in 185G. S. W. is a saddler by trade, and is 
carrying on business at Avondale. The names 
of the other children are as follows, viz: Maggie, 
Rebecca, Jane and Sarah K., and are all at home. 
Mr. Hood has followed carpentering since ISGS 
He has been elected justice of the peace of White 
E^-es township, and is holding that office at pres- 
ent. He and his family are members of the U. 
P. church at Avondale. 

HOOK ISAAC, Bethlehem township; farmer; 
son of John Hook; was born December 16, 1820, 
in this township, and has always remained a 
resident. His father came to this county in 1812, 
and located in Bethlehem township. He was one 
of the old pioneers, the town.ship being generally 
a dense f(jrest when he came here. Isaac Hi lok 
was married, in 1850, to Miss Kezia Burrell, of 
this county, who was born in 1829. They are the 
parents of nine childred,vi/, : S. M., born in 1851 ; 
E. .\nnie, born in 185.'?; Howard M., born in 
1855; Susan, born in 18.37; Jemiie. born in 185!i; 
Harvey, born in l.'^62; William, born in b'^08; Mil- 
dred, born in ].870, and George, born in 1872. 
All the children are residents of this county. 
Mr. Hook has always been a resident of this 
county, and has followed agricultural pursuits. 

HOOTMAN HENRY JACOB, Linton town- 
ship; farmer; born December 'J, 1824; son of 
Henry and Eleanor (Farmer) Ilootman. (For 
anc stry see Isaac Hootman). When three years 
old his father moved to O.xford tdwnshiii. where 
Henry remained till he was twenty-one; he then 
lived in Lafayette township until 1859, when he 



moved to Linton township; married November 
27, 1850, Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew and 
Mary (Kddruck) Ferguson, of Lafayette town- 
ship. Their children are Henry B., Emma D., 
Aiidrew H., and William Tecumseh Sherman. 
Jlr. Ilootman eidisted in Company .\, One llun- 
ilred and Ninety-fourth O. V. I.," February 15, 
1865, and served eight months. 

HOOTMAN ISA.AC; farmer; born in Lafay- 
ette townshii) October 27, 1818; son of Henry 
and Eleanor (Fanner) Ilootman. His maternal 
grandfather Frederick Farmer, was Irish born; 
his paternal grandfather, Christopher Ilootman, 
was a Hessian, and was drafted into service when 
only fourteen jears old ; belonged to a regiment 
as drum-major emjiloycd by the English in the 
American war, and wiis wounded and taken jjris- 
oner at Trenton. When released at the close of 
the war he adopted .\merica as his home, and 
settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
where he died. His sou Henry, father of l.saac, 
came to Lafayette township in bSI5, and about 
1828 moved to O.xford township; he afterwards 
sold out here and moved to Lawrence county, 
Illinois, where he died. E.Ncept a few months 
silent in Indiana, Isaac has always lived in this 
county. He was married in 1841 to Soiihronia 
I lammersly, horn October 22, 1822, daughter of 
Peter Hammersly, of Linton township. Their 
children are Henry, Ruhama, Thomas ; Eliza 
Ellen, deceased ; Seth ; Jacob, deceased ; George, 
Lydia, Manda, Dora ; Eber, deceased. 

HOOVER CHRISTIAN, Crawford township; 
farmer; postotKce, New Bedford; born October 
18, 1841, in German township. Holmes county, 
in the house in which he now resides; son of Jacob 
and Elizabeth (Snyder) Hoover. He has si)ent 
his entire time on the farm where he was born. 
He was married March IG, 1863, to Miss Mary, 
daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth (Varnse) 
Gouser. Five children were born to them, viz: 
Francis M., Rebecca Elizabeth, Martha, Albert 
A. and Mary Margaret. Mr. Hoover has a com- 
fortable home for himself and family. 

HOSELTON WILLIAM, Coshocton; saloon 
and rcsturant. Third street, between Main and 
Chestnut; was born April 22, 1832, in Circleville, 
Pickaway county; son of Jo.seph Hoselton, Sr., a 
native of Pennsylvania; served as major in the 
war of l.'<12, and was present at the surrender 
of General Hull. Young Hoselton was rai.-ed in 
his native village. At lifteen he began canal boat- 
ing, which he followed about tift(H'n years. He 
spent the years ls5(i-7 in the West. In 1861 he 
learned the carjientin' trade, anil followed it and 
butchering until l.'^77. when he established his 
present business. Mr. Hoselton was married 
May y, 1859, to Miss Eveline Prcscott, of Circle- 
ville. This union was blessed with five children, 



710 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



viz : Charles D., Fannie E., Emma L., William J. 
and Samuel T. Hoselton. 

HOSTETTER A. J., Keene township; born 
January 12, 1840, in Keene township; son of Ja- 
cob ami Harriet (Martin) Hostetter, of German 
birth. At the age of five years he moved to 
Holmes county, where he spent about twenty 
years, and then three in Ashland county. He 
ne.xt moved to Indiana, where lie remained until 
1870, when he returned to Coshocton coimty. 
He has followed cabinetmaking for thirteen 
years. Jlr. Hostetter enlisted in 1802 in Com- 
pany B, Si.xteenth regiment 0. V. I., and was dis- 
charged in 1804. He re-enlisted in Company B, 
First regiment 0. V. I., and remained in service 
until the close of the war, having been engaged at 
Mill Sjirings, Cumberland Gap, and in the num- 
erous battles which were fought in Sherman's 
Georgia campaign. He was married February 
20, 1807, to Susan E. Beaird, born in 1850, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) Beaird. 

HOUSER CHARLES, farmer; Washington 
township: postoffifc, Wakatomaka; born in 1814, 
in Hanii)shire county, Virginia. He came to this 
county in 1819 with his father C. D. Houser. He 
was born in 1700, in Germany, and came to Vir- 
ginia in 1785. He married Marion Thompson, 
of the same county, who was born in 1773. He 
died in 185.3; she died in 1851. They were the 
parents of nine children. The subject of tliis is 
the sixth. He was married in 1832 to Miss Re- 
becca Garee, of Licking countv, who was born in 
1818. 

HOWE A. D., Coshocton ; foreman in axle de- 
partment of steel works; was born March 10,1850, 
in Lodi, Otsego county. New York; son of George 
H. Howe. .\t the age of thirteen he went on a 
farm, where he remained two years. In April, 
1805, he commenced his present business, at 
Springliold Center, Otsego county. New York, 
and remained two years, then worked two years 
in Herkimer county, New York. He came to 
this city in 1871, and was one of the first who 
worked in the jtresent works, becoming foreman 
in September, 1878, which position he has held 
to the present time. Mr. Howe was married July 
10, 18GS, to Miss Mary, daughter of Isaac Sparts. 
of Menden. Herkimer county. New York. They 
have two children, Clarence D. and Mildred M. 

HOWE GEORGE H., Coshocton ; boxmaker, 
in spring and axle works ; was born in Otsego 
county. New York, in 1827 ; commenced work 
in cotton factory at the age of fourteen, and con- 
tinued four years; then learned the carpenters' 
trade, and followed it until he enlisted in Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Fifty-second N. 
Y. V. I. He was honorably discharged in July, 
1804, and returned to New York and engaged in 



buggy axle manufacturing, where he continued 
until 1870, when he engaged in his present posi- 
tion. Mr. Howe chose Harriett, daughter of 
Leonard Perkins, of Oneida county, New York, 
for a i)artner to share the joys and sorrows of 
life with him. They were bles.sed witli five 
children, viz : Albert, Charles, Ida, George, and 
Eggert, deceased. 

HOWELL JOHN, fruit grower; Washington 
township; postoftice, Wakatomaka; born in 
1814, in Belmont county, Ohio. He came to this 
county in 1827, with his father, who was born in 
17t)7, in Virginia. He was married in 1707, to 
Miss Elizabeth Bonham, of Virginia, who was 
born in 1777. They came to Belmont county in 
1814. He was in the war of 1812. John was 
married in 18.37, to Miss Phcebe A. Seward, of 
this county, who was born in 1813, in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania. She died in 1^70. They 
are the parents of eight children. Mr. Howell 
has thirty acres of orchard. His gross sales for 
1S7U ^vere $2,000. 

HOWLETT JOHN, Sr., Bedford township; 
cariienter; postoftice, West Bedford; liorn in 
1819, in Ohio county. West Virginia. He was 
married in 1848 to Miss Elizabeth J. Steele, of 
the same county, who was born in 1820. They 
came to this county in 1801. They are the par- 
ents of nine children, viz: Franklin, Albert; 
Gabriel, deceased; John, .Tames; Charles, de- 
ceased; Sarah E., Harry and Ida May. Mr. 
Howlett is a carpenter, having worked on many 
fine buildings. 

HOWSER A. B., Jackson township; Rascoe 
postoflice; born in this county in 1851; son of 
Jacob and Elizabeth Howser, and grandson of 
Andrew and Mary (Carson) Loekard; married 
in 1875 to Mary A. Norris, daughter of William 
and Rebecca J. Norris. Thev have one child — 
Curtis S. ' • 

HUGHES JAMES, Bedford township; farm- 
er; postoffice. West Bedford; born in 1809 in 
Belmont ctmnty, Ohio, and came to this county 
in 1821, with his father, who was born in 1707 in 
New Jersey. He married Miss Francis Launney, 
of Winchester, Virginia, and died in .1824. She 
died in 1867. They were the ]iarents of seven 
children, the subject of this sketch being the 
third. He was married in 1800 to ^Miss Rebecca 
Hardman, of this county, who was born in 1822. 
She died in 1803. He was married in 1872 to 
Miss Lottie Robinson, of this county, who was 
born in 1839, in Harrison county. They are the 
parents of three children, viz : Luella J., James 
A. and Francis U. 

HUGHES JOHN D., Keene township; car. 
penter; born June 20, 1840, in Pittsburgh, Penn 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



ill 



sylvnnia; son of John ami Eliza J. Hughes, and 
tcramlson of Robert ami Mary A. (Robinson) 
Hughes, and of John and Nanry (llassou) Dun- 
can. He remained in riUsbur;j;li, till l.STS, wlien 
lie came to Keene. and married Miss Rebeeea 
FuUerton, of Irish extraction, who was born 
June 2(1,1844; daughter of Robert and Anna 
(Aiken) Fullerton, and granddaughter of Robert 
Fullerton. Three children have l)ecn born unto 
them: William, February 2, IsGS; Eliza J., Oc- 
tober 1.5, 1871, and Mary E.. October 12,1874. 
Mr. Hughes enlisted in the Thirteenth Pa. V. I., 
Company F, and was discjiarged .Vngnst 28, 1.SOI ; 
re-enlisted September G, 18G1, in th<' One Hun- 
<lred and Second Pa. V. I., Company L, and mus- 
tered out September 9, 1864. He was engaged 
at Williamsliurg, Antietam and Fredericlvsburg. 
At M'iUiamsburg he was severly woiuided. He 
was a member of the militia that helped to sup- 
press the great Pittsburgh riot, in 1878. 

HUGHES WILLIAM H., Coshocton ; carpen- 
ter and contractor ; was born April Tl, 1840, in 
IMuskingum county. He is a son of Henry C. R. 
Hughes, American born, of Irish ancestry. 
Young Hughes was raised on the farm until 
jiljout fifteen years of age, when he began to 
learn the cabinet trade, which he followed until 
18G1, when he enlisted in Company A, Ninth O. 
V. C, and served until the close of the war. On 
returning from the war he resumed his trade at 
Roscoe, where he followed it until 18G9, wlien he 
changed to his present trade. In 1871 lie came to 
this city, and has successfully followed the car- 
l)enter anil contracting business to the present. 
Sir. Hughes was married August 8, 18GG, to Miss 
Jennie Mirise, daughter of John Mirise, deceased, 
formerly of Roscoe. This union has been blessed 
with five children, viz : Frank G., Alice Blanche, 
Edie Belle, Charles II. and William Longdon. 

HURLBUTT L. H., Coshocton; manager for 
D. AI Moore, custom clothier, 422 Main street; 
■Wiisbornin 18.32, in the State of Comiecticut; com- 
menced his trade when fourteen years of age; at 
twenty heestalilished a shop at Norfolk, Connecti- 
cut, and continued business six years. His ln-alth 
failing, he w'ent south and remained two years, 
then returned and located at Stanford, Connecti- 
cut, and remained twelve years. He was em- 
ployed as cutter in Dunkirk, Newark and Dayton. 
In 1878 he t(.iok his present position. He was 
married in 18,38. to I\Iis8 E. Holcomb, of Water- 
bury, Comiecticut. Their children are William 
L., J. A. and Perry. This establishment emjiloys 
twenty-live hands, and turns off' from twenty-live 
to thirty suits per week. Mr. Moore buys <lircct 
from the mills. This is a branch of the Newark 
store, which employs from fifty to si.xty hands. 

HUTCHINSON W. S., Coshocton; grocer, cor- 
ner of Walnut and Sixth streets. Mr. Hutchin- 



son is a native of tliis city, born December 31, 
184S; was educated in the public schools of Co- 
shocton, and made his lirst business engagement 
as salesman with William Ward, in general mer- 
chandising. He afterward served the tirms of 
Hay & Wilson, D. Brelsford & Co., and J. II. 
Klosser, when in February, 1878, he ])urclia.sed 
the stock of Williams Bros., since which lie lias 
been engaged in the grocery business. He carries 
an extensive and (irst-class stock of stajjle and 
fancy groceries and confectioneries, stove and 
woodenware, sugar-cured and pickled meats, lish, 
flour and salt, also deals in all kinds of country 
])roduce. 



INGRAHAM J. B., Coshocton, Ohio; physician 
and surgeon: born November '.•, 1821, in Harri- 
son county. Virginia; son of Jacob and Maria 
(JI<idisett) Ingraham. His paternal ancestors are 
English, and his maternal, Welch and French. 
He was brought up a farmer-boy until eighteen, 
when he began teaching school, and taught three 
schools. In 18-14, he located at Athens, Athens 
county, Ohio, and at once began reading medi- 
cine with Dr. Carpenter, and began jiractice at 
Savannah, Athens county, Ohio, in l.'^47 ; his next 
location w'as at Logan, Hocking county, Ohio, 
W'here he was married, March 7, 1847, to Miss 
Sarah E., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Field- 
ing) Guthrie. They are the i)arents of nine chil- 
dren, viz : Maria, Olivia, now Mrs. Dr. T. J. Smith; 
Sarah E., Charles M., Frances Ellen, now Jlrs. Dr. 
H. L Mann; Emma G.; John (i, deceased; Rose 
E., Edgar, Floyd and Robert Jay. June 4, 1S4<8, 
Dr. Ingraham located at I'lainlied, Coshocton 
county, Ohio, where he practiced until ,\pril 1, 
1804, when he came to Coshocton. He has been 
eminently successful in his professional practice, 
especially as a surgeon. 

IRVINE J., Coshocton ; attorney at law ; was 
born December 24, 1822, at Wooster, Ohio, where 
he remained until he was ten years old, when 
with his parents he went to Fredejncksburgh, 
wh(-re (in finishing his education he began leach- 
ing school. He taught in A.shland county, and 
also in the schools at Fredericksburgh At the 
age of twenty-fiiur he entered as a student the 
law ofHce of Sa)ip it Wilker, and was admitted to 
practice about the time war wasdeclared between 
the United Stales and ISIexico. In May, 1847, he 

enliste' in Company G, O. V. Las second 

lieutenant, and in September of the same year 
he was elected caiitain of the company at Mala- 
moras, Mexico, and was honorably disiharged in 
1848 at Cincinnati, Ohio. On receiving iiis dis- 
charge he came to his jirescnt location, and 
taught school one year; then resumed hisjiresent 
law i)rofession. In April, 18G1, he enlisted as 
colonel of the Sixteenth O. V. I. and served three 



712 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



months. In 1863 he recruited company M, Ninth 
O. V. C, and was coniniissioned its c:i{>tain, and 
subsequently major, and served until August 2, 
lf^'65. In June, 1S53, Col. Irvine was married to 
Miss Annie Humrifkhouse. They became the 
parents of two children, Samuel and Mar}-. 



JACQUET JOHN M., Coshocton; pastor of 
; St. George congregation; born August 20, 1817, 
in France; son of Claude Jacquet; educated at 
Lyons, France, and ordained there in 1844; 
came to America in 1845, and was employed in 
the dioce.se of Nashville. Tennessee, until 18.")0, 
in which year he became pastor of St. Mary's 
church, at Batesville, Noble county, Ohio, where 
he remained till 1869 ; he then removed to Co- 
shocton, and has remained here since, officiating 
as pastor of the St. George church, in the city; 
and, in addition, having charge of live small mis- 
sions, viz : One in Franklin, one in Linton, and 
one in Monroe township, this county; one in 
Dresden, and one in Muskingum townshij), Mus- 
kingum county. 

JAMES E. W., Coshocton ; attorney ; born Feb- 
ruary 11, 1837, in East Union, this county; son of 
Thomas James, who was American h<irn, of Eng- 
lish ancestry. Young James spent his early life 
on a farm and going to public schools. In 18.j4, 
he commenced a more thorough course of edu- 
cation, during the summers attending succes- 
sively West Bedford academy, Oberlin college, 
Spring Mountain academy and Meadville col- 
lege, Pennsylvania, and teaching in the winters. 
August 15, inn, he enlisted as a ])rivate in com- 
pany K, Thirty-second O. V. I. During the first 
year he rose successively to second and first lieu- 
tenants. In February, 1863, he was conimi.ssioned 
captain. He resigned soon after the fall of At- 
lanta, Georgia. Captain James was ajipointed 
judge advocate on General Legget's stall and re- 
ceived several honorable mentions during his mil- 
itary services. In the spring of 1865, he entered, 
as a student, the law office of Messrs. Nicholas ct 
Williams. During his reading, he took the law 
course at Michigan university, and was graduated 
in March, 1867, soon after which he commenced 
the jiractice of law, forming the firm of Nicholas 
& James. Captain James was married. May 16. 
1871, to Miss Cornelia A. Denver, daughter of 
Patrick Denver, of Clinton county, Ohio. The 
result of this union is one child, a daughter, 
Mary. 

JAMES THOMAS, Bedford to^\•nship; post- 
office West Bedford : born in 1812, in (his county. 
His father Elias James was born in 1785 in Lou- 
don county, Virginia, and was married in 18C6, 
to Miss Nancy Fry, of the same county, who was 



born in 1785. They came to this county in 1809. 
He died in 1860, she died in 1863. They were 
the parents of six children, the subject of thi.s 
sketch being the third. He was married in 1833, 
to Miss Sarah O. Cochran, of this county, who 
was born in 1815. They are the parents of eight 
children, only one of whom is living. E. W. 
was a member of the Thirty-second, O. V. I. He 
went in as a private and rose to the rank of cap- 
tain. The names of the deceased children are 
James F., Melvina, Eebecca J., Rachel V., Ruth 
v., Nancy E., and Sarah K. 

JEFFRIES V. O., Coshocton; carriage and 
wagon manufacturer, north Second street; born 
November 22, 1841, in White Eyes township; son 
of William Jeflries. Young Jetiries was raised 
on the farm, where he remained until he was 
twenty-one years of age, when he went to his 
trade with E. McDonald, after which he worked 
with Conrod & Shepler, of Marysville, Union 
county; and four years under instructions at 
Columbus; also for A. D. Manners, of this city. 
In the spring of 1876 he established his present 
shop, where he is receiving a full share of the 
patronage in his line of business. Mr. J. keeps 
eight or ten hands employed at his shop. Mr. 
Jetiries was married December 21, 1880, to Miss 
Ada L., daughter of George Morgan, of this city. 

JELLEY ROBERT D., Keene township ; farm- 
er; born December 1, 1841, in Mill Creek town- 
ship; son of Samuel and Lydia Jelley,and grand- 
son of James and Mary (Hazlett) Jeiley, and of 
Robert and Elizabeth" Davidson, natives of Ire- 
land. He was married October 22, 1867, to 
Christina, daughter of Jacob and Susannah Best, 
and granddaughter of John and Christina (Reve- 
naugh) Best, and of Peter and Susannah Miller, of 
German lineage. They have one child, Eliza- 
beth M., born September 1, 1860. 

JENNINGS JOSEPH, Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Coshocton county, September 
23, 1845; son of Joseph Jennings, Sr., an early 
settler of this county; enlisted in Conijjany M, 
Ninth 0. V. C, October 22, 1863, and remained in 
service until nuistered out in 1865. Among the 
engagements he participated in were Decatur, 
Alabama, those about Atlanta, Aiken, Chappel 
Hill, Nasliville, Tennessee, etc. Since his return 
he has engaged in farming. He was married 
September 8, 1870, to Rebecca Simon, born April 
27, 1847, daughter of William Simon, who was 
born in Fairfield county, and whose parents emi- 
grated from Germany.' His children were, Ar- 
niinta, Viola, William" Marshall, John Harley, Sa- 
ra Bell and Olvy Pearl. 

JOHN E. Y., deceased, Tiverton township; 
born March 1, 1821, in this county, and was mar- 
ried in 1848, to Miss Hannah Spurgeon, of this 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



713 



county, who was horn in Xoveniher, 1824. He 
died March 12, 1.S75. They were the parents of 
four eluldrcn, only one of wliom, Polantes, is 
living. Mr. John followed the business of sales- 
man, selling goods in Walhonding and Warsaw. 

JONES SAMUEL, Lafayette township; farmer; 
postoltice, West Lafayette, Ohio; son of David P. 
and Margaret (Hunt) Jones; was horn April 20, 
1842, in England. lie eanie to this eounlry in 
184.5, and loeated in Linton township, this county. 
He was raised on the farm, and has always fol- 
lowed (hat oecupatien. Mr. Jones was married 
June 20, I860, to Miss Debby J Wiggins, of this 
comity. They are the parents of si.\ cliildren, 
viz: liosejla, born June 2'J, 1860; Id;i M, born i 
August 2.3, 1807; Charles H., born August 2(i, ' 
18G9; Samuel II., born January 10, 1.S72; Daviil 
P , born December 0, 1877, died March 8, 1878, 
and Debby P., born January 21, 1870. Mr. Jones 
serve<l four months as a private in Company E, 
One Ihmdrcd and Fort> -second O. V. I., under 
General Butler. 

JONES SMITH, Oxford township; farmer; 
White Eyes Plains postotfiee; son of Wesley and 
MiUe A. (Medley) Jones, both natives of Ohio. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Belmont 
county, in 1841, and came to this county when 
about three years of age. He was married to 
Miss Margaret Ann Wolf, dau'-diter of Sanmel 
Wolf, deceased They have not been blessed with 
any children. He is at present townshi]) trustee, 
being elected on the Republican ticket, although 
the township is Democratic, which shows his pop- 
ularity. He took part in the late war, going out 
in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
O V. I., and serving twoity months, going out 
as a private and discharged as a sergeant. Mr. 
Jones and wife are members of the Protestant 
Methodist chiu'ch of this township, and are both 
highly esteemed by their neighbors. He owns 
fifty-three acres of good land in this township. 

JONES REV. A. P., Virginia towmshiix The 
subject of this sketch was born at Westlield, Me- 
dina county, Ohio; son of Sylvanus and .\Ivira 
Jones. Mr. .lohns was brought up on a farm till 
the age of eighteen years. He then went to 
school at Baldwin university, at Berea, Ohio, he 
also spent two years at the Wesleyan university, 
at Del.aware, where he graduated. He then entered 
the North Ohio Conference, of wliich he re- 
mained a member until 18().'?, when he enlisted 
in the Thirty-fourth Regiment O. V. I., Army of 
the Cumberland, served about eighteen months 
as a private. He afterward served in various ca- 
pacities : first as clerk, then in the executive de- 
partment of the hospital, then as cha])lain till he 
was mustered out of the service. On his return 
he again entered the conference, and is still a 



member of it. He married Miss Cordelia 
Thatcher, in August, 1850. 

JOHNSTON J. H., .reflerson townsliip; was 
born September 10, 18;14, in Scotland, anil wdiile 
yet an infant, he was brought by his parents to 
Canada, where he was brought up on a farm, 
and educated in a Canadian free scliool. At the 
age of twenty, he came to the United States, and 
.settled in Hancock county. West Virginia, where 
he learned the blacksmith trade, under John 
Di.xon, and followed it, in Virginia, about seven 
years; then went toCalifornia.workedat his trade 
aboutsi.xteen months; then returned toCoshocton 
comity, Ohio, worked at his trade until 1875, 
when he went to Texas, to look for a location; 
remained there about fifteen months, and fol- 
lowed farming; then returned to Jefierson town- 
ship, Coshocton <'ounty, where he is now pursu- 
ing his old occupation of blacksmithing. He 
was married to Miss Rebecca J. Nejilune, Sep- 
tember, 18.37, who was bcjrn June 3, 1M.'34; daugh- 
ter of Davis and Elizabeth (Hull) Neptune, and 
granddaughter of Benjamin and Sarah Hull. 
Their iliildren were, Elizabeth, deceased ; John 
T., born January 2, 1802; George D., August 2, 
1803; Alice M., September 28, 186.5; James H., 
September 2, 186S ; Charles G., February 2, 1871; 
Samuel A., September 7, 1802, and Sarah J., May 
20, 1.S76, born in Texas. Mr. Johnston enlisted 
in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-seconil 
O. N. G., and served his country 100 days. 

JOHNSON JAMES, Franklin township; born 
in Boston, Ma.ssachusetts, JIarch 10, 1815; son of 
John and Rebecca Johnson. In 1818, his father, 
a weaver, moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and 
seven years later to Utica, New York James re- 
mained here till he was twelve years old, then 
worked on the Erie canal till he was twenty-live, 
when he learned the cooper trade, wrtrking at it, 
in Newark, Wavne couiitv, and Phelps, Ontario 
county. New York, till the fall of 1848. He then 
moved to Roscoe, this county, and followed his 
trade till the sjiring of 1852, when he moved to 
FranUlin township. He built a cooper-shop at 
ConesviUe, doing the cooper work for the distil- 
lery, and also , -hi pjiiiig his barrels. About 1868, 
he qtiit coopering and engaged exclusively in 
farming. He was marrieil, in 1841, to Matilda 
Cornell, daughter of John Cornell. His two chil- 
dren were nauied John and Sarah Minerva. 

JOHNSON HENRY, deceased; Lafayette 
township: was born in Orange county. New 
York, in ISOO, and came toOhio in 1.^37; previous 
to coming heie, he run a dairy in Orangt' county, 
note<l the world over for its butler and butter- 
makers. He was married October 23, 1822, to 
Miss Clarinda Burt, of Orange county. New York. 
They had three children, viz : Sarah, Catherine 



714 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and Clara. Sirs. Johnson passed away in 1873, 
and Mr. Jolmson in 1.S79, his deatli resulting 
from beins;; struclc in the breast by a horse whieli 
was snared at a steam tln-esher. IMrs. Johnson 
was af'ri)i])le tlie best part of lier life from rheu- 
matism, caused principally by the hard work in- 
cident to an early settler's life. Clara, the young- 
•est daughter, owns the home farm of 200 acres, 
which is the one first settled upon by her father, 
and owns 1240 acres south of the home farm. The 
house where she is at present living is the oldest 
frame house in the valley, atone time a tavern, in 
the early days of this county, and was the place 
for holding elections for some time. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson were both leading members of the 
Baptist church here, in fact, Mr. Johnson may 
truthfully be said to have built the Baptist church 
in this place, and his home was sometimes called 
the " preacher's home," on. account of the hospi- 
tality e.Ktended to them. 

j6HNSt)N JES.SE, White Ey(-s town.ship: 
farmer ; born in Jeti'erson county about 1S17, and 
was the son of Derrick Johnson. Jesse was niar- 
ried in 1841 to Miss M. J. Dennison of Jetterson 
•county; .she was born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania. They had nine children, all of 
whom have deceased excej)t the three yciungest, 
two boys and one girl — Charles, Ernst and Grace. 
CJrace is married to John Adams, a stock 
dealer of Coshocton, and resides at that jilace. 
Charles lives at home with his mother, and farms 
the place. Ernst has been attending school at 
Coshocton for the last three years. Mr. Johnson 
came to this township in the spring of ISGl, and 
located on the farm where his widow resides. He 
died Sejitembcr 15. 1868. aged 62 years, and was 
interred at Kindiles. They lost four of their 
children within two weeks. 

JOHNSON DR. MARO, Roseoe, Ohio. Dr. 
Johnson was born March 14, ISIO, in Cheshire 
county. New Hamijshire; son of Adam and 
Martha (Breed) Johnson, who were of English 
ancestors. The doctor's grandfather was a soldier 
in the French and English wars of 1764-5o, and 
also in the revolutionary war. Young Johnson 
was brought up on a farm, where he remained 
until he was twenty years of age, when he began 
reading medicine with Dr. Samuel Lee, the lirst 
physician in Coshocton, Ohio. After three years' 
study he attended a course of lectures at the Ohio 
medical college at Cincinnati, pn his return 
from the lectures he became a partner with his 
])recei>tor, with whom he remained six years, 
and since which time he has practiced medicine 
at his present place, Roseoe. Dr. Johnson was 
married November 15, 183S, to Miss Eliza L., 
<laughter of Thomas L. Rue, of Coshocton, but 
formerly of I'ennington, New Jersey. They be- 
came the i)arents of four children, viz: Sarah L., 
Jane, married to John M. Adams, of Jackson 



township; Elizabeth, deceased, aged 19 years; 
Guy, married to Miss Lone, now residing in Iowa. 
Mrs. Johnson died in 1854, and is buried in the 
old cemetery at Roseoe. 

JOHNSON WILLIAM A., clerk; Coshocton; 
was born June 28, 1823, in this city; son of .Vdam 
and Sarah Williams, daughter of Colonel Wil- 
liams the pioneer settler of this city. .Johnson, 
Sr., w-as a native of Maryland. At the age of thir- 
teen young Johnson began the printing business 
in the Coahoeton Demix-rat,:\nd in 1.S45 he became 
owner of half the office, which he held al)out one 
year. In 1^46 he became editor and proprietor 
of the Crawfordsville Iierit'ir,\n Indiana, and ccm- 
ducted it one year, then removed to Iowa and bl- 
eated at Ottum wa.Wapello county. He afterwards 
]iurchased the Des Moines llcpiihlicun, and con- 
ducted it nearly two years. Then returned to his 
native city a wiser if not wealthier man, and be- 
came forcmanof the Co.shoctcni >l//c,which position 
he hold under Burt, Hillyer, Dwyer & Harris. He 
was ajiiiointed jiostmaster by President Lincoln, 
but was victimized by President Johnson. In 
1.S61 he enlisted as musician of Fifty-lirst 'regi- 
mental band, but was discharged by act of con- 
gress in 1862. He also served under the govern- 
ment as a.ssistant assessor, also as asses.sor, then 
again assistant assessor of internal revenue, also 
de|)uty provost marshal of this county, after 
which he retired to private life. Mr. Johnson 
was married in Ajiril, 1845, to Miss Doratha, 
daughter of John and Susannah (Jennings) Ostler. 
This union was blessed with eleven children; 
three died in infancv, not named; Louisa, Marv 
v., Luella, William' A.. Jr., George W., Charles 
M.; Adah, deceased ; Mary A. and Paul B. 

JOHNSON C. B., New Castle township; post- 
ofhce. New Castle; was born in Tomjikins countv, 
New York, April .'^0, 1840; son of Henry L. and 
Ocee Ann (Brown) Johnson, and grandson of Rob- 
ert and l\Iary (Carney) Brown. He worked on 
the farm and attended school until the age of 
eighteen, at which time he came to West Bedford, 
this county, anil learned the harnes;s-maker trade 

with Philips, and from there he came to 

New Castle, and worked with William Lyons. 
In June, 1861, he volunteered in the Ignited 
States service in Company D, Twenty-fourth O. 
V. I., under Cai)tain Givens, and remained in the 
service imtil January, 1863. His lirst encamp- 
ment was at Cam]) Chase, four miles west of Co- 
lumbus, and in July, 1861, was removed from 
there to Bellaire; thence to Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- 
vania; thence to Clarksburg. West Virginia, 
where he was taken ill and was sent to the hos- 
pital, and was there several days. He then, with 
three comrades, followed the connnand to Cheat 
Mountain, a distance of 104 miles, camping each 
night among the enemy. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



715 



From Cheat Mountain he went to Greenbrier, 
and there took part in the tight, then came bacl< 
witli liis regiment to Clioat Mountain, and from 
there was ordered to Clarksburg, anil thence to 
Louisville, Kentucky, under General Wilson. 
From Louisville he went into winter quarters at 
Camp Wicklilfe. and, in February, 1^02, was or- 
dered to West Point, Kentucky, and down the 
Ohio to Paducah. thence up the Cumberland to 
Fort Donelson, exjiecting to assist in the liglit at 
that place, but didn't reach there until the morn- 
ing of the surrender. From there he went to 
Nashville, Tennessee, where he was taken sick 
And sent to the hospital, and afterward detailed 
to hospital Xo. 14 as hospital clerk, and remained 
nine months and twenty-seven days, when he re- 
ceived his discharge and went home. He was 
never wounded 

He then went to Mt. Vernon, Knox county, 
Ohio, and worked at his trade witli with George 
Hawk for nine months, and in IrOt moved to 
Bladensburgh, Knox county, and from there to 
Roscoe and carried on a shop for two years, and 
in the fall of l.S(J7 moved to New^ Castle, where 
he has resided ever since. In 1S74 he patented 
the diamond trace buckle, for which he received 
about Sl.OOO. He has served three terms as jus- 
tice of the peace in New Castle township, and is 
at present proprietor of Union Hotel, doing a 
fair business. He has been twice married. His 
first wife was Miss Martha Baltzall, to whom he 
w;is married March 7, IStiS. Slie was the daugh- 
ter of .lo.seph and Lydia Baltzall, and died .luly 
12, 18G5. He married his second wife, Miss 
Charity E. Fulkerson. July 7, 1^07, daughter of 
Thomasand Lydia Fulkerson, who is tlie mother 
of four children, three of whom are living viz: 
Blanche, born Julv 0, 1S68; George, born Octo- 
ber 10, 1879 ; Robert, born February 21, 1877. 

JOHNSON ROBERT L., New Castle town- 
ship; postotBce. New Castle; was born Marcli 15, 
18o.s, in Tompkins county. New York; son of 
Henry and Ocee Ann (iJrown) Johnson, and 
grandson of Robert and Mary (Carney) Brown, 
tic attended school and assisted his father on the 
farm tmtil he was twenty years of age, at which 
time he went to Illinois, remaining there aboutten 
months, working for Mr. Williams, of Crawford 
county, then came to Virgniia townsliip, Co.shoc- 
ton county, and from there went to Bedford 
township, and worked with Elias James, and at- 
tended school during the winter of ISoO. 

In the spring following, he went to We.st 
Bradford, and in the fall, to Simmons' rim, near 
Xenia, Ohio, and worked there until tlie sjiring 
of bSOl, when became to New Castle, and worked 
with .lesse Xiekols. until the first of Jinie, when 
he enlisted in the United States service, Com- 
pany K, Twenty-fourth O. V. I., under Captain 
Given; went to Camp Chase; from there to 



Bellaire, and thence to Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- 
nia; was then ordered to Clarksburg, \\'est Vir- 
ginia, and thence to Clieat Moinitain; from 
there went to Greenbrier, and took ])art in the 
engagement at that place; from there lie re- 
turned, with his regiment to Cheat Mountain ; 
from thence to Clarksburg; thence to Louisville, 
Kentucky, and from there to winter quarters, at 
Cami) Wicklifl'o, and. in February, 18G2, went to 
West Point Kentucky; from thereto Paducah; 
thence nj) the Cumberland, to Fort Donaldson, 
to assist in the engagement there, but did not 
arrive until the morning of the surrender. 

From there he went to Nashville, Tennessee, 
thence to Savannah, Georgia, then to Shiloh, ex- 
pecting an attack. On the morning of the Mb of 
February, he marched with his regiment against 
the enem}', had a battle and routed tlie enemy. 
From there he went to Corinth and assisted in 
the siege, thcnce'to Beech bottoms, thence to luka 
Springs, thence to Nashville and JIurfreesborough, 
Tennessee, where, on account of sickness, he 
was taken to convalescent camp, remained there 
about six weeks; was then detailed as teamster to 
Bowling Green, then to Louisville, thence to Nash- 
ville, when he was taken to hospital on account 
of injuries received from a mule, where he re- 
mained until he was discharged, January 27, 1SG3, 
and then came home. He married Miss Mary 
A. Smith, August 17, 1865. He tlien learned the 
harnessniaker trade, in New Castle, with his 
brotiicr, Charles, with whom he was a partner 
about four years, when he sold his interest and 
went into the barhering business at Mount Ver- 
non, Knox county, and, after a time, came back 
to New Castle, where he is at present engaged at 
liarnessmaking and barbering, doing a fair busi- 
ness. 

JOHNSON JOHN, Pike township; postoffice. 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser ; born in 
this county in 1846; son of John and Mary John- 
son, and grandson of ,Tohn Johnson, and of Jo- 
scjih and Mary Hawker. He was married in 1.S68 
to Miss Elizabeth Fram]iton, daughter of (iarrett- 
son and Eliza A, Frampton. They are tlic ]>a- 
rents of two children, viz: Clarence G. and Ste- 
])ben I). IMr. Johnson enlisted in 18t)4, in Com- 
liany F, Nihety-sevcnth O. V. I., Capt. Lemmert, 
Army of the Cumberland. Mr. Johnson parlici- 
l)ated in the following battles, to-wit: Rocky Face 
Ridge, Mav 9, 1S64; Resaca, Georgia, Jlay 14 
and' 15, ]8(;4; Adairsville, Mav 17, 'iSi'A; Burnt 
Hickory, May 27, 1864; >[uddy Creek, June 18, 
1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1861: Peach 
Tree Creek, July 20, 1S64: .Atlanta, Georgia. July 
22and 2.'3, 1.^64; Jonesbonmgli, Scjitembcr 1,1S(V1; 
Lovejoy Station, September 2, 1S64; Sjiring Hill, 
November 29, 1864; Franklin. November .'W, 
1864; Nashville. December 15 and Hi. l.'^t^l ; Mis- 
sionarv Ridge, Stone River, and Chicamauga. He 



716 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



was wounded at Nashville December 16, 1864; 
and was mustered out at Powder iiorn, Texas, 
October 21, 1S65. 

JOHNSON WILLIAM, Pike township; post- 
ofiice, Kallsburgh ; fanner and stockraiser ; born 
in England in 1810; came to the United States in 
lcS52, and settled in this county in 1JS70; son of 
Daniel and Mary (Topps) Johnson, and grandson 
of William and Mary Johnson, and of Timmas 

and Topps. lie was married in 1858 to 

Miss Levina Lane, daughter of Joshua anil Sarah 
Lane. They are the parents of six children, viz: 
Mary and Sarah, both deceased; Alargaret, John, 
Terrissa, George E., Harriett, and Elizabeth. 
The father of the subject of this sketch died in 
1867. 

KANE FRANK; was born in Herkimer 
county. New York, Jidy 18, 1828; lived on a 
farm, and went to Fairtield academy until the 
age of fifteen, and then went to learn the currier 
trade; followed it three years, then moved to 
Otsego County, New York, and followed jiattiM-n 
making for twelve years. After this he leit New 
York and went to Schenectady City, and resumed 
his trade of pattern making for a time, after 
which he returned to Otsego and followed the 
same business for two years; then came to Co- 
shocton, Ohio, and has worked at pattern making 
for the Iron and Steel Co., up to the present 
time. Mr. Kane married Julia II., daughter of 
Philip Baker, of liichHeld Springs, Otsego 
county. New York. This union has been blessed 
with two children, viz : Charley B. and Cora 
Kane. 

KASER CHRISTIAN, JefTerson township; 
postoflice, Warsaw ; born in Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, November 23, 1815; son of Frederick and 
Jolianna (Slumf) Kaser. In his youth he Ifarned 
the .-hoemaker trade, and, at the age of eighteen, 
began doing for liimsclf, worked at promiscuous 
work fur twenty years, then came to America in 
1848, landing m New York after a voyage of 
eighteen days. From New York he went to 
Dutch Bedford, remained there a short time, 
then came to Jetlerson township, Coshocton 
county, where he has resided since. He was 
married February 2'.), 1S49, to Miss Sophia Gam- 
ertsfelder, daughter of Christian and Jcihanna 
(Verner) Gamertsfelder. She was born Novem- 
ber ;i, 1814, in Stiltzbaugh, Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many; came to America in 1833, landing in Bal- 
timore after a voyage of eighty-one days, on the 
vessel Elizabeth. They arc the parents of two 
children — John and Christian. John was born 
in Mill Creek town.ship May 2.5, 1851. He at- 
tended district school and assisted his father 
until the age of twenty-one, since which time he 
has farmed for himself. He is an eneigetic 



young man, respected by all who know him. He 

was married January 1, 1875, to Miss Anna E. 
Miller, daughter of John W. and Caroline Miller, 
who was born June 3, 1852, in JcHerson townshij), 
died May 31, 1879. This union was ble.--sed with 
one child (Samuel), born September 21), 1875. 

KASER C, Jefferson township; was born May 
2, 1855, in Jetlerson township, Coshocton county. 
He lived on a farm until the age of eighteen, 
when, after attending school for some time at 
Warsaw, he began teaching and tauglit one jear, 
then went back to the farm where he remained 
two years, after which he attended the Ohio Cen- 
tral Normal school, at Worthington, Franklin 
count}'. He is now engaged in selling hardware 
in partnership with R. C. Frederick, at Warsaw, 
where they are doing a good business. Mr. 
Kaser was married to Miss Louisa Meyers, May 
5, 1880, daughter of Henrj' and Wilhclmina 
Myers. C. Kaser is a son of C? and Sophia 
(Gamertsfelder) Kaser. 

KASER JOHN C, Jefferson township ; farmer; 
postoltice, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Christian and 
Sophia F. (Gamertsfelder) Kaser; was born May 
25, 1851, in this county. He was raised on the 
fai'm, and has always followed that occupation. 
He was married December 31, 1865, to Miss Annie 
E. Miller, of this county. They became the pa- 
rents of one child, viz: Samuel, born September 
2<J, 18G6. 1 1 is wife died May 30, 1879. Mr. Kaser'a 
second marriage was on February 24, 188), to 
Miss Maggie Fisher, of this county. He is farm- 
ing his father's place at present. 

KETC (1 UM S.VMUEL, deceased ; the only son 
of Abner and Clarinda (Belcher) Ketchum ; was 
born in Moroe, Orange county, New York, No- 
vember 8, 1827, and came here with his parents 
in May, 1840; was married February 24, 1851, to 
Eleanor L. Lowry, of Linton township. Tney 
hatl four children, as follows : Abner, Laura, Rob- 
ert and Hattie. Mr. Ketchum died June 29, 1871. 

KERNS W. P., Adams township; po.stoftice, 
Bakersville; wagonmaker; born in Holmes coun- 
ty, Ohio, May 3, 1851; son of John and Sarah 
(Snider) Kerns, and grandson of Mary Snider. 
He beg:'n his trade at the age of lifteen, with his 
father, and remained seven years, after whicli he 
took charge of the shop himself and continued it 
for some time. He then worked at carpentering 
for about three years, after which he came to 
Bakersville and resumed his former occupation, 
wliere he has a very flattering trade. He is a tirst- 
class mechanic, and manufactures wagons, bug- 
gies and everything in his line in the very best 
style. Mr. Kerns was married in 1875, to Miss 
Einma Hixon, daughter of Jonathan and Susan 
Hixon, and granddaughter of Abraham Hixon. 
She died April 10, 1878. They have two children, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



717 



viz: Harden W. and Orlando C. He was married 
November 5, 1880, to Miss Ella Steward. 

REISER MICHAEL, Clark township; miller; 
])Ost(itlire, Chirks; born in Tusciir:nv;is county, 
Ohio, March 15, 1S44; son of .John and Louisa 
(Kerstettcr) Koiscr, and sirnndson of Daniel and 
Mary Kciserand Midiael Kerstcltcr. He learned 
his trade witli Daniel Schaef. of ISakersville, and, 
in 1S74, be became jn'oprietor of Uie Bloomlield 
mills, where he is at present, doing a very fair 
business. He was married, Ajiril 5, It^GS, to Miss 
Sarah Beck, and is father of three children: 
Benjamin, born February 16, Isd'.t; Sarah, born 
January 2, 1874, and Almira, born October G, 
1S7G. Mr. Keiser served three years in the late 
war, in company E, (^ne Hundreil and Twenty- 
sixth 0. V. I. 

KEIST WILLIAM C.,Linton township; farm- 
er; born in Linton township. November 5, 1837; 
son of Nathan and Elizabeth 15. (Clark) Keist, 
grand.son of William K. and Catherine ( Williams) 
Clark, and of Pliilip and Nancy (Holt) Keist; 
His grandfather Keist was born in Germany, 
and settled in Loudon county, Virginia. His 
grandfather Clark, during the war of 1S12, em- 
igrated from Washington county, ^Maryland, to 
Franklin township, and worked a short time on 
the Miller section, then enlisted in the army, 
and j)articii)ated in the battle of the Tliames; 
returning, he settled in Linton township, where 
Mr. Keist's mother was born. H is father was born 
in Loudon county, Virginia, and about ls33 came 
to Muskingum county, and two years later to 
Linton township. Mr. Keist, April 14, 1859, 
married .Xlcinda (!ale Ingraham, born in Harri- 
son county. Virginia, daughter of Jacob and 
Maria (Modisette) Ingraham. Their children are 
James B., born February 22. 18G0; Clark, de- 
eeiwed, born Januarv 22, 18G2; Ella V., Julv 22, 
18tyl; Benjamin F., December 31,1806; Arthur 
G., decea.sed, Februarv, 13, 18(')8; Olivia R , Mav 
24, 1871 ; Marv L., March 2, 1875, and Louis M., 
March 13, 1880. 

KITCHEN J. T., Coshocton; city mar.shal ; 
born March 14, 1837, in this city; son of Joel 
Kitchen, a native of Virginia, of Irish ancestry. 
Wlien about twelve years of age he was employed 
in the- coal works of Jewitt tt Co.. and subse- 
quently in another company, making about 
twenty-one years. He was elected to the office 
which he now holds .Vpril 1, 1878. Mr. Kitchen 
was married, first, December 27, l.'^o'.i, to Miss 
Adeline I'tlner, daughter of John UfVner, of 
Licking county. This union was blessed with 
nine children, one of whom, Jose]>h, is deceased. 
The eight living children are: Charles T., Clara, 
Frank, Milton, Herbert, William, Niona and 
Harry. Mrs. Kitchen died June 24, 1877. Mar- 



shal I\itchen's second marriage was on June 19, 
1880, to Miss Cath .rine Reed, of this city. 

KING W. IL, Coshocton, Ohio; of the firm of 
King it Ferrcll, foimdrynicn, North Fifth street. 
Mr. King was born February 1, 1841, in Lancas- 
ter county. Pennsylvania; son of William King. 
W. H. enlisted, in 1861, in Comjjany F, Fifty- 
lirst O. V. I., and re-eidistedasa veteran, in 18(>4, 
and served to the close of the war. He was 
wounded in the hip, at the battle of Chickamauga, 
which di.sable<l him for a few days. He was in 
every engagement of his corps (twenty battles), 
besides many skirmishes. He was discharged at 
Galveston, Texas, but was not mustered out until 
he returned as far as Colinnbus. At the close of 
the war, he engaged in the foundry business, at 
Roscoe, with the following successive partners, 
viz: Hiram Taylor, James Hay and James 
Mirise. In the winter of 1881, Mr. King estab- 
lished business, alone, at his present place, and, 
April 25, of the same year, the present firm was 
formed. This firm starts under very favorable 
auspices, both members of the In-m being skilled 
workmen, and having large experience in their 
business, Mr. King was married, December 25. 
1855, to Miss Marg.-iret, daughter of Daniel King, 
of Crawford townshiji. They are the parents of 
seven chidren. 

KIME JOSEPH, Oxford township; farmer; 
Evansburgh i)ostofRce; son of Daniel and Cath- 
erine (Canel) Kime; was born in 18;30, and came 
from Knox county to this county in 1851 ; was 
married in 1854, to IMiss Sarah Wolf, of this 
townshij), and they have one child, George P., 
who has been a great sufl'erer for the jiast five 
years, Mr. Kime was county commissioner 
from 1863 to 1869, and is one of the leading citi- 
izens of the town.ship. He and his wife are 
members of the Bai)tist Church. 

KINSEY J. I.. Monroe town.ship; was born 
December IS, 1839, in Tiverton township, Co.shoc- 
ton county; son of Samuel and Susannah (Beam) 
Kinsey, and grandson of Jacob Beam. He was 
brought up on a farm, and at the age of twenty- 
one he began farming for himself, and followed 
it for ten years. Since that time he has followed 
huckstering, and has acquired wealth enough to 
keep him and his family comfortably. He was 
married to Miss Harriet Lanning, in .\pril, 1865, 
daughter of Israel and Susannah (McCoy) Lan- 
ning, and granddaughter of Jacol) and Margret 
Moore, and of William and Harriet (A\'alraven) 
McCov Their children are Alberta, born Feb- 
ruarv'l2, 1866; Blanche, May 7, 1872, and Clare, 
August 8, 1875. 

KIRKER GILBERT. Jackson township; post- 
office, Roscoe ; born in Jackson township, Coshoc- 
ton county, June 8, 1831 ; son of William and El- 



718 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



nioner (Welling) Kirker; married September, 
185:2, tn Miss Rhuellcn McCoy, daughter of Jo- 
seph and Sarah McCoy. Mr. Kirker is the father 
of mne children, viz: W. H.; Louisa, deceased; 
Sarah; Mary E., deceased; Joseph M., Martm D., 
Charity, Gilbert S., Emma S. 

KLINGLER MATHIAS, Jefferson township; 
born June 13, 1837, in Wurtemberg, Germany; 
son of Mdthii^s and Elizabeth (Spade) Khnglcr, 
and grandson of Genrge and Rpsannah Klingler, 
and of Christian (Plowfelder) Spade. Mr. Khng- 
ler followed furniture making till the age of 
twenty-three, when he learned engineering, and 
run an engine on the Minden railroad for three 
years and six months. In 1866, he came to the 
United States, lived in Philadelphia six months, 
spent one vear in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, 
then came" to Crawford township, Coshoi-ton 
coimty, Ohio, where lie has followed the carpenter 
trade "with good success. He was married, m 
June, ISGG, to Miss Elizabeth Shy, daughter of 
Frederick and Catharine (Shoemaker) Shy. 
Frederick, Henry, Willirm, Jacob and Catharine 
are the names of their children. 

KLINE CHARLES, Crawford township; shoe- 
maker ; postoffice. Chili ; born in 18-13, in Bava- 
ria, Germanv; son of George and Christina 
(Shaw) Kline", both natives of Bavaria, Charles 
Kline eniiiirated to America in 18G0, located in 
Phillipsburgh, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and ap- 
prenticed himself to a shoemaker there. He 
worked in shops in several places in the State 
until 180S, when he came to Chili and opened a 
shop for himself, where he has worked at his 
trade up to the present time. In 18GS he married 
Elizabeth Miller. Their children are : ]SIary, 
Geortfe, Amelia, Elizabeth, Lilly, Christina Mar- 
caret" and Charles Frederick. Mr. Kline and 
iamWy are members of the Reform church. 

KLEINKNECHT CHRISTIAN, Crawford 
township; farmer and carpenter; jiostotfice, New 
Bedford; was born February 27, l8o2, m Holmes 
county; son of Jacob and Catherine ^Baad) 
Kleinknecht. When a child he came to Craw- 
ford township, in which he has resided to the 
present time. At the age of nineteen, he went 
to the carpenters trade, whicli he has principally 
followed to the present. Mr. Kleinknecht was 
married December 25, 1873, to Miss Mary Mar- 
garet Price. They are the parents of two chil- 
dren viz : Jonathan and Mary Alice. 

KNIGHT GEORGE, New Castle township; 
farmer and tanner; was born in Harrison 
county, Ohio, April G, 1810; son of Peter and 
Elizabeth (Fivecoat) Knight, who both lived to a 
great age. His father was born and raised in 
the ci tv of Philadelphia ; was a blacksmith by trade, 
and a inember of the English Prostestant church; 



and his grandfather was a German Reformed 
minister. Mr. Knight is one of six children, three 
sons and three daughters. His brothers are both 
living, one in the city of Baltimore, the other in 
Iowa. One sister is also living. His father died 
the year that he was born. He has an English 
education, such as could be gathered in his time. 
He began the tanner trade at the age of sixteen 
with William Frost, of St. Clairsvillo, Belmont 
county, Ohio, and worked with him about four 
years, then went to New Athens, Harrison county, 
Ohio, and engaged with Mr. Hawthorn, from 
thence to Wooster, Wayne county, and worked 
with Mr. David Robison, and from there he 
went to Millersburg, Holmes county, and formed 
a partnership with Lyman Sliafer, which lasted 
four vears. 

In "the fall of 1833 he received a new partner, 
Andrew McMonagh, and remained partner with 
him eighteen months, when he sold his interest 
and came to New Castle, and formed a piartner- 
ship with his old partner, Lyman Shafer, in a 
tannerv, saddler slioi) and store, the partnership 
lasting" about twelve years. He then sold his in- 
terest in these, returiied to Millersburg, bought a 
tannery, and for eight years did the most success- 
ful bu.siness of his life. He then returned to 
New Castle, bought a farm, and opened another 
tannery, and has been tanning and farming for 
the pa'st twenty-tive years, in New Castle town- 
ship. He has been successful throught life, has 
never drank any intoxicating liquors from his 
boyhood. He and his wife united themselves 
with the Presbyterian church when they were 
about twenty years of age, and are still faithful, 
and highly res"pectcd by all, ]Mr, Knight had an 
uncle who was a soldier in the war of the revo- 
lution, and another a soldier in the war of 1812. 

He was married JIarch 6, 1835, to Miss Keziah 
Boggs, daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Tipton) 
Boggs, granddaughter of Alexander and Sarah 
Boggs. and Absolain and Keziah (Boran) Ti]>ton. 
Mrs', knight was born in Belmont county, June 
26. 1815. They have had nine children, viz: 
Margaret A., born September 18, 1837, the wife 
of aPresbyterian minister (Rev. Mr. Belden, of 
Centreville, Iowa), she is a graduate of Washing- 
ington, Pennsvlvania, Female seminary ; Wil- 
liam S.. born August 17, 183^, graduated at Wash- 
inston College, Pennsylvania, and at the Western 
Theological seniinarv'at Alleghany, and is^ min- 
ister of the Presbyterian church, at Carthage, in 
Jasper countv, Missouri; Hervey B., born July 
20,1841, also" a graduate of Washington college 
and Western Theological seminary, at Allegheny, 
i and is a Presbvteriaii minister; Lymon S., born 
i November 7, 1843, is a professor of music and 
teacher of the higher branches in Congress, 
Wavne countv, Ohio ; Mary E., born November 
lii, 1845, graduated at Steubenville Female sem- 
inary and is teacher in the Coshocton schools; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



719 



I'oter B., born March 17. l.'^48, graduated in Pitts- 
burgh Businoss culii'gt' and is ciorlving in a 
\vb(ili'«ile establishniont in Alrliison, Kan.«as: 
]Maria J., born December .'!, bs.")(l, wife of Dr. 
Richardson, of Jlonravia, Iowa: George L., born 
July l2."), 1,S5;!, attended scliool at Wno.ster uni- 
versity, and is at present reading law with Camp- 
bell iV- Vorhees, Coshocton. tWiio. They are all 
meinhers of the Presbyterian church. Two of 
Mr. Knight's sons volunteered in the U. S. ser- 
vice during the rebellion 

KRAUSS JOF^N D., Franklin townsldp; farm- 
er; postotttce, Wills Creek; born April 10, b'^SO, 
in Lii'king county ; son of Christian and Henri- 
etta (Keller) Krauss, natives of Germany, who 
came to xVnierica about the year bS42. Mr .John 
D. Krauss was married .January in, l,s7."'>, to Miss 
Eli/.a Anno, daughter of J(jhn (t. and Catherine 
( Hackney) Kaufman, natives of Germany. They 
are the parents of one child, named Clara nalah. 
They located at their present residence March 8, 
1.S7S. 

KRAUSS THOM.VS C, Franklin township; 
farmer; postoflicc. Wills Creek; .son of Christian 
and Henrietta (Keller) Krauss. Mr Thomas C. 
Krauss was married September 2.5, 1S7'>, to Miss 
Mazic Jane, daughter of Mo.-^es and Martha A. 
(Stickles) Wilkins, natives of Ohio- Mrs. Krauss 
was born on the farm on which she now resides. 
Tliey became the parents of three children, viz: 
Henrietta, Clemence W. and Lillie Frances. Mr. 
Christian Krauss, mentioned above, was born 
Isovembcr 3, bSlli. in Wurtemberg, Germany. On 
completing his education, he learned the shoe- 
maker's trade, at which he worked in Switzerland 
and France. His widowed mother needing his 
a.'isistance, he returned to her, with whom he rc- 
mained the two years previous to his coming to 
America, where he landed July G, 1 .842, and lo- 
cated at Newark. Licking county. Here he met 
his betrothed, with whom an engagement had 
been made in (iermany, several years jirevious, 
on condition that she would come to .\merica, 
which she did in 1S4\, landing in New Orleans. 
But both being true to their )ilighted troth, they 
were married when they met at Newark. They 
became the parents of the following children: 
Annie C. W., deeased; Elisha, Catherine; Henri- 
etta C, deceased. Mr. Krauss lived at several 
jilaces in Co.shocton and Licking counties. In 
b'-C)"-', he enlisted in Comi)any H, Ninety-seventh 
O. V. I., and served about six months, receiving 
an honorable discharge on account of sickne-ss. 
Some years ago. by the imjirudence of a railroad 
conductor, he was s(>rionsly injured, for which 
the company, after a long and tedious litigation, 
was compelicd to pay him $2,2(K1. 



L .\CEY GE( )RGE, Franklin township ; farmer ; 
born in Fauquier county, Virginia, August 20, 
1S2.'>; son of William Lacey. In the s])ring of 
18,S2 his father moved his family to Muskingum; 
county, and three years later to Virginia town- 
ship, where Mr Lacey, December 1.5, b-^;!, mar- 
ried I'hoebe Tilton, who was born in Virginia 
township, and is the daughter of Joseph an(l 
Phoebe Tilton. About the year 1848 they moved 
to Lafayette township, and lived successively in 
Lafayette township; Richland county. Illinois; 
Lafayette town.-ihip; Tuscarawas townshiii: Frank- 
lin township; JIuskingum county, and back 
again to Franklin townshi)) two years ago. Mr. 
Lacey has seven children living, viz: George W., 
Nancy Elizabeth (Donaker), Je.sse Sanford, Susie 
Ann, Lawrence L., Ida B. and May Eleanor. He 
has lost two boys, Joseph T. and James R. The 
former enlisted in the Ninety-seventy O. V. I., 
Company I, in 1862, and was killed in' the battle 
of Mi.ssion Ridge; James died in early childhood. 
Mr. Lacey was married a second in February, 
1880, to Marinda Frost, of Licking comity. 

LAHM JOHN A., of the firm of J. A. Rimer & 
Co., merchants; postoffice, New Bedford, Ohio; 
born January 10, 1858, in Germany ; son of Simon 
and Catharine (jNIillcr) Lahm. ' Young Lahm 
was raised on the farm until seventeen, when he 
began working in a woolen factory and attended 
school. His iirst experience in merchandising 
was clerking at Beck's mills. Holmes county, 
where he remained four years. He next clerked 
at Millersbnrgh a short time. Also clerked at 
Ilehnick about three years, after which he at- 
tended the commercial college at Zanesville, and 
obtained a dijiloma. He subsequently clerked 
at Barnesville and Helmick, and at New Bedford 
for George A. Rimer, where he was emjiloyed 
when the above firm was formed, January 21, 
1870. This firm is doing an extensive bu.siness, 
having a full stock for a combination village store. 

LAHNA JACOB, Linton township; farmer; 
postoffice, Bacon Run. Ohio; liorn June (1,1843, 
in Adams township, Muskingum county; son of 
Jacob and Rosanna (Sandel) Lahna, a native of 
Alsace, France. He came to America with three 
children, and located in Adams townshij), Mus- 
kingum county; and came to Linton township, 
Coshocton county, about 1847, and located on the 
farm now owned by his heirs. Jacob Lahna en- 
listed in February, ISOn, in Company I, One 
Hundred and Ninety-iifth O. V. 1., aiid .served 
until December of same year. Mr. Lahna was 
niarrieil June 10, 1867, to -Nliss Sarah, daughter of 
.Michael and Anne (La.sh) Wagner, who is of 



720 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Germnn ancestry. They became the parents of 
eight children : Mary A., Kosanna ; Elizabeth, tic- 
ceased; Matilila, decea.sed ; Agatha, John M. and 
Sarah Adalinc. 

LAKE JOHN, Pike townshi]); postoffice, Fra- 
zeysburg, Muskingum county ; farmer and stock 
raiser; born in this county in 18.>1; son of 
Joseph and Jane (Riley) Lake, and grandson of 
Spencer and Martha Lake. He was married in 
1.S76, to Miss Laura JlcConnell, daughter of 
Daniel and Mahalay McConnell. They have one 
child, viz : Ura. 

LAMBERSON SAIMUEL, Coshocton: of the 
firm of Barney, DeMoss it Co., Empire Mills, 
Roscoe, and proprietor Washington Mills, Tus- 
carawas township; born March 14, 1814, in Vir- 
ginia; son of Samuel Laniberson, deceased. When 
young Lamberson was only four years of age he 
was sadly bereft of the kind care and influence of 
a loving mother, she being suddenly killed by the 
falling of a chimney. Wlien yet a child he came 
to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. When 
about twelve years of age he went to the hatter's 
trade with S.unuel Burns, and served about seven 
years, after which he went into the store of Smelt- 
zer & Ransom, of Roscoe, where he remained 
about .seven years. He then became partner 
with Arnold Medbery in a store at Canal Lewis- 
ville. This firm continued about four years, when 
Mr. Lamberson became sole proi)rietor, and con- 
ducted the store about twenty years. In 1872 he 
came to this city and bought his present resi- 
dence, 671 Main street. Mr. Laniberson served 
one term a.s county commissioner, and declined 
to be a candidate for a second term after having 
been nominated. He also served as treasurer, the 
unexpired term of Samuel Ketcham, one year, 
and was elected and served the succeeding term 
in the same office. 

Sir. Lamberson is the father of four children, 
viz : Caroline, married to John Cassingham, Esq., 
of this city; Louisa, Charles and Samuel Lam- 
berson, Jr. 

LAMBERSON CHAS. A., Coshocton; packer 
in Empire Mills, Roscoe, 0.; was born Septem- 
ber 11, 1861, in Canal Lewisville; son of Samuel 
Lamberson, a native of Virginia. Young Lam- 
berson attended public schools until May, 1880, 
when he came into tlie above mills, where he is 
now employed. 

LANNING SILAS, Jlonroe township; born 
August 30, 1846, in Monroe township, Coshocton 
county, 0.; son of Israel and Susannah (McCoy) 
Lanning, and grandson of .Jacob and iSIargaret 
(Moore) Lanning, and of William and Harriet 
(Walraven) McCoy, and great grandson of John , 
and Rebecca McCoy. He was brought up on a 
farm, and educated in district schools and Spring 



Mountain academy. .\t the age of 23 he began the 
blacksmitii trade under George Osburn, of Ma- 
rion county, Iowa; served an apprenticeship of 
two and a half years, then returned to Spring 
IMountain, where he is luiw working at his trade. 
Mr. Lanning was married. November, 18(56, to 
Miss Phoebe Wing, a native of New York, daugh- 
ter of Charles and Phdcbe (Titus) Wing, grand- 
daughter of William R. and Phoel)e (Cuthburt) 
Wing, and granddaughter of Stejihen and Plmebe 
(Marsh) Titus. Their children are: Darvin,born 
October 20, 18(;7; Mond, February 14, 1869; Alva, 
March 2r>. 1871, and Harold, December 16. 1874. 
.\t the age of 17 he enlisted in Company G, One 
Hundred and Forty-second O. N. G., and served 
100 days. 

LAPP MICHAEL. Franklin township; born 
in Al.sacc, France, Se])teniber 28, 182".t: son of 
Henry and Magdalena (Zimuier) Lajip. In June, 
1830, he arrived, with his parents, at Zanesville; 
was raised in Muskingum county; is a carpenter 
by trade, and worketl at it many years, when a 
young man. In 1854, he moved to Linton town- 
ship, and. three years later, to Franklin town- 
ship. In connection with farming, he does a 
general saw-mill business, sawing more lumber 
than perhaps any man in the county. He is also 
a contractor for bridges, school-houses, etc., and 
has constructed and jirepared lumber for many 
buildings. Mr. Lapp has been twice married ; 
first, to Domtha M. Suite, born in Tuscarawas 
county, daughter of John T. Suite. By this mar- 
riage, he had ton children, viz : Henry, John F., 
Loui.sa, Mary D., William, Solomon C, Alice E., 
Caroline, Albert and Frank. His second wife 
was Lucinda Miller, who was born in Virginia, 
and came to Ohio about 18(54: daughter of Ste- 
phen Miller. Harvey, David, George and Anise 
are the issue of this marriiige. 

liX SEERE J. J., grocer and provisions, No. 
146 Second street, Coshocton Mr. La Seere is a 
native of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and 
came to Ohio in 1839, and Icoated at Putnam, 
Muskingum county, where he remained until 
1848, when he come to Roscoe, where he fol- 
lowed coopering, and, in June, 1880, he estab- 
lished the grocery business at his present loca- 
tion, where he carries a good, fresh stock of staple 
and fancy groceries, confectioneries, i)rovisions, 
fruits and vegetables, sugar-cured and pickled 
meats, sliced hams, fish, Hour, bread, and all 
kinds of canned goods; also deals in all kinds of 
country produce. 

L.\URIE J. H., Coshocton; proprietor saloon 
and restaurant, corner ]Main and Thi rd streets ; was 
born January 11, 1839, in Bavaria. Germany ; son 
of Christopher Laurie. Young Laurie attended 
school until fourteen years of age, when he en- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
X 



723 



tered Kaiserslantorn seniinnry, and remained 
two y('aI•^^, then returned homo and remained 
one year. In I'^oli he oaine to Aineriea, landing 
at Baltimore, Maryland. Soon after his arrival 
he became a steamboatman on the Adriatic, plj'- 
mg be ween Pitt-sburgh and New Orleans, and 
remained on this boat three years. He was suc- 
ces.-iively a bridge builder on tiie Pan Handle 
railroad, coal minor, near Steubcnvilie, Ohio, and 
oil operator, near ^larietta. Ohio, from thence he 
came to this city in l.SGl,and mined four years. 
Tlien engaged in merchandising, which he fol- 
lowed until 1872, when he purchased and fitted 
up the Central House, and was proprietor for 
two year, when he sold out his hotel and estab- 
lished his present business. Mr. Laurie was 
married in August, 18G1, to Miss Catharine Stone, 
of Washington county, Ohio. This marriage was 
blessed with four children, two deceasetl, Willie 
Edward and Clara; and tW(j living, Tillie and 
Haddie Laurie. Mr. Laurie is now doing a 
good business. 

LAUDEXSCH LAGER THOMAS, Crawford 
township; farmer; postotiicc. New Bedford, Ohio; 
born October 10, 18.37, in Crawford township; 
son of John and Elizabeth (Sheets) Laudenschla- 
ger, natives of Gorman}', but came to America in 
1846. His father died in 1851t, leaving his mother 
a widow, with three children, David, Elizabeth 
and Thom;i«. Afterward, his mother married 
Michael Link, with whom Thomas, the subject of 
this sketch, now resides in Crawford township. 

LAWRENCE G. W., Clark township; postof- 
fice, Clark's; farmer; born in Cheshire county. 
New Hampshire, November 15, 1823; son of 
Jesse and Susannah (Farwell) Lawrence, and 
grandson of ^lartin Lawrence and Richard Far- 
well, all of Scotch descent. He came to Keene 
township, Ct)sliocton county, with his parents in 
1820. remaineil there about one year, then came 
to Mill Creek townshij), and lived there abcjut 
thirty-three years, after which he moved to Clark 
townshij), where he has remained since on a 
farm of IbS acres, adjoining the village of Bloom- 
tield. He has been twice married, the date of liis 
first marriage being May 28, 1848. to Miss Lydia 
Ross, daugliter of Nathan and Sarah Ross ; born 
December 11, 1824, and died Jlarch 12, 1802. 
They were the i)arents of two children; J. Ross, 
born March 1, 1 8.30, and Harry, born January 2t), 
18.33. His second marriage was on March .3, 18G3, 
to Miss Rachel Cox, daughter of Elijah anil 
Christina Shepler. She was born in Harrison 
county, Ohio, March 8, 1832. They arc parents 
of three children ; Don Carlos, born February, 12, 
1804; Willie G., born April 2li, 1808, and Jesse B., 
born September 1, 1875. 

LAWRENCE L. H., New Castle township; 

32 



farmer; jjostoffice. New Castle; was born in New 
Castle, Coshocton county, Ohio, March 11, 18,S1 ; 
son of George P. and Pliivbe (Butler) Lawrence, 
and grand.son of Jonathan and Mary (Horten) 
Lawrence, and Thomas Butler, one "of the first 
settlers of the county. He attended <listrict 
school and worked on the farm until the age of 
eighteen, then attended college at the Ohio uni- 
versity at Delaware one year. His father was 
one of the first occuiiants'of the village of New 
Castle, then called Liberty. He is now one of 
the oldest residents of New Castle township. He 
was a partner in a store at the age of nineteen, 
with A. S. Lawrence and J. K. Leighow, and re- 
mained about two years; then engaged in mer- 
cantile business with Jonathan Coggins, and con- 
tinued a partner with that gentleman three years, 
when he sold his interest and turned his atten- 
tion to farming and stock raising, and has con- 
tinued in that business up to this time. He has 
been sucee.ssful tlnvnigh his entire career ; is 
kind, gen'al, and highly esteemed by all his ac- 
quaintiuices and neighbors. He resides on a 
farm one and a half miles southwest of New Cas- 
tle. His jiaternal ancestors were Pennsylvanians, 
and his mother was of Irish descent. He was 
married August 9, 18.35, to Mi.ss Eliza Nichols, 
daughter of Eli and Hachel (Lloyd) Nichols, 
of Belmont count}', who was born August 9, 
183.3, in Loydville, Belmont county. The'v have 
but one child, Eugene, born April 18, 18.j7, who 
is now farming and dealing in stock in Kansas. 

LAWSON WILLIAM, Coshocton; photo- 
grapher; was born in Monongalia county. West 
Virginia, "February 29, 1842; son of Ale.vander 
Lawson, American horn, of Scot<'h ancestry. 
Young Lawson spent his cliildh(jod on the farm, 
and, when twelve years of age, he entered a store 
as clerk, and, at twenty, began to learn the art of 
photography, with Snedeker, of Mattoon, Illinois. 
He was also employed at Gallion, Ohio, and in 
London Ohio, before he came to this city, and 
took charge of his brother's gallery. Jlr. Law- 
son was married, March 15, 1877, to Miss Mary, 
daughter of Dr. Do Long, of Hardin county, 
Ohio. One child, Georgie E., was born to them, 
January 10, 1878, in Gallion, Ohio. Mr. Lawson 's 
rooms, located in the Hays building, on Second 
street, are well lilted up, with all the modern in- 
struments and accessories, making it a first class 
photograph gallery. 

LAWSON ELISHA, Coshocton; liveryman: 
was born February 7, 1842, in Virginia; son of 
Alexander and Susannah (Gould) Lawson, of 
Scotch ancestors. Eli.shaleft luimcwlien about nine 
years of age. He has traveled extensively in the 
South and West. Juno 11, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company I, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves or 
Thirty-seventh Pa. V. I., at Waynesburg, Penn- 



724 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



sylvania, and served three years At the battle 
of the Wilderness he received two wounds in the ^ 
right arm; he was once cuptured, but soon re- 
captured, at the second Bull Kun battle. At the 
close of the war, Mr. Lawstm engaged in photo- 
graphy, and followed it about twelve years; he 
then determined to go to South America, hut 
when he reached Matanioras, Mexico, he was 
taken sick with fever; and, advised by his physi- 
cian to return north, which he did, stopping in 
the Blue Grass region of Kentucky, where he re- 
mained until he regained his health. Then he 
came to Ohio and resumed the photogrnjihic art, 
and followed it for five years or nntil the fall of 
ISSO, when he engaged in his present business. 
Mr. Lawson is a special admirer of tine horses, 
which would be readily inferred by any one vis- 
iting his stables and seeing his stock; especially 
two blooded mares, Hazards, his favorites. 
Though the Hazards, by many, are considered 
very wild, vicious and unmanageable; Mr. Law- 
son believes them to be pretty as a gold dollar, 
generally as sound as a .silver dollar, fleet as the 
wind, harmless as a dove and kind as a kitten. 
Mr. Lawson was married October 4, 187.3, to Miss 
Hersey daughter of James Alfred and Mary 
(Borlan) Mackey. They are the parents of two 
daughters, viz : JEdna and Frankie. 

LAWSON DR. DAVID, Jefferson township; 
postoffice, Warsaw; was born in Philadelphia, Pa., 
in April, 1824; son of David Lawson. Sir. Law- 
son went to .school until the age of twenty ; then 
went to ]Muskingum county in 183.5, engaged at 
weaving for some time. He began the study of 
medcine, at the age of nineteen, with Dr. David 
Barnes, of Coshocton county, and read three years 
and attended lectui'es at the Western Reserve med- 
ical college at Cleveland, O. He began the practice 
of medicine in 1849 at Elizabethtown, Licking 
county, and continued there one year; then came 
to Warsaw, and has been practicing here since. 
In 1872 he ojiened a dry goods store in Warsaw, 
since which time he has partially withdrawn from 
practice. He is doing a very fair business and is 
highly esteemed by all his numerous acquaint- 
ances. Dr. Lawsim was married in 1852 to Miss 
Mary J. Magaw, daughter of James and Matilda 
Elder. Thcv have had three children— David J., 
Edgar J. and Willard J. 

LAYMAN D. A., Lafayette township; post- 
office, \Vest Lafayette, O. Mr. Layman was horn 
December 24, 18.54. in Keene, 6., and has re- 
mained a resident of tbis county all his life. His 
parents were of German descent. Mr. Layman 
was rased on the farm until sixteen years old, 
when he learned the blacksmith trade, which he 
has since followed. Mr. L. was married August 2.3, 
1877, to Miss Isabella Frederick, of this county. 
They became the parents of two children, viz : 



Irvin, born April 11, 1878, and Nora C, born Oc- 
tober 1.5, 1880. Mr. Layman lias followed his oc- 
cupation in Millersburgli, \\'arsaw, Spring Moun- 
tain and ^Manchester. He came to \\'est Lafay- 
ette in the fall of 1879 and has since remained, 
controlling the wagon and blacksmith shops, do- 
ing a good business and giving .satisfaction in all 
his work. 

LAYMAN JAMES N., Keene township; born 
in Mercer comity, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1820. 
Both his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Swagerd) 
Layman, were Pennsylvanians by birth Since 
he was fifteen years old he has followed black- 
smithing. He came to Ohio, locating in Keene 
when twenty-three years of age; married Sep- 
tember 1, 1850, to Catharine Spigler, born No- 
vember, 1831, daughter of Peter and Margaret 
(Witseman) Spigler. Their children were Syl- 
vester, born Julv 2.5, 1,851 ; James A., Mav 16, 
1853; David A., December 2-5, 1854; Williaiii C, 
deceased, June 30, 1850; Margaret M., deceased, 
June 10, 1858; Catharine M., February 22, 18G0; 
Mary K., August 5, 1861; George W., October, 
1863; Charles^E., August 4, 1868; Grant N., Au- 
gust 31, 1872; Minnie Recrisca, August 3,1874, 
and Martha B., August, 1876. In 1860 Mr. Lay- 
man united with the Methodist Episcopal church. 

LEAR THOMAS, Coshocton; dealer in boots 
and shoes, hats and caps. Main street ; born De- 
cember 25, 1846, in Gloucestershire, England ; son 
of Stepihen Lear, decetised. When fourteen years 
of age, he came to America with his parents, 
landing at New York City in 1860, and immedi- 
ately went to Frostburgh, Allegheny county, 
Maryland, and from there came to this city, in 
November, 1862. Mr. Lear followed mining un- 
til 1876, when he established a grocery, which he 
ctmtinued until August, 1879, when he estab- 
lished his present business. Mr. Lear was mar- 
ried September 3, 1871, to Miss Mary Higgs, 
daughter of John Higgs, of this city. They have 
had five children, one (Thomas) decea.sed; the 
four living are .Vnnie Laurie, John S., Mary 
.Vnnie and Thomas Lear, Jr. Mr. Lear is doing 
a moderate business. 

LEAR HENRY, Coshocton, Tuscarawas town- 
ship; miner; was born December 29, 1840, in 
Gloucester county, England ; son of Stephen ami 
Mary (Nat) Lear.' Landing at New York in i860, 
he afterward located in Allegheny county, Mary- 
land, and remained there until 1867, when he 
came to his present residence. Mr. Lear was 
married in September, 1862, to Miss Sarah Louis, 
of Maryland. They have been blessed with eight 
children, viz: Rosanna; James Henry and Ste- 
phen Marshal, twins; Clara Jane, Thomas Mil- 
ford, Mary Elizabeth, Charles Emery and Minnie. 
Mr. Lear has succeeded well in the land of his 
adoption. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



725 



LEAVENGOOD I. N., Monroe township ; teach- 
er; postofRoe, Spring MountMin, Ohio; son of 
Daniel and IMary E, (Lower) Leavengood; was 
born May 14,1802, in Monroe township, Coshocton 
county. Mr. Leavengood was raised on the farm 
until fourteen years of age. lie then attended 
seliool two years, at Princeton and Spring Moun- 
tain. In 1878, Mr. Leavengood removed to Iowa, 
antl remained two years, engaged as book- 
keeper with the St. Louis and ('ounoil Blufls 
railroad. In 1879, he made a trij) through Kansas 
and Nebraska, returning to Ohio January, 1880. 
In April, 1880, he removed to Manslield, Ohio, 
and is at present engaged in teaching. He has 
also been engaged as clerk in the Mansfield 
savings bank. He taught his first school near 
Mansfield, Ohio. 

LEE DR. S. H., druggist. No. 132 Second street, 
Coshocton. Dr. Lee is a native of this city, and 
was born January IC, 1820. He received his pre- 
paratory education from a lady instructor whom 
his father, with three other families, had em- 
ployed ti) teach their children, after which he en- 
tered the freshman class of 1838, at Kenyon col- 
lege, where he was a class-mate of R. B. Hayes. 
He tlien entered the sophomore class at Marietta 
college, and was graduated in 1842; after which 
he returned home and read medicine with his 
father and attended lectures at New York City, 
and was graduated by the New York medical 
college in 184.5. He then entered upon the prac- 
tice of his profession at Canal Dover, where he 
practiced about four years, after which he went 
to Peru, Indiana, where he served the ]>eoplc 
with success and acceptance for seven years. He 
then returned to Coshocton, where he has re- 
mained ever since with the e.Kception of two 
years that he wa.s surgeon in the United States 
army. He was commissioned assistant surgeon 
of the Eightieth O. V. I., after which he served as 
contract surgeon, and in 1804 he was commis- 
sioned surgeon of the One Hundred and Forty- 
third O. N. G. He returned home in 180o and 
established the drug business, in which he is very 
pleasantly located, and keejis a large (irst-elass 
stock of pure drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, 
toilet articles, fancy goods, notions, school books, 
paints, oils, dye stuffs, varnishes, etc. 

LEE GEORGE C, Coshocton; residence on 
Chestnut street: was born in New Castle, this 
county. May 12. 18.'),5; son of Benjamin S. Lee, a 
native of New York State, and Elizabeth (Shater) 
of Lancjister county. Pennsylvania. He came 
with his parents to tiiis city when about seven 
years of age, and received a. good education in 
the public schools of the city. In 1876 he was 
appointed deputy sherifT of the county, and 
served two years. Daring his term ho assisted 
at the hanging of Ept, September 29, 1876. He 



was elected city clerk in April, 1878, and served 
two years. Mr. Lee's father died .\ugust 2, 1874. 
Since his death, George C. hiis had charge of his 
father's estate. 

LEE H. W., Perry township; New Guilford 
postofftce ; born in this county, in 1820; son of 
William and IsabcUe (Richard)' Lee, grand,son of 
Ezekiel and Mary Lee, and of Henry and Mary 
Richard, and married in 1801, to Miss S. E. Bon- 
nett, daughter of Lewis and Mahalcy Bonnett. 
Mr. Lee is the father of eight children, viz: Wil- 
liam G., Lewis H., M. B, J. W.. Katharine J., 
Laura L., and Henry Harri-^on. Mr. Lee's grand- 
father was a revolutionary soldier. 

LEE J. \V., Perry town.ship; New Guilford 
postofiice: born in this county, in 1.828; son of 
William and Isabella (Richard i Lee, grand.son of 
Henry and Elizabeth Ivichard. He was married 
November 7, IS.W, to Mi.ss Elizabeth Wolf, daugh- 
ter of Absalom and INIarv Wolf. Thev have three 
children, viz: M. F., C. A., and M. B." One of his 
sons is a practicing physician and surgeon of 
Columbus, Ohio. 

LYBARGER E. L., Monroe township; born 
September 27, 1.S41, in Wayne county, Ohio; son 
of James T. and .Vmelia (Crum) Lybarger, and 
grandson of Andrew Lybarger, who came to 
Coshocton county from Pennsylvania in lS08,and 
settled in the town of Coshocton. He was a sol- 
dier under Cai)tains Harris and Williams, and 
was under Hull at the time of his surrender. 
His great-grandfather. James Thompson, was a 
revolutionary soldier, and also a pioneer settler 
of Cii.shocton county. Jlr. Lybargi'r was born in 
Blatchlysville, Wayne county. an(l lived there till 
the age of four years, when his parents moved to 
Millford, Kno.x county, where he lived till 1801, 
exce])ting two years he lived at Danville. He en- 
listed in Comiiany K, Forty-third Regiment, O.V. 
I., under Captain Walker and Colonel J. L. Kirby 
Smith. The battles he partici|>at(^d in are as 
ftillows: Capture of New Madri.t, Island No. 10, 
Ft. Pillow, lirst battle of Corinth, luka, second 
battle of Corinth. Vicksburg. Dalton. Rcsaca, 
Kennesaw Mountain, the capture of Atlanta, 
Pokataligo, Sidkehatchie, Bentonville, Columbia, 
and the surrcmler of .loo Johnson at Raleigh. 
He was mustered out July 18, 1,865, at Louisville, 
Kentucky. Jlr. Lybarger enlistiMl as a |)rivate, 
and gradually rose in rank till he became captain. 
.Vfter the close of the war he returned home and 
pursued the study of law two years; then engaged 
m the mercantile business at Spring Mountain, 
where he has contiuue<l ever since. He was 
married to Miss S. W. Rodgei-s, in January, 1.S66, 
daughter of Dr. and Catharine (Hawn) Rodgors, 
of Millwood, and granddaughter of John Hawn, 
who was a settler of Kno.\ county, and also a, 



•20 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



wealthy man. Mr. and Mi>. Lybarger are of Irish ' 
iuid German descent. 

LEIGHNINOER AS.\, Lafayette towns^hip ; 
farmer; was born in this county in 18.36; son of 
George Leighninger ; was married in ISOd to 
Miss Sarah Foster, a native of England, who j 
came to this country when quite young. They j 
have had six children, viz : Xorah, U. Grant, Ern- 
est, Ida : George, and an infant, both deceased. 
He and his wiie are members of the Protestant 
Methodist church. Mr. Leighninger owns 130 
acres of land in this township, and twenty-four j 
acres in Oxford township, and is an enterprising 
farmer. 

LEIGimiNGEE HIRAM, Lafayette township: 
farmer; postotfice. West Lafayette; was born in 
this county in 1822; S(jn of George and Mary 
Leighninger ; was married to Miss Susannah 
Loos, daughter of Daniel Loos, October 30, 1847, 
and had the following children, viz: an infant, 
deceased; Seldan ; Emma J., deceased; Clara, an 
infant son, Maria ; Olive and an infant son, both 
decased ; Elmer and Alta Carvetta. Mr. Leigh- 
ninger is a prosperous farmer, and owns eight}'- 
eight acres of fine land ; has held offices of trust 
in his township, and he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Protestant Methodist chu,rch, Mr. 
Leighninger having been a mendaer for the past 
thirty years. 

LEIGHNINGER B. F., Lafayette township; 
postofRce, West Lafayette ; was born in this town- 
ship, in 1838; son of George and Mary (Wolfe) 
Leighninger. His father died in 1841 ; his 
mother is still living, aged eighty-four years. 
He was married, in 1870, to Nelia Conaway, 
daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Lovelace) 
Conaway, both ^'irginian.s. They have three 
children : Ella M.; Charley C., deceased, and 
Clyde H. Mr. Leighninger was a member of 
Comjiany E., One Hundred and Forty-second 
O. N. G., holding the commission of Second 
Lieutenant ; was in general hospital, at Fortress 
Monroe, three weeks, with the typhoid fever, 
and had charge of forty of the sick and disabled, 
in their transportation home. In 1800, Mr. 
Leighninger, in company with B. F. Fleming, 
was engaged very extensively in the lumber 
business, in Southern Indiana; running their 
own mill, buying and selling, and carrying on 
ipiite a successful business, when he was stricken 
with the lung fever, and remained sick four 
months ; and, seeing he could not endure the ex- 
posure and hardships incident thereto, he .sold 
his entire .interest to Mr. John Grove, of Har- 
rison couiity. 

In early life, Mr. Leighninger, with his broth- 
ers Levi, .\sa and Lewis, formed a partnership, 
with the home farm of 180 acres, after they had 



bought out the heirs, as their capital, and worked 
together until 185t>, when Levi withdrew and lo- 
cated on a hill-farm in Oxford township, known 
as the Mushrush farm. In 1850 Lewis w ithdrew, 
the possessor (jf a fine farm of 100 acres near 
West Lafayette ; the partnershij) between Isa ami 
B. F., continued until hist spring, when the stock 
was divided between them, giving to each a tine 
farm, well stocked and improved. The farm 
owned by B. F. was bought Ajiril 1, 18G7, and 
known as the Ralph Pliillips farm, Mr. Phillips 
having entered it and owning it until the pur- 
chase by the Leighningers. The farm is one of 
the best improved in the county, and is set oil 
by one of the prettiest houses on the plains, sup- 
plied with all the modern improvements, and 
everything in fact, tending to make a pleasant 
home. There never was a more prosperous and 
happy combination, all things considered, than 
this, inasmuch as there never was a jar during 
the years that their interests were a common one, 
and was the means of giving them all comforta- 
ble homes. 

LENNON ANTHONY, farmer; Tuscarawas 
township ; postoffice, Canal Lewisville ; born May 
27, 1836, and brought up on the farm which he 
now owns. His father, James, was a native of 
Kildare county, Ireland ; his mother, Keziah 
Thompson, was daughter of Samuel, and grand- 
daughter of James Thompson, who was a revolu- 
tionary soldier. She was born April 13, 1800, in 
Ashtabula county, the same year. Anthony was 
married January 28, 1860, to Miss Emily, daugh- 
ter of William and Lydia (Butler) McGiffin, of 
Keene township. This union has been blessed 
with one child, Carrie Rose. 

LENNON JOHN, White Eyes township; 
farmer; a native of Tuscrawas township; Iiorn 
in 1833. His father, James Lennon, was a native; 
of county Kildare, Ireland ; emigrated to Canada, 
and landed at tiuebec in 1818; remained there 
about two years, and then removed to Lockport, 
New York, where he worked on the Erie canal 
two years. He next came to Ohio, worked on 
the Miami canal, and came to this county after 
the letting of the Ohio canal, about 1826, on 
which he was a contractor. After the canal was 
finished, he bought a farm in Tuscarawas town- 
ship, on which his widow now resides, and lived 
there until his death, which occurred in IS'A. 
His widow was horn in this county, in 1807. 
Her ancestors were New Englanders, and were 
from Trenton, New Jersey. 

In 1858 John Lennon married Miss Lydia 
Sowers, a native of Jackson township. He lo- 
cateil on a farm in Tuscarawas township, anil 
was elected sheriff' of Coshocton county, in 1873, 
and was installed in January, 1874. He was re- 
elected in 1875. Ept, the murderer of young 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Wertheimer, was the only criminal ever hung in 
the county, and Mr. Lcnnon oHiciated at his 
hanging. After serving two terms he moved 
upon his farm, in White Eyes township, in 1S80, 
where he now resides. He now holds the oflice 
of assessor of W'liite Eyes townshij). He has a 
familv of three children, James, born December 
4, lS(j"0, William born .luly, 18G3, and Howard, 
born -Vpril, LSGS. 

LENNON JAMES, farmer; Tuscarawas town- 
shi]!; was born March 7. IS.Si September 10, 
ISl.il, he enlisted in Comi)any H, Fifty-one O. V. 
I , and served three years. Mr. Lennon was mar- 
ried October 10, 1SG7, to Miss Emeline. daughter 
of Amos and Mary (Coyle) Jlarkley. They are 
the parents of seven children, viz: Samuel, An- 
thony, Mary E., Ualosia B. ; two infants, de- 
oea.sed, and Amy M. 

LENHART JACOB, Crawford township ; mer- 
chant: Chili: horn in Shanesville, Tuscarawas 
<'ounty. in 18.30: son of Peter Lenhart and Mag- 
dalena (.Deeds) Lenhart, both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. He left home in 18.")7, clerked in dry 
goods stores in Bedford and Illinois for a number 
of years. Enlisted ]\Iarch, 180.5, and was dis- 
charged at the close of the war same year. Mr. 
Lenhart married Miss Emma Winklepeck, of 
Chili, Mav 18, 1871K Thev have one child, Edward 
Stewart, born April 29, '1880. Mr. Lenhart has 
been owner of a dry goods store at Chili for a 
number of years, and he and Charles Stein are 
in partnership now. 

LE RETILLEY JAMES, retired jnerchant. 
Main street. Roscoe ; was born April 20, 1821, in 
Muskingum county : .son of James Le Eetilley, 
a native of the Isle of Guern.sey, came to Amer- 
ica in an early period, and located in (Juernsey 
county, and engaged in the manufacture of salt. 
In 1820 James Le Retilley, Sr.. with his family, 
came to Roscoe and engaged in merchandising, 
which he continued until his death in ISol. 
Young Le Retilley's mother's maiden name was 
Eli7,al)eth Taylor, daughter of William Taylor, a 
native of Virginia. Young Le Retilley was train- ■ 
cd to the mercantile business from boyhood, 
having a.ssisted his father in the store at a very j 
early age. He has had an active, varied and sue- 
ce.ssful business e.x])erienee, having been an 
active partner in the lirms of Burns & Le Retilley, ! 
Burns it Co., and Le Retilley tt Burns. He also 
conducted the mercantile business alone for sev- 
eral vears ; contracted for and built four miles of 
the C. C. & I. C. R. R., which he completed in 
two years. Mr. T-e Retilley was married Octo- 
ber 27, 184.'j, to Miss Eliza Ferguson, daughter of 
Matthew and Mary Ferguson, of Roscoe. They 
liccame the jiarents of four children, viz: Bertha 
and (ii'orge. deceased : Edward and Elsworth. 



LEVENGOOD JOHX, Crawford township; 
postoffice. New Bedford : teamster; wii.s born 
May 10, 1842, in New Bedfonl. In 1858, he went 
to the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked 
until enlisting, in Sejitember, 1861, in Company 
H, Fifty-first O. V. I., in which he served during 
the wa-, having re-enlisted as a veteran, January 
1, 1S('>3. He was actively engaged in all the bat- 
tles in which his regiment jwirticijiated, ami was 
woimded in the leg, by a gun-ball, near Kingston. 
Mr. Levengood w;\s married, February 2">, 18G3, 
to Miss Magdalena, daughter of Josiahand Eliza- 
beth (Bowman) Rinehart. Mr. Levengood has 
adopted a child of Emmanuel Rinehart, named 
Louisa Alice. 

LEVITT SYLVESTER, Kecne township; was 
born August 0, 1831, at Kingsville, Ashtabula 
county, Ohio ; son of Gideon and Mary (Stickler) 
Levitt, and was a farmer. He enlisted in Com- 
pany H, One Hundred and Forty-third (). V, I.,' 
May 1, 1.SG4: died, in West Chester county, 
New York, July, 18G4. He had married Miss 
Mary A. Whittcmore, November 20, hs.jO; daugh- 
ter of Daniel B. and Lavina ((Joodhue) Whitte- 
more. Their children were Julius M. and Syl- 
vester G. Julius is married to Florence Bald- 
win, and lives in Hopedalc, Ohio, engaged at 
school teaching. Sylvester is going to school. 

LINK MICHAEL.Crawford township; farmer; 
postolhce. New Bedford; born October 11, 1817, 
in Wurtemberg, Germany; son of John and Ro- 
sanna (Wegerle) Link. After quitting school, at 
fourteen years of age, he worked in a vineyard 
until he was twenty years old, when he entered 
the military service, and served si.x years in the 
infantry. .Vfter his discharge he worked most of 
the time in a vineyard, until Septemlier 1, lS/)2, 
when he landed in New York City, and immedi- 
ately located in a country locality of .said State, 
where he remained thirteen years, after whi<'h he 
came to his present residence, in Crawford town- 
ship, in 180"). Mr. Link was married June 17. 
1.844, to Miss Magdalene, daught<'r of Charles and 
Catharine (Frihofer) Graft. They have four chil- 
dren, three of whom are dead. John is now re- 
siding in the State of New York. Jlr. Link was 
married to Mrs. f^lizabeth, daughter of Conrad 
and Elizabeth (Fink) Sheets. They have one 
child, Emmuel, horn Jtme 2, 18GG. Mr. Link 
has succeeded well in America, having a good 
farm and comfortable home. 

LING H.VRRISON.Keene township: farmer: 
born November 11,1840, in Keene town.ship: son 
of Peter and D.u-cus Ling, and grandson of Peter 
and Elizabeth Ling, and of Charles and Mary 
(Unii)hort) Russell. He was brought uj) on a 
farm and received only a common school educa- 
tion. Januarv 2G. 1.871, he married Anna M., 



728 



HISTOflY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



(laughter of Samuel and Catharine Mnun, nnd 
granddaughter of Samuel and Anna (Thomas) 
Munn, and of Frederick and Sarah (Patterson) 
Yant. Ora May, born November S, 1)S72, is their 
only child. 

LINT JACOB, Clark township: ]iostoffiee, Hel- 
mick ; farmer; horn in Holmes county, Ohio, 
Ajiril 4, 1S39; son of Connul and Sarah (C^uig) 
Lint, and grandson of Henry and AVilHam tjuig. 
He has always been a farmer and owns a farm of 
K)G acres. His dwelling was destroyed bv tire 
Ai)ril ], 187.S. On the 2.5th of Augvist, ISiU, he 
married Miss Eleanor Teeling, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Matilda (Hush) Teeling. granddaughter 
of Robert and Eleanor (Morehead) Teeling and 
Nathaniel Kush. She was born. April IG, 1S41, 
in Holmes county. They are the jiarents of three 
children — IMary Ellen, born February 4, 1S67; 
Ikla C, born April 12, 1.S70, and Emma, born Sep- 
tember 0, LS7S. 

LODEK ISA.VC, Jackson town.-hip; born in 
Jackson townshij), ('oshocton county, Ohio; son 
of Aaron and Rebecca Loder. Mr. Loder's father 
came from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, to 
this county, in 1816. The subject of this sketch 
was marrii'd, December ll!, 1879, to Miss Mary E. 
Baughman, daughter of Jacob and Margaret 
Baughman. iNIr. Loder is one of a family of nine 
children, all living but two. Mr. Loder is a grad- 
uate of Delaware university. He is engaged at 
present in teaching. Postoffice, Roscoe. 

LONG JAMES, teacher in Co.shocton jiublic 
schools; was born April 12, 1855, in New York 
City; son of John and Annie Long. Young 
Long was left an orphan at the age of six years. 
He resided with a married sister until about twelve 
yearsof age, when he privately left for the west in 
quest of fame and fortiuie and landed in Coshoc- 
ton, Ohio, in the spring of 1867, soon after which 
he engaged to work on a farm in Franklin town- 
shi]). In the fall of the same year he engaged 
with Josejih Royer Avith whom he remained 
about live years itnd worked on the farm and 
attended school the two last winters. In August, 
1873, he entered Otterbein university, at Wester- 
ville, Ohio, which institution he attended two or 
three terms. December 8, 1873, he took charge 
of his first school (district school No. 1, Adams 
township). June 20, 1879, he was elected a 
teacher in the Coshocton jiublic schools, whicli 
position lie now holils. In the fall of 1878, he 
entered as a law student in the office of Attorney. 
W. S. Crowell, of this city. 

LOOS WILLIS, Lafayette town.-^hip; harness- 
maker, West Lafayette; was born May 14, 1857; 
son of Charles W. Loos, of this township; learned 
his trade in Coshocton, with Stirensan tt Son; 
deals in everything in liis line, and by strict at- 



tention to business and square dealing has built 
up an excellent trade. 

LOOS DANIEL, Oxford townsliip; farmer; 
West Lafayette, Oxford township; was born in 
Middletown township, Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, December 20, 1807; son of George 
Loos, who was a Pennsylvanian, as was his 
mother. Mr. Loos came to his present home 
with his father, in 1811 ; was married October 11, 
1827, to Miss Sarah Waggoner, and they were 
blessed with nine children, as follows: Hiram, 
born August 14, 1S28, and died October 28, 182S; 
Adam, born December 23, 182',i; Susannah, born 
August 2, 1832; George, born July IG, 1835, and 
died August 21,1838; Rebecca J., born Novem- 
ber 2, 1837; i.sa H., born March 11, 1842; Henry, 
born August 21, 184G, and died same year; Jere- 
miah B., born ISIay 13, 1848, and Emily, born 
ISIarcli 5, 1851. ]\Irs. Loos passed away Septem- 
ber 14, 18G9. Daniel Loos was married to Fred- 
rica Long, January 25, 1869, who was Iwrn in 
the kingdom of Bavaria, June 6, 1819, daughter 
of Michael Velgcr. She was married to Freder- 
ick Long, in 1840, the year of her arrival in 
America, and settled in this county. At the age 
of fourteen .she joined the Lutheran church, and 
in 186tt became a member of the Methodist 
Protestant churcli. Mr. Loos united with the 
same I'hurch in -1843. He has represented his 
circuit twice as delegate to conference, and has 
tilled in a most satisfactory manner all the offices 
of the church, and has held other offices of trust 
in his township. 

LOOS AS.\ H., Oxford township; was married 
to Sarah H. Whitmire, November 30, 1865. Their 
children are Ira M.; Irvin A., deceased at the 
age of three years, and Virgil. He and his broth- 
er Jeremiah own 140 acres of good land in this 
townshij). 

LOOS JEREMIAH, Oxford township; was 
married to Elizal)eth J. Wolf, in 1868. Zelma C. 
is theij' only child. 

LOOS PHILLIP, Oxford township; farmer; 
postoffice. West Lafayette ; was born in Middle- 
ton township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1799, and was married to Sallie Ann Haines, 
a Virginian, in 1827. Their children were Wil- 
liam II., Harriet, George H.. Levi, Mary C, Al- 
fred B., John Emery, Adam, Jo.seph and Frank- 
lin. His sight failed him .some years ago, and for 
the past four years lie has dwelt in almost total 
darkness. He owns eighty acres of land, and he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Prot- 
estant church. 

LOOS ADA^I, Oxford townshi)); farmer; 
Evansburgh ; was born in Cumberland county,. 
Pennsylvania, in 1803, and came to Ohio when. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



729 



about eight years of age. He was married to Miss 
Wiggins in 1838, and they have had sixeliililren, 
as follows : Louisa, deceased ; Sarah .Jane ; Beeky 
Ellen, dcceas(>d ; Sii.sannah, deceased; JNIargaret 
Ann and Elniira. The three living are married 
to well-to-do farmers. Mrs. Loos is a member of 
tlie Methodist Protestant cburcli, and Mr. Loos 
gives it his support. He is a man well j)rc- 
served for one of his age, and is esteemed by his 
fellow-citizens. 

LORENZ GEORGE, grocer and baker, Fourth 
and Main streets, Coshocton. Mr. Lorcnz is a na- 
tive of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born Jan- 
uary 4, 1849. He emigrated to America and lo- 
cated at Chili, Ohio, where he engaged in shoe- 
making, having learned that trade while in Ger- 
many. He remained in Chili about one year,, 
and "then went to Hamilton, Dayton and Ports- 
mouth. He came to Coshocton in 1873. and es- 
talilished the grocery and baking business in 
which he still continues, and has a large stock of 
staple and fancy groceries and confectioneries, 
also deals in all kinds of country produce. He 
has an extensive bakery in connection, where he 
produces a large amount of bread, jilain and fancy 
cakes and pies of all kinds. 

LORENZ JOHN, merchant; Chili, Crawford 
township; son of John and Christina (Enter) 
Lorenz, natives of Bavaria. Mr. Lorenz was 
born in Oderheim, Bavaria, January 12, 1844. 
When fifteen years old he emigrated to Amer- 
ica, and clerked in a store in this state, until 
he went into the mercantile business at Chili, 
in the spring of 1865, where he ha.s contin- 
ued in business up to the present time. Mr. 
Lorenz began at Chili with a small capital, but 
by industry and close application to business, he 
has succeeded in building up a good business 
and has accumulated consider.-ilile property. He 
married Maggie Slarp, in ],8li8. Her i)arents, 
Peter and Elizabeth (Zinkhon) Slarp, are both of 
Germ.an ancestry. They have a family of six 
children — Mary "Elizabeth, Ellanora, Charles Ed- 
win, William Henry, Minnie, and Laura. Jlr. 
Lorenz and family are members of the Evangel- 
ical church. 

LORENTZ HEXRY, Coshocton; restaurant 
and saloon and grocery, 450, Main street; is a 
native of Bavaria, Germany; worked on the 
farm until twenty-one years old, when he entered 
the Bavarian army, serving four years, during 
which time the army was engaged in the French 
and Prussian war. At the close of the service, 
he came to America, landing in New York City, 
and came immediately to this city. After work- 
ing on the railroad two years, he established his 
present business, in November, 1873. Mr. Lo- 
rentz was married, March 11, 1874, to Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Ell wards, of this citv. The union was 



blessed with three children; Henry J., William 
C. and Susannah. Mr. Lorentz has succeeded 
well in business. 

LOXSINtJER JOHN G., Tiverton town.ship; 
postoilice, Yankee Ridge, Ohio; born in 1851, in 
this townsliip. His fatlier, F. W. L. Lonsinger, 
was born in 1823, in Wurtendierg, Germanj'. 
He came to New York, in l.S4Ci, and to this 
county, in 1848. He was married, in 1850, to 
Miss Magdaline Bower, of this county, who was 
born in 1830, in Bavaria. Tliey are the parents 
of fourteen children, tlie subject of this sketch 
being the oldest He was married, in 1.S74, to 
Mi.ss Elizabeth Kirch, of this county, who was 
born in 18.52, in Bavaria. They are the parents 
of three children: Clara; Nettie P., deceased, 
and Lucy. 

LOVELESS ALEXANDER, Adamstownship ; 
farmer and stock dealer; postoHice, Newcomers- 
town; was born Ajiril 27, b'<28; son of Stejihen 
H. and Eleanor (.\rnistrong) Loveless, and grand- 
son of Samuel Armstrong. He began the black- 
smith trade at the age of nineteen, with John R. 
Dunlap, of Shanesville, Ohi(.), i-(Mnaining with 
him about two years ^ then worked at diflerent 
jilaces about a year; after which he began busi- 
ness on his own responsibility, in Bakersville, 
which he continued for fifteen years. He then 
sold his shop and bought a farm, and has been 
devoting his time to farming and stock dealing 
since. He is an energetic and highly respected 
citizen. He was married Seiitember 11, 185], to 
Miss Martha Watson, daughter of Robert and 
Agnes (JIuntz) A\"atsun She died September 1, 
1859. They had two children, viz : Stephen H. 
and Agnes J. He married N<ivendicr 14, hSGl, 
IMiss Su.sannah Conaway, daughter of Charles 
and Frances (.\rnold) Conaway, anil granddaugh- 
ter of Charles and R.-ichel Conaway, who was 
born Septend)er 24, 1837, They have five chil- 
dren, viz: Charles R., born December 20, 18G2; 
Frances E., Decendier 4, 18G(;; Frederick J., Julv 
20, 18f.8; Eloi.se T,, lAfarch 11, 1872; and Garlield, 
November 5, 1880. 

LOVE JOHN, Keene township; farmer; born 
July, 18(1('), in Ireland; son of James and Jane 
(McKee) Love, grand.son of Samuel and Susan 
(Kirskaddcn) Love, and of Thomas McKec. Mr. 
Love followed farming in Ireland till the age of 
twenty, wiien he came to America and settled on 
the farm wliere lie now lives. He was married, 
January, 18.3S, to Miss Jane McConnell, born in 
Ireland, June 3, 1812. daughter of John and Sarah 
(Rodgers) MctJonnell. Their children were: 
Sarah J., born December 28, 1838; James, de- 
eea.sed, October 28. 1,S40; Mary A., deceased, Sep- 
tember 2,1842; Catharine, deceased, September 
2, 1M2; Samuel, Mav 5, 1,*<4G; Ellen F., deceased, 
July 12, 18411; Emma, Sci>tember 1, 1854; John 



730 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



M. May 2, 1857, and Miranda, October 23, 1S59. 
Mrs., tove died, ISIayS, 187G. Alice Love, sister 
of John, was born, January, 1818, in Ireland. 

LOVE JOHN, Keene township, more com- 
monly called John O'Love ; was Ijorn in Febru- 
ary, 1795, in Molininore parish, Donegal. Ireland; 
son of Thomas and Susan (Osborn) Love, and 
grandson of John and Nellie (McKee) Love, and 
of John and Bess (Ellis) Osborn, and great-grand- 
son of Elizabeth Forquer. He was married to 
Eleanor Love, who was born in March, 1798, in 
Molinmore parish, Donegal county, Ireland; 
daughter of James and Jennie (IMcKee) Love, 
and granddaughter of Sanuiel and Susan (Kirs 
kadden) Love, and of Robert and Fannie (Mc- 
Kee) McKee. They were married February 19, 
1821, and are both yet living. Their children 
■wei«e as follows: Jane, born February 15, 182tj, 
married to Josejih Love, and resides in Iowa City, 
Iowa, the liusband and one child dead ; .4nn, born 
September 10, 1S2S, married in April, 1847, to 
William R. Johnston, resides in Galesburgh, Il- 
linois, with two children — husband and two chil- 
dren are dead ; James, born January 8,- 1833, died 
March 15, 1852; Thomas, born July 8, 18^5, mar- 
ried January 18, 1872, to Mary J. Endsley, who 
was born May 11, 1845, daughter of Thomas and 
Matilda (Karr) IDndsley, and granddaughter of 
John and Jennie (Blaine) Endsley, and of John 
■and Nancy (Welch) Karr, Their children were: 
Robert, born April 1, 1S73; Susie, born January 
28, 1875; James R,, horn January 27, 1877; 
Thomas, born April 27, 1878, and Carrie B., born 
November 2G, 1879, 

Susan Love, born August 24, 1838, was married 
in April, 1.S59, to Andrew Karr, They had seven 
children, all living in Coshocton county. Thomas 
enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Forty- 
third Regiment, O. N G., in July, 18G3, and was 
discharged in May, 1864. 

LOVE JOSEPH, Linton township; farmer; 
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 1, 
1836. His father was born in county Donegal, 
Ireland, and emigrated in 1834 to Philadelphia, 
and in lS4ti to this township. His three brothers 
followed him to .Vmerica and preceded him to 
this county, William and Alexander, two early 
settlers of Linton township, were great-uncles to 
Joseph, lie began teaching in l>i55, and has 
taught. in this and adjoining counties for fifteen 
years. He wa.s married .\ugust 22, 1861, to Mar- 
garet Rusk, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent. Her 
father, William Rusk, emigrated from Antrim 
county, Ireland, to Guernsey county, Ohio, about 
1840, and to this county in 185s. yir. Love's fam- 
ily consists of seven children, William, Ella Jane, 
Margaret .Vnn, George Rusk, Robert M,, Emily 
S. and Bessie. 

LOWER JEREMIAH, Crawford township; 



farmer and sewing machine agent; pastoffice. 
Chili, Coshocton county, Ohio; was born in Craw- 
ford township, Jlarch 26, 1836; son of George 
and Susannali Lower; was married February 
28, 1856, to Mahala Lower, daughter of Benja- 
min and Catherine Lower, born in Crawford 
township October 28, 1836, Children born to 
them were as follows: Amanda Rachel, born 
September 12, 1857; Mary Ellen, born April 22, 
I860; Susannah Catherine, born June 13, 1862; 
George Francis and Elizabeth .Vnne, born January 
19, 1865; Clara Etta, born May 11, 1867; Sarah 
Jane, born September 16, 1872; Oscar Warren, 
born June 21, 1875, Mr, L. commenced teaching 
school in 1855, and taught for twenty-one years. 
The eonfmement not agreeing with his health 
he gave up teaching and commenced farming 
and selling the American sewing machine. He 
was elected and served as a justice of the peace 
for the term of three years; was a Democrat 
from his youth to the present, casting his first 
presidential vote for Stephen A. Dougla.ss. 

LOWERY DAVIS, Jackson town.ship ; post- 
ofRce Tyrone ; born in AA'ashington county, Penn- 
sylvania; settled in Co.shocton county, in March, 
1835; son of Thomas and Mary Lower)', and 
grandson of James and Mary Lowery. Mr. 
Lowery's people are of Irish descent. He was' 
married January 13, 1842, to Martha Foster, 
daughter of Moses and Hannah Foster. Their 
union was bles.sed with six children, five of whom 
are living, viz : .lames M,, Thomas C, J. W., 
Davis J., Martin S., all married and living in this 
county. 

LUKE I, D,, Crawford town.ship; attorney at 
law, notary public ami insurance agent; post- 
office, New Bedford; horn August 28, 1831, in 
German township, Holmes county; son of George 
and Mary (Davidson) Luke, He was brought up 
on the farm by his grandfather, Jacob Luke, un- 
til about fourteen years of age, when he came to 
New Bedford and assisted his uncle in the hotel 
until seventeen years of age, when he taught one 
term of school, after which he clerked for different 
])arties in stores, for several years, then, with Lu- 
decker as partner, conducted a store at Nashville, 
Holmes count}', and subsequently a branch store 
at New Bedford. On closing out these stores, he 
again clerked in New Bedford until 1856, when 
he went to California and sought the precious 
metals by placer mining. In June, 1859, he re- 
turned to New Bedford and resumed clerking. 

Soon after ho entered as a student the law office 
of Messrs, Barcroft & Voorhes, attorneys, and 
I was admitted to practice at Miilersburg, in June, 
' 1861, In Septendier, 1861, he enlisted as a 
private in Company H, Fifty-first O, V. I., and 
served until the spring of 1864, when he resigned 
on account of disability. During his service he 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



731 



was aiipwnted sergeant-major of the regiment, 
and oiinimissioned second and first lieutenant of 
his conijtany. In June, 1S()5, he went to St. 
Louis. Missouri, and remained one year. Then 
he crossed the plains to New Mexico, and was 
allured by the glittering stories of the placer 
mines of Grant county to seek their treasure. 
.\t these mines he remained about a year and a 
half; thence to Arizona, and from there to Fort 
Mogave, where he entered the quartermaster de- 
partment of the U. S. regulars, and remained six 
months. Quitting this position, he engaged with 
the Colorado River Steam Navigation Co., at the 
company's yards at Sonora, Mexico, and re- 
mained there three years. In the sjiring of 1872 
he returned to New Bedford. .Vttorncy Luke 
was married first m the fall of 1872, to Miss Bar- 
bara, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Kricger) 
Sprenklc. Bv this marriage he had three chil- 
dren: Harvey, Clifford D. an,l Paris D. Mr.s. 
Luke died in l.S7o. He was married February 
5, 1876, to Miss Pauline, sister of his first wife. 
This union has been blessed with two children : 
Benjamin R. and George A. 

LYNCH A., Perry township: West Bedford jiost- 
ofti'^e; born in this county, in 1834; sou of Wil- 
liam and Elizabeth (Wolf) Lynch, and grandson 
•of Peter Lynch ; married in 1862, to Miss S. E. 
White, daughter of Lewis and Sarah White. 
Mr. Lynch is the father of two children, viz: 
Florence E., and William L. 

LYNCH CORNELIUS, Perry township; post- 
ofiSce, West Bedford ; born in this coimtv, in 
1837; son of William and Elizabeth (Wolf) Lynch; 
grandson of Peter Lynch Mr. Lynch's father 
settled in this county in a very early day, and 
sunk the first well ever sunk in Bedford township. 
He was a hatter by trade. Mr. Lyinch. in 18.5), 
married Miss Darcus A. Fry. jNlrs. Lynch's 
grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. Their 
imion was blessed by three children, viz: Sarah 
v., William, and Lewella. 

LYNDE EZRA H., tinner; Main street, Co- 
shocton, Ohio; was born .\i)ril 2.'?, 182:?, in Dun- 
kirk. New York ; son of William R. Lynde, Ameri- 
•can born, of French descent; raised on a farm 
until fourteen years of age, when he went to 
Newark, and, at'the age of sixteen, entere<l Gran- 
ville college, where he remained eighteen months; 
learned his present trade with Chancy Ilumiihrey. 
-Vfter completing his apprenticeship, he worked 
for his l>rother in Newark three years ; also worked 
three years in St. Louis. Missouri ; after working 
in other jilaccs, and after leaving St. Louis on 
account of the cholera, came to this jjlace, in 
1849, and followed daguerreotyping one year, then 
returned to his present trade, establishing his 
business in the present location, in 18-52. In 
185-5,.he moved to Burlington, Iowa, where he 



followed liis business about three years, then re- 
turned to the place he left in 18,52. and is now 
doing a goo<l business. He was married, Sep- 
tember 18, 1854, to Jliss .\nna M. Ransom, daugh- 
ter of .\Ionzo Ransom, of this jilace. Thev have 
had three children, viz: Francis, decea.sed; Charles 
E., deceased, and William R. 

LYONS WILLI.VIM, Adams township; farm- 
er; postoffice, Bakersville, Ohio. Mr. Lyons was 
born !March 19, 1.^40, in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, an<l was raL^^ed on the farm. He 
removed from Washington county in 1844 and 
settled in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. In 1861) Mr. 
Lyons lost his right arm by an accident at a 
threshing machine. He commenced teaching 
school in 1.S59. .and taught successfully for five 
years. Mr Lyons w;is married December 31, 
1S69, to Miss Nancy J Stonehocker, a .school 
teacher of Coshocton county. They are the par- 
ents of five children: Mary A., Louisa ,T., Wil- 
liam H., Eliza W. and .John ('., all of whom are 
living. Mr. Lyons came to this county in 1>!74, 
and lias remained ever since, following the occu- 
pation of a farmer. 

LYONS GEORGE. Perry townsliip: postoffice, 
West Carlisle; born in this county in 184;?; son 
of .John and Matilda (Crawford) Lyons. He w;is 
married in 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Gault, daugh- 
ter of Adam and Sarah Gaidt. Mr. Lyons is the 
father of three children, viz : Fannie, Anna and 
Edmund. 

MrB.VNE J. C, Franklin township; farmer; 
born in Jetlerson county, Ohio, .Se])tember 30, 
l.'^26 ; son of Jesse and JIary McBane. His 
grandfather McBane emigrated from the high- 
lands in Scotland to .Vmerica, locating near Balti- 
more, Maryland, on a i)lace which is now within 
the city limits In 18;il his father's family caine 
to Lafayette town.shi)). where he grew to man- 
hood, receiving the education which the coimtry 
schools afforded ; was married March 20, 1S.33, to 
Elizabeth, daughter of William Hawkins, an 
early settler in this townshi]), who came from 
New .Jersey. The years 1.S.54-.5 were spent in 
Clark comity, Illinois. In 1-^06 he moved to 
Franklin town.ship and has lived here since. He 
has three children, viz: Olivia, Helen luvl Jesse. 
Olivia was married December 24, 1,879, to .lames 
W. Maxwell, of Harrison county. Mr. McBane 
w;i.s elected county commissioner in 1876, and is 
now serving his second term. 

McCAIN ADAM, Perry township); postoffice, 
New Guilford; born in this county, in 184.5; son 
of John an Sarah (Dunn) McCain; married in 
1%8. to Miss Hester J. Mowrey, daughter of 
Martin and Mary 5Iowrey. Mr. McCan is en- 
gaged in keeping hotel, at present; also keeps on 
hand a variety of notions for sale. 



r32 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



McCAMMANT .Lafayette township; 

carpenter; postofficc, West Lafayette; born Oc- 
tober 25, 1824, in Brooke county, West Virginia; 
son of James McCainniant, native of Washing- 
ton county, Pennsylvania ; raised on a farm, but 
also learned the gunsmith's trade, and worked at 
that and farming, until 1S52, when he learned 
the cari)enter trade, and conducted both trades 
and run the farm until recently, but gives his 
entire time at jjresent to carpentering. He left 
West Virginia, in 1837, and went to Perry county, 
remaining until 1839; then, for a short time, 
lived in Muskingum county, and settled in La- 
fayette township, in 1840. He was married, 
April 8, 1847, to Miss Rachel -V. Shator, daughter j 
of Peter Shafer, of .Vlbany county. New York. \ 
They have eight children, viz : Mary, William 
W-, married to Melissa Shroyer; Sarah E., mar- 
ried to Samuel Garselin ; Emily J., Josephine, 
Ida, James and George Edgar. 

McCLAIN GEORGE, Linton tnwnship ; farm- 
er; born in Lafayette township, November 27, 
1837; son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Stringer) Mc- 
Clain, and grandson of Thomas McClain, one of 
the earliest pioneers of Lafayette township. In 
1872 ilr. McClain moved from Lafayette to Lin- 
ton township. He was married in 1870 to 
Louisa Summers, daughter of John L. and Mar- 
garet (Michael) Summers, now of Muskingum 
county. His children are Ada, Maggie, Edward, 
Lewis and Clarinda, deceased. 

McCLAIN H. F., Plainfield, Linton township; 
grocer and saloon ; postoffice, Plainfield. Jlr. 
McClain was born Ajiril 28. 1853, in Coshocton 
county, Oliio. He was raised on the farm, and 
followed that occupation until twenty-two years 
of age. He was married July 18, l.'^75, to Miss 
Lydia Hootnian, of this county. They became 
the parents of two children — Sophronia E. and 
Freddie. In 1875 Mr. ]Mc( 'lain removed to Plain- 
field, Ohi'i, and started a general grocery and 
saloon. He has successfully followed the busi- 
ness ever since. 

McCLAIN RICHARD, deceased, Lafayette 
town.^hip ; was born in Linton township, in No- 
vember, 1.S23, and was married in 1848, to Jliss 
Catherine Elson, of this township. They have had 
ten children, as follows: Jennie ; Seth.'deceased ; 
Ella. Arthur, Lizzie, Lyde, Noah; Laura, de- 
cea.«ed ; Charles and Jesse. Mr. McClain was a 
man of note in thistown.ship, having held numer- 
ous township offices, and was countj' treasurer 
two terms. In a newsi)aper account of his life, it 
is .said that his youth and manhhod were passed 
at a time when men were iionest, and integrity 
and uprightness of character wore jirized jewels 
among men. He posses.sed these in an uncom- 
mon degree, as evidenced by the high apprecia- 
tion of his neighbors and friends throughout the 



county. His courage and patriotism were co- 
ccpial, and he defended his country with the same 
devotion to duty that actuated him in his event- 
ful and successful life. When a young man, he 
enlisted in the Third Ohio infantry, and with 
other comrades from this jjlace, served in the war 
with Mexico, in 1846—1:8. At the breaking out of 
the rebellion, in 18G1, the firing on Fort Sumter 
aroused him, and lie was the first in this county 
to organize a company, which served three 
months as part of the Sixteenth Ohio, with dis- 
tinction. Upon his return, he innnediately assist- 
ed in recruiting and organizing the Fifty-lirst 
Ohio, one of the best regiments in the service. 
He was elected major at the organization, and 
was afterward promoted to lieutenant colonel, 
and then to colonel, after the promotion of Col- 
onel Stanley Matthews. He )>articipated with 
liis comrades in the battle of Stone River, and 
others of the campaign. At Chickamauga he was 
captured, and after one year spent in Libby 
prison, was exchanged and returned to the com- 
mand of his regiment, serving until the close of 
the war. Upon his return home, he was nomi- 
nated and elected treasurer on the Democratic 
ticket, though he had been an uncompromisng 
Rci)ublican. When his term expired he was re- 
elected by being the candidate of both parties, 
which was sufficient recommendation of the 
faithful discharge of his duties. He was one of 
the most efficient officers the county ever had. 
Colonel McClain died of malarial fever, March 31, 
188t). 

McCLAIN THOMAS, Monroe township; was 
born February 15, 182G, in Lafayette township, 
Co.shocton county ; son of John and Elizabeth 
(Maple) McClain, and grandson of Thomas and 
Massa (Marts) McClain, who were natives of Ire- 
land, and of Jacob (Sagatha) Maple, who were 
! natives of Germany. Mr. McClain was born and 
j brought uyi on a farm, and educated in district 
schools. He lived in his native place till the age 
of thirty-four, when he removed to Tuscarawas 
county, where he followed farming and stock deal- 
ing for four years ; then came to Jlonroe town- 
ship, Coshocton comity, where he is now the 
owner of a neat little farm of about 100 acres. 
He was married to Jliss Ruhama Marlatte, April 
18, 1,<47, daughter of .\braliam and Susan (Ham- 
ersly) Marlatte. and granddaughter of. IMichael 
and Catharine Hamersly, who were natives of 
England. Their children were John, Jeremiah, 
and Thomas, deceased ; Seth is married to Al- 
meda Severns, a farmer in Jefferson township, 
this comity ; Anderson, Cliristopher, Jacob, Mary 
J., Martha" E., and George H. Pendleton are at 
home. Benton C, Andrew B., and Margaret have 
also deceased. 

McCLAIN SETH, Coshoeton ; fanner ; corner 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



73S 



of Third and Chostiuit streets; born in July, 
1818; !?on of James and Elizabeth (Williams) 
McCliiin. His iinnulfatlier, Seth, came from 
Washington county, Peiinsylviinia Young Seth 
was raised in Linton lownshij) until he was four- 
teen years of age, when he entered as a clerk the 
dry goods store of Thomas ('. Kiekerts, of Co- 
shocton. He afterward clerked for Meek & 
Jolmson. In 184!) he took the liazardous over- 
land trip to California, making the trij) in four 
weeks and six days, being the first man from 
this county to enter San Francisco. He re- 
mained in the Golden State two years; then re- 
turned and clerked for ^McdberVy, in Roseoe, 
conunanding the highest salary of the neighbor- 
hood, $y(K) hrst year and :<l,(iOO for the second 
year. He was a candidate for sherili', and only 
lacked a few votes of being elected when the 
democratic majority in tlic county was about 
80t). He bought Mcdberry's stock, and did a 
business of SoO,(KX) jier year. Next closed out 
his store to S. C. Burrell & Siais, and engaged ex- 
tensively in buying and shipping live stock. Mr. 
McClain was married in February, 18ti4. to Mary, 
daughter of John and Sojihia' (Clark) Frew. 
They have one child, Lewis, born November 18, 
1800. Mr. McClain was jjreviously married to 
Sarah Frew, sister of his i:)resent wife. 

McCLAUGHRY GEORGE IL, Linton town- 
ship; farmer; born in Jeti(?rsoh county, Virginia, 
Sejilember 12. 1832; son of James an<l Rebecca 
(Brooks) McClaughry, grandson of James and 
Catherine (Ellsworth) McClaugln-y. His grand- 
father, James was a Scotch emigrant, his grand- 
mother a native of New Y'ork City. In 1853 he 
entered Linton townshij), and has been here 
since; married February 14, 18w3, to Martha 
Wiggins, daughter of Thomas Wiggins ; his chil- 
dren are Surah V., Harriet J.. Amanda R.. Ells- 
worth and Jlary Isabel. Mrs. McClaughry died 
in 18(17, and he married a second wife. Laura 
Latham, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, 
daughter of George Latham ; a single child 
blesses this 7iiarriage, Georgie L. Mr. McClaugh- 
ry enlisted February, 1865, in Company .V, One 
Hundred and Ninety-fourth O. V. I., and was in 
service about nine months. 

MrCLEEARY SETH, Linton township; farm- 
er; born in Franklin towni<hi|i, June 2(5, 1827; 
son of George and Sarah (Tanner) MeCleeary, 
and grandson of William MeCleeary, who emi- 
grated from Scotland at eighteen, and of Marga- 
ret (Slagel) MeCleeary. a lady of German descent. 
In 18b3 his granddaughter came to Linton town- 
.-ihip, and some years later his father nu>ved to 
Franklin township. In 18.")1 he married Mi.<s 
Maliala. daughter of Sanuicl Roderick, and in 
1852 he moved to Linton township, where his wife 
died soon after, leaving two cliildren, John and 



Mahala; and in the winter of 1853, Mr. MeCleea- 
ry went to California, where he remained nearly 
three years, engaged in mining. He returned to 
his father's, and Ajjril 11, 18.")7, he married Eliza- 
beth Roderick, daughter of Absolom Roderick, 
of Tuscarawas township. By this marriage he 
has sixcliildrcn, viz : Melissa,"Elma, Bessie, Sarah, 
George, and Eliie Bell. 

McCLEARY J. W., Tuscarawas township; 
postoffice, Coshocton ; born in Franklin township, 
April 1(3, 1849; son of James T. an<l Naomi ( Wol- 
ford) McCleary. His grandfather was Cieorgo A. 
McCleary,and his great-grandfather was William 
McCleary. Mr. McCleary was raised to farming, 
which business, with slight exception, he lias fol- 
lowed successfully to the present time. He was 
married to Miss Ro.se Anne, daughter of Sanuiel 
Jloore, of Tuscarawas county. Four children were 
born to them, viz: Samuel A., Mary Geneva, James 
Philiji and Wolford. 

McCLUGGAGE JOHN, Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice, Tyrone ; born in 18(l'.i, in Wa.sh- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, and was married in 
18;>2, to Miss ElizabethGuthrie,of the same coun- 
ty, who was born in 1811. They removed to Alle- 
gheny county, Pcnn.sylvania, in 1836, and came to 
this county in 1846. They lived near Bloomlield, 
this coimty, until 1863, when they removed to 
their ]iresent location. They are the parents of 
nine children, three of whom are living, viz: 
EUenora, Robert and Elizabeth H. 

JIcCLrRE JAMES, Coshocton; proprietor of 
restaurant and sidoon, 522 Main street; was born 
JIarch 22, 1843, in Keene townshi]); son of Alex- 
ander McClure, a native ol Ireland. Young Mc- 
Clure's lirst work was with his father at the car- 
l)enter trade. At fifteen he went into the Co- 
shocton Demiicr'it olRce to learn tyj)e-sctting, and 
from tliis office he went to the Coshocton Afir, 
working about five years in all In 1861 he was 
the second man in the coimty to enlist in the 
three months service, at the beginning of the 
war. He served in C^omiiany A, Sixteenlh O. V. 
I. In 1862 he re-enlisted as second sergeant in 
Company I, Ninety-seventh O. V. I., and served 
to the clo.se of the war. He was promoted to 
first sergeant, second lieutenant, lirst lieuten- 
ant and to the command of the company, which 
he obtained at liuutsville, Alabama. .\t the 
close lie canie to this city and established Ids' 
present business. Mr. McClure was married 
October 18, 1865, to Miss Rebecca C. Mo.sier, 
daughter of Philip ^losier, deceased, formerly of 
Adams t(wnship, Muskingum county. This 
marriage was blessed with four children, viz : 
Kate H., Charles .\.. Lulu May, and Willie V., 
deceased. Mr. McClure is doing a very good 
business at jiresent. 



734 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



McCONNELL THOMAS, Bethlehem town- 
shi]); farmer and stock flealer; son of Matthew 
MoConiiell, was born in July. 1.S43. Mr. McCon- 
nell enlisted, in September, IsOl, for three years, 
in company I, Fifty-first (). V. I., under Captain 
James Cook. He .served in the Fotn-th Division 
imder Generals Grant and Sherman. He Avas 
in the battles of Chickaniauga and Lookout Moun- 
tain, and marched with Sherman to the sea. He 
returned October, 1SG4, after havinj; been in 
active service over three years. He was married, 
in 1S60. to Jliss Mary Miller, of this county, who 
was born August Ifi. 1S47. Mr. McConnell moved 
to Indiana in the spring of ISGG, and remained 
eight months, when he returned to this county, 
wliere he has since lived. They became the 
parents of three children, viz: Minnie, born Mav 
23, ISGS; Edward K.. born April 10, 1870, and 
Matthew, born February 0, 1874. 

McCONNELL ALEXANDER, Bethlehem 
town.ship; farmer; son of Matthew McConnell; 
was born Ai)ril 6, 1.S45, in Betlileheni townshiji, 
Co.-;hocton county. Mr. McConnell was raised on 
the farm, and has followed farming all liis life. 
In 1803 he enlisted as a private in Comiiany G, 
One Hundred and Forty-second regiment, O. Y. 
I., and served 10(1 days. He was married in 
18C9 to Miss Elizabeth Overholt, who was born 
in 1842, in this county. They are the parents of 
three children, viz: William T., born in 1871; 
Cora May, born in 1874, and Abraham H., born 
in 1879. 

McCONNELL MATTHEW, Bethlehem town- 
shi]); farmer ; born in 1810, in Donegal county, Ire- 
land. He came to this county in 1832, and located 
in Keene township. He was married, December 
31, 1840, to jNIissMary Laughhead, of this county, 
who was born in 1819, in Philad(dphia, Penn.syl- 
vania. They are tlie parents of eleven children, 
six of whom are living, viz : Tliomas, born in 
1843; Alexander, born in 184.'); Edward R.,born 
October 4, 1.S47; William T.. born May 21, 1850; 
Martha J., born February 3. 18.54, and Mary C, 
born in 1862. Mr. McConnell has lived on the 
same farm ever since he came to this county, and 
has followed farming and stock-raising. He and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian church 
at Keene. 

IMcCOY JOSEPH, Virginia townshi]) ; born in 
Coshocton countj', in 18.50; son of Daniel and 
Mary McCoy, and mari'ied in December 1873. 
His cbildren are Minnie M. and Verna P. Post- 
office, Dresden. 

McCOY DANIEL, Virginia township: born m 
Co.shocton county, Ohio. January 7, 1812: son of 
Jo.sejili Milly McCoy. He was married .Vugust 
28, 18(;(). His second wife was Su.san Norris, and 
his children were Jacob. Leroy. Katharine, Beam, 



W. R., Emily, ^Margaret, John IMorris, George 
and Joseph. Postofhce, Dresden. 

McCOY HENRY, Jackson townshiin born in 
this county, in 1837 ; son of Joseph and Sarah Mc- 
Coy ; married in 1.S.57, to Martha Roberts, daugh- 
ter c.if Dr. Roberts. Mr. McCoy is the father of live 
children, four living and one dead Postotlice, 
Roscoe. 

McCOY JOSEPH, Jackson township; post- 
office. Roscoe; born in E;.st Virginia ; settled in 
Coshocton county. 1807: son of .loscjih and ^Mil- 
lie BlcCoy, and grandson of Jolm and Nancy 
McCoy; married in 18 — to Sarah Ogle, daiigliter 
of Joscjih and Millie Ogle. Mr. McCoy is the 
father nf ten children, all living but two. Mr. 
McCoy was one of the lirst settlers of Coshocton 
county, and still lives enjoying the fruits of his 
early loil. 

.McCOY WILLIAM. Jackson township; born 
in Virginia township, Coshocton county; son of 
Joseph and Sarah McCoy; married in 1844 to 
Catharine Johnson, daughter of Henry and Cla- 
rinda Johnson. Mr. McCoy is the father of 
twelve children, live living and seven dead. All 
married but one. Postofflee, Roscoe. 

McGOSKEY GEORGE, White Eyes township; 
farmer ; born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1815. His fatlifr, George McCoskey, was a 
native of Ireland; was married in that country; 
emigrated to the United States in 1812, and set- 
tled in Pennsylvania. He remained in that 
State six years; came to White Fyes in 1818, 
and settled on a farm that was all in woods. He 
was the father of six children, but two of whom 
are living. He died in 1871. at the ajje of eighty- 
three years, and his wife IMargaret died in 1S6G. 
at the age of seventy-eight years. George, the 
subject of this sketch, was apprenticed to learn 
the carpenter trade in 1838, and has worked con- 
tinuou.sly at the trade since then. In 1848 he 
married Miss Eliza Christy. She was born in 
this county, August 11. 1823. They have one 
child, a daughter, born July, 1844, who is married 
to William Lockard. and is living on the adjoin- 
ing farm. Mr. ]SIcCoskey located on the farm 
where he now resides in 1850. 

McCOSKEY WILLIAM, White Eyes town- 
ship; a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylva- 
nia: son of George ^McCoskey: was married 
to Miss Eliza Graham, who was a native of Ire- 
land, and was born in 1813. They were the 
jiarents of three children — one de<>eased, Wil- 
liam; two living, G. W. and Margaret. Mrs. 
McCoskey died June, 184.5. William was mar- 
ried, December 1852, to Miss Nancy McCoskey, 
a native of Jeller.'son county. They became the 
parents of eight children, live of whom are liv- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKKTCHES. 



735 



iiij;. (!. W. was born in 1844, and Wiis married, 
XovemlxT, 18G7, to Miss Joanna Hamilton, the 
daughter of Samuel Hamilton. They have 
seven children: Ida jNI., Kva M., William J., 
Eliza B., Emma S., Hestella and Arosta.all livini;. 
G. W. has never left the county, and now resides 
between Avondale and Chili. 

McCULLOUGH GEORGE, deceased; born in 
the county of Donegal, Ireland; came to this 
county about IS.SO. He was married, December 
3, 185(), to Miss Kebecca Lockard, the daughter of 
Rcbert Lockard, and she was borti in 1S22 They 
had seven children, viz: Malinda, JIary A.,j\lartha, 
J., deceased ; Sadie A., Stewart, deceased; Frank- 
lin H. and Emma. Mary A. is married to John 
P. Uenjaniin, of Avondale, a shoemaker by trade. 
The others are at home. Mr. McCidlou^h died 
February 28, 1866. He located on the farm where 
his widow now resides, before his marriage. He 
was a member of the M. E. church at Kimbles. 
Franklin is the only son living; is at home with 
his mother and farms the place. 

McCULLOUGH WILLIAM, deceased; born 
in 17B7, in Delaware, and was married in 1818. 
His wife was born In 17'.i6. They came to this 
county in 18;>4. He died in 1869. They were 
the parents of eight children, viz: Margaret, de- 
ceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Samuel; Ann; IMar- 
Uia, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Lydia, de- 
ceased, and Mary. 

McCUNE SAMUEL, Linton township; farmer; 
born April 8, 1824, in Linton township; the son 
of James McClure, one of the earliest settlers of 
Linton township; married December 2, 1852, to 
Hester Ann Higer, daughter of Jacob and Mary 
Higer, of Oxford township. Children: Mary E., 
James W., Jerry C, Joab, Jane, Arabella, Agnes, 
Flora Ellen, Saiah Ida and John A. Logan. Mr. 
McCune enlisted in Company A, One Hundred 
and Ninety-fourth O. V. I., and remained in serv- 
ice about eight months, doing duty in Virginia 
and Washington City. 

McCli'NE JOHN, Linton township; farmer; 
liorn February 17, 1813, in Linton township; son 
of James and" Elizabeth (Craig) ^IcCune, grand- 
son of John and Jane (Jenkins) JlcCune, who 
were foremost in the settlement of Linton town- 
shij). Mr. McCune has been twice married; first 
in 183.'), to Sarah McDowell, daughter of James 
Mcl)o\vell, of Stark county. Children: Mary 
Craig, .James, Nathaniel; Martha, deceased; Sa- 
lina Jackson and Ellen R. Wiggin.s. His second 
wife was Miss Nancy A. Glenn, and their children 
were John and Robeft. 

McCURDY DANIEL, Bedford township; 
farmer ; postoflice, Tunnel Hill ; born in 1820, ni 
this county. His father, Daniel, Sr., was born in 



1780, in county Tyrone, Ireland. He moved to 
Philadeliihia in 1 7118, and to .lell'er.son county in 
1802. He was married in 18()'.», to Miss Jane 
Richey, of that county, who was born in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, in 17itl. They came to 
this county in 1817. He died in 1.S62, .she died 
in 18611. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, Daniel being the tifth. He was married in 
1853, to jNIiss Rachel Loder, of this comity, who 
was born in 1833, in this county. Tiiey were the 
parents of nine children, viz : Rebecca ; Mary S., 
deceased; William A.; Clement L., deceased; 
Francis A., Rosella, May B., Echo P. and Fan- 
ny D. 

McCURDY W. C, Bedford township; farmer; 
postotfice. West Bedford; born in 184!>, in this 
county. His father, John McCurdy, was born in 
1826, in this county. His grandfather came from 
Ireland. John was married in 1847, to Jliss 
Nancy Adams, of this county, and died in 1872. 
She died in 1855. They were the parents of three 
children, the subject of this sketch lieing the old- 
est. He was married in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth 
Jobe, of this county, who was born in 1850, in this 
coimty. They are the parents of three children, 
viz : Otis, deceased ; Otto and J. F. The first two 
were twins. 

McDonald WILLIAM, Virginia township; 
born April 17, 182.5, in Muskingum county, Jef- 
ferson township, Ohio; son of George and Anna 

(Lovett) McDonald, grandson of Berry and 

McDonald, of Daniel and Mary (James) Lovett. 
The SIcDonalds are of Scotch ilescent, and the 
Lovetts are of German descent. Mr. McDonald 
was brought up as a farmer, and was educati'd in 
the district schools. About the age of twenty 
years he connnenced business for himself in his 
native comity. He remained there one year, 
then moved to the farm on which he now resides, 
in Virginia township, Coshocton county. He 
marrieil Miss .lane McClannahan, March 21,1845, 
daughter of .folui and Elizabeth (Lemert) Mc- 
Clannahan. Their union was blessed with seven 
children, four of whom are married, and three 
still remain with their parents, viz : Alex. JNIcl- 
vina and James. 

McDON.VLD JOHN, Virginia township ; born 
in this county, Dccend)er 2.3, 1847 ; son of Wil- 
liam and Jane JIcDonald and grandson of George 
and Nancy McDonaKl, and Jiilm and Elizabeth 
Clanahan; married Sc])tember 7, 1X71, to Rachel 
Jlarklcy, daughter of J. B. ami Margaret Mark- 
lev. Thcv have three children, viz: Orpha J., 
.lohn W.,"aiid Stacy B. Mr. ]McDonald enlisted 
February 29, lN('i4, in Company H, Eightieth Ohio 
Regiment, Captain Freeman ; and was with Sher- 
man in all his engagements during his march to 
the sea. Postoflice, Willow Brook. 



736 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



McDonald J., farmer; Washington county; 
postoflice, Dresden ; born in 1847, in this county. 
His father was born in 1821, in IMuslcingnni 
county, and was married in 1842, to Miss Frances 
O. IMoore, of the same county, who was born in 
182.3, in Fauquier county. Virginia. They came 
to this county in 1843, and are the parents ot 
nine children. The subject of this sketch being 
the tliird. He was married in 1872, to Miss Sarah 
A. Lake, of this county, who was born in 1852. 
They are the parents of three children, viz : 
Lemmert J., French and Nora D. 

McDowell JOHN, Coshocton; blacksmith; 
was born IMay 20, 183G, in the County of Tyrone, 
Ireland ; son of James McDowell, deceased. He 
was apprenticed at about the age of si.xteen to 
Kobert McDowell, and served live years. Shortly 
after oompleting his apprenticeship he set out 
for America, and landed in May, 18G0. and worked 
a few weeks in the State of New York and came 
to this city June 9, I860, and has made it his 
home to the present time. Mr. McDowell was 
married July S, 1866, to Miss Kate Dolen, of this 
city. This union was blessed with six children, 
two deceased, viz: Mary and Ellen; and four 
are living, viz: Charles, Joseph, John and Fran- 
cis James. For about two years Mr McDowell 
worked at his trade as a government employe in 
the Army of the Cumberland. He is now doing 
a good business at his shop No. 543 Main street. 

MCDONALD G. A., proprietor of McDonald 
House, Coshocton, Ohio; was born September 11, 
1831, in Fauquier countv, Virginia ; son of Thom- 
as and >[ary (McGrudo'r) McDonald. Mr. Mc- 
Donald came to this State and located at JNIount 
Vernon, where he remained four years prior to 
coming to this city, in 1862. Here he engaged 
in the photograph business, and continued in it 
until 1875. In 1868 he added furniture and un- 
dertaking to his business. In 1876 he first en- 
gaged in his present occupation. He was mar- 
ried Sc|)tomber 0, 1858, to Miss Caroline, daugh- 
ter of Prosi)er and Melissa (Mervin) Rich. They 
are the parents of four children, viz: INIinnie B., 
Jennie, Fannie and Herbert. Mr. McDonald is a 
genial, ho.spi table and popular landlord. 

McFARLAND EZEKIEL, Adams township; 
farmer; postoffice, Newcomerstown, Ohio. Mr. 
McFarland was born May 6, 1816, in .Vdanis 
township, and has lived in the township ever 
since. His father was of Irish descent, and was 
one of the oldest settlers of this county. When 
he came to this county it was a wilderness, in- 
habited by Indians, bears, wolves, and other wild 
animals. He was compelled to leave his place 
thi'ee dill'erent times and tly for his life on ac- 
count of tlie depredations of the Indians He 
was an old hunter, and killed many bears and 
deer. Mr. JIcFarland was raised on the farm, 



and lias followed that occupation all his life, ac- 
quiring by his own industry a good farm of 485 
acres. He was married October 4, 1838, to Miss 
Isabella Corbit, of Coshocton county. They are 
the parents of eleven children: Robert, Susan- 
nah, Jane ; Andrew, deceased ; Hannah, Margaret, 
George ; Mary, deceased ; Catharine. John and 
William. Mr. McFarland is one of the oldest 
settlers of Adams township. jNIrs. McFarland 
was born April 0, 1818, in Adams township. The 
fathers of Mr. and Mrs. McFarland both served 
in the war of 1812. 

McFARLAND MATTHEW, Bedford town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice. West Bedford; born in 
county Tyrone. Ireland, in 1816; came to this 
couTily in 18.34. and was married in 1851, to Miss 
Mary Campbell, of Licking county, who was 
born in 1.820. Mr. McFarland has lived in the 
village of West Bedford since 1838, engaged in 
the mercantile business, from 1838 to 1845. 

McFADDIN HUGH, Tuscarawas township; 
Coshocton postoffice; farmer; was born in Har- 
rison county, March 20. 1830; son of George 
and Flizabeth (Kelley) McFaddin, and grandson 
of Joseph McFadden. formerly of Washington 
county, Pennsylvania. Hugh was brought up on 
the farm, and to this industry he has devoted his 
entire attention, making it a complete success, 
having a first-class farm, supplied with an abun- 
dance of choice fruit, and stocked with the best 
blood of sheep and other domestic animals. 
He came to his present residence in 18.55, and 
was married, in 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Park- 
hill, who was born in 1833. The family consists 
of the parents and four children : Stewart K., 
George, Maggie E. and Carrie B. 

McGIFFIN WILLIAM AND JOHN, Keene 
township; were born in Keene town.ship, Coshoc- 
ton county. William was born November 24, 
1841, and John December 9, 1844. They are sons 
of William and Lydia (Buttertield) IMcGiflin, and 
grandsons of Arch. McGiftnn. They were born 
and brought up on a farm and educated in com- 
mon schools. At the age of twenty, William 
went to Illinois, from there to California, and re- 
mained there until 1867, when he returned home 
and in partnership with his brother, purchased 
the old home farm, and they have been devoting 
their attention to that ever since. William was 
married to Miss Sarah J. Shurtz, January 3, 1875, 
daughter of Isaac aiid Mary (Smith) Shurtz. and 
granddaughter of George and Mary (Leei Smith. 
Their children are Holliz C, born Julv 21, 1876; 
Carl A., August 24, 1877, iyid Ada Glenn. April 
25, 1879. 

McGILL ROBERT T., Coshocton, Ohio ; stock 
dealer. Mr. McGill was born October 13, 1851, 
in Roscoe, Coshocton county, Ohio; son of David 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



737 



and Isabelle (Cox) McGill, both natives of Ire- 
land. The first four years of Mr. McGill's busi- 
nes.s life was clerking in stores. He was elected 
assess(jr of the eitv and township in the fall of 
1881. Mr. IMcCiill was niarrii-d Jlay -'o, 1880, to 
Miss Annis, daughter of John and Mary (Free- 
tague) Elson, of Coshocton. 

MeKEAG, KOBERT, deceased, Linton town- 
ship,'was born in the year 1805, in County Derry, 
Ireland. He emigrated to America about 18-jO, 
when his son, James, was four and Robert two 
years old. He first settled in Knox township, 
Guern.sey county, and ejigaged in farming. 
About five years later he removed to Linton 
township, where he remained till the time of his 
decease, July II. 1875. His wife died February 
21, 1874. Their children are James, Robert, 
Sarah (Banker), ^largaret. Mary Jane (Estep), 
Isalx'l and Eliza (Stephen). 

McKEE EGBERT, Pike township; farmer 
and stock raiser ; postoffice, Frazcysburg, Muskin- 
gum county ; born in this county, in 1834 ; son of 
Patrick and Elizabeth (.Vshcraft) McKee, who, 
came to this county in 1815, from Ireland. He 
was marrieil in 18G1, to Miss Eliza Morris, daugh- 
ter of William and Nancy (Clinton) Morris. 
They are the parents of ten children, viz: Eliza- 
beth" E., Edison L., Emma W., Mary E., French, 
Barton S., Cora A., Patrick H., Minnie J. and 
John W. 

McKEE T. A., Washington township: farmer; 
l)ostol1ice, Dresden: born in 1831, in this county. 
His father was born in 1800, in Ireland, and came 
to Philadelphia in ISIS, and to this county in 
1827. He was married the same year, to Miss 
Isabella Crawford, of this county, who was born 
in 1810, in Ireland. He died in 1871, she died in 
1855. They were the parents of nine children, 
the subject of this sketch being the third. He 
was married in 1858, to Miss Henrietta Frey, of 
this county, who was born in islO. They are the 
parents of two children, viz: Eugene and Em- 
niett. 

McKEE GEORGE W , Washington township; 
farmer: postoilice, Dresden; born in ISiS, in 
this county. His father was born in 1811 in 
Knox county. ' He married Mi.ss Xancy Hender- 
son of this countj', who died in 1849. They were 
the parents of six children. In 1850 ho married 
Mrs. Jones of this county. Tliey are the parents 
of eight children: the subject of this sketch 
being tlie fifth child by the first wife. He was 
married in 186t) to Jliss Xancy E. McDonald of 
this county, who was born in 181.3. Tliey arc the 
parents of .xeven eliililren viz : Melvin S., Rosa- 
lind, Francis A., Mary E., Charles D., Frank L., 
and Luellie M. 



McKEE J. L.. Perry township; postoffice, West 
Carlise; born in Washington township, this 
county, in 1840; son of James and Isabella (Craw- 
ford) .McKee. He was married in 1874, to Miss 
C. A. Lee. daughter of John W. and Elizabeth 
Lee. Mr. McKee is the father of two children, 
viz : Raleigh L., and Lula B. 

McMORRIS G. W., Washington township; 
farmer; postotlice, Dresden ; born in 1824, in this 
county. His father was born in 1780, in Hamp- 
shire county, Virginia. He was married in 1815, 
to Miss Winiford Rector, of Fauquier county, 
Virginia, who was born in 17S.5. They came to 
this county, in 1817. He (lie<l in 1.850. She died 
in in IXSiK They were the i)arents of seven chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the sixth. 
He was married in 1850. to Miss Martha McCon- 
nel, of this county, who was born in 18.33. She 
died in 1854. They are the parents of two chil- 
dren. 

McMURPHY GEORGE, Oxford township; 
farmer: postoflice, Xewcomerstown : son of Wil- 
liam and Catharine (Stanley) iMcMurphy ; was 
born in this township, in ls32, his i)areuts being 
natives of the State of Delaware. George was 
married in 1S.55, to Jane E. Forsythe, of this 
township; they have had the folllowing children: 
Ernest I)., Mary X.. Minnie B . Blanche ; Samuel, 
dece.T-sed. He and his wife are members of the 
Protestant Methodist church, and he is a mem- 
ber if the Masonic fraternity. He lived in Tus- 
carawas county eleven years after he was married ; 
now owns eighty acres of land, and is esteemed 
by his fellow citizens. 

McNABB ISAAC, Bedford town.ship; carpen- 
ter; postoflice, Warsaw: born in 1S20, in this 
county. His father was born in ]70(), in Brooks 
county, Virginia, and was married in 1820, to 
Jliss Mary Hoge, of Belmont county, who was 
born in 1800, in Hamp.shiro county, Virginia. 
They came to this county in 1821, and both died 
in 181)8. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, Isaacs being the third. He was married in 
18.53, to Miss Delilah Dovinia, of this county, who 
wius l)orn in 1833, in Carroll county. They have 
one child, Rezon. • 

McXABB JAMES, Sr.. Co.shocton ; carpenter 
and superintendent of the bleaching dejiartment 
of the iiapcr mills; born Feliruary 7, 1822, in 
Mahoning county; son of Patrick McXabb, a na- 
tive of Ireland. He was raise<l on the farm until 
about twenty years of age, when he began liis 
tnulc with William Logan, with whom he re- 
mained two years. In 1845 he went to Wells- 
burgh, West Virginia, and was engaged in a 
paper-mill until ls72, when he came to this city 
and engaged in his present position. He enlisted 
May 5, 1861, in Company G, First Virginia V. I., 



738 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



(three months' men), and ro-enHstcd September 
11, IbGl, in Company B, First Virginia V. I., for 
three years, and served his term of enhstment. 
He was slightly woundeil at Winchester, Slarch 
23, 18G2; was captured September 11, 18G3, at 
Moorestield, West Virginia, and held in Libby 
prison and Belle Island until Mareh 16, 1SG4, 
when he was paroled. He was married March 
31, 1844, to Miss Jane Kimberland, daughter of 
John Kimberland, of Brooks county, ^^'est Vir- 
ginia. They have had eight children, three of 
whom, John, Campbell and Harding, have de- 
ceased, and Kobert, Catharine, William, Laura 
Belle and James S. are living. Mrs. McNabb de- 
parted this life in the full faith of glorious im- 
mortality, June — , 1880. 

McNARY CHARLES A., Coshocton ; general 
pump dealer, gas titter and plumber, 133 Second 
street; born July 10, 1855, in Fishkill, Dutchess 
county. New York; son of Isaac Mc Nary, a native 
of New York, of Scotch descent. Young McNary's 
first work was farming; leaving this he became a 
machinist. In April, 1874 he came to this city 
and engaged in the gas business. In 1876 became 
successor to J. H. Carman and continued the 
business at the old stand two years, then removed 
to his present place where he has more ample 
room for his much increased business, which ex- 
tends throughout this county and a part of Tus- 
carawas county. Mr. JIcNary was married De- 
cember 22, 1880, to Miss Jennie, daughter of 
James H. and Jane (Shaw) Knapp, of Fishkill, 
Dutchess county, New York. 

McMANUS MARTIN, Coshocton, wholesale 
and retail liquor dealer, corner of Main and 
Fifth streets; wa.s born October 1, 1852, in Steu- 
benville ; son of Patrick McManus, deceased, who 
was a native of Ireland. At fourteen 3"oung Mc- 
Manus, went on the railroad as water boy on a 
construction train for two summers, going to 
school in the winter. He was then promoted to 
flagman, whicli responsible duty he filled for two 
years, at the end of which time he was advanced 
to tireman, which labor ho jierformed for three 
years. He was then advanced another step to 
"that of engineer, which position he held until the 
death of his father, September 6, 1878, when he, 
being the oldest son, continues his father's busi- 
ness at the above place. 

McNAUGHTON & CO., druggists. No. 444 
Main street, Coshocton. M. W. McNaughton, 
managing partner of this firm, is a native of 
Licking county, where he was born September 
22, 1847, and received his education in the dis- 
trict .schools. He followed farming until 1867, 
when he engaged in the drug l>usiness in com- 
panv with D. Wilkin, under the firm name of D. 
Wil'kin & Co., at Utica. Ohio. This firm contin- 
ued to do business until 18G8, when he came to 



Coshocton and engaged in the same business 
here, with Mr. Wilkin as partner, and the firm 
name was changed to McNaughton it Co. They 
occujiy pleasant and convenient rooms, 20x40, 
where they carry a large first class stock of pure 
drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, fancy goods, 
toilet articles, trusses, cigars and tobacco. Pre- 
scriptions carefully compounded. 

McNeil GEORGE C, of the firm of McNeil 
and Johnson, general provisions, family grocery 
and bakery, 430 Main street, Coshocton. Ohio. 
Mr. McNeil was born in Warsaw, Coshocton 
county, Ohio, September 3. 1854 : son of Harri- 
son and Julia (Cassingham) McNeil. In 1872, 
George C. entered the steel works, and remained 
there six years ; after which he engaged as travel- 
ing salesman for J. W. Pinkerton, the grocer, of 
Zanesville, Ohio. With this firm he remained 
three years. In Maj', 1881, the present firm was 
established. Their future is auspicious. 

Joseph K. Johnson, Jr., of the firm of McNeil & 
Johnson, family groceries and bakery, 430 Main 
street, Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Johnson was born 
.January 7, 1859, in Coshocton, Ohio, and brought 
up in his native city. He is the son of William 
K. and Elizabeth (Humrickhouse) Johnson; was 
educated in the public schools of Coshocton and 
the Pennsylvania M. academy, at Chester, Penn- 
sylvania. After leaving the academy, he en- 
gaged with his brother Thomas, civil engineer 
on the extension of the Lake Erie and Western 
railroad. May 16, 1881, he became partner in 
the above firm. 

McVEY J. S., New Castle township ; was born 
January 2, 1811, in Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, came to Ohio in I8l4. settled in Perry 
township, Coshocton county, and was brought up 
on a farm until the age of twenty-one. He then 
engaged as clerk with John H. Pigman, and re- 
mained with him about two years; and then 
formed a partnership with Benjamin Cochran in 
general merchandise, which lasted two years, 
when he purchased the entire stock anil carried 
on the business by himself until 1842. He then 
moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, and formed a 
partnership with John H. Sullivan in the milling 
business, which lasted two years. He then traded 
his interest in that, as part payment on his pres- 
ent mill jii-operty in Walhonding. whore he has 
remained since, doing a giTod business in milling 
and l.>uying and selling wheat, grinding about 
four huiulred bushels daily, besides custom work. 
Pie married Miss Eleanor Trimble in the year 
1839, daughter of William and Ann (Duncan) 
Trimble, who became the mother of five chil- 
dren, viz: Leander, Franklin, Martha. Catharine, 
and John. Franklin is living in Blandonsville, 
Illinois. Martha married Dr. J. R. Gamble, and 
also resides at Blandonsville, Illinois. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



741 



MrVEY LEONARD F., New Castle township; 
■fanner; born July 7,1843, in Perry township; 
•son of Joseph S. and Eleanor (Trimble) MeVey. 
Wlien yoinis; MeVey was a boy, he worked in a 
tlourin;j;-niill, where he remained until he was 
about twenty-four years of age, when he engaged I 
in merehandising at New Castle, continuing 
one year in that place, after whicli he moved his 
store to Walhonding, where he conducted his busi- 
ne.ss until April ISSO, when he came to his i)res- 
ent farm residence. Mr. McVey was married 
February 12, 1S71, to Miss Mary 'Ellen, daughter 
of Jo.seph and Mary (Biggs) Butler. They ftre 
the parents of five children, viz : .Tosejih S , John 
C, Paulina V., Mary Catherine and Emma Lo- 
rena. 

MACKEY JOHN, Oxford township; farmer; 
Newcomerstown ; son of James M., who was a 
Marylandcr. Hismother wasElizabeth Case. Both 
are deceased. The subject of this sketch was born 
in Brownsville. Pennsylvania, in l.SlS.and came to 
Ohio when a child with his parents; was married 
to Margaret Rosenberry, in August, ISSO. They 
are both members of the United Brethren church. 
He has been supervisor a number of years, and 
has for years been a member of the school board. 
His son John took an active part in the war, serv- 
ing in the Fifty-first regiment three years. He 
is the father of nine children, viz: Sarah, John, 
Mary A., Nancy, Catherine, Perry, Liza, James, 
Luther, and Grayton, deceased. 

MADDEN T. J., Coshocton ; painter ; was born 
February 2, 1S24, in this city ; son of Sanford F. 
Madden, a native of Lotadon county, Virginia, of 
Scotch-Irish ancestry. His mother's maiden 
.name was Mary Knoff, of New York. Young 
Madden, when a boy, worked with his father at 
the carpenter trade, he also learned painting, 
which trade he has followed until the present time. 
He enlisted June S, 1846, in Company B, Third 
O. V. I., for the Mexican war. Col. Curtis com- 
manding, and served one year, his term of enlist- 
ment, after which he worked four months in the 
ordinance department as a governmant employe, 
and then returned to his home in this city. Mr. 
Madden was crippled in the right arm by a fall 
from a pair of derricks, during which time he 
■served as city assessor and constable. He was 
elected a member of the school board in April, 
187S, which office he holds at present. Mr. Mad- 
den was married September 24, 1854, to Miss 
Mary, daughter of Caleb Penn, a relative of Wil- 
liam Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Mrs. 
Madden is a daughter of Mary Latl'er, whose 
father Wii-s killed while on picket, by the Inilians, 
near ButVdo. New York. They have been blessed 
with seven children, viz: Willis, deceased; Lellia, 
Sallie; Willisand Iowa,deceased; Charles and Lina. 

33 



MAGEE ROBERT. Bethlehem town.ship; farm- 
er; was born .Vugust 2. 1824, in Donegal county, 
Ireland. He came to this county with his parents 
in 1.S4(1, and located in Bethlehem townshi]), on 
the farm on wliicli Robert now lives. Tlie coun- 
try was then a wilderness. They cleared the 
land and built a cabin, wliich still "stands. Rob- 
ert's father was a blacksmith, and worked at his 
trade for a number of years. Robert was nrar- 
ried in IStiO, to Miss Nancy Stewart, of this 
county. He enlisted in Company A, but was 
transferred to Company H, t)ne Hundred and 
Forty-third regiment 6. V. I., and served four 
months. 

MAGEE GEORGE, Co.shocton ; farmer; born 
September 2ti, ISoS, in New York City ; son of 
George Magee. an American of Irisli descent. 
Young Magee, at the early age of nine years, be- 
came restive tuider the parental restraint, and 
availing himself of an op])ortuuity to go West 
with a com])any of boys in care of Eli Trott, 
stopped in this city, and was selected from a 
number of boys by A. J. Reynolds, who became 
his foster father, with wh(jm Mr. Magee yet makes 
his home. The boy's mother, learning through 
the postmaster at Roscoe of his whereabouts, 
came for her son, but finding him in a comfort- 
able home which he was unwilling to leave, she 
liermitted him to remain. 

MAGNE3S JAMES, Linton township; farmer; 
born in Green county, Pennsylvania, .Tune 3, 
1820. His great-grandfather emigrated from Ire- 
land to America in th(> latter ]iart of the seven- 
teenth century, and on the voyage James was 
born. They settleil in Indiana, near Georgetown, 
where the sea-born .fames grew to manhood, and 
married Hannah Wise. They have six chil- 
dren, Levi, (Jeorge, Brooks, Samuel, Nancy and 
Deborah The mother died while the children 
were young, and James married again. The sons, 
Levi, and George (the father of the subject of this 
sketch), served in the war of 1812, under Generals 
Scotland Brown; participated in the battles of 
Lundy's Lane, in which George was wounded. 
In the spring of 181,") the two moved to this town- 
ship. George returned to Green county, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he married a widow, Rachel (Whit- 
latch) Trimble, of German descent. By this mar- 
riage there were four children, Levi, Nancy, 
James and (ieorge. In 182.'? they moved to La- 
fayette township. Here Mrs. Magness died, and 
George Mvgness, for a second wife, took Mary, 
daughter of William and Rebecca Evans, of Os.- 
ford township. This latter marriage resulted in 
nine children, four of whom survive. Mr. Mag- 
ness afterward moved to Linton townshii). where 
James was reared. At the age of eighteen he be- 
gan teaching. an 1 has followed it in winter (farm- 
ing in summer), until within a few years, a proof 



742 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



f)f signal siiccer;.s in this profession. November 
1 "), 1842, he married Kebeeca, ilaughter of Rich- 
ard and Rebecca Plait. By this marriage eight 
cliil(h'en were born. Lorenzo W., died in infancy; 
Walter S., died in the army near Petersburg, 
Virginia, July, 1864; Samnel B., Elizabetli J.; 
Nancy R., married to William H. Snedbal<er, of 
Jackson townsliip; Civita, married to Charles H. 
Hyatt, of Knox county, Missouri, and Sarah A. 
Mrs. Magness died June 28, 1878. 

MAGNESS FIELDINO H., Linton township; 
farmer; born in Linton township. February IG, 
1839; son of George and Mary (Evans) Magness. 
His father was an early settler in thi.s township. 
His mother was the daughter of William and 
Rebecca (Fowler) Evans, who settled on Bacon 
run in ISOG. Mr. Magness now resides on the 
farm his father first owned in Linton township. 
In l.'-'60 he married Miss Catharine, daughter of 
Lewis Wells, of Albany county. New York. By 
this marriage he has had four children: George 
L., Lewis Wells, Addie and Charles H. Charlie 
is the only child who survives. In September, 
1864, Mr. Magness became a member of Com- 
pany F, Fifteenth 0. V. I., and remained in serv- 
ice till June, 1865. The scene of his military life 
was chiefly in Georgia, with Sherman. 

MAGRAW JOHN C, boot and shoe dealer, 
418 Main street, Coshocton, was born February 
27, 1843, in 'Warsaw; son of James Magraw, de- 
ceased; born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. At sixteen, young Magraw was appren- 
ticed to learn the boot and shoemaker's trade, 
with James Hutchison and completed it with 
Sanniel Hollibaugh ; soon after which, he enlisted 
in company A, Ninety-sixth O. V. I., in August, 
1862, and served three years. On his return 
home, he resumed his trade, with Sanniel Hol- 
libaugh, as partner, with the firm name of 
Hollibaugh <.t Magraw. This firm continued 
but a few years, when, being dissolved, Mr. Ma- 
graw opened shop, and worked about one year, 
doing custom work, then added a stock of boots 
and shoes. In 1872, he came to this city, and 
opened a store in his present room, where he has 
a comjileto stock of boots and shoes, hats and 
caps. Mr. Magraw was married, September 5, 
lSt''7, to Miss INIary Cook, daughter of James B. 
Cook, of Martinsburgh, Knox county, Ohio. 
This union was blos.'^ed with five children, one, 
James, having died. The four living are, Clara 
B.. Fred. Bronson, Raymond Cook and ISIary Ma- 
tilda. In the spring of 1881, Mr. Magraw was 
appointed postmaster of this city, which office 
he now holds. 

MAGRUDER GEORGE, Perry township; po.st- 
office, West Carlisle ; born in this county in 1847; 
son of William and Eleanor (Henderson) Ma- 
gruder, and grandson of George A. and Elizabeth 



(Billingsley) Magruder, and of William and Ara- 
bella Henderson. He was married in 1871 to 
Mi.ss Hattie U. Westlake, daughter of Samuel 
and Sarah A. Westlake. They have three chil 
dren, viz : Charles C, Gertrude, and one un- 
named. 

MALATT JOHN L., Lafayette township; gro- 
cer; West Lafayette; son of Budd Malatt; wa.s 
born in 1839, and married in 1863 to Catharine 
A. Trenor. They have had eiglit children, four 
of whom arc living, viz : John M., Charles E., 
Bertha E., and Maggie. Mr. M. went out in the- 
E%hty-fiflh O. V. I.r in 1862, for three months; 
then in the Fifty-first the same year for nine 
months ; and in 1865 in same regiment for one- 
year. 

MANGOLD JOHN L., Coshocton ; tobacconist, 
of the firm of T. W. Hagar & Co., 406 Main 
street, was born October 16, 18.56, in Adamsville, 
Mu.skingum county; son of Henry Mangold, a 
native of Germany. Young Mangold was rai.sed 
and educated in his native town. When about 
fifteen years of age he went to Zanesville as clerk 
in a grocery store, and remained one year, when 
he returned to Adamsville. Here he learned his 
trade, which he followed in Zanesville and this- 
city. The present firm was founded June 10, 
1880, and is composed of young men of energy 
and business ability. Mr. Mangold was married 
October 13, 1880, to Miss Olive Smith, daughter 
of Oliver Smith, deceased, of this city. 

MANNER A. D., Coshocton ; buggy dealer and 
livery man; was born in Greencastle, Franklin 
coimty, Pennsylvania ; son of Alexander Manner, 
deceased, who was a native of Kentucky. The 
subject of this sketch was raised in Newark, Ohio. 
At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn 
the harness and saddlery trade, with Henry Wil- 
son, of Newark. On completing his trade he was 
a journeyman for about two years. He also 
learned the carriage trimming business, with 
John E. Sliannon, at Mount Vernon. After hav- 
ing worked in several shops, he, in the spring of 
1857, established a partnership with E. McDon- 
ald, in which they manufactured carriages, etc., 
and were proprietors of the American House 
(hotel). This firm having dissolved, in 1860, Mr. 
Manner established a harness and saddler shop 
and livery business at Roscoe. In 1865, he re- 
turned to this city and continued his business 
here. At present, his son, James B., is associated 
with him in the livery business. They are doing 
a full average share of the business in their line, 
keeping on an average nine horses, and a full 
stock of rigs to suit. Mr. A. D. Manner was mar- 
ried first to Miss Diadema Sparks, of Licking 
county. Before her decease they were blessed 
with one child, a son, James B. Mr. Manner af- 
terward married Miss Mary Jane Gaves, of Mus- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



743 



kingum county. This union was blessed with 
three ehiUiien, one of wlioni isdeoeased, and two 
arc hving, viz : William ]I. and Eniina I. James 
B. Mannner was married April 10, 1876, to Miss 
Josephine MeClure, daughter of Alexander Me- 
Clure, of this city. This union has been blessed 
with one child, a son, Carl Alexander. 

MARKLEY DAVID, Tuscarawas township; 
farmer; was born October 13, 181'.>, in this town- 
ship; son of Frederick and Rachel (Cartmill) 
Markley. David's father came to Coshocton 
county in 1808 and located in Bethlehem town- 
ship on the Walhonding river. His ancestors 
came from Marylaml and are of Gei-man descent. 
David's father died when the boy was but nine 
years old, from which age Mr. jNIarkley has de- 
pended entirely on his own industry and man- 
agement for success, and it is but just to state 
here that he has by honest and judicious econ- 
omy obtained an ample competence for his fam- 
ily and himself, and to do a liberal share in as- 
sisting in all cliaritablc and religious enterprises 
of his neighborhood. He also takes a live inter- 
est in education. Mr. Markley was married July 
9, 1842, to Jliss Selina, daughter of Lera and Ann 
(Felch) Payne. Mrs. Markley's grandmother was 
Sarah Kno.x, sister of General Knox. They are 
the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom 
are decea.sed, viz : Caroline, William F., Christena 
Frances, George E., Charles D., Mary Malissa, 
Judge Harper, Lily May and Edward ; and five 
living, viz: Samuel Asberry, Minerva Catharine, 
Emma, Annie E. and David, Jr. 

MARKLEY FREDERICK, Virginia town- 
ship; born in Coshocton cotuity, in 1841 ; son of 
John B. and Jlargarct Markley, and grandson of 
Benjamin and Nancy Markley. He was married 
in 1867, to Lovina Lockard, daughter of Andrew 
and Mary Lockard. He is the father of six chil- 
dren, live living and one dead. He was a soldier 
in the late war, having enlisted in 1861, in Com- 
pany II, Fifth artillery, Army of the Cumberland. 
Mr. Markley was engaged in the battles of Stone 
River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, and was 
di.scharged at Nashville, Tennessee, October 5, 
18C4. Postotlice, Willow Brook. 

MARKLEY W.S., Coshocton, Ohio, of the lirm 
of Markley it Eckert, livery men. Mr. Markley 
was born March 12, 18.^1, in Bethlehem town- 
ship. Coshocton county, Ohio; son of Adam 
Markley, deceased. Young Markley remained at 
home on the farm until 1876, when the above 
firm was established. They keep, on an average, 
ten to twelve horses and rigs to suit, such iU3 ba- 
rouches, buggies, sample-wagons, sleighs, etc. 

MARSHALL OWEN, Jackson township; farm- 
er; born April 10, 1804, in Hamp.shire coimty, 
Virginia; son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mc- 



Kern) Marshall. Owen is the oldest of a family 
of three sons and one daughter. His paternal 
ancestry is English, his maternal Irish. In 1800 
ho was brought to this county by his ])arents 
who located about one and a half miles south of 
Coshocton city, where his father remained until 
his death, March 4, 1814, and was buried in the 
Co.shocton burying ground. He served as a sol- 
dier under Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812. 
After the death of his father, the widow and 
family moved to Bedford township, \\hcrc Owen 
remained until he was twenty-two or twenty- 
three years of age, when became to his present 
residence. It was all a virgin forest, and con- 
tained only forty acres, bought with money earn- 
ed by days' work at thirty-seven and a half cents 
per day ; but by hard work and good economy 
he added to the little beginning until he obtained 
a large farm well improved. ^Ir. Marshall was 
married August 18, 183.S, to Miss Marv, daughter 
of Crispin and Elizabeth (Polaet) Tredway. They 
are the parents of eight children, viz: Thomas. 
Crispin 'r., Owen, Jr., Elizabeth Jane, Mary M., 
Nancy Ellen, Allen M., and Irwin, deceased. Mr. 
Marshall witli his father attended the first court 
held in Coshocton county. It is also justice to 
state that IMr. and Sirs. Marshall have raised a 
family of seven children, all of whom are intelli- 
gent and highly esteemed by a large circle of 
friends. 

MARQUAND JOSEPHUS, Virginia township; 
born in this county, and was a son of Charles and 
Elizabeth Marcpiand; married April 1, 1862, to 
Jane Adams, daughter of John and Emma J. Ad- 
ams. Their union was blessed with five children, 
viz: Emma J., William T., Elizabeth S., Anna 
Mary and Jgsois B. Jlr. Marquand died in 1872. 

MARQUAND JOSEPH, Virginia township; 
born in Coshocton cotnity, Ohio, January 2.% 
1853; son of Charles and Elizabeth Marquand. 
He married January 1, 1808. Harry Marquand 
is their only child. Postoffice, Adams' Mills. 

MA RSII.VLL ,1. D., Coshocton ; carriage painter, 
311 Second street; was born July 24, l8.'-!7, in 
Warren county ; son of John S. Marshall, a na- 
tive of Virginia, of Irish ancestry. He was 
rai.sed in Zanesville. At fourteen, he went to 
the confectionery trade and worked one year. 
The next year, he began his present trade with 
Bali. Ward & Co., of Newark. On comjjlcting 
his trade, he worked as a journeyman in this 
city. In 18t)l.]Mr. Marshall enlisted in Ccmipany 
K, Sixteenth O. V. I., and served three months; 
re-enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and 
Twelfth O. V. I., and was commissioned cajtoin, 
in March, 1862, and resigned in November of the 
same year. In 1875, he established his present 
shop, where he does all kinds of carriage and 



744 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ornament:il painting. Captain Marshall was 
married, Mav 17, 18G4. to Miss Sirah Itllizabeth 
Carter, daughter of Frister Carter, of Washing- 
ton township. This union was blessed with six 
children, viz : Cora B., Minnie Frances. Ella A., 
Hattie, May Belle, Fannie S. and Sarah Amelia. 

MARSHALL A. M., Jackson townshiii; born 
in this county in 1S49; son of Owen and Mary 
Mar.shall; niaVried in December, ls74, to Clara 
McCoy, daughter of William and Catharine Mc- 
Coy. "Mr. Marshall is the father of three child- 
ren, viz: Arizona, William O., Mary K. Post- 
ofRce, Roscoe. 

MARTIN L. W., principal of Roscoe public 
schools; Roscoe postofRce; born August 2, 1845, 
in Martins Ferry, Belmont county; a son of 
Ebenezer Martin, an American born, of English 
descent; lived on a farm and attended puljlic 
schools till the age of twenty-one years. He 
went west and remained two years, when he re- 
turned and began teaching in his native town, 
and taught thei-e five years. In 1879 he came to 
Roscoe and was elected to his present position. 
Professor Martin was married December 18, 
1873, to Miss Emma Beazel, daughter of Harvey 
Beazel, of JMartins Ferry, and is the father of two 
children— Sidney and Harvey. 

MARTIN JAMES, Mill Creek township; farm- 
er; postoflice, Moimd; born in 1846, in this coun- 
ty. His father, James Martin, was born in 1796, 
ill Ireland. He came to this country in 1820, 
landing in Delaware. He lived in that State for 
a short time, when he removed to New York, 
and remained there only a few years, when he 
went hack to Delaware, where he was married, 
in 1828, to Miss Jane Martin, of Delaware She 
was born in 1805. They came to this county in 
1842. She died in 1859.' They were the parents 
of ten children, seven of whom are living. 

MARTTER JOHN, Coshocton ; restaurant and 
saloon. Main street, four doors east of town hall, 
between Second and Third streets; was born De- 
cember 9, 18.39, in Linton township. His parents 
were French. He remained on the farm until 
he was about eighteen years of age, when he went 
West, remaining about one and a half years; then 
he retiu'ned home and farmed until 186.3, when 
he came to this city, and was the first to make 
street sprinkling and express delivery a success. 

In 1871 Mr. Martter was elected niar.shal and 
constable, serving four years in the first, and six 
years in the last oflice. May 1, 1876, he estab- 
lished his present business, but was entirely 
burned out, with no insurance, in March, 1880. 
Mr. Martter immediately began, and in a few 
months completed, the building of his new brick, 
four doors cast of town hall, Main street, between 



Second and Third streets, where he is at present 
located, succeeding well in business. 

Jlr. ]\Iartter was married October 6, 1861, to 
Miss Mary E. Roof, daughter of Benjamin Roof, 
of Linton township. Tliis union was blessed with 
nine children, one, Francis, having deceased. 
Their children living are as follows : John Ed- 
ward, George, Joseph, James, Bertha, Agnus, 
Cora and Jlary. 

MARTTER J. P., Coshocton ; foreman, at Beech 
Hollow coal mines; was born February 24, 1844, 
in Linton township ; son of John Blartter, a native 
of France. Young Martter remained on the farm 
untilJune 1, 1861, when he enlisted in Company 
K, Twenty-fourth 0. V. I., and served three years 
and one month, when he was honorably dis- 
charged at Columbus Ohio. After his discharge, 
he was employed eight months as government 
clerk at Nashville, Tennessee^ At the close of 
the war, he traveled in the West, visiting Indiana, 
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wis- 
consin and Michigan. Returning to his old 
home in 1869, he farmed until 1872, when he 
came to this city and engaged in the planing- 
mill one year, and at the paper mills two and a 
half years, also two years at the Home Coal Com- 
pany. Whilst working for the above firms, Mr. 
Martter had his right arm broken at two difterent 
times, his right leg broken and his right ankle 
and both knees dislocated. He is now foreman 
at the Beech Hollow mines. His consort's 
maiden name was Elizabeth Hanrer, daughter of 
Jacob Hamer,of Jefferson township. They have 
had four children, viz : James W., Charles, Albert 
C. and Norah F. Mrs. E. Blartter conducts a boot 
and shoe store, 122 Second street. 

MASON BENJAMIN P., Jefferson ; contractor 
and builder of public works: postoffice, Warsaw, 
Ohio; son of Benjamin and Hannah J. (Latham) 
Miison ; was born IMay 2, 1844, in Clarksburg, 
Virginia. Mr. Mason was raised on the farm. 
He came to this county in 1855, and lias been a 
resident since. He was married December 25, 
1864, to Miss Salina Linebaugh, of this coimty. 
They are the parents of one child, viz : Ida W., 
borii Sejitember 9. 1865. !Mr. Mason has followed 
his present occupation ten years, and has' built 
many bridges and done much other public work 
for the county. 

M.\STON D., Jackson township; postoffice, 
Tyrone; born in this county in 1831; son of 
Peter and Lena ^Maston. The father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch w;xs born in Pennsylvania, in 
1803; died in this county February 9, 1870. The 
mother died January 22, 1856. The subject of 
this sketch is one of a famil.y of twelve children, 
eight of whom are still living; all married but 
one. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. P. S. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



?45 



Maston, a younger brother of Mr. Maston's, and 
must acknowledge our thanks for favors shown 
us on that occasion. 

HASTEN JAMES E.. farmer; Washington 
township; postoflice, Wakatoniaka; born in 1.S3S, 
in this county. His father, Edward, was born in 
1814 in Virginia, and Wixs married in 183G to 
Miss Ehzaliclh Tlionias, of this county, who was 
born in Isn-lin Virginia. They are the i)arents 
of two chilih-en, the subject of tliis sketch being 
the oldest. He was married in 18G7 to Jliss Mary 
F. Bell, of this county, who was born in 1839, in 
this county. They are the parents of three chil- 
dren living, viz: Kore E., Ella ^l. and Susan E. 
Mr. Masten enlisted in 18(51 in the Eightieth O. 
V. I., and .served three years and nine months. 
He was at the battles of luka, Corinth, Jackson, 
Mission Eidge and at the siege of Vicksburg. 

MAXWELL WILLIAM, Jackson townshiji; 
post(iflice, Koscoe ; born in this county in 1825; 
son of Robert and JIary (CarrI Ma.xwell, and 
grandson of Robert and Dora Maxwell; married 
in 1847 to Dianna Bible. Mr. Maxwell is the 
father of seven children, viz: Malinda; jMary, de- 
ceased; Josephine, Elnora, Almeda, Alice and 
Frank. All are married but two, and living in 
this county. 

MEEK H., Franklin township; born in Wa.sh- 
ington comity, Pennsylvania, April 1">, 1811; son 
of Isaac ami Permelia Meek, and grand son of 
John Meek, and of Jlatthias Luse. In 18L'0, he 
came to Znnesville, and there learned the tailor 
trade, working at it a year or two as journeyman; 
then, in 1833, he came to Co.shocton, where he 
followed tailoring, till 183S. From that year, to 
1855, he was engaged in mercantile business, in 
Coshocton, and then moved to Franklin town- 
ship, where he lias since been engaged in farm- 
ing and in stock raising. Mc was married in 
1832, to Elizabeth, daughter of Christian and 
Anna Spangler, of Zanesville. By this mar- 
riage, he had four chiMren. viz : Hamiltnn, .\mia, 
David and Christian, of whom only David sur- 
vives. Christian was killed at Stone River. In 
1842, he married Sarah Tuttle, daughter of Phi- 
neas and Thankful Tuttle. His children by this 
marriage are: Charlotte, James H., Mary B.; 
Henry T., deceased, and Elizabeth E. 

MEEK J. F., editor of the Coshocton Age; was 
born July 2(1, 185(j, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, 
and educated in the public schools of Newcom- 
erstown. At the age of sixteen he commenced 
learning the art of telegrajihy, and soon obtained 
a situation on the P. \\'. it 15. R. R. as operator. 
At the age of eighteen he became a tyjioand local 
writer for the Xewcomerstown An/ns. At twen- 
ty-one, in company with A. W. Search, the pres- 
ent ctlilor and proprietor of the Toledo Daily 



Morning Commirrinl, ho took charge of the Age, 
which he subsequently bought and now edits. 
Hispajier is well received, having a circulation of 
more than 2,00() copies. 

MEREDITH C. H., New Castle township; 
i born September 9, 1823, in New Casgle township, 
j Coshocton county, Ohio ; son of Jesse and Soven- 
1 iah Horn, and grandson of Obed and Rebecca 
[ (Draper) Meredith, and of C. Horn and Sarah 
! Wolf. Mr. Meredith is a genius and has worked 
at milling, carjientering and farming. At the 
age twenty-one he began life for him.self ; married 
Mi.ss Mary J. Bailey January 15, 182('i, who was 
born July 3, 1845. daughter of James and Eliza- 
beth (Isminger) Bailey, granddaughter of Will- 
iam and (Carter) Bailey, and of John and Sarah 
A. (Staggers) Isminger. Their children were 
Elizabeth M., married to Joseph Severin, who re- 
sides in Indiana; Jesse R. (at home); Rebecca V., 
married to Leonard Hains, .saddler in Coshocton ; 
WHliam H., married to Miss Mary N. Barett ; 
Sarah S., and R. E. J., who live at home. 

METH AM PREN, Jefferson township; farm- 
er ; born Aj)ril 30, , in Jefl'erson township, 

Coshocton county. Ohio; son of Preii and Eliza 
(Bowman) Metham, and grandson of Pren Met- 
hani, who was born in London, England, and of 
James Bowman, who lived to be ninety-seven 
years old. His great-grandmother lived to the 
great age of one hundred and six years. Mr. 
Jletham is a mixture of German, French and 
English blood. Mr. Metham's grandfather was 
in the British navy at the time of the American 
revolution; his grandfather Bowman was in the 
-Vmerican army at the same time. He also had 
two uncles in the war of 1812. Mr. Metham en- 
listed in Company F, Eightieth O. V. I., in the 
fall of 18(11. He was commissioned Second lieu- 
tenant by (iovernor Denniscin, then raised a com- 
pany of which he was made cni)tain; soon aftei 
was promoted to rank of major, to succeed Major 
Lanning, who was killed at the battle of Corinth, 
Mississippi. .Vfter the death of Colonel Bartleson 
lie was appointed to succeed him. The principal 
j battles in which he was engaged, were the de- 
fense at Paducah, Jonesborough, the siege of Cor- 
; inth, the second battle of ('orinth, \ icksburg, 
Port Gibson. RayuKJud, Mississippi, Jackson, 
Champion Hill, Big Black, siege of Vick.sburg, 
Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge, 
siege of Atlanta, and tinally, on the march with 
Sherman to the .sea. He was present at Ford's 
I Theater when Lincoln was assassinated, started 
in pursuit of Booth, but was misled by going 
into a iloor that led to the ladies dressing-room, 
instead of going to the street. After the close 
! of the war Colonel Metham settled down to farm- 
j ing for a quiet life. He was married Septx'uiber 
1 7, 1854, to Miss Sarah A. Proudht, daughter of 



746 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



John and Catharine (Grouse) Prriudfit, and grand- 
daughter of Jacob and EUzabeth (Raifsnider) 
Grouse, and of John Proudfit, descendant* of the 
original John Proudfit, who was beheaded in 
Scotland. Their children are: Alvia, Austin, 
Lincoln, John Pren, Ella and Gertrude. 

METZ J.(gOB, Crawford township: farmer; 
postoffice, New Bedford, Ohio; was born, Septem- 
ber 16, lS3-t, in Crawford township; son of Jacob 
and Barbara (Long) Metz, of Wertemberg, Ger- 
many. Mr. Metz, from boyhood to the present 
time, has given his undivided attention to agri- 
culture and husbandry. Mr. Metz was married, 
in January, ISoS, to Miss Mary Anna, daughter 
of William and Anna (Rickey) Beaird. They 
had three children, viz: Sarah; Loui.se, deceased, 
and Phebe, decea.sed. Blrs. Metz died June 15, 
1S6G. Mr. Metz was married April 5, 186S, to 
Miss Sarah, daughter of Henry and Rebecca 
(Humel) Holderbauni. They had two children: 
George W. and Andrew J. Mr. Metz has held 
the office of justice of the peace three terms and 
of notary public one term. At the present time, 
he has the contract for carrj'ing the United 
States daily mail from Stone River office to Mil- 
lersburg. He also has in his po.ssession the origi- 
nal deed for his farm, signed by President Andrew 
Jackson. 

MISKIMEN JOHN, deceased; born July 12, 
1815, in Linton town.ship: son of James Miski- 
men, of pioneer note in Linton town.ship. He 
wa.s married in 1841, to Rachel Burt, daughter of 
Daniel and Sarah (Fought) Burt, born in Orange 
county, New York, and moved with her parents 
to Oxford township, when sixteen years old. Af- 
ter their marriage they lived in Oxford township 
till 1SC9, when they moved to near Newcomers- 
town, Tuscarawas countj'. Mr. Miskimen died 
there July 10, l,'^70, his wife surviving until April 
5, 1876. They had seven children, viz : Daniel, 
Frank, Charlotte, Mary, John C, George W. and 
Rachel A. Jolm C. now resides in Linton town- 
ship. 

MIKESELL DANIEL, Perry township; pwst- 
office. New Guilford: born in this county, in 18;H; 
son of Jacob and Sarah (Shuss) !MikeVell. Mr. 
Mikesell is one of a family of nine children, three 
boys and six girls, six of whom are still living. 
He is the grandson of George and Susan (Long) 
Mikesell, and of George and Catharine Long. 
He was married in January, 1856, to Miss Anna 
Crawford, daughter of Thomas and Mary Craw- 
ford. They have seven children, viz : Elcie A., 
deceased ; b.scar M., Mary A., William T.. Ettie 
B., Emma M. and Orpha J. ]\Ir. Mikesell is at 
present a justice of the peace of Perry township. 

MIZER WILLIAM, Tuscarawas township; 
Coshocton postoffice ; merchant and farmer ; was 



born in Shanesville, Tuscarawas county, August, 
182.3. He is a son of Philip and Margaret 
(Shultz) Mizer, a native of Pennsylvania. Wil- 
liam was br<3ught up on a farm, where he re- 
mained until the fall of 1856, when he engaged 
in merchandising at Bakersville, where he con- 
tinued until 1866, when he returned to farming, 
which he followed until 1870, when he resumed 
merchandising, with A, Ley as partner. This 
firm conducted two stores, one at Shanesville and 
the other at Port Washington. In 1875 they sold 
the Shanesville store, and came to his present 
residence in April, 1880, one mile south of Co- 
shocton. Mr. Mizer was married February 14, 
1850, to Catharine, daughter of Michael and 
Sarah (Bensinger) Riggle, of Adams township. 
They have had five children, viz: Sarah M. v.; 
Philip, deceased; Elizabeth, and Hattie. 

MILLS JOSEPH, New Castle township; farm- 
er; postoffice, New Castle; was born in New 
Castle township, April 30, 1.844: son of Sam- 
uel and Priscilla (Morford) Mills, grandson of 
Josc])h and Mary (Exiine) Mills, also grandson 
of William and Mary (Fulks) Morford. He at- 
tended school and worked with his father on the 
farm, until the age of twenty-seven, at which 
time he married and began tilling the soil for 
himself. He is an enterprising young farmer, 
and highly respected by all who know him. He 
entered the army in February, 1865, under 
Captain Brophy, of Knox county, Company A, 
One Hundred and Ninety-fourth O. V. I., and 
continued until the close of the war. He was 
married to Miss Martha Preston, daughter of 
Jonathan and Harriet (Horner) Preston, Decem- 
ber 27, 1870. Mrs. Mills is granddaughter of 
Bernard and ^Mary (Forwood) Preston, and Wil- 
liam and Sasannaii Horner, all natives of Penn- 
sylvania. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, 
June 7, 1838. This union has been blessed with 
two children, viz : Harriet V., born February 2, 
1873, and Bernard P., born November 10, 1878. 

MILLIGAN ANTONY. Bethlehem township; 
farmer; was born September, 1821, in Coshocton 
county, Ohio. His father was one of the first 
settlers of Bethlehem township, and came from 
Virginia. Mr. Milligan w'as married, in 1845, to 
ISIiss Susannah Randies, of this county, who was 
born in 1818. They are the parents of eight 
children, viz : John E., born in October, 1847; 
Benjamin F., born in May, 1849; Anderson, born 
October 13, 1851; jMargaret A., born Novem- 
ber 28,1856; Francis Marion, born October 21, 
1859. The other three are dead. All are mar- 
ried except Francis M.. who is still at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Milligan are honored members of 
the Methodist Protestant church. 

MILLIGAN J. C, Keene township; postoflSce, 
Roscoe; born in Keene township, September 4, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



747 



1838; son of Cuthbert and Dorotha (Reed) Milli- 
gan, and grandson of Elizabeth ISIillisian. He 
enlisted in Company D., Sixteenth 0. V. I., in 
April, 1861, was at the charge on Philippi and 
was mustered ont in August. He re-enlisted in 
September, 1864, in Compan.y K., — O, V. I., and 
wa,s appointed orderly sergeant, also served a 
short time as captain, was with Sherman on his 
famous march to the sea, and engaged at Atlanta 
and Fort McAlister. After the grand review at 
Wa-shington he was discharged. Mr. Milligan 
Wiis married October 2, 1862, to Elizabeth McCul- 
lough, daughter of William and Keziah (Beard) 
McCullough. Their children were: Alice K., 
born September 4, 186.3; Flora E., born June 15, 
186-5; Mary L., born February 1,1867; Charles 
A., born March 21, 1869; James E.. born April 
15, 1871 ; Sarah J., born April 15, 1.873; William, 
born June 3, 1877, and John H., born November 
1, 1S79 (deceased). Mrs^Iilligan died November 
V, 1879 and was buried at Prairie Chapel cem- 
etery. 

MILLER FRANK, Roscoe ; cooper; born in 
Oldenburg, Bavaria, May 9,1817; son of George 
Miller; followed coal mining in his native coun- 
try, and came to America in 1842, and settled in 
Massillon, Ohio, where he worked as a common 
laborer until November 6, l.S4;3, when he com- 
menced the cooper trade with Henry Rinks, with 
whom he worked fifteen months, and in Massil- 
lon about six years ; came to Roscoe, and after 
working for Medbery about thirteen and Glassen 
ten years, started a shop of his own in 1872, where 
he has done a good business up to the present 
time. He was married to Margaret Fritz, daugh- 
of Charles F. Fritz, of Wnrtemberg. Their 
children are Charles, born November IS, 1851; 
Frank, born October 4, 1853 ; John, born Febru- 
ary 12, 1856 ; and Lewis, born February 16, 185S. 

MILLER JOHN C, Franklin town.ship; boot 
and shoemaker; postoffice. Wills Oeek. Ohio; 
born in Linton township, January 18, 1842; son 
of Isaac and Rebecca (Clark) Miller. When a 
youth, he worked in a saw-mill and attended 
school. November 2, 1S61, he enlisted in Com- 
pany G, Eightieth O. V. I.; re-enlisted in January, 
1864, as a veteran, and served till the close of the 
war, serving through all the minor grades of 
office to that of .second lieutenant. At the 
close of the war. he began working at his present 
trade. His first shop was established at Frew's 
Mills; next at Coshocton: from there, he re- 
turned ro Frew's Mills, his present location. 
Mr. Miller was married, July 3. 1866, to Miss 
Alice C. daughter of Addison and Jane (Pocock) 
Syphcrt. They become the parents of seven chil- 
dren : Howard, Rena, Ventner, Isaiic, Addison, 
Cora Alice, Leroy and John. 



MILLER LEVI, Adams township; postoffice, 
Barkersville; miller; born in Tuscarawas comity, 
February 7, 1S26; son of Henry and Barbara 
(Cease) Miller: grandson of Jacob and Catharine 
(Stootsman) Sliller. and of Geoi-ge Cea.se. His 
father entered land in Tuscarawas county, in 
1801, and moved there in 1.8(14; was one of the 
first settlers of Tuscarawas county. The subject 
of this .sketch is the youngest of thirteen children. 
At the age of seven years, he began carding wool, 
and followed that trade until he was about seven- 
teen years of age. He then began the milling 
business with his father, and remained with him 
until he reached manhood, when lie began his 
former occuj)ation, carrying on a factory in 
Shanesviile, Ohio, manufacturing cloth and all 
kinds of woolen fabrics for a period of fourteen 
3'ears ; after which he moved to Rogersville, where 
he was in the milling business for four years, 
then sold his mill and lived a retired life for 
three years; then came to Bakersville, and built 
the Eureka City mills, and hiis been engaged in 
that occupation ever since. He has a very good 
trade, doing mostly custom work. Mr. Miller 
was married, October 4, 1849, to Miss Catharine 
Old, daughter of JacobandCatharine(Dusman)Ohl, 
granddaughter of Henry Olil, and John and Eliz.a- 
betli Dusman. She wiis born in Trumball county, 
Ohio, December 12, 1824. They are the parents 
of five children, viz : George W., decea.sed ; Albert, 
deceased; Priscilla, deceased; Caroline, born 
J uiie 15, 18.54, and Charles A., born March 22, 
18.38. Caroline is married ^to Alvin Peairs, of 
Adams town.ship, and has four children: Charles 
is married to Elizabeth Miser, and lives in Bakers- 
ville; is engaged in milling with his father, and 
has one child. 

MILLER HENRY, Jefier.son township; insur- 
ance agent; postoffice, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Con- 
rad and Sarah (Scott) Miller; was born August 
11, 18-t4, in Wayne county, Ohio. His father was 
a Virginian, and his mother a Pennsylvanian. 
They came to Ohio in 18.30, and located near 
Wooster, Ohio. At that time there were but few 
houses in what is now the city of Wooster. The 
people were oliliged to go on horseback toZanes- 
ville for .salt, and the nearest wheat market was 
Massillon. Mr. Miller was raised on a farm near 
Napoleon, Holmes county, Ohio. He came to 
Co.sbocton county in l.'^76. He was married May 
4, l.'^76, to Miss Mary E. Lowcry, of this county. 
They are the i)arents of three children, viz: Harry 
M., born February 18, 1877, died March 3,1.877; 
an infant, which <lied when but three days old, 
and Miller J., born February 9, 18S0. Iii 1.869 
Mr. Miller went on the road to sell medicine and 
notions, and followed the occnjiation four years. 
He was then engaged in the fruit tree business 
for three years. He is at present operating tire, 
life and accidental insurance, and is doing a 



748 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



flouishing business, representing several firstr 
class companies in this county. 

MILLER JOHN H., Linton township; farmer; 
born September o, 18.32, in ^luskingiun county; 
son of George find Elizabeth Miller, who moved 
from Loudon county, Virginia, about ISiJS. When 
about sixteen years old his father and family 
moved to Vinton county, but John remained in 
Muskingum, and when about twenty-one came 
to Linton township, and has been here pretty 
much since. He was married to Susannah 
Werts, daughter of John and Eliza (Bainter) 
Werts, and has four children : Maria Ellen, Solo- 
mon C, Mary Elizabeth, and John Alvin. 

MILLER HARRISON, Bedford township; 
postofflce, West Bedford ; farmer and justice of 
the peace ; born in 1818, in Harrison eoinity, 
Ohio, and was married in 18.'>ii, to Miss Mary Ann 
Wheeler, of the same county, who was born in 
1820, and died in 1858 They were the jiarents 
of nine children. He went to Jefferson county, 
and in 18G0 married Mrs. Story, of that county. 
They have two children. They came to Tusca- 
rawas county in 1867, and to this county in 1875. 
Mv. Jliller always worked at tlie carpenter trade 
imtil 1S7I), \^hen the asthma compelled him to 
quit it, and he has since been farming. 

JflLLER ANDERSON, Keen township ; born 
in Keene township, Coshocton county, Oliio, Jan- 
uary 28, 18."0. He was brouglit up on a farm and 
educated in the district schools, and is engaged 
in farming at prese^it. For his ancestry, see his 
father's (Samuel 3Iil!er's) biography, in another 
part of this work. He married Miss Mary A. 
McClure, November 2(i, 187o, a. daughter of JRob- 
ert arid Jane (Spangler) McClure, and grand- 
daughter of Nathan and JIary (Stewart) McClure, 
and of George and Rebecca (Cleigett) Spangler. 
Their children were Nora B., Ixirn November 24, 
1874; Line J., January 11, 1877, and Samuel Mc- 
Clure, December 'J, 1879. 

MILLER SAUL, Keene township, born in Cos- 
hocton county, Ohio, Sept<-mber IS, 1815; he is a 
son of Nicholas and Mary (Darling) Miller; grand- 
son of Henry and Cynthia McCarta, and of Robert 
and Cynthia (Sever) Darling. He was born on a 
farm and brouglit up to that <jccupation, and lias 
continued farming until the j)rescnt. He has 
more than 700 acres of land in the valleys of the 
Tuscarawas and M'allionding. Jlr. Jliller was 
married to Elizabeth Miller November 7, 18,30, 
daughter of Michael and Ada (Tanner) Miller, 
who was born May 8, I81'.i, and died September 
20, 1879. They had the following named chil- 
dren : Edith, born December 14, 1840 ; Squire, 
August 21. 1.842; Franklin D., June 16, 1844; 
Eliza A., May 24, 1846; Alexander, May 20, 1848 ; 
Wilson C. and Anderson D., January 26, 1850; 



Mary J., May 17, 1852; Howard, November 8, 
18.54; Isabel, March 14, 1859; and Ehzabeth M.^ 
December 12, 1861. 

5IILLER W. S., Keene township; was born in 
Coshocton county, November 7, 1847. He lived 
on a farm with his parents till the age of 
eighteen, when he went to the Baldwin universty 
to school. After his education was tinished,he 
returned to the farm, and has been engaged in 
the business of farming ever since. He married 
Miss Sue J. Hanlon, daughter of William and 
Mary (Stark) Hanlon ; granddaughter of Allen 
and Su.san (Lord) Hanlon, and of James and 
Elzabeth (McGee) Stark, and great granddaugh- 
ter of James McGee. They have one child, Cora 
May, born November 16, 1873. 

MILLER ISAAC W., deceased ; was born De- 
cember 10, 1814; died December 30,1873. He 
was married to Sarnh Morgan, in 1837, who died 
in 1866. He married Miss M. J. Cochran in 1869,- 
wlio liecame the mother of one child, M. J. El- 
son. 

MILLER W^ARREN, Lafayette township; farm- 
er; postoftice. West Bal'ayette, Ohio; son of Isaac 
W. and Sarah (Morgan) Miller; was born iMarch 
4, 1,856, in Lafayette township, this county. His 
parents were of Irish-German descent, but were 
born and raised in this country. 

Mr. ISIiller was raised on the farm, and has al- 
ways followed that occupation. He owns a tine 
farm of 202 acres, situated in the Tuscarawas val- 
ley, near the village of West Lafayette. 

MILLER B.ASIL, Lafayette township; farmer; 
postoffice. West Lafayette; was born September 
17. 1833, on the farm where he is now living ; .son 
of Daniel and Deborah (Rickells) Miller. He was 
married in 1856, to Miss Susan Ravenscraft, 
daughter of James and Mary Ellen (Cresap) 
Ravenscraft. They have had six children — 
Daniel, Harriet Ellen, Laura, James Banner, 
Hutoka and Orlando. Mr. Miller ownes about 
2(X) acres of good land, lives in a substantial 
brick residence, is well spoken of, and has been 
director of School District No. 6, for fifteen or 
more years. Mrs. INIlller is a member of the 
Baptist church. 

MILLER JOHN F, Perry township; farmer 
and stock raiser; postoflice, West Carlisle; born 
in Wa.«liington townsliip, this county, in 1,849; 
son of John and Nancy ( Lyons) Miller, and grand- 
.son of Francis and Isabel Miller, and of John and 
Lyons : married in 1.S76, to Miss .Anna Mike- 
sell, daushter of Jacob and Sarah Mikesell. They 
have two children, viz : Clara E. and John J. 
Mr. Miller spent several years of his -life in the 
West, visiting a number of States during his stiiy. 
His grandfather Lyon was in the war of 1812. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



74'.) 



MILLER IRWIN, Co.xhoeton ; boot and shoe 
iiianufiu-tui'er ; was born Novcmbor, 1841, in 
Clinton, this connty ; son of David Jlillcr, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, of Cxernian and Irish ances- 
try. Yonfii; Miller was educated in the public 
schools of his native town. He worked ahout 
one and one-half years at his trade, before enlist- 
ing in Company B, Eightieth (). N'. I., and served 
to the close of the war, and was never otl'duty or 
in the hospital. On his return he resumed his 
trade at Ncwcomerstown.as a journeyman, and 
worked about four months, when he began busi- 
ness for himself, at West Lafayette, and remained 
about one year, from which place he came to this 
city, where he has continueil his business. Mr. 
Miller was married January 1, 1866, and is the 
father of three children, all living, viz : William 
A., Mary and Catharine. He is doing a leading 
ness in custom work. 

JIILLER A. J., Coshocton; brick-maker; born 
February 27, 1829, in .\llegheny county, Mary- 
land ; son of Jacob and Mary Poland, and grand- 
son of Christopher Miller- He was brought up 
on a farm, and continued farming until about 
the year 1862, when he abandoned agriculture, 
and was engaged in various pursuits until 1870, 
when he established his jiresent business, and 
now makes from 800,00(1 to l,O0l).(K)0 brick per 
year. Mr. Jliller was married October 24, 18.52, 
to Miss Mary Jane Timmons, daut;hter of Will- 
iam and Maria (lianks) Timmons. ^Slr. Miller 
is strictly abstemious in his habits, not using 
alcoholic drinks or tobacco in any form. 

MILLER M.. proprietress grocery, bakery and 
confectionery, .")2S Main street, Coshocton. P. I. 
Miller, business manager and baker of this es- 
tablishment, was born in Portsninuth, Ohio, July 
15, 1839, and came with his parents to Roscoe 
when quite yoimg. He received his education 
in the public schools of this county, and, when 
about si.\tecn yetirs old, he engaged in learning 
the baking business, in which lie served three 
years. He then went to Zanesville, where he 
served the firms of J. U. Palmer. C. Stolzenbach 
and Gill it Leslie ; after whi<'li he went to Dres- 
den, and was in the employ of .V. Gudhold, with 
whom he remained until 18o7, wiien he came to 
Coshocton and embarked in business for himself, 
and has conducted the grocery and baking 
business ever since, with the exception of four 
years that he was in the United States .-iervici'. 
He enlisted in the lirst call for three months' 
men, in Company A, Sixteenth O. V. I., and, 
after this term of service, he enlisted in the three 
years' service, in Company I. Xinety-seventli O. 
V. I., in which he was promoted to second ser- 
geant, and served eighteen months, when he was 
honorably discharged on account of disability. 
He enlisted again, in 1863, in Company F, 



Fifty-first O. V. I., in which he served ns 

sergeant of ambulance, until the close of the 
war, when lie rcturiUHl home and gave his at- 
tention to his business. He occupies commodious 
rooms twenty by 100 feet, where he carries a 
tirst-class stock of staple and fancy groceries and 
confectioneries. He also has an extensive 
bakery attached, and produces a large amount 
of bread, plain and fancy cakes, and jjics of all 
kinds. Specialties, oysters and ice cream, in their 
seasons. 

MITKIFF REUBEN, Virginia township; born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1807, and settled in Belmont 
county. Ohio, in ISIO. He then nuivcd to Coshoc- 
ton I'ounty, where he died in Feljruary, 1880. 
He was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Sheperd) 
Mitkitt'. Mr. Mitkifi' was a faithful and devotcil 
member of the Methodist church. He married 
Rebeca Perkins in 1831. His widow survies him, 
and resides on the home farm. PostofKce, Xew 
Moscow. 

MOODE MRS. SARAH, Bedfmd township; 
postottice, West Bedford; born in 1823, in Bedford 
county. Pennsylvania. She came to this county 
in 18.32, and was married in 1841, to John Tipton, 
of this covinty. Ho was born in 1817. 'They 
moved to Indiana in 1852. He died in 1853. 
They were the parents of three sons, viz : Jacob 
A., James T. and John W., all deceased. She 
came back to Coshocton county in 18.1S, and was 
married in 18.")9, to Richard Moode, of this coun- 
ty, who was born in 1780, in Maryland. He died 
in 1867. Mr. Moode was a lawyer of ability. He 
was a school teacher, and owned a large tract of 
land. 

MOORE JAMES, Pike township; postoitice. 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
Ireland, in 1808; came to this county in 1835; 
son of Robert and Margaret (Gardener) Moore, 
aid grandson of .lohn and Rosa Jloore. He was 
marri(Hl, in 183S, to Miss Jenette Patti m. daughter 
of James and Mary Patton. They are the parents 
of iiine children, viz: Margaret. Mary, Sarah. 
Samuel, .Vnna, Robert. James; William, deceascil, 
and Ella. .Ml are married but two. ilr. Moore's 
father died in 1826, and his mother in 18.38. 

MOORE SAMUEL, Tuscarawas township; far- 
mer; born March 4, 1816, on the farm where he 
now resides, two miles south of the county seat, 
in the Muskingum valley. His residence is on 
a beautiful knoll overlooking the ^luskingmn 
river. Samuel Moore's father, John I). Moore, 
was one of the worthy pioneers of the I'ounty, 
having settled in it about the year ISlll. His 
grandfather, William Moore ,was a native of Pen- 
ninglcin. Now Jersey. .Samuel's mother was JIary 
M., daughter of George Miller, of Lafayette town- 
ship. He was born near Komney, Hampshire 



750 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



county, Virginia. Samuel Moore has been a 
very successful farmer, having -wO acres of land 
in the fertile valley of the Muskingum. He wa.s 
elected county commissioner in 1S70, and re- 
elected for the following term, serving two terms. 
He was married, December 15, 1840, to Miss 
Susannah, daughter of Philip and Rosanna (Baker) 
Hershmen. Thev became the parents of seven 
children, viz; John D., Philip H.; Mary E., de- 
ceased; Rose Ann, Samuel H., Ajlelia M. and 
Susannah, deceased. Mrs. Moore died March 11, 
1855. ^ 

MOORE PHILIP H., Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Tuscarawas township, August 

7, 1843, son of Samuel and Susannah (Hershman) 
!Moore, and grandson of John 1). Moore, (jne of 
the pioneer settlers of Coshocton. Mr. Moore 
enlisted December 10, 1861, in Company H, 
Eightieth 0. V. I , and was discharged in March, 
18G5. This regiment belonged to the Western 
Army. He was at the engagement at Corinth, 
the siege of Vicksburg, then Chattanooga, wliere 
he was twice wounded, through the right arm and 
right side, was confined to the hospital about four 
nionths, then rejoined his regiment and was with 
Sherman in his Georgia campaign, present at 
Resaca and the engagements between it and 
Atlanta, and thence to Savannah. From this city, 
he marched to Beaufort, Soutli Carolina, where 
he was discharged He was married in 1.S71, to 
Miss Mary V. Welsh, daughter of William R. 
and Mary B. (Lamberson) Welsh, By this mar- 
riage he had two children, viz : Vinnie W. and 
Susannah. JNlr. M. moved to Franklin township 
in 1871, and has been engaged in farming. 

MOORE JAMES, Jefferson township ; born July 

8, 1815, in county Tyrone, Ireland. At the age of 
fifteen he came with his parents to St. Johns, 
New Brunswick. The family was composed of 
his father, Rebecca, RfiVicrt, Sarah, James, John, 
William, Mary A. and Margaret, his mother 
having died in Ireland. IMr. Moore's father was 
offered a great amount of land to remain under 
the British crown in Canada, but he left old Ire- 
land for his freedom, and refused the offer, came 
and settled in Brooks county, Virginia, remained 
there three years, then came to Harrison county, 
Ohio; lived there five years,thencame to Coshoc- 
ton county, Jefferson town.shi]), and bought the 
farm where he now lives. He is a son of James 
and Margaret (McMains) Moore, and grandson of 
James and Sarah (Boak) Moore, and of Robert 
and Mary (Buchanan) McMains. He was mar- 
ried in is4S, to JMiss Sarah Given, daughter of 
William and Margaret (Alexander) Given, and 
granddaughter of John and Rebecca (Moore) Giv- 
en, and of James and Rebecca (Hamilton) Alex- 
ander. Their son James resides at home, and is 
a member of the M. E. church. 



MOORE JOHN, West Lafayette ; farmer ; born 
October 23, 1841, in Tuscarawas township; son 
of Samuel Moore, a native of Virginia. John 
was raised on the farm. In 18t>o he located in 
Lafayette township on the farm where he now 
resides. Mr. Moore was married August 31, 
1864, to IMiss Sarah Waggoner, daughter of David 
Waggoner, of Coshocton City. Samuel W. is 
their only child. Mr. Moore is a successful and 
intelligent farmer. 

I MOORE C. F., Bedford township ; hotel keeper 
and farmer; iwstoffice, West Bedford; born in 
1817 in Jefferson county, Ohio. He was married 
in 1840 to Miss Sarah Brown of the same comity. 
She was born in 1827. They came to this comity 
in 1851. Thev are the parents of four children, 
viz : Martha E., deceased ; Tilly S. ; Adaresbi F., 

I deceased, and Charles A. They have kept hotel 
in West Bedford for seven years. Mrs. Susannah 
Holmes Moore, mother of the subject of this 
sketch, was at the raising of one of the first 
churches that was built west of the Ohio river. 
She was born November 22, 1793. and died Feb- 
ruary 10, 1876. Jacob Moore, grandfather of C. 
F., was a si)y among the Indians for five years, 
reporting at the fort in Warren every night, 
when not too far away. 

MOORE SILAS, Monroe township ; was born 
November 3, 1817, in Harrison county, Ohio; son 
of Richard and Hannah (Black) Moore, and 
grandson of Sylvanus Moore. He lived in Har- 
rison county, on a farm, and went to district 
schools until the age of sixteen, when he came 
with his foster parents to Coshocton county. His 
parents died while he was yet quite young, and 
he made his home with William Smith until the 
age of twenty-three. At nineteen he began teach- 
ing school, and followed that in the winter for 
nine successive years, since that time farming in 
Monroe township, Coshocton county, has been 
his occupation He was married first to ]\Iiss 
Mary McCoy, October 8, 1840, daughter of Wil- 
liam MeCov. The children bv this marriage are 
William, Harriet, Nancy, Sarah M., Martha J.. 
Leonidas H. and Haiiilin. Mrs. Jloore died 
August 2,1864; Mr. Moore then married Mrs. 
Susannah Weatherwax (maiden name JlcCoy), 
June 8, 1865, daughter of John and Sarah (Stehn- 
ens) McCoy. Elmer E. born August 10, 1866, 
was the only child of this marriage. 

MOORE SAMUEL M., Bedford township; 
school teacher; postoffice. West Bedford; born 
in 1830, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio ; married in 
1.866, to Miss Sarah E. Spencer, of Belmont 
county, Ohi<), who was born in 1847. They came 
to this county in 1875, and are the parents of five 
children, viz": Ina J., Mary E., Amanda B , 
Darius S., and John C. Mr. Moore has made 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



751 



teaching a speciiilty for twenty-one years. He 
was county surveyor fur one term in Tuscarawas 
count)'. 

MOORE S. H., Tuscarawas townsliip^ farmer; 
I")OStofRce, Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Moore was born 
April C, 1949, on the farm where he now lives, 
and where his father, Samuel Moore, Esq., was 
born. He was married February 7, 1872, to Miss 
Sarah Anne, daushter of Elias Barcroft, of Frank- 
lin townshiji. They are the parents of five chil- 
dren, viz: Ettie Viola, Emma Gale, Ada Belle, 
Sarah Sophia, Hiram Bennet. 

MOFFITT W. G., Jackson township: postoflice, 
Roscoe; born in Ireland in 1832: settled in this 
county in 1853; son of George and Mary Jloffitt; 
married in 1858 to Marv Gamble, daughter of 
William Gamble. Mr. Moffitt is the father of 
ten children, seven of whom are living, viz: 
Mary E., Lizzie, Anna J., Sarah C, Georgiana, 
William, Fren. 

MOHLER GEORGE W., school teacher; Tus- 
carawas town.?hii); i)ostofRco. Canal Lcwisville; 
born Ajiril 6, 1841, in this county. His father, 
Peter Mohler, was born in 181-1, in Maryland. 
He was married in 1838 in Adams county, Penn- 
sylvania, to Miss Rosanna Frederick, of that 
county. She was born in 1813 in Germany. 
They came to this county in 1838. Tliey are the 
parents of seven children, all boys, six of whom 
are living. The subject of this sketch is the sec- 
ond. He enlisted in the Fifty-first 0. V. I. March, 
1864, and was mustered out Sejitember, 1865. 
He was the only man in the regiment that voted 
for Morgan for governor of Ohio in 186-5. He 
was married in 186'.' to Miss Clara A. Reiser, of 
this county. She was born in 1852. They are the 
parents of five children, viz : Minnie G., Horace 
P. ; Rosa D., deceased ; Edna C. and Maud F. 

MOREHEAD SAMUEL.Kcene township: born 
in Brooks county, Virginia, in September, I8()i); 
son of Robert and Margaret (Morrow) Morehead. 
Until eighteen he remained on the farm, then 
was employed in flat-boating on the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers. In 1833 he moved to Blill 
Creek townsliip, and followed farming till 1878, 
when he came to Keene, and is living a retired 
life. He was married in February, 1837, to Mar- 
garet, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Scott) 
Morehead, Their children were Robert, dec- 
eased, born Januarv '\ 1838; Charles, deceased, 
born July 1, 1839;" Hosea, July S, 1,841 ; James, 
deceased, August 22. 1843, and "Nathan, .\pril 1, 
1846. Mrs. Morehead died November 27, 1874, 
and Mr. Morehead Avas united in marriage May 
18, 1875, to Harriet Zink, daughter of Leonard 
and Rachel (Light) Zink, who became the moth- 
er of two children, Margaret J., born June 25, 
1877, and Samuel, Februarv 1, 1879. 



MORRISON WILLIAM, farmer; postoffice. 
White Eyes Plains; was born in Canada, in 1826; 
came to the United States at the age of six years 
with his parents, who located in Detroit, Michi- 
gan, where he received his education and spent 
his boyhood days. In 1838 they moved to Ros- 
coe, this county. His father was a sub-contractor 
in building Walhonding canal. In the fall of 
1838 they moved to .\tliens county, and worked 
on the Hocking valley canal, till it was finished. 
In 1843 ^^'illiam engaged in boating on the Ohio 
canal, first as a driver; and was captain of a boat 
for several years. He was engaged on the canal 
for twenty-one years, during which time he was 
a heavy shipper of grain, produce, lumber, flour, 
and whisky. He supplied this market with lum- 
ber for many of the first frame liguses built in 
this county. He was married inUS65 to Rachel 
Starker, who was born in Oxford township. Mr. 
M. owns a farm with good buildings, and is a 
first-class farmer, and a live Republican, and was 
a boat bov at the same time with President Gar- 
field. 

MONTIS SAMUEL, Keene town.ship; was 
born in Richland county, Ohio, September 2, 
1830, He lived in his native county until about 
the age of eight years, when he moved with his 
parents to Knox county, where he followed farm- 
ing for forty years. In 1878 he removed to Co- 
shocton county, where he is following his old oc- 
cupation of farming, as well as the ministry, to 
which he was elected by the German Baj)tists, in 
1870, He now has charge of the Coshocton con- 
gregation, Mr, Montis was married to Miss 
Louisa Stimate, January 6, 1854, She is a daugh- 
ter of John Stimate. They are the parents of 
seven children, viz : Mary B., Lillie D,, William 
M„ Lauren A., Martin JI., Eda A. and Ida M. 
Mr. Montis was a son of John and Susan (Grifleth) 
Montis, and a grandson of George Blontis. 

MORRIS G. S., Lafayette township; physician; 
postoffice. West Lafayette; was born in Belmont 
county, Ohio, October 21, 1850; son of Joseph 
and Mary (Brock) Morris; was on a farm until 
sixteen years of age, when he attended school at 
Franklin college; then went to Mount Union ; 
then took a course of lectures at the Ohio med- 
ical college, Cincinnati, in 1873, 1874 and 187.5. 
He practiced in Winchester, Guernsey county, 
about eighteen months; then, after a visit West, 
located at Plainfield, this county ; then moved to 
where he now resides, where he has succeeded, 
by strict attention and quite successful practice, 
in building up a good business. He was married, 
January 11, 1876, to Miss Bessie Middleton, of 
Jackson town,ship,daughter of Jesse and Amanda 
(Titus) Middleton. 

MORRISON WILLIAM, Oxford township; 
farmer; postoffice. White Eyes Plains; was born 



752 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



in Canada in 1826. and came to tiie United States 
at the age of six years with his parents, who lo- 
cated in Detroit. Here he attended sehool and 
spent nKjst of his boyliood days, when the State 
of Michij;an was a territory. They remained 
here till l8o7, and then moved to Roscoe, Coshoc- 
ton connty, where his father was engaged in 
building the Walhonding canal. There they 
remained till the fall of ISoS, then went to Athens 
county and worked on the Hocking Valley canal 
till it was finished. In 184o Mr. William Morri- 
son engaged in boating on the Ohio canal, lirst as 
a driver, and afterwai'd captain of the canal boats 
Mohawk, Roscoe Belle, the War Eagle and Rob- 
ert Hay. The two latter he assisted to build. 
He continued till about 1804, making a period of 
twenty-one y^rs. He was well acquainted with 
Captain Meyere, who employed James A. Gartield 
as a boat boy. 

He returned to this county in 1848, and 
was captain of a boat, transporting tlour from 
Roscoe mills and whisky from the distillery at 
Coshocton, to Cleveland, and on return he pur- 
chased lumber and goods and brought to this 
market, he supplying the lumber for a number 
of the houses in this county that were built in 
those days. He was married September 1865, to 
Miss Rachel Starker, who was born in Oxford 
township, this county. They located on the farm 
where he now resides. Jlr. Morrison owns a 
beautiful farnr in this township, with a residence 
built in modern style, showing taste and enter- 
prise. He is one of the intelligent and progres- 
ive farmers of this count_y. 

His father. \\'illiani Morrison. Sr., was born in 
Queens county, Ireland, and belonged to the reg- 
ular British army. He was brought to Canada, 
in 1813, by the British government, and was in 
all the battles from tjuebec up to LundyLane; 
was wounded, and draws a pension. He was mar- 
ried in Canada. Mrs. Morrison was born in the 
county (if Whitlow, about 17118, and is still living 
with her son Hubert, in Muskingum county. She 
is a remarkable woman, has a good memory and 
enjoys gootl health. 

MORTLEY EDWARD M., grocer and con- 
fectioner, corner of Main and Fifth streets, west 
of railroad, Coshocton. Mr. ^lortley is a native 
of McConnellsviile. Ohio, where he was born 
March 31, 1S54, and where he received his edu- 
cation, and made his first business engagement, 
which was in 1873, under the firm name of Mort- 
ley tt Lackey, in the grocery business, and con- 
tinued one year. He then went to Zanesville 
and served the firm of Mortley tfe Pinkerton, 
wholesale grocers, for three years, after which 
he went to Frazysburg, where he was engaged in 
the grocery business for himself about two years. 
In June, 1879, he located in Coshocton, and estab- 
lished the grocery business in the old Crowley 



stand, where he carries a largs first class stock of 
staple and fancy groceries and confectioneries, 
stoneware, woodenware, sugar cured and pick- 
eled meats, salt fish, flour and salt. 

• 

MORTLEY D. H., Coshocton ; merchant, of the 
firm of Hay & Mortley, corner of ilain and Sec- 
ond streets; was born" March 8. Is20,ui the coun- 
ty of Kent, England ; son of John Jlortley, de- 
ceased. At the age of sixteen young Mortley, 
without an accompanying relative, took passage 
for America, and arrived at New York City in 
May, 1836, and came immediately to Roscoe, 
arriving in July, and connnenced work with his 
brother, a carpenter, and continued with him 
four years. The next year was spent clerking at 
Jacobsport and in the county auditor's office. In 
March, 1841, Mr. Mortley went to McConnellsviile, 
Morgan county, and was county clerk about 
twelve years. In 1850 he was one of the secre- 
taries of the constitutional convention which 
framed the present constitution of the St:ite of 
Ohio. The original copy was written and en- 
grossed upon parchment by Mr. Mortley ; also all 
the proceedings of the convention were written 
by him. Subsequent to his county clerkship he 
was in the mercantile business until about 1871, 
when he was elected first clerk of JIalta national 
bank, Malta, Ohio, which position he resigned in 
1873, and engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- 
ness at Zanesville, (3hio, being senior member of 
the firm of Mortley it Pinkerton. In 1879 he 
bought out the interest of James S. Wilson, of 
the firm of Hay tt Wilson, of this city, forming 
the firm of Hay A- Mortley, as first .stated. Mr. 
Mortley was married October 17, 1844, to Miss E. 
J. Sherwood, daughter of William Sherwood, of 
Malta. Ohio. This union was blessed with four 
children, viz : Mary E., married to Dr. P. C. Mc- 
Lean, of Xew Cumberland. West Virginia; Hat- 
tie G., married to John W. Pinkerton, now of 
Zanesville, Ohio: Kate S.. married to W. W. 
Pyle, editor of the daily morning Times, Zanes- 
ville, Ohio; and Edward M., married to Miss 
Daw.son, of McConnellsviile, Ohio. In 1862, Mr. 
Mortley volunteered and was commissioned by 
Gov. Tod quartermaster of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-second O. V. I., and was honorably di.s- 

i charged at the hospital at Georgetown, D. C, in 

j December, 1863. 

MOWRY ABRAH.UI. deceased, Bethlehem 
I townshi)); was born in 1810, in the Shenandoah 
valley, Virginia. He came to this county with 
his parents in 1834, and was married in 1844. to 
Miss Mary Konkle, of Knox county, Ohio, who 
was born in 1822. TJiey became the parents of six 
children, viz : Elvira, born January 11. 1849, mar- 
ried to Jlr. Alex. Miller, of Keene township; Wil- 
liam, born in 1850, married in 1876, to Miss Mary 
Wood of Keene township, who was born in 1857. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



753 



William follows farming and stock raising, and 
owns a good farm of 285 acres ; George S. was 
born April 22, 1854, married October I'.i, 1S76, to 
Miss Isaliella Miller, of Kecne townsliiji, who was 
born March 14, 1857 — they are the jiarents of two 
children ; Holland W. was born January 22, 1858. 
is single and lives at home with his mother and 
farms the homestead ; Henry E was born in 1862, 
and died at the age of twenty-three months ; 
Mary S. was born June 7, 1864, is single and lives 
at home. Abraham 3Iowry died November 11, 
1877, aged sixty-seven years. He was a general 
farmer and stock raiser, ami by his industry and 
steady habits accumulated good property. He 
was a member of the Presbyterian church. 

MOWRY GEORGE S.. Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postofbce, Warsaw. Ohio; .son of Abra- 
ham and Mary (Conkle) Mowry ; was born in 
1854, in Coshocton county. Mr. Mowry was 
raised on the farm, and has always followed that 
occupation. He was married, in 1876, to Miss 
Isabella Miller, of this county. They are the 
parents of one child, Gladus. M. Mowry is a 
successful farmer, and is esteemed by all who 
know him, as a man of business and integrity. 

MOWRY WILLIAM, Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postoffice, War.saw, Ohio; son of Abra- 
ham and Mary (Conkle) IMowry; was born De- 
cember 12. 1851, in this county. Mr. Blowry was 
raised on the farm, and hasalways followed farm- 
ing. He was married May 30, 1877, to Miss May 
Wood, of this county. They are the parents of 
one child, Ward, born in June, 1881. Mr. Mowry 
is an extensive and prosperous farmer, and owns 
a fine farm, situated in the valley of the Killbuck. 

MURPHEY WILLIAM P., White Eyes town- 
ship; is a native of this county, was born in 1820, 
and is the son of William jMur|)hey who emi- 
grated to this county in 1807 from IMaryland. 
William, Sr., was married to a Miss Shipley, of 
Penn.sylvania. They had four children, all of 
whom are living. William, Sr., entered the reg- 
ular army and served four years : he took part in 
what was known as the Florida war in 1805. He 
volunteered in the war of 1812. but never went 
into active service. He died at the age of eighty 
years, and his wife died at the same age, just one 
year later. William P. was married December, 
1842, to Miss Cynthia Deeds, who was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1820, and was the daughter of 
Adam Deeds, who came to White Eyes at an 
early date. They have eight children, viz: John 
D., Samuel. Jame.s, Johnson W., Sabina, I^filton, 
Mary and Nelson. John D. is a Protestant Meth- 
odist minister, and is preaching at .Tacobsjjort. 
He is married to Miss JlcWrarth, of this county. 
Samuel is a farmer and resides in Indiana, and is 
married to Kate Boyd, of this county. James 
lives at home. J. W. is a school teacher, and is 



preparing himself for the law ; Captain Crom- 
well, of Coshocton, is his preceptor. The rest are 
at home. William P. is a carpenter by trade, and 
has worked occasionally at his trade for the last 
thirty-live years. He was a minister of the 
United Brethren church until the last twelve 
years, during which time he has been connected 
with the Christian Union denomination. He has 
tailored in the ministry ior the past thirty-live 
years. He lives on a farm of eighty acres, on 
which he located in 1865. 

MURPHY MILTON, White Eyes township; 
farmer; was born in 18o9. in this county, and is 
the son of W. P. Murphv. He was inarried, 
September 24. 1880. to Jlrs. Minerva Cutshall, 
who was born in 1856. She is the daughter of 
Newton Hufi', of Oxford township. She had one 
child by her lirst marriage, Charles, born 1875. 

MURPHEY FRANKLIN P., White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice, West Lafayette, Ohio. 
Mr. Murphey was born January 20, 1852, in Co- 
shocton county. Ohio. He was married, January 
1, 1874, to Miss Louisa Yasbinder. of Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio. They liecame the parents of three 
children: Philip A., Francis M. and Charles T. 
In the spring of 1874, ^Mr. Murphey removed to 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and engaged in the 
mining business, remaining two years. He then 
returned to Coshocton county, and has since 
been farming. 

INIURPHEY WILLI.VM E., White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice. West Lafayette, Ohio; 
son of James and Elizabeth (Jones) Murphey ; 
was born October 30, 1S39, in Coshocton county, 
Ohio. Mr. Blurphey was raised on a farm, and 
has always been a citizen of this county. He was 
married August 28, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Gard- 
ner, of Coshocton county, Ohio. They became 
the parents of seven children: Francis M, de- 
ceased; Laura E.; George F. and Hannah M. E., 
deceased; Sarah W.. Catharine A. and Celia A. 
Mr. Murphey enljst(Hl in the United States ser- 
vice Sejitember 5, 1862, and was honorably dis- 
charged June 20, 1865. He was a member of 
Company K, Sixty-second O. V. I. He was with 
Grant at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, 
also at the surrender of Petersburg. 

MURPHEY F. M.. White Eyes township; 
teacher; postoffice. West Lafayette, Ohio; son of 
James and Elizabeth (Jones) Murjihey; was born 
June 18, 1845, in Keene township.' Cosiiocton 
county, Ohio. He received a good common 
school eilucation.and was atOtterbein university 
during the year 1867. He also attended the na- 
tional normal school, at Lebanon, Ohio, during 
the year 187,3. He taught his tirst .school in White 
Eyes town.ship, in 18ti7. and has been constantly 
engaged in teaching ever since. He is one of the 



7f>i 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



oldest and most successful teachers in the county, 
always commanding the highest wages. All of 
his teaching has been in Coshocton county. He 
is at present engaged as principal of the Lafayette 
schools, which position he hiis held for two years. 

MURPHY HUGH, Coshocton; brickmaker; 
was born November 20, 1837, in Co.>^hocton city; 
son of Charles and Annie (Campbell) Murphy, 
natives of Ireland. His mother died when Hugh 
was a child. He was principally brought up by 
William Burns, of this city, but spent several 
years, when a boy. in Zanesnile, and settled in 
this city in 1.S5-5. " He was married May 2, 1859, 
to Miss Sarah Jane, daughter of John Fish, of 
this city. Six children were born to them, 
namely^ Mary Anne, William, Sarah Jane; Aggie, 
deceased ; Annie, deceased, and Eddie, deceased. 
Mrs. Murphy died in 1874, and Mr. Murphy mar- 
ried Miss Edith, daughter of John Sherrard, 
whose children are Makra, Frank and J. Foster. 
Mrs. Murphy has, on Second street, four doors 
south of Chestnut street, a full line of millinery, 
fancy goods and notions of every kind. Dress- 
making, cutting and fitting done to order. 

MURR.VY AD.VM, Perry township; post- 
office, New Guilford; bom in West Virginia 
February 22, 1812; son of Adam and Margaret 
Murravi^ settled in this county in 1820; married 
in 18.3o, to Miss Chariott Elhott, daughter of 
John and Chariott Elliott. They are the parents 
of twelve children, viz : Margret, John, Andrew, 
dead; William, Fannie. Simon; Katherine, dead; 
George, dead; Mary E., ElUott; Andrew, dead, 
and Thomas. Four are married, two li\-ing in 
Iowa, and two in this State. William enlisted in j 
18C1 in Company A, Seventj'-sixth, O. V. I., cap- 
tain Lemert. He was connected with the Army 
of the Cumberland and did good ser%ice for his 
country until discharged in 1865. Mr. Murray 
had another son (John) who enlist od in the army 
from Wa\nie county, in 1861, Company G., Sixty- 
fourth regiment. O. V. I., Captain Leeper, and , 
participateil in the battles of Murfreesborough, 
Lookout Mount;\in and Stone River. He was ; 
discharged at Columbus in 1865. ; 

MULLET NICHOLAS, Clark township: farm- ' 
er : postoffice, Helmick; born in Switzerland, 
February 1, 182^1: son of Benjamin and Barbara 
(Zimmerman) Mullet, and grandson of John 
and Catharine Mullet. He came to America in 
1832, with his parents, came to Holmes county, 
Ohio and settled in Walnut township, where he 
remained about four years, when he moved to 
Clark township, Coshocton county, and has been 
a resident of the township since. He is the fourth 
of a family of ten children. He was married Oc- 
tober 11, 1863, to Catharine, daughter of John and 
Rosannah (Nyfeler) Schneebarger, and grand- 



daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rup) Schnee- 
barger, and Jacob and Elizabeth (Anlicker) Ny- 
feler. She was born April 14, 1846, in Cantone 
county, Switzerland. They have no children. 

I MYERS J.VMES, Perry township; postoffice, 
1 New Guilford: born in Virginia, in 1800; son of, 
Henry and Isabelle Myers : settled in this comity 
in 1824, and was married in 1849, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Taylor, daughter of Abraham and Mary Tay- 
lor. The subject of this sketch died in" 1876. 
They had seven children, viz : Mary, deceased ; 
Henry A., deceased ; Olive, BuUzora, Joseph L. 
Mary and James K. 

MYSER JOSEPH, Adams township; farmer; 
postoffice, Bakers\'ille ; born in Jefferson county, 
Ohio, March 15, 1812: son of Jacob and Catharine 
(Fancier) Myser,and grandson of Adam and Eve 
( Miller) Miser, and of Philip and Mary M. Fancier. 
He is of Pennsylvania German descent. Mr. 
Myser came to Coshocton county at three years 
of age; remained at home until the age of twenty- 
five, when he married and began farming for 
himself, in Crawford township; remained there 
about three years, then removed to White Eyes 
township, and after remaining there about two 
years, moved to Port Washington, in Tuscarawas 
county, and remained there about nine months, 
and then moved back to Crawford township. Af- 
ter remaining there about six months, he moved 
to Adams township, where he at present resides, 
on a farm of 300 acres, in the northwest corner of 
the township. He was married February 18, 1837, 
to Miss Catharine Shanks, daughter of James and 
Christina (Helwick) Shanks, and granddaughter 
of Andrew and Catharine (Truck-Miller) Hel- 
wick, and of James and Catharine (Beam) Shanks. 
Mrs. Myser was bom August 14, 1819. Their 
union has been blessed with twelve children, viz : 
M. Jennie, Calvin, Amanda, Sus;innah, Libbie, 
James, Joseph, Adaline. Olive, Joanna, Howard 
and Willard. They are all teachers,. and form a 
very interesting family. >Ir. Myser is a member 
of the Evangelical Lutheran church (general 
synod); has been a member since he was twenty 
years of age. A part of the family belong to the 
same church with their father. The remainder, 
e.xcept one. telong to the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Mr. Myser is one of the old land-marks 
that is left standing in the county. His son Cal- 
vin served three years in the war of the rebellion 
as a soldier, and carries several ugly scars. 

NELDON JACOB, Perry township; postoffice. 
West Carlisle; bom in Pennsylvania, in 1811 ; 
settled in this coimty in 1813; son of Henry and 
Catharine Neldon, and grandson of John and Eve 
Neldon. He was married in 1840 to Mary Fry, ' 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



755 



daughter of John and Charlotte Fry. Mr.Nel- 
don is the father of five children, viz: Jeremiah. 
Lucindii, Francis M., and Henry .S. 

NELDOX T. B.. Perry township; postoffice, 
Xew (tuilford ; horn in this county in 18.52; son 
of G. W. and Eliza hctli ( Blake) Noldon. and 2;rand- 
son of John and Xancv Xeldon. and of Thomas 
and Temperance (Taylor) Plakc. He was mar- 
ried in 187(>. to Adaline Blue, daughter of Daniel 
and Clara Blue. 

XELDOX RAXSOM, Perry township postof- 
fice, Xew Guilford ; born in this county, in 1831 ; 
son of John S. and Xancy (Bailey) Xeldon, grand- 
son of John Xeldon, and of Edward and Rutha 
Bailey ; married in I860, to Miss Mary Cullison, 
daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca Cullison. Mr. 
Xeldon is the father of nine children, viz: Daniel 
W., Xancy J., V. S., Rebecca, Ella, Laura L., t 
Leora, Emma E. and Xina 0. 

XELDOX G. W., Perry township ; farmer and 
stock raiser; postoffice, Xew Guilford; born in 
this county, in 1827 ; son of John S. and Xancy 
(Bailey) Xeldon, grandson of John Xeldon, and of 

and Rutha Bailey : married in 18.52, to Miss 

Elizabeth Blake, daughter of Thomas and Tem- 
perance Blake, They are the parents of three 
children, viz : Thomas R., Leora and Orville. Mr. 
Neldon's grandfather was in the war of 1812. 

XELDOX SAMUEL, Bethlehem township; 
farmer; postoffice, Warsaw, Ohio: son of Fred- 
erick Xeldon, was born May 3, 1818, in Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio. His father came from the 
Cumberlanil Valley, Virginia, and was one of the 
oldest settlers of the comity. He died at the age 
of eighty -seven years. Samuel Xeldon was mar- 
ried February 18, 1840, to Miss Jane Steward of 
this county, who was born in May, ]82'.',in Jeffer- 
son county, Ohio. The.\' are the parents of nine 
children, viz : Margaret, U. .J., William, George, 
Elizabeth, Samuel, Joseph. Henry, and Odea A. 
Four are married. Mr. Xeldon was raised on 
the farm, and has always followed that occupation. 
He has always been a resident of this county, 
and has been honored by office in his township 
for a number of years, serving as trustee, etc. 
He is at present justice of the peace. 

XEFF IS.VAC M., Tuscarawas township; farm- 
er; postoffice, Coshocton ; horn .\pril 28, 1822, in 
Coshocton ; son of Captain Jo.^eph Xctf, and grand- 
.■^on of Martin Xetl', who came to America with 
General Lafayette, and served in the warforinde- 
jiendence, at the close of which he located on the 
Brandywine, in Pennsylvania. Josejih Xeff'came 
to Zanesville in 1803, and to Coshocton in 180i. 
He as.sisted in cutting the trees on the streets of 
Zanesville. Isaac Xefl's mother's maiden name 
was Rachel Workman, daughter of Isaac Work- 



man, who served with Captain Joseph (Isaac M.'s 
father) in tlie war of 1812. Captain Joseph Xeft' 
served si.x years in the United .States army. 
After leaving the service he settled in Coshocton, 
where he died in the seventy-eighth year of his 
age. Yoimg XcfF was raised* in Coshocton, and 
was married June 10, 1S61, to Miss Virginia 
Flack, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Con- 
ley) Flack. Thomas Flack was for many years a 
prominent editor of this county. They have 
three cliildren, \\i : Charles M., "Carrie R. and 
Jessie Cornelia. 

XICHOLAS JOHX D., Coshocton; attorney; 

was born September 8, 1824. in Howard coimty, 
Maine. At the age of fourteen years he was ap- 
prenticed to the shoemaking trade, in which he 
continued until 18-52, when he entered as a stu- 
dent in the law office of Judge Samjile, and was 
admitted to practice in 18.54. In 18.56 Mr. Xich- 
olas was elected to the office of prosecuting attor- 
ney, and served during tlie term. Colonel Xich- 
olas served as captain of Company A, in the Six- 
teenth 0. X. G; also, as captain of Company H, 
Fifty-first O. V. I., and as lieutenant colonel of 
the One Hundred and Forty-third O. X^. G. Col- 
onel Xicholas was married December 24, 1S46, to 
Miss Sarah E. Hutchin.son, daughter of Samuel 
Hutchinson, of Roscoe. The result of this union 
was six children, two deceased, viz: P, B. 
Shelley and Camilla; and four living, viz: Vir- 
ginia, married to I. T. Smith, residing now in 
Adair county, Iowa; Lettitia, married to David 
L. Lanning, of Columbus, Ohio; Samuel H., and 
Fannie, married to William Burns, Jr., of this 
city. Colonel Xicholas' father was a native of 
Wales, but, about the year 1820, he emigrated to 
America, and settled in Maryland. While visit- 
ing friends in .Tefi'erson county, Virginia, he was 
taken sick with fever, from which he died in 
February, 1846. 

XICHOLAS SAMUEL H., Coshocton; law 
student; born March 2-5, 1,856, in Ro.scoe; son of 
Colonel .John D. Xicholas, of the law firm of 
Xicholas it James. His mother's maiden name 
was Sarah Hutchinson, daughter of Samuel 
Hutchinson. Mr. Xicholas received a good pri- 
mary education in the public schools of Roscoe 
and in this city, jnd in 1874 he entered Ivenyon 
college, at Gambier, Ohio, and attended three 
years, but, owing to ill health, had to quit the 
confinement and labor of the student, and recu- 
perate his health by physical labor on the farm 
and at carpenter work. " Li the fall of 1868 he 
entered Wooster university and attended one 
year, but again, owing to declining health, had to 
give up college. In early youth he began read- 
ing law, but his health prevented his continuing 
at that time. He again resumed the study of 
law about two years since. He also took an 
active part in the political campaign of 1880. 



756 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



NICHOLS WILL ARD, White Eyes to^ynship; | 
a native of New Yorl^ State; was born in Sep- | 
temper, ISS'i, and came to this county with his I 
parents, when but a child. February, 1860, he 
married !Miss Nancy A. Henderson, tlie daugh- 
ter of George Henderson, who was born in I 
April, 1839. They have a family of nine chil- 1 
dren: Charles F.,'Hattie A.. Edwin, George H., 
Willard, James A., Frank, Lewis A. and Ivy E., 
all livinp;. Mr. Nichols hiis lived in this township 
since his marriage, and owns 2(Xt acres of land ! 
where he resides. He is trustee of White j 
Eyes. In 1849, he went to California; was in 
that State about two years, engaged in mining; 
he went by land and returned by water. 

NORMAN WILSON O., Adams township; 
voung farmer; postoffice, Evansburgh; born in 
Adan'is township. .July 31, 1859; son of Isaac and | 
Harriet (Norris) Norman, and grandson of George | 
and Barbara (Workman) Norman, and William 
and Rebecca (Tipton) Norris, and great-grandson 
of Benjamin and Margaret Norman, and Isaac 
Workman, and Anna Norris, and Silvester and 
Mary Tipton. His father was born in Coshocton 
county, ^lay 1, 1817. His mother was born. March 
17. 18i2.3, in" Adams township, Coshocton county 
They were married November 28, 1S39, and are 
the "parents of ten children, six of whom are 
living, viz: Sylvester, born March 1, 1841; Re- 
becca, born December 1, 1.845; Mary A., born 
October 22, 1846 ; George W., born August 16, 
1852, and Francis M., born July 18, 1855. His 
brother, Sylvester, was a soldier in the Ninety- 
seventh O. V. I., three years. \\'ilson is a promis- 
ing young farmer, highly respected hj all. 

NORMAN JOHN W., White Eyes township; 
farmer; born in O.xford township, October 7, 182.5; 
son of Isaac and Isabel (Wise) Norman, both 
natives of the United States; married January 
28, 1849, to Susan McCleary, who was born Janu- 
ary 22, 1827. They have seven children, viz : 
Melissa, Isaac, Sarah Isabel, Hannah, Hester, Hat- 
tie Nena, James Lester. Melissa married Sam- 
viel Dougherty in November, 1867, and they 
have four children living. Isaac married Leah 
Brown in the fall of 1876, and they have two 
children. Sarah Isabel Wiis married to Andrew 
Schrack in 1S74, an<l they have one child. Mr. 
Norman was a well-to-do farmer. 

NORMAN WILLI AIM, Keene township ; shoe- 
maker at Keene ; born in June, 1837, Mill Creek 
township; son of Javas and Barbara Norman, 
• who was the daughter of Daniel and Catherine 
(Young) Weaver. At the age of twenty-one, Mr. 
Norman began his apj)renticeship of two and a 
half years in Holmes county, under Jacob Miller. 
When it was conijilcted he opened a shop in 
Chili, and live years later he went to Bakersvillc, 
and remained till he came to Keene, about 1870. 



He has a flourishing trade, which shows him to 
be an excellent workman He was married May 
15, 1859, to Miss Matilda Redd, daughter of 
Lewis and Elizabeth (Horn) Redd, of German 
descent. Their children are — William F., born 
in March, 1862; Ella J , born in March, 1864; 
Augustus, in September, 1867 ; Joseph, in .•\i)ril, 
1870; Hattie, October 2, 1873, and Yesta, in Ai)ril, 
1876. 

NORRIS ISAAC, Oxford township; black- 
smith ; postoffice, Evansburgh : was born in this 
county, in 1841 ; son of Cliarles and ^Margaret 
(Hamill) Norris; was married in 1803, to Miss 
Harriet E. Richmond, daughter of Edward Rich- 
mond, of this township. The fruits of this union 
has been five children, viz : Frank, Charles, Leo- 
noi'a; Edward, deceased, and Seth. Mr. Norris is 
a blacksmith by trade, and has been at the busi- 
ness here about thirteen years, besides the time 
spent at his trade in the army. He took an act- 
ive part in the late war, going out in Company C, 
Fifty-first O. Y. I., and served four years and two 
months, re-enlisting at Shell Mound, Tennessee. 
He is school director and is honest and industri- 
ous. His son Edward, a bright boy, met his death 
March 28, 1879, in his eighth year, being in com- 
pany with a play-mate, he was crushed to death 
by the caving in of a coal-bank on the premises 
of James Addis. 

NORRIS WILLIAM, Jackson township ; Ros- 
coe postoffice ; born in this county in 1835 ; son 
of Daniel and Mary (McCoy) Norris, and grand- 
son of William and Sarah (Graves) Norris, and 
of Joseph and Mary McCoy; married in 1855, to 
Rebecca J. Lockard, daughter of Andrew and 
Mary Lockard. Mr. Norris is the father of five 
children, viz: Mary A., G. O., Sarilda L.. Henri- 
ettii E., Maro A. Mr. Norris' father settled in 
this county in 1809. 

NORRIS J. W., Bedford, township; farmer; 
postoffice. Mohawk Yillage ; born in 1851, in this 
county, and was married, in 1872, to Miss Caro- 
line Jiliddleton, of this county, who was born in 
1850. Thev are the parents of four childi-en, viz : 
Charles, de"ceased; George E., Chester C, and an 
infant. 

NORRIS G. W., Bedford township; farmer; 
postoffice, West Bedford; born in 1823 in this 
county. His father, Thomas Norris, was born in 
179G, in Maryland, and was married in 1817 to 
Miss Sarah Stills of Belmont county, who was 
born in 1801. They came to this county in 1820. 
She died in 1876. " They were the jiarents of 
twelve children, the subject of this ske_tch being 
the fourth He was married in 1845 to Miss 
Sarah Horton of this county, who was born in 
1828. She died in 1846. " He, in 1,S46, mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth McNabb of this county, who 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



759 



ivas born in 1827. They are the parents of five 
children, viz: John, Milton, Sarah A., Mary C, 
and George, deceased. 

NORRIS MILTON, Perry township: postof- 
fice, West Bedford; farmer: born in this county, 
in 1852; son of G. W. and Elizabeth Norris, and 
grandson of Thomas and Sarah A. (Stills) Xorris, 
and of George and Mary (Hogue) Mt'Xabb. He 
was married in 1872, to Aliss JIartha J. Shrigloy, 
daughter of John and Mary T. (Barton) Shrig- 
lev. Thev are the parents of five children, viz: 
William, Mary E., Edwin 0.; Charles Elmer, de- 
ceased, and one unnamed. 

NORRIS E., Bedford township; postoffice, 
West Bedford; born in 1800 in Allegheny coun- 
ty, Maryland ; moved to Belmont county, Ohio, 
in 181?., and to this county in 1820 with his fath- 
er, who was born in 1760 in Maryland. He mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Dager of the same county, 
who was born in 1775. He died in 1835; she 
died in 18.55. They were the parents of eleven 
children, the subject of this sketch being the 
ninth. He was married in 1832 to Miss Mary A. 
Humphrey of this county, who was born in 
1814 in Jetierson county. They were the parents 
of nine children, viz: S:)rah J,, deceased: Nancy, 
Clara, Stephen, Wilson; Martha E. and an infant, 
both deceased ; John, and Viola. 

NORRIS THOMAS M., Pike township; post- 
office West Carlisle; farmer and justice of the 
peace; born in Green county, Pennsylvania, 
January 30. l.'^Sl; son of Tho'mas and Maria 
(Phillips) Norris. He was married in 1S71. to Miss 
Elizabeth .\.. McKee, daughter' of D.miel and 
Jane JIcKee. They are the parents of four 
children, viz: Ora J., Daniel F. and Ama M., 
deceased. 

NOBLE JOSEPH, Bethlehem township; farm- 
er; was born June 22, 1811, in Fermanagh county, 
Ireland. He came to the United States, with 
his parents, in 1823, and located in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. His father, Joseph Nol>le, Sr., Wiis 
born November 27, 17G6, in Ireland, He w'as 
married, May 22, 1704, to Miss Catherine Wilson, 
who was born January 1 , 1774. Tliey became the 
parents of eleven children, viz : George, Cathe- 
rine, James I, Jane, Alexander, Mary Ann, 
James II, Joseph, William, John and Elizbeth. 
Four are at present living, JAmes II lives in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsvlvania, and John at Fremont, 
Ohio, Joseph Noble Sr„ died July G, l.'^oO. His 
wife died February 25, 1.800. Joseph Noble was 
a baker by trade. He removed from Philadel- 
phia, in 1820, and located in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, where he remiined four years. 
He then came to Ohio, where he has since resided 



NOBLE JOHN, Lafayette township; farmer; 
postoffice, West Lafayette; was born in thiscounty, 
in 1830; son of David Noble; was married to Miss 
Wagner, of this county, in 18.52; they have had 
nine children, Mr. Noble has always fcjUowed 
farming and has lived about seventeen years at 
his present home. 

NOLAND JOHN. Bedford town.-^hii); farmer; 
postoffice, Tumu'l Hill, born in 1840 in this county. 
His father, William Noland, was born, in 1808, in 
Pennsylvania; came to this county in ISll, and 
married Miss Catharine McFarland, who was 
born in 1813, They are the parents of eight chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the third. 
He was married, in 1863, to Miss Elizalieth Mc- 
Bride, of this county, who wa,s born in ls44. 
They are the parents of five children, viz; Martha 
D., deceased; Jason F., Ettie B., Odessa and 
Earnest. 

NOL.VND HIRAM Pike township; postofiioe, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
Pennsylvania, in 1807; son of Pierce and .Yblgal 
(Geary) Noland, .and grandson of Pierce and Mary 
(Doster) Noland, and of Cornelius and Mary 
Elliott, The subject of this sketch settled in this 
county in IsU. He remembers quite well when 
there were but few houses in the town of Coshoc- 
ton, one being a pulilic house kept there at that 
time by Colonel Williams. Mr. Noland has been 
blind tor a number of years, but still retains his 
mental faculties remarkably well. It is quite in- 
teresting to sit and hear him tell of the incidents 
which happened in his early days; how he used 
to visit the Inilian camps, and of the forms they 
went through in receiving visitors, etc. Mr. No- 
land was married in 18.34, to Miss Nancy Huft', 
daughter of George and Mary (Mahony) Huft". 
They are the parents of seven children, viz: Jack- 
son A.; Pierce W., dcce;vsed ; George ; Amanda, 
deceased; Martha; Julia, decesised ; and Nancy 
J. All are married but two. Mr. Noland's wife 
died in 18.50. He has a son practicing medicine 
in the West. 

NOLAND HENRY, Pike township; po.stoffice, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county in 182li; son of Pierce and .Abigail 
(Geary) Noland. The father of the subject of 
this sketch came to this county from Virginia, 
about the year l-'^ll, and died in 18.3."). Mrs. No- 
land died" in 18.5.5. The subject of this sketch 
was married in 18.35, to Miss Martha E. Ash- 
craft, daughter of one of the first settlers of this 
country. They are the parents of ten cliildrcn, 
viz: Sunpson P., deceased: Sarah M., Jacob M., 
Miry J., Flora E., Gi^orge T., Laken M., Minnie 
B., Midison L., and ElBe E., deceased. 



34 



760 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUXTY. 



ODOR REV. A. W., Jackson township ; pustof- 
iice, Rotfcoe ; born in Orange county, Virginia, 
in 1822; settled in this county in 1880; son of El- 
wood and Nancy (Wigtield) Odor, and grandson 
of Joseph and Nancy (Moore) Wigficld; married 
September 25, 1856, to Maloney C. Piatt, daughter 
of Robert and Margaret Piatt. jMi-. Odor is the 
father of two children, viz: J. W. and E. P. Mr. 
Odor jiursued a regular course of studies at Den- 
ison university until his health failed him. He 
was then engaged in teaching for some seven 
years. Ordained to preach by the Regular Bap- 
tist church in 1853, and has followed that calling 
ever since. 

OGILVIE F. M., Keene township; born Au- 
gust 19, 1844, in Coshocton county, Ohio ; son of 
Thomas and Christina (Johnson) Ogilvie; a 
grandson of Thomas and Jane (Taylor) Ogilvie, 
and great grandson of Thomas Ogilvie, Sr., who 
was an Englishman by birth; grandson of John 
and Elizabeth (Peterson) Johnson. F. M. Ogilvie 
was brought uj) on a farm, and educated in dis- 
trict schools. At the age of twenty-two he began 
school teaching, and taught two years in Illinois 
and one in Missouri. He enlisted in Company 
I, Fifty-first O. V. I., in the fall of 1861, anil 
served till the spring of 1803, when he was mus- 
tered out. In September of the same year he 
re-enlisted in Comjiany D, Forty-tifth 111. V. I., 
and continued till July, 1865, when he was mus- 
tered out for the last tinre. The principal bat- 
tles he was engaged in are. Stone River, Mi.ssion 
Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Nashville, 
Siege of Vicksburg and Chickamauga. He was 
married to Miss P^mma Richardson October, 
i860, a daughter of Lemuel and Jennie (Tnrner) 
Richardson. They have four children — George 
W., Mary May, Thomas and Katie. 

OGILVIE JAMES, Keene township; was born 
in West Virginia, April 15, 1788; son of Thomas 
and Jane (Taylor) Ogihne; a grandson of Thomas 
Ogilvie, Sr., who came to America sometime be- 
fore the revolutionary war, and was one of the pa- 
triots who braved the storm of battle for American 
liberty. James lived m his native State till 1810, 
when he came to Coshocton county, where he en- 
listed and served through the war of 1812, then re- 
turned to his farm, where he has continued ever 
since. He was married to Miss Christina John- 
son, of West Virginia, a daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Peterson) Johnson. They had seven 
childi'en : Thomas, Johnson and Eliza are living. 
Mr. Ogilvie's first wife died March, 1843; after 
this he married Mrs. Catherine Thursthammer, 
who was born March 14, 17i;i5, a daughter of 
Charles and Catharine (Cost) Thursthammer. 

OGLEVIE THOMAS, Bethlehem towniship; 



farmer ; son of James Oglevie, of Keene town- 
ship, who came to this county from Virginia, in. 
1809. was born in 1820. He was married in 
December, 1842, to Miss Rachel O'Donald, of this 
county, who was born in 1852. Her parents 
were of Irish descent. They are the parents of 
four children, viz: Francis M., born August 20, 
1844; Josephine M., born November 25, 1845; J. 
J., born July 29, 1848, now living in Virginia. 
The other one is dead. Francis M. served "three 
years as a private in Company I, Fifty-fourth 
regiment O. V. I., and was with Sherman on his 
famous march to the sea. Mr. Oglevie has always 
resided in Bethlehem township, owns a good 
farm, and is esteemed, by all his acquaintances. 

OGELVIE JOHNSON, Bethlehem township; 
farmer ; son of James Ogelvie, of Keene township ; 
was born, February 7, 1813, in Coshocton, Ohio. 
Mr. Ogelvie was raised on the farm and has 
always followed that occupation. He was married, 
in November, 1838, to Miss Margaret Norman, of 
this county, who was born November 12, 1818. 
They are the parents of si.x children, viz : William, 
born in 1840; John W., born in 1841; Malona, 
born in 1844; James G., born in 1847; Benjamin 
H., born in 1849; Laceann, born in 1853, and A. 
G., born in 1856. William and Malona are mar- 
ried and live in Franklin county. James and 
Albert G. are in California, engaged in business. 
Mrs. Ogelvie died in August, 1856. Blr. Ogelvie 
was married again, April, 1860, to Mrs. Sophia 
Westerwilt, of Franklin county. They have one 
child, Oscar T., born February 26, 1861. Mr. 
Ogelvie removed to Delaware county, in 1852.- 
He went from there to Fi-anklin county, in 1857; 
thence to Hocking county, remaining eighteen 
months, and retin-ning to Coshocton county in 
1866. Mr. Ogelvie owns a good farm of 240 acres. 

ORR WILLIAM, Bedford township;-- farmer 
and blacksmith; postoffice, War.saw; born in 
1824, in Newcastle county, Delaware, and came 
to this county in 1838, with his father, who .vas 
born in 1791, in Ireland. He came to Delaware 
in 1816, and was married in 1818, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Little, of Delaware. She was born in 1798, 
in Ireland, came to this country in 1815, and died 
in 1872. He died in 1852. They were the pa- 
rents of eight children, the subject of this sketch 
being the tiiird. He was married in 1850, to Mis.s 
P^lizabeth Tredway, of this county, who was born 
in 1826. They are the parents of nine children, 
viz : Mary E., Olive J., A. F.; Emma P.,deceased; 
Ida B., deceased; John T.; Ella M., deceased; 
^^'illiam E. and Josej)!!. 

OVERHOLT JOHN, Keene township; post- 
office, Keene; born October 10, 1831, in Tuscara- 
was coimty ; son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Har- 
baugh) Overholt. He learned the shoemaker's 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCPIES. 



761 



trade under John Hamilton, and for twenty years 
followed it exclusively. He has since taken up 
farming in connection with his trade, and is an 
industrious and careful farmer and stocjc raiser. 
He was married February 17, 1S56, to Miss Cath- 
arine, daughter of William Saunders, of this town- 
ship. Their children wore: Reo A.,born Deceni- 
bei' 24, lyoG; James JI., born September 21, 18.)9 ; 
Orlando A., born February 2(J, 1S62; William C, 
born November 7, 18(59; and Charlie R., deceased, 
born July 14, 1873. 

OXLEY JOSEPH, Perry township; farmer 
and stock raiser ; postoffice, New Guilford ; born 
in this county, in 1839; son of Ohio and Hester 
A. O.xley : married in 1865, to Jliss Martha J. 
Bonham, daughter of Evan and Mary (Worley) 
Bonham. They are the parents of four children, 
viz : George Me., Mary A., Isa M. and John M. 

OXLEY OHIO, Perry township; postoffice, 
West Carlisle; born in this State, in 18(V4; son of 
Jeremiah and Elizal^eth Oxley; died in 1803. 
The subject of this sketch was married in 1833, to 
Miss Hester Stewart, daughter of Charles and Su- 
san (McDowell) Stewart. They are the parents 
of six children, viz: Elizabeth; John, deceased; 
Joseph ; .Jcremiah,|deceased ; Thomas S., deceased, 
and G. W., who was born in this county, in 1849; 
married in 187G, to Margaret Johnston, daughter 
of John and Mary (Dugan) Johnston. They have 
three children, viz : Charles E., Hettie M. and 
Emma E. Mr. Oxlej-'s father was in the war of 
1812. Jeremiah enlisted in the U. S army in 1802, 
and died at Vieksburg in 1803. 



PARK SAMUEL, White Eyes township; far- 
mer; born in Ontario, February 23, 1833; son of 
William and Mary A. (Boyd) Park, natives of 
Ireland. Samuel Park came to this country and 
settled in White Eyes in 1854. Married in 1858, 
Miss Boyd, daughter of William M. Boyd. They 
have seven children: William Melville, born 
November 21, 18-38; Joseph Era.stus, born August 
4, 1860; Alexander, born October 24, 1864; Nancy 
L., born April 20, 1867 ; Margaret A., born April 
1, 1870; Samuel Elza, born' October 21, 1872. 
Joseph Erastus died January 3, 1808; James 
Renwic died .laiiuarv 8, 1808, and Samuel Elza 
died May 24. 1874. William Melville, the eldest, 
who makes his home with his parents commenced 
teaching in the summer of 1879, has taught most 
of the time since and expects to follow school 
teaching, for a while, at least. 

PARK WILBER F., White Eyes t<^)\vnship; 
teacher; postoflice, Avondale, Ohio; born Feb- 
ruary 29, 1800, in White Eyes township; son of 
William and Nancy (Ross) Park. Young Park 
was brought up on the farm until tiie age of six- 



teen, when he taught his first school at Elders 
school-house, Jett'erson township, and has taught 
seven terms successfully. 

PARKER EZRA, Linton townshij); resides in 
Plainfield ; born January 3, 1824, in Belmont 
county. His firther. George Parker, was a native 
of North Carolina; the son of Jacob and Rhoda 
(Belmon) Parker. His grandmother, Rhoda 
Belmon, was born in France. His mother, Ra- 
chel, was the only child of Joseph and Mary 
(Gelbreath) Jones'; her father, Jo,seph, was of 
Iri.sh birth, emigrating from the northern part 
of Ireland to Georgia about 1770; her mother, 
JIary (tcl breath, was born in \\'ales. In 1838, 
Ezra left Belmont county and went to Washing- 
ton county, and, from that time to the present, 
has been engaged in a great variety of pursuits,- 
among which may be mentioned, engineering in 
the government employ; managing oil works; 
keeping drug store, hotel, etc. In 1872, he came to 
Plainfield and has since been a member of the firm 
of Parker Brothers, proprietors of the extensive 
water-mill located at Plauilield. He is also en- 
gaged in the jewelry trade. Mr. Parker was 
married, in 1848, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Rich- 
ard Ross, of Washington county. His wife died 
in September, 1870, leaving one child, William 
R., now a druggist in Beverly, Ohi<i. In Sep- 
tember, 1872, Mr. Parker was married to Mary 
M. Betts, daughter of William Belts, of Jlorgan 
county. By this marriage he has two children : 
Lucy B. and Ora L. 

PARKHILL D. R., Jlill Creek township; 
farmer; postoflice, Keene; born in 1858 in Mill 
Creek township. He was married in 1880 to 
Miss Annie Richey of this county. She was born 
in 1856 in this county. 

PARKHILL W. B., Keene township; born in 
Mill Creek township December 15, Is.jO; son of 
Robert and Mary Parkhill, and grandson of Da- 
vid and JIargaret (DavidsoTi) Parkliill. and of 
James and Nancy (Ford) Foster. His father 
died July 7, 1864. He received his education at 
Keene academy under the instruction of Mr. 
Finley, attending .school in Keene six years. He 
is now engaged in the mercantile bu-siness in 
Keene, having opened a drv goods establishment 
March 5, 1880. 

PARKHILL WILLIAM, Keene township; 
farmer ; born April 23, 1844, in Mill Creek town- 
ship, Co.shocton county, Ohio; a son of David 
and Matilda (Beard) Parkhill, and grandson of 
Daviil and Margaret (Patent) Parkill, and of 
William and .\nn (Rickey) Beard. He was mar- 
ried February 4, 1873, to Miss Amanda Sjiering- 
er, daughter of William and Catharine (Hyder) 
Spcringer. They have but one child, Florence, 
born October 2, 1874. 



r62 



HISTOEY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



PAKRISFT J. J., Bedford townshiji: farmer; 
post! itiice. Jlohawk Village ; born in IS.W, in this 
county. Hi.s grandfather. Joseph Pari.*h. was 
horn in 1777, in Virginia. He came to Belmont 
county while yet a boy. He was married to jNIiss 
Mary Lundyi who wa.s born in Pennsylvania. 
They came to this county in 1817. He died in ISGG 
— she died in 18-30. They were tKe parent? of ten 
children. John, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, being the youngest. He was born in 1818, 
and was married in 184.3, to Miss McNeely, of 
Wasliington county. Pennsylvania, who was born 
in ISIS, and died in 18G4. They were the jiarents 
of seven children. He, in 1866, married Miss 
Louisa Dawson, of this county, who was born in 
1830. in Virginia. He died in 1880. They had 
one child — J. J. Parish, married in ISSit, to Miss 
Nannie Moore, of this countv, who was born in 
1855. 

PETTIT JOSEPH. Clark township; farmer; 
postotfice, Helmick; born in Monroe township, 
Coshocton county, September 19, 1.813 ; .son of 
George and Sarah (Maxon) Pcttit, and grandson 
of Nathaniel and Abigail Pettit, and James and 
Barbara (Carpenter) Ma.xon. His father was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, of New- 
York. He has been a farmer all his life, and has 
a good farm, situated in the southwest part of the 
town.ship, winch is well adapted to the raising of all 
kinds of grain. He was married November 2.3, 
1873, to Alma Matticks, daughter of Jacob and 
Jane (Matticks) Matticks, and granddaughter of 
John and Edward Matticks. She was born in 
Clark township, July 27. 1829. They have two 
children, viz: JIary N., born January 20, 1875; 
Genofa A., born December 7, 1877. His father 
died December 31, 1880, at theageof eighty years, 
one month and four days. His mother is still 
living, and is now seventy-one years of age. 

PEAIRS ALVIN A., Adams township; stock 
and wool dealer; postoffice, Bakersville. Ohio. 
Mr. Peairs was born in Salem township, Tuscara- 
was county, March G. 1818; son of John W. and 
Sarah (Heart) Peairs, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
Young Peairs was educated in the public schools 
and at Eastman's National Business College, at 
Poughkeepsie, where he was graduated in 1865. 
Mr. Peairs was married in October, 1871, to Miss 
Caroline, daughter of Levi and Catharine (Owell) 
Miller, of German descent. They are tlie parents 
of five children, viz: Lilian, John W., Bernis, 
Charles and Myrtle. 

PECK J. P., Oxford township; merchant and 
grain dealer. Orange; Evansburg )W)stoffiee; son 
of Richard A. Peck, of New York Slate: born in 
18.34; was married in 1864, to Miss Sarah R. Day, 
of this county, and has two children, viz; Jennie 
W. and Hettie H. He embarked in Inisiness 
here in 1857, and has been in his present location 



since 1^07. The style of the firm is J. P. Peck 
& Co., his brother, Alfred Peck, being his partner. 
They deal in all kinds of dry goods and grocer- 
ies, and buy and sell large quantities of grain 
and farm produce generally. Mr. Peck is a 
member of the 51 E. church, and is one of the 
leading men of this township. 

PEACOCK PROFESSOR C. L., teacher of 
dancing schools; was born October 23. 1857, in 
Springfield Corners, New York; son of Stephen 
B. and Mary (Winslow) Peacock, of Engi.sh an- 
cestry; was raised on farm; when about twelve 
years of age went to steel works to turn boxing, 
remaining in the works until sixteen years of 
age, and then attended public schools one year; 
came to this city in December, 1872, and has 
made this his home ; began teaching in 1878, and 
has now about 175 young people receiving in- 
structions from him. Many of them belong to 
the leading families of the city. 

PECK ALFRED, member of the firm of Peck 
ct Co.; was born in 1836, and was married in 
1859, to Miss Siu-ali Norris, of Tuscarawas county. 
The result of this union has been three children, 
as follows, viz : Adella, Lenora and Ray Ansan. 
He and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church, and he is considered one of the leading 
business men of this county, and a patron of all 
educational enterprises. 

PEPPER JOSIAH, Virginia township; born 
in Maryland, in 1823; son of Walter and Char- 
lotte Pepper; died in 18G9. He was married in 
November, 1854, and was the father of eight 
children, one of whom died. Postoffice, Adam's 
Mills. 

PERKINS SAMUEL, Virginia township; born 
in Belmont county, Ohio, January 16, 1834. In 
May, 1S57. he moved to Coshocton county, Ohio ; 
son" of Fielder and Delia Perkins. He married 
Miss Margaret Barkhurst, in 1860 Mr. Perkins 
has five children, viz: Maria E., John H., Aga- 
line T., Nelson L., and Leth.v U. Postoffice, New 
Moscow. 

PERKINS J. W., Virginia township; born 
May 12, 1833, in Coshocton county;- son of 
Thomas and Mary (Wagner) Perkins, and grand- 
son of John and Perella Perkins, and of Joseph 
and Rebecca (Beal) Wagoner. Mr. Perkins was 
brought uj) on a farn'', went to school at Wester- 
ville seminary, and at the age of twenty years 
began school teaching, and has taught every year 
since, except two. He is also engaged in farm- 
ing. He was married October 12, 1854, to Miss 
Elizabeth Treg. Mr. Perkins has seven children 
living and two dead. Postoffice, New Moscow. 

PHILLIPS THOMAS, Linton township; farm- 
er; born July 6, 1828, in Linton township; son of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



763 



George and Susannah (Lemons) Pliillips. a pio- 
neer of this townshij): He was married, May -2, 
1850, to Amanda Banl<er, daiigliter of .Faeob 
Banker, of Guernsey eounty. By this marriage 
he has had eight children : Quincy Ann, deceased ; 
EUza Jane, deceased; Sarah (Gaumcr), John, 
Mary, INIartha, CTeorge B. and Wilham Baxter. 

PHILLIPS JOHN L., Washington townsliip; 
farmer; postottice, VV^akatomaka ; born in ISL'!, in 
Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He came to this 
county with his father, iu 181.5, whi:> was born in 
1781, in the same county. He was married, in 
1812, to Miss Elizabeth Larr, of the same county, 
who was born in 1792. He died in 18()3. She 
died in 1874. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, the subject oi' this sketch being the oldest. 
He was married, in 1831), to Miss Eliza J. Stevens, 
of this county, who was born in 181G. Siie died 
in 1876. They were the parents of eleven chil- 
dren two of whom, .fonathan and William, were 
members of the Fifty-first O. V. I. Williaui was 
a prisoner for over eighteen months. Both were 
in the service three years. 

PHILLIPS GEORGE N., Washington town- 
ship; farmer; iHjstotfice, Tunnel Hill; born in 
1846, in this county. His father was born in 1700, 
in Fayette eoimty, Pennsylvania, and was mar- 
ried, in 1813, to Miss Mary Tharp. of the same 
county. They came to this county in 1814. She 
died, and he afterward married Miss Eli/.abeth 
Crumley, of Harrison county, who was born in 
1804. They were the parents of live children, 
viz: Su.sannah, Sarah, Rachel, Eli and the subject 
of this sketch. 

PHILLIPS RICHARD, Adams township; 
farmer; jiostoHice, Evansburgli; born in Cayuga 
county, New York, Septemlier 18,1820; son of 
Elijah and Kcziah (Smith) Phillips, and grand- 
son of Richard and Francina Phillips. He 
came from New York in 1S3S, located in Lafay- 
ette township, remained there iifteen years, then 
move<l to Adams township, where he has been a 
resident since, on a farm of about 2iiO acres, one 
and three-quarter miles north of Evansburgli. 
He was married January 26, 1840, to Miss Nancy 
Miller, daughter of Francisanil Xancy (Wiggins) 
Miller, and granddaughter of George Miller. She 
died Xovember 10, 18o6. This union was bles.sed 
with three children, viz: Thomas, born August 
111, 1848, deceased Ajiril 2, 1S80; George H..born 
December 6, ]s50, and Eniilv, born May 12, 18r>4. 
He married March 30, 1805,'Mi.-<s Elizabeth Cut- 
shall, who bec;Hne the parents of the following 
children, viz : Elijah, born June 20,1868; Elsie, 
born July 1, 1870; ]\ichard, born Xovember 19, 
1872; Robert, born October 1,1874, and Jessie, 
born July 1, 1876. 

PHILLIPS WILLIAM, Kccne township; farm- 



er; born August 12, 1851, in Coshocton county; 
son of Bailey and Xancy (Croi) Phillips, and 
grandson of Bailey and Anna (Frazy) Phillips, 
and of Duncan and Sallie (Morrison) Croi. He 
w;is married to Mary E. Evans, October 12. 1875, 
who was born X'ovember 16. 1858, daughlx-r of 
Alexander and Mahala (Cochran) Evans. Mr. 
Phillips worked at the carpenter trade about live 
years. Their children were Amanda J., born 
'S(-ptcmber 13,1877, and Laura C, born February 
15, 187i». 

PHILLIPS JOSEPH, Monroe township; born 
January 1, 1830, in Alsace, France; son of Joseph 
and Eva R. (Strauser) Phillips, and grandson of 
Anthony Phillips, and of Odlc Strauser. While 
he was very young liis jiai'ents brought him to 
America aiid settled in Erie county, Xew York, 
where they lived ten years, and then came to 
Holmes county. Ohio, wliere his parents died. 
He was married to Mary Winkley, February 2, 
1862, who was born in Lancashire. England, De- 
cember 17. 1841, daughter of Thomas and Cath- 
arine (Robison) Winkley. and granddaughter of 
William and Mary (Womsley) Robison. Their 
children are: Albert, born January 16, 1863; Jo- 
seph E., born .Vpril 29, 1865; James W., born De- 
cember 26, 1870; Rosella, born August 22, 1875, 
and Flora, born April 14, 1872. 

PHILLABAUM ALEXAXDER, White Eyes 
township; farmer; born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania. December, 18,38. He is the son of 
George Phillabaum, who came to this township 
about l.*^44. His father was married to Jliss Sa- 
rah Miller of Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
and they became the jiarents of eight children. 
Alexander remained at home until he was mar- 
ried, which was in 1867, to Miss Magnolia Geese, 
daughter of Christopher Geese, who was born in 
1849 in this county. He has a family of six chil- 
dren, viz : Manda," Sarah B., Victoria, Emma J., 
George, and Mary. Jlrs. Phillabaum died De- 
cember 28, 1.S77, aged twenty-eight years, and is 
buried at Kimbles. lie moved on the farm 
wliere he now resides in 1868. He has served as 
treasurer of White Eyes township six times, and 
holds that office now. 

PHARIOX JOHN, Coshocton; blacksmith; 
was born February 15, 1829. in Wurtcmber^, 
Germany; son of Martin Pharion. John attend- 
ed school until he was fourteen years of .ige, 
then was a])i)renticed tUree years, and after 
completing his apprenticeshi)) be worked in 
several countries of Eurojie. In 1850 he came 
to America and first worki'd at Williamsport, in 
New York; he also wt)rkcd at several otlier 
places in the same state. In 1855 he settled in 
this citv and opened shop at the corner of Lo- 
cust and Second streets, where he still remains. 
He and his son, John G., are doing gootl, active 



764 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



business in general smithing, repairing and 
shoeing. Mr. Pharion was married July 18, 
1854, to Jliss IMarv Shutzlv, daughter of Conrad 
Shutzly, of New York State.' The result of this 
marriage was seven children, two having died, 
viz : Annie and Charles ; the five living <'hildr(-u 
are John G., Mary, Catherine, George and JIaro 
Allen. John G. was married December ol, 1878, 
to Miss Barbara Doll, daughter of John Doll, de- 
ceased, formerly of Clinton township. The re- 
sult of this union has been blessed with one 
child, a daughter, Annie. 

PICKRELL J. M., Jackson township; po.^t- 
offlce, Eoscoe; born in Virginia, Hanover county ; 
settled in this county in 1847: son of James and 
Marv A. Pickrell. and grandson of Kelley and 
Francis Pickrell, and of William S. and Sarah 
Smedley. Married December 27, 1846, to .VI- 
nieda Bailey, daughter of James and Nancy Bai- 
ley. Mr. Pickrclfis the father of twelve children, 
nine of whom are still living, viz: F. M., J. M., 
H. B., Alpheus, Arnold, G. B. Mc, John M., Fran- 
cis R., Sarah E. 

PICKRELL WILLIAM, Jackson township; 
Roscoe postoffice; born in Virginia, in 1820; set- 
tled in this county in 18o2; son of James and 
Mary Pickrell; married in 1.848, to Sarah 
Stephens, daughter of John and Sarah Stephens; 
died in 187G. Mr. Pickrell is the father of seven 
children, viz : John, Josephine, S. P., Marrow, 
Albert. Shrighley, and William J. 

PINE A. T., Pike township; saddler; born in 
1824, in Guernsey county ; came to this county 
in 1829. He was married, in 1845, to Mary A. 
Donaker, of Muskingum ciiunty, who was born 
in 1824, in that county. They are the parents of 
eight living children'; IMarsjaret J., Cochran, A. 
W. Pine, James C, Edmund L., Charles L., 
French W., Laura B. and .Vnna M. He has been 
in the business for twenty-one years in this 
place. 

PIGMAN JA:\IES H., Bedford township; 
farmer : postoffice, Warsaw ; born in 1835, in 
Knox county; came to this county with his 
father, who was l)orn in 1793, in Maryland. 
His father came in 1810. and was married, in 
1821, to Miss Rebecca Hooker, of this county, 
who was born in 1805, in Maryland. They 
moved to Kno.x county in 1824. He died in 
1,807. They were the parents of nine children, 
the subject of this sketch being the eighth. He 
was married, in 1865, to Miss Lorinda .Tackson, 
of this county, who was born in 1.S44. They are 
the parent.s of eight children, viz: Joseph E., 
William C, Dora^B.. Minnie, Milton , Ward, 
Clara M. and Charlie. 

PIGMAN WILLIAM H., Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice. West Carlisle; born in 18.32, 



in this county. His father, James W. Pigman, 
was born in 1808, in Maryland. Came to this 
county in 1814, and wa.s married in 182t), to Miss 
Rachel Hooker, of this county, who was born in 
1.S07, in Maryland. He died in 1860. They were 
the parents of six children, William being the 
second. He was married in 1854, to Miss Sarah 
Lynch, of this county, who was born in 18.30, and 
died in 1S65. They were the parents of seven 
children. His second marriage was in 1860, to 
Mrs. Billman, of this county, who was born in 
1835. They are the parents of one child. 

PIG:MAN BEN., Perry township; New Guilford 
postotfii^e ; born in Perrv township, this coimtv, 
in 1S39; son of J. W. and Rachel (Hooker) Pig- 
man, and grandson of Joseph and Ruth Pigman. 
j\[r. Pigman has been twice married ; first to Miss 
Marv E. Crowther, who became the mother of 
two "children: Miles H., Flawra M. In 1,S71 Mr. 
Pigman married Mi.ss Hannah Botts, daughter of 
Morgan and Drucilla Botts, who are the parents 
of five children, viz: H. B., Frank, J. W., Susan, 
and one unnamed. j\[r. Pigman is at present 
serving his second year as justice of the peace of 
Perry township. 

PL ATT MAJOR THOMAS J., Linton town- 
ship; merchant in Plainfield ; born in Plainfield 
December 16, 1840; son of Ttiomas and Eliza 
(Harbison) Piatt, whose children are Allen H.,. 
Mary J. (Smith), Thomas J., John P . Robert V., 
Joseph H., Agnes (Viekers), and Isabel (Norris), 
His grandparents, Robert and Margaret (Parker) 
Piatt, were of Irish birth. His grandfather, 
Robert Harbison, moved to Linton township 
from Baltimore in 18:50. In 1857 he entered the 
store of Jefferson & Co., at Thornville, Ohio, and 
remained there till he entered the army. His 
father, himself and three brothers (all who were 
old enough) were in the war at one tiiue. Mr. 
Piatt enlisted April 21, 1861, in Company F, Sev- 
enteenth O. V. I., for the three months service ; 
and re-enlisted for three years October 11, 18G1, 
in Company D, Sixty-second 0. V. L, Wiis apjjoint- 
ed first sergeant November 16, 1861. and was 
with his regiment at the battle of Winchester, 
Virginia, March 23, 1862; at Harrison's Landing 
July 10, 1862; and for meritorious conduct he 
was promoted to second lieutenant of his compa- 
ny July 13. 1863; and was commi.ssioned first 
lieutenant at Morris island. South Carolina. His 
regiment took an active part in the assault on 
Fort Wagner, its loss in killed and wounded 
amounting to about seventy-five. He became 
captain of his company October 24, 1863, and wa.s 
at the taking of Fort' Gregg and the siege of 
Charleston ; was commissioned and mustered as 
major of Ins regiment in front of Richmond, 
Virginia, December 26, 1864, and was in active 
service during all the campaign before Richmcmd 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



765 



and Petersbura;, and at Lee's surrender; was 
■commissioned lieutenant oolonel June IG, 1801, 
but not bavins; the coni]ilement of men required 
by army regulation, could not be mustered to ac- 
cept the rank. By an order from the war de- 
partment, August 1, 1865, the Sixty-second and 
Sixty-seventh Ohio regiments were consolidated, 
the Sixty-second losing its identity ; and all sur- 
plus officers of both regiments were mustered 
out of service. He was retained as the major of 
the Sixty-seventh O. V. I., and was mustered out 
with the regiment Decendier 7, 18G.5 Upon his 
return he formed a mercantile partnershii^ at 
Plainfield with David Brclsford.and retired April 
1868 ; was on the road one year for Jewett & Co., 
of Newark ; then purchased remnant of stock 
belonging to Jonathan Wiggins, and has con- 
ducted a successful business since. Jlarried 
June, 1867. to Miss Ella C, daughter of Charles 
F. Songster, and has three children — Harry C, 
Anna S., and Nellie Lee. 

PLATT ROBERT V., Linton township ; born 
Jul}' 8, 1848. in Linton township; son of Thomas 
and" Ann Eliza (Harbison) Piatt. At the age of 
thirteen lie began working on the farm of Thomas 
Uwyer, of Lafayette township, and when Dwyer 
sold out to Colmer Bell in 1863, continued on the 
farm with him until May, 1864, then, though not 
yet sixteen, volunteered in Company G, One 
Hundred and Forty-third O. N. G., and served 
the United States six months on James river. 
Upon l^is return he attended school in Lafayette 
fill 1867, then went west to Caldwell county, 
Missouri, engaging in farming- pursuits for three 
years, and, subsequently, merchandising for A. 
K. Bell, in Lathroji, Missouri, one year. He then 
went with Bell and Woodmansee to C;awk(-r city, 
Kansas, as -salesman, and remained till they 
closed their business, three months later. He 
returned to Missouri, and, in the s])ring of 1872, 
came back to Plaintield. He has since been a 
salesman here in the store of his l)rother, T. J. 
Piatt. He was married Ajiril, 187."), to Miss Eva, 
daughter of J. B. Parker, and has one child — 
Emmet P. 

PLATTE H. W., agent; was born March 23, 

1848, in Linton townshi]-) : son of James Platte. 
American born. H. W. was raised on the farm 
where he remained until al)out twenty-live years 
of age, when for four years he worked at the 
•carjienter trade, then went into the coal business, 
in which he is engaged at present. 

PLOWM.VN JANE. Jefferson township; daugh- 
ter of James and Elizabeth (Rodehaver) Butler, 
and granddaughter of Thoina.s and Eliz:dieth 
(Sev(>rns) Butler; was married Jidy 19, 1849, to 
Mr. William H. Plowman, son of .tonalhan and 
Cathiirine (Spencer) Plowm.m. He was born 
October 28, 1828, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, died 



February 28, 1861, in Walhonding, where he had 
been engaged in the mercantile business. Mr.-;. 
Plowman is of English and (icrm.in descent. 
Her father was a soldic^r in the war of 1812. She 
is the mother of live children, viz: Marv E., born 
May 19, 1850, died February 20, 18.50;" Juliette, 
born January o, 1852; Jennette, born October 19, 
1857; Elnora, born April 20. 1855, died Sejitem- 
ber 12. 1.S.55, and Frank W.,b()rn March 20. 1.8,59, 
died March 4, 1.S70. The mother and her two 
daughters are milliners and dressmakers, doing 
a prosperous business. Thef are j)roi)netres.ses 
of the Sherman House, in \\'arsaw, Coshocton 
county. Conceded to be an excellent hotel. 

PORTER JO.SEPH W., Bedford township; 
farmer; postofTice, Warsaw ; born in IS] 3, in Jef- 
ferson coimty, Ohio, and was married in 1842, to 
Jliss Mary Dean, of that county, who was born in 
1817. They came to this county in 1848. She 
died in 1855. They are the parents of six chil- 
dren, viz: Curtis, deceased; Mary J., Elizabeth A., 
Hannah; Blargaret M., decease<i,and Vilda, The 
last named was married in ls73, to Albert S:iurs, 
of this county, who was born in 1847, in Pitts- 
burgh. They are the i)arents of four children, 
viz: Curtis, W'illiam, Dennis and Mary Pearl. 
Vilda and her husband live on the home farm. 

PORTER WILLIAM, Keene township; farm- 
er; born INIarch 5, 1824, in Jellbrson county; son 
of John and Margaret (Dinsmore) Porter, and 
grandson of William Dinsmore. Mr. Porter was 
brought uji on a farm and remained in liis native 
county until thirty years old; he then came to 
Co.sliDCton ccjuiUy, and has here been engaged in 
farming and stock raising, and now owns a farm 
of 300 acres, which he has acquired by intelligent 
work and careful management. He was married 
Ffbruary 20, 1,852. in Jellerson county, to Miss 
Eliza J. Stark, who was horn Septemer 2'J, 1827, 
daughter of James and Elizabeth (McGee) Stark, 
and granddaughter of James and Elizabeth Mc- 
Gee, who were natives of Scotland. His children 
are Curtis C born Fcbrnarv 12, 18.53 ; Frank H., 
November 18, l.s,54; Wiley B., March . 31, 1.857 ; 
Mary, Sci)tcmber 11,18.59; Benton, June 26. 1.862; 
Ross, August 11, 1804, and Ed., Se])tember 17, 
1866. 

POWELL THEODORE, Adams township; 
postofHce, Evansburgh; farmer; born in .Vdams 
township, October 23.1855; sonof Thomas H. and 
Mary (Starker) Powell, and grandson of Thoniiis 
and "Henrietta (Howells) Powell, and of John 
Starker. He attended school at Xenia and New 
Market, and is an energetic young man. He was 
married September 24, lH79,'to Miss Nora Emer- 
son, daughter of Henry and Ann (Norris) Emer- 
son, and granddaughter of Timothy and Nora 
(Preston) Emerson, and of William Norris. Mr. 
Powell's father and mother are still living. His 



7C6 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



father WM.-; born in Horeford^liiro. England. May 
7, lyii^i; came to America in iM7,lan<!inc in New 
York; from there went to Eichniond, Vira;inia. 
rented a farm near there, and remained there 
several years; then moved to Steubenville, and 
after remaining; there a short time he came to 
Adams township, Coshocton county, where he 
has remained ever since. He was married in 
It^oO, to Miss Mary Starker, daughter of John 
Starker. She was born January 17, 1814. They 
are the parents of nine children, six of whom are 
living, viz: Edwin, 'David, Charles, Wellington, 
Tlieodore and Louisa. 

POWELL F. W., Adams township; farmer; 
postofficc, Evansbiirgh; born in Adams township, 
Coshocton county. Ohio, June SO, 182S; son of 
Thomas and Henrietta (Howells) Powell, and 
grandson of William Powell and Henry Howells, 
who came to this country on a visit soon after the 
revolution, and, on his return to England, tried 
to induce his wife to move to America, but she 
would not come. Mr. I'owell is cousin to Wil- 
liam C. Howells, of Ashtabula county, and has 
always been a fainier. He was one time engaged 
in mercantile business in Orange. He has been 
elected to the ofhce of justice of the peace three 
times, and has also tilled the offices of clerk and 
treasurer of the township. He lives on a farm of 
640 acres, in the southwest corner of Adams town- 
shi]). Mr. Powell was married, October 13, 1852, 
to Miss Jlargaret Leach, daughter of Archibald 
and Sarah Ferguson. She was born June 20, 
1826. They are the parents of four children, viz: 
Caroline L., John T. F., Francis J. and Sarah H. 
He was first a free soil or anti-slavery man, and 
voted that ticket when there were but four or 
five in the township, but is now a Eepublican. 
Had at one time, during the rebcllicai, fifteen 
ucjihews in the United States army, five of whom 
lost tlicir lives. 

POWELL EDWIN, White Eyes townshij.; 
farmer ; born Se]itcmber 3, ]84o; sen (jf ThciUias 
H. and Margaret (Howell) Powell, who were na- 
tives of England. Edwin Powell's home was a 
depot on the "underground railroad," and he 
was his father's jirincipal hel]i in assisting the 
colored emigrants from a land of bondage to 
freedom. His father was a strong union man 
and abolitionist, his son inherited the same jirin- 
ciples.and when the war broke out he manifested 
his patriotism by going to the front in the de- 
fense of his country. He enlisted August 13, 
1<-61, when but eighteen years of age, in Company 
G, One Hundred and Twenty-second O. V. I., Sec- 
ond Brigade, Third Division an<l Sixth Corps. 
He was taken prisoner at AVinchester, June 15, 
1863, confined at Belle Island and Libby, and was 
paroleil October 1, 1803. After he was captured 
at Winchester he, with some c)th(-r prisoners, 
were marched ninety miles to Staunton, guarded 



by a detachment of rebel cavalry who had seen 
service in the front. They treated the prisoners 
very kindly, and ^\•hen they reached Staunton, 
where the prisoners took the railroad for Pich- 
monil, the rebels warned them that they would 
receive rough usage from the "Home Guard " at 
Kichmond, whom they characterized as cowardly 
wretches. 

He was in ordinary health, when captured, but 
was treated so badly, while in prison, that he was 
nothing but a wreck when released ; he weighed 
but ninety pounds, an average weight, when in 
good health, being about 145 pounds. Rations 
were issued twice a day, and were of an inferior 
quality, consisting of bean soup and mule 
meat. They were so nearly starved, at one time, 
that he and some others killed the lieutenant's 
dog, and eat it. This was thought to deserve se- 
vere punishment, and the authorities refused to 
issue rations until the name of him who had 
killed the dog was revealed. At the end of two 
days, their craving for food was so great that 
they gave up the guilty Yank, and he was 
bucked and gagged, and left in that condition for 
twenty-four hours. The rebels rifled Mr. Powell's 
pockets, when he entered Belle Island, and 
again in Libby, and took everything of value he 
had about him, except S25 he had concealed in his 
cap; one ten-dollar bill he had chewed up, and 
put in a blouse-button, and a twenty -dollar bill, 
concealed in the same way, in another button. 

The prison discipline was arbitrary and strict, 
and new prisoners who were but little acquaint- 
ed with the reguliitions would sometimes step 
across the dead line, and all such were shot with- 
otit ceremony. Some one was shot nearly every 
day, and the boys believed that the guard was 
promised a furlough for every Yankee he shot- 
The apartments and clothes of Mr. Powell and 
his fellow-prisoners were allowed to become so 
filthy that they were compelled to fight the gray- 
Ijacks whole days at a time until they were 
covered with blood. He entered the service as 
a private, was made third corporal and was pro- 
moted to fifth duty seargent. He served till the 
close of the war, was mustered out at Baily's 
Cross Eoads, near Washington, June, 1865, and 
was discharged at Columbus. His regiment was 
in over eighty engagements. While at Win- 
chester he was visited by his mother, who was 
taken prisoner with him, and she was put in 
Castle Thunder. (See Thomas H. Powell's 
sketch). After the war he lived at hoine with 
his piarents until 18G0, when he. went to Inde- 
pendence. Montgomery county, Kansas, and 
entered 100 acres of land. He lived on it two 
years, returned to White Eyes, and traded his 
Kansas land for a large farm in White Eyes, on 
which he now resides. His first vote was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln, while in the Shenandoah valley^ 



RUXatAl'IIICAL SKETCHES. 



767 



POWELL TIiO>[AS IT., Aclnnis township; 
fanner; born in ISOU, in Herefonlfsliiro, England; 
son of Thoniati J. Powell and llenriella (Howell) 
Powell, who were natives of Eni;]an(l, and emi- 
grated to the United Slates in 1.S17. The father 
of Thomas J. Powell was steward to Loi'd Ox- 
ford, and his father-in-law was en.s;a;j;ed e.Ktens- 
ively in the niannfaeture of woolen goods, and 
was induced to come to the Pnited States by 
General Washington, and estalilish a factory in 
Xew England. Thomas .1. followed the mercan- 
tile business for a few years and brought a i)art 
of his stock of goods with him when he came to 
this country. 

He landed with his family at Richmond. Vir- 
ginia, where he sold his goods and rented a farm 
of Mrs. Haganbottom, on tlie James river, seven 
miles below Richmond. Work on the farm was 
performed by slave labor, he having rented a 
number of slaves with the farm. (.>ne of the Ran- 
(lol]ihs, who belonged to the Randolph family of 
revolutionary J'ame, was Mrs. llaganboltom's son- 
in-law, and was on terms of social intimac.v with 
the Powell family. In 1818, after living there 
thirteen months, he moved to Steubcnvillo, Ohio. 
His treatment of the slaves was the same he had 
given his white servants in England, and when 
he left for Ohio, the slaves bid their old master 
and mistress a very affectionate farewell, and 
said, " God bless you master and mistress, wo 
shall never forget }"0U." He brought with him 
from the old country about .^.S0,O0(i, but lived ex- 
travagantly while in Virginia, and had but little 
when he came to Steubenville. 

He rented a farm on the Mingo bottoms, in 
Jefferson county, and hired a man to teach him 
to farm. While there a disastrous lire consumed 
nearly everything they had. After this misfor- 
tune he thought of going to Canada, but Camp- 
bell induced him to take a seven-years lea.se on 
his farm in Adams townsjiip. He visited his 
prospective home in Adams town.'<hip during the 
winter, and on his return to his family, reported 
that the people in Coshoctoiv would not make 
very desirable neighbors ; that they were rough, 
and some were half naked and ran wild in the 
woods. 

In the spring of 18l20 he brought liis family 
out, and stopped for a while with Judge Evan.s, 
of Oxford townshij), who treated them very 
kindly, and the judge and his boys helped them 
get their cattle and things across the river, which 
was swollen. They reached the Cam]ibell farm 
in safety and in time for the spring work. Tlie 
cabin on the Campbell farm, put up by Cohvcll, 
was the lirst cabin built in .Vdams township. 
The door was so low that they had to stoop to 
enter it. He being unused to manual labor, 
without money, on a farm nearly all in woods, 
with neishbors few and far between, his ncw- 



[ made friends in Coshocton county expressed 
fears ihai the English folks would starve. His 
line library tliat he had brought with him to 
Steubenville, he traded for a Hock of sheep. 

^Irs. Powell exchanged her chinaware for nec- 
essaries, and gave a neighbor woman a fine silk 
shawl to learn lier how to milk. At the expira- 
tion of hi.s lease of the Campbell farm, Mr. Powell 
was in still more straightened circumstances than 
when he came to the county. He next took a 
contract on the Ohio canal, and engaged a farm 
in Jellerson county, and desired to go there where 
his family could enjoy better educational facil- 
ities, but his family prevailed on him to stay here. 
He went to England that summer and sold a life 
estate his oldest son, Thomas H., hail in some 
land there, returned and purchased 1,0M) acres 
in .Vdams, where his sons, Thomas II. and Wash- 
ington now reside. He met with better success 
on his own land, become wealthy and retired to 
Bakersville, where he died. 

Thomas H. I\iwell married JIary Ann Starker, a 
daughter of one of the oarliesl settlers, whose par- 
ents were natives of Xew .fersey. He was in part- 
nership with Watkins in the mercantile Imsiness 
at Evansburgh for three years, then moved on to 
a farm, where he how- resides. In 1849 he joined 
the M. E church and imbibed Abolition jirinci- 
j)les. His home was a depot on the"undei'- 
gromid railroad," and he and his family assisted 
hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of slaves to 
freedom. He continued in the good work for 
twenty-tive years or more, notwithstanding the 
censure and threats of the opposing jwlitical 
party. Some of his enemies charged that he 
built his store-house with the prolits derived 
from his connection with the underground rail- 
road, but instead of being ])n>lital)lc it was a great 
expense. Ministers thought ho was doing very 
wrong, and endeavored to jicrsuaile him to aban- 
don it, but he met them with the abolition argu- 
ments, and told them that he was willing to en- 
dure abuse and hatr(Hl, for he felt conlident that 
he was doing right, and that future events would 
justify him in the minds of all men. 
I His children are Edwin, David. Wellington, 
I Charles, Theodore, Louisa and Elizabeth. Eliza- 
j belli is dead, and all are married but Edwin and 
Charles. Enwin was a .soldier in the late war ; 
enlisted in 18t)], in his eighteenth year, in Com- 
] pany G, One Hundred and Twenty-.sccond O. V. 
I., and served till the close of the war. He was 
taken ])risoner at Winchester, got sick, and his 
I mother visited him. and took care of him for a 
while; but, while there, the enemy took Win- 
chester, carried oil Mrs Powell and her compan- 
ion, Leah Brown, and im])risoned them in Castle 
Thunder, Mrs Pow(-ll was not heard from for 
nine weeks, and her luisband and friends in the 
North feared that she had declared her union and 



768 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



abolition principles, and that she had been sum- 
marily dealt with bj' the enemy. 

POWELSON VALENTINE, Linton township; 
farmer; born December 2, 1812. in Linton town- 
ship; .son of Conrad and Katie (Johnson) Powcl- 
son, who came from Hamp.shire connty, Virginia, 
in 1808, and lived in Franklin township, on the 
Robin.son section, till 1811, when they came to 
Linton township. Mr. Powelson was married in 
1841, to Ellen Thrajip, daughter of Joscj)h and 
Jemima (Campen) Thrai)p. Five of their nine 
children survive: Erastus N., Alfred Playfair, 
Valentine P., Joseph Thrapp and Morgan Evart. 

POWELSON JACOB, Coshocton, Ohio; was 
born July 10, 1818, in Linton township: son of 
Lewis and Kachel (Powenel) Powelson. of Ger- 
man ancestors. Lewis, named above, came to 
Linton township from Virginia about the year 
1817. He had an extensive e.xpcrience in pioneer 
life, having spent many a day among the wild In- 
dians of Virginia and Ohio. He was a skilled 
huntsman in the cha,se for xleer, wolves and bear. 
Jacob Powelson, the subject of this sketch, was 
brought np on the farm, and followed agriculture 
until within the last three years, when he retired 
from hard labor, and now has only a general su- 
pervision of his farm. He came to this city, his 
present residence, in ISGO. Mr. Powelson wa.s 
married February 22, 1842, to Miss Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Robert atid Amelia (Cook) West. They 
are the i^ar.ents of seven children, viz: Lavina, 
Eaigon, Anderson, Elmira, Thomas, Perrv and 
Rachel. 

POCOCK COLONEL E. J., Coshocton: mcr- 
-ehant, of the tlrm of Pocock & Sons, general dry 
goods, shoes and groceries; was born June 21, 
1843, in Keene ; son of Joshua Pocock, American 
born. E. J. Pocock was raised on the farm, 
where he remained until September 11, 1801, 
when he eiilisted in Company H, Fifty-first O. 
V. I., and served nearly lour years. During his 
term of service he was commissioned second 
lieutenant, first lieutenant, and served on the 
staft' of the commanding officers of the Second 
Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corjis. 
He was recently elected colonel Seventeenth 
regiment O. N. G. In the spring of 180G Colonel 
Pocock commenced merchandising at Clark's, 
where he remained imtil the spring of 1873, 
when lie came to Coshocton and formed the 
present firm, which ranks among the best in the 
city. He was married October 15, 180o, to Miss 
Mary A. Hunt, daughter of Judge Hunt, de- 
ceased, formerly of Millersburg, Holmes county. 
This union was blessed with three children, viz : 
Carrie Adelia, Madeline W., and Lucy H. 

POMERENE J. C, Coshocton; atttorney; was 
i)orn June 27, 1835, in Holmes county. Ohio: son 



of Julius Pomerine, deceased, is American born, 
of French and German extraction. He spent his 
childhood and early youth (.)n a farm. At the 
age of seventeen, he entered Mt. Union college, 
and attended that institution, at diftisrent times, 
during the summers, taught school during the 
winters, until he was twenty-two years old, when 
he entered as a student the law office of Messrs. 
Hogland A- Reed and read one year. Then he 
entered the Ohio State and Union Law college of 
Cleveland, Ohio, and was graduated in 1859. In 
November, of the same year, commenced the 
practice of law with Col. Josiah Given, under the 
firm name of Given & Pomerene, and continued 
in said firm until May, 1801, when he conducted 
his ]iractice alone. In 18ij2 he formed a partner- 
shi]i with Benjamin S. Lee, firm name Lee & 
Pomerene. In May,180S, he formed the present 
partnership, viz: Spangler & Pomerene. Mr. 
Pomerene was married Ajiril 8, 1862, to Miss 
Irene Perkey daughter of Dr Jolm F. Perkey, of 
Hancock county, Ohio. He is the faUier of three 
children, viz: William R., Frank E. and Helen. 
Attorney Pomerene has a wide reputation as an 
able counsellor and as a man of strict integrity. 

PRICE GEORGE W., Crawford township; 
blacksmith: post office. New Bedford; born Jan- 
uary 3, 18.")4, in Crawford township; son of 
'Squire Jonathan Price; raised on the farm, but 
w()rked two years at the carpenter's trade. In 
the spring of 1870 he went to his present trade. 
Mr. Price was married in August, 1874, to Miss 
Lucy, daughter of Henry and Louisa (Band) 
Stroup. They have four children, viz: Mary E., 
William, Emma and Josephine. Mr. Price is 
one among the good workmen of the country. 

PRICE JONATHAN, Crawford township; 
farmer and carpenter; postofflce. New Bedford, 
Ohio; was born in Tuscarawas county, Blay 31, 
1829; son of Jonathan and Margaret (Deetz) 
Price. When about four years of age he came 
to Co.shocton coimty, and at eighteen went to the 
carjienter's trade, which he has followed in con 
nection with farming to the present time. Mr. 
Price was married in May, 1851, to ]\Iiss Slary, 
daughter of George and Catherine (Schweitzer) 
Smith. Their children are: Mary JNIargaret, 
George W.; Jacob, deceased : M'illiam B., Sarah 
C., Henry K. Elizabeth A., Simon P., and Jona- 
than, Jr. " Mr. R. served two terms as justice of 
the peace (six years) of Crawford township. 

PRICE WILLIAM H. H., deceased; son of 
Colonel William and Sarah (Butler) Price; was 
born December 0, 1817, in Preston, Virginia. 
Mr. Price came to Coshocton, this county, in 18;3:3. 
From early youth he was connected with a hotel. 
At the time "of his death, he was the oldest hotel 
proprietor in the State of Ohio, having been the 
pro])rietor of a hotel for more than thirty years. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



7G9 



His o-eneral reputation was that of a genial, hos- 
pitable landloril. Held almost the entire trade 
during the long ]ieriod which he kept hotid in 
Coshocton. A\'as sheriti", and was the only sheriff 
that has been elected in op>position to the Demo- 
cratic party in the county. He was a rank aboli- 
tionist. Was married. March 4, IHl, to Miss 
Eebecca, daughter of Samuel and Sydney (Brown) 
Morrison. This union has been blessed with five 
children, viz: Hellcn M., Mary E.; Samuel M., 
jiresent prot)rietor of Price House, one of the 
best hotels in the city; George W. and Mario 
Louise. Mr. Price died April 1, 188(X 

PRIWER REV. E. H. 0., Crawford township; 
New Bedford postofficc ; pastor German Evan- 
gelical Lutheran churches of Xew Bedford, Co- 
shocton county, and (lood Hope, Holmes county. 
He was born December 12, ].S4o, in Berlin, Ger- 
many. He was educated at Herrmansburgh, 
Germany, and Cajiital University, Columbus, 
Ohio; came to America in 1873; took his jires- 
ent and first pastorate in 1876. He was married, 
June 22, 1870, to Miss Augusta, daughter of 
Henry and Hannah (Te.sset) Yunge. This union 
has been blessed with two children : Jo.scphine 
A. C. and Trangott O. H. 

PRESTON L. B., Perry township; postotfice, 
AVest Carlisle ; farmer and stock dealer ; born in 
this city in 1847; son of Bernard and Mary 
(Westlake) Preston, ai\d grandson of Silas A. 
and Maria (Brown) Preston ; married, in 18G9, 
to IMiss Julia A. White. They are the parents 
of five children, viz: Ora, J. W., Gibert, Hays 
and Edward. 

PRESTON BERN.VRD, Perry township ; farm- 
er and stock raiser ; po.stofRce. West Carli.sle. 
INIr. Preston also learned the harness and saddle 
business in his younger days, but has been living 
on the farm some fifteen years. He was born in 
Belmont county, this State, in 1822. settled in this 
county in 18.S3; son of Siliis A. and Maria (Brown) 
Preston ; married in 1844, to Miss Jlary West- 
lake, daughter of George and Anna Westlake. 
They are the jiarents of twelve children, viz : 
William W., deceased ; L. B.: John H., deceased; 
Anna M.: James H., deceased; Silas, 8arah, Ada- 
line, George, Bernard, Charles B. and Albert D. 
Four are married and are living in this county. 

PY CELESTIAN, >Ionroe townshi]i; born Oc- 
tober 20, 182'), in Otsoen. France; son of Jo- 
seph and Mary (Chene\) Py, and grandson of 
Nicholas and Mary (Dechens) Py. At the age of 
fourteen he began the miller's trade, and followed 
it for sixteen years; then clerked for a railroad 
company three; years. In order to get a cheap 
home he embarked for America, and settled in 
Coshocton county, where he now has a farm oi 
140 acres. He was married to Mi'Ss IMargaret 



Cartie in 1855, daughter of Michael and Julia 
(Arnold) (.'artie. Their children are i\Iarv. born 
August 22, 1800: Adaline, March 20, 180:3'; Cath- 
arine, September 1.3, l.'^OO; Victor, September 13, 
1S70, and Albert, July 2;i 1873. 

RANDLES JOHN, Jackson township; postof- 
fice, Roscoc ; was born near Cadiz, Harrison coun- 
ty, May 21, 1814. His father, Abram Randies, 
was born in Loudon county, Virginia, and in his 
youth emigrated to Harrison county, Ohio, where, 
at the age of twenty-on(% he married Elizabeth 
Cheney. In JIarch. 1817, before John was three 
>1?ars old, his father moved to Jackson township, 
Coshocton county, settlingabout eight miles from 
Coshocton, on the I'oad leading to !Mt. Vernon, in 
the midst of an imbroken wilderness. On this 
road their nearest neighbors were eight miles 
distant. Here .John was reared to manhood, en- 
during all the privations incident to pioneer life. 
The oldest of seventeen children, he became liis 
father's main sup))ort in reducing the barbarous 
wilds to a civilized state. Savage, howling wolves 
prowled about the lonely cabin at night, disturb- 
ing the sleep of the family. Deer and turkeys 
were abundant, and bears were occasionally seen. 
John threaded the dismal forests in every direc- 
tion, visiting every mill within thirty miles of 
home. He was married in August. 1835, to Mary, 
daughter of Samuel Gilman, of this county, and 
by this tuiion had six children, viz: Jemima E. 
(Clark), Jackson; Thomas J., deceased; Nancy 
J. (Sh.'iw), William W., and Hester A. (Eckert). 
His wife having died, ho married, in 1857, Jane 
Hornbakor, who became the mother of five chil- 
dren, viz: Catharine; John H., deceased; John 
A., Charles and Dollie. Mr. Randies lived on the 
old place till 1850, when he bought and moved to 
a farm adjoining Roscoe. In 1857 he moved to 
Roscoe, and has lived there since, except five 
years, 1805-70, spent in Coshocton. 

RANDLES J. A., Bethlehem township; farmer; 
son of John Randies; was born in 1833, in this 
county. He was married in 1860, to Miss Han- 
nah Foster, of this county, who was born in 1829. 
They became the parents of ten children, viz: 
Elizalieth, William, Jane, Perlina.Emiline, Emer- 
son, ]\[artin, Cornelius, Ella, and Charles. Jlr. 
Randies has always been a resident of Bethlehem 
townshiji. and lias been a successful farmer, es- 
teemed by all his neighbors. 

RAMER JESSE. Keene township; farmer; 
horn Novendier 10, 1820, in Tuscarawas town- 
.ship; son of Heni-y Ramer, a sketch of whose 
life is given elsewhere. At the age of twelve 
years he came with his father to Keene town- 
ship and lias lived thei'O since; was married 
Febrnarv 22, l.S.")5. to Sarah .\.. daughter of Peter 



770 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



and Dorcas (Ruf sell) Line;, and a;randdana;lUcr 
of Charles and :Mary Russell. They had the 
following children : Mary E., born January •22, 
18o{); George W.. (deceased), born January 20, 
1858; John B.. (dccea.sed,) born April 4.1860; 
Benjamin F., May 11, 1SG2; Emily D., May L'2, 
1867, and Fanny, (deceased), November 19, 1870. 

RAMER STEPHEN, Keene township ; farmer; 
born April C>, 1834, in Coshocton county, Ohio; 
son of Henry Ramer. He married Miss ^Margaret 
Wilson August 11,1S67, who was born August 29, 
1850, daughter of William P. and Olive (Cortright) 
Wilson, and granddaughter of John and Rebecca 
(Cay) Wilson, and Abram and Margaret (Dust- 
hammer) Cortright. Their children were Olive 
A., born August 6, 1868; B. B., deceased, born 
August 25,1809; Lewis H., born September 20, 
1870; Charles W., deceased, born November 24, 
1871 ; Orley B.. born September 29, 187.3 ; Eda, 
deceased, born May 29, 1875; Katie Blanche, born 
October 2, 1870; Harly B., deceased, born Decem- 
ber 13 .1877, and Jennie Perlorlo. born December 
19, 1878. 

RAJIER HENRY, Keene township; born May 
17, 1790, in Strasburg, Pennsylvania; son of Adam 
and Jlary (Lcnhart) Ramer, and grandson of 
Stophle Lenhart. He went to Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio, in 1806, and remained there until 1821, 
when he came to Coshoctan county and located 
where he now resides. Farming has always been 
his occupation. He was married, January 3, 
1820, to Miss Catharine Jones, born .iV.ugust 10, 
1800! They have had the following children: 
John, born April 10. 1828; Isabelle, September 8, 
1831 ; Stephen, April 0. 18:34; Einilv, November 
16, ]S3i:;; Thomas, .Tune 6, 1839; Catharine, No- 
vember 20. 1.S40, and Angeline, October 31, 1842. 
After the death of Mr. Ramer's first wife, he mar- 
ried Miss Delila .Shinier, January 1, 1861. 

R.VMER HENRY P., born September 1, 1845, 
in Coshocton ccamty, Ohio. For ancestry see his 
father's biograi)hy elsewhere. His occuiiation 
is farming. He was married, February 29, 
1872, to Miss Nancy E. Kent, who was born 

1842, a daughter of Lsanc and (Sutten) 

Kent. They have had the following children : 
Ida A., born December 23, 1872, and Lulu M., 
December 29, 1870. 

RAMER JOHN, Keene township; farmer; 
born in this county April 10, 1.^28; son of Henry 
Ramer; married May 7, IM'il, to Sarah A. E. 
Wheatcraft. born June 14. is;!4, daughter of Sam- 
uel and Chloey A. (Potter) Wheatcraft, and 
granddaughter of Samuel ^^'heatcral't and Elisha 
Potter. Their children were: Clement L., born 
July 9, 1805; Elrado Ellsworth, born January 
10, 1867, and Clarinda Ammarilah, April 11, 1870. 



RALSTON ROBERT G., Crawford township ; 
school teacher; born February 7, 1853; son of 
Robert Ralstoi>. who was a native of the County 
of Armagh, Ireland; emigrated to this country 
and settled in Crawford township, in 1845. Soon 
after his arrival his wife died. His second wife, 
Sarah J. ( Elliott) Ralston, to whom he was mar- 
ried, in 1840, is the mother of Robert G. His 
father died September 11, 180;% Robert G. com- 
menced attending Muskingum college in 1879, 
and is a member of the graduating class of 1881. 
He taught his first school in 1873, has taught 
several terms since then and expects to follow 
teaching as his profession. Mr. Ralston ranks 
among the leading teachers of the county. 

RAMSEY THOMAS, Bedford township: farm- 
er ; j)ostoffice. Tunnel Hill ; born in 1825. in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania ; came to Har- 
rison county in 1837, and was married in 1850, to 
Miss Louisa A. Carson, of the same county. They 
came to this county in 1S70, and are the parents 
of four children, viz : William F., Mary M., 
Lydia J. and T. C. Jlr. Ramsey has a good home 
and a farm of 216 acres. 

REDD JONATHAN, White Eyes tomiship; 
farmer; native of this townshsp. and was born in 
1854. His father, Lewis Redd, was born in 1.807, 
in Pennsylvania, came to this county in 1833, and 
settled in this township; he is living with his son 
Benjamin. In 1878, Jonathan married iliss 
Elizabeth ^IcCoskey, daughter of James McCos- 
key, who was a native of this township, and re- 
sided on the farm where Mr. Redd now lives, un- 
til the summer of l.syO, when he moved with his 
family to Oregon. ^Ir. Redd has one child, Ernst 
Winfield, born June 20, 1880. 

REDD LEWIS, White Eyes township; farmer; 
born in 1807, in Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1813, he married Elizabeth Horn. He 
farmed, and distilled whisky during the winters, 
for four years ; came to this county in 1.SD7, and 
settled ill this township. He moved to Chili in 
1841, kept tavern there for two years, and then 
moved upon the farm where he now resides. 
His children are as follows: Benjamin, born in 
Pennsvlvania. March IS, 1S33; married Eliza 
Evcrhiu-t, April 29, 18.>S, who died February 29, 
1804.- In 186-5, he married ^liss M. J. Reed, and 
they have a family of four children : Mina, born 
September 6, 1860; Ida, born May 17, 1809; Lewis 
J., born JIarch 23,1873; William C, born Jan- 
uary 25, 1^75. Benjamin enlisted in 1801, in the 
Sixth O. V. I., sharpshooters, and served three 
years and ten mimths, and was home on furlough 
but once. Mahala Uedd was born Sejitember 11, 
IS.3.5. married Elijah Bechtal, and lives in Martin 
county, Indiana. 

ilatilda was born October 30, 1837; married 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



771 



William Nornion, and resides in Keene. Eliza- 
beth was born November 10, 1S40; married Will- 
i<am Vansiokle, and died in the winter of LSGC). 
Sarah J. was born March 29, 1843, and died in 
1862. Seata was born April 12, 1845, and died 
in 1809. ^Sfarpiret was born .hnie 24. 1847; was 
married to John JleCosky, in 1878. \\'illiam H. 
was born October 20. 1,849, and died in October, 
1874. Andrew J. was born December 2.S, 1851; 
married Susan !>[iller in 1877. Jonathan W. was 
born ;\farch 12, 1854; married Elizabeth Mc- 
Coskey in 1877. George W. was born March 24, 
1856; now lives in Indiana. Lewis Fremont was 
born in 1860, and dietl when two years old. 

KEED L. H., Virginia township; born in 
Oo.-ihocton ccamty in 1840; son of Aaron and 
Lydia Keed. grandson of Jesse and Sarah Reed, 
and was married in 1860 to Evaline Wright. 
He is the father of five children. Edward B., 
Effie A., Zebra E.. Charles W., (dead), and Wil- 
liam E. Postoffice, Willow Brook. 

REED. JOHN H., Bedford township; black- 
smith and farmer ; postoffice. Tunned Hill; born 
in Fauquier county, Virginia, in ]8oo. and came 
to this county in the same year with his father. 
Aaron Reed, Avho was born in 1804 in the same 
county in Virsinia. He was married in 1827 to 
iliss Lydia Herndon. of the same county, who 
was born in 1802. He removed from this count,v 
to Jasper covanty. Illinois, in 1868, where lie now 
lives. His wife died in 1876. They were the 
j)arents of eight children, the subject of this 
sketch being the third. He was married in 1856 
to Miss Xancy Smith, of this county, who was 
born in 1835. They are the parents of eight 
■children, viz: Marion S., Albert L.. Williani D., 
Franklin E., Rebecca J., Ennna F., .Varon E., and 
John M. 

REED Mc. Clark township; farmer; postof- 
fice, Clark's; born in Jeflerson county, Ohio, June 
8, 1825; son of Thomas and Nellie (.^tone) Reed, 
and grandson of Thomas Reed and Benjamin 
Stone. His parents came from Pennsylvania to 
Jefferson county, Ohio, in the year 1808, and in 
1833 they moved to Clark township, Coshocton 
-coimty. Jlr. Reed is the seventh in a family of 
ten children, eight of whom are living. He was 
married October 14, 1853, to 5Iiss Susannah End- 
sley, daughter of James and Christian (Baker) 
Endsley, and granddaughter of Jolm and Jane 
(Blain) End.sley, and Zachariah and Susan ( Wa.-^h- 
burn) Baker. She was born March 1. 18;33, in 
Clark township, where she has lived all h<>r life. 
They are the parents of the following children : 
Mary C.born October 12, 18-57; William M., born 
November 24, 1861 »; Charles H., born Mav 17, 
1864, and Clitiord E., born June 26, 1869. 

RENNER HENRY, Crawford township ; car- 



penter at Chili; born IMay 14, 1.S54; son of H. 
Renner and Charlotta (Novice) Renner, both na- 
tives of Germany. In October. 1875, he married 
IMargaret C. .Afiser, daughter of Samuel Mi-ser. 
They have a fmnily of throe children, viz ; Will- 
i.im O.. born February 19, 1877; Clara Elizabeth, 
April 16, 1878, and an' infant, July, 1881. 

REPPART DAVID S., Adams township; farm- 
er; postoffice, Evansburgh; born in Berks coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1826; son of Daniel 
and Hannah (Stephen) Re])part, and grandson of 
Daniel Rejipart, and of Samuel and Elizabeth 
(Lewis) Stephen, and great-grandson of William 
Lewis. He worked on the farm until the age of 
twenty-one; then hired to Mr. Maddox, of Har- 
rison county. Ohio, by the year, and remained 
with him twenty years. He was then a soldier 
for about eleven months, after which he went to 
Iowa, and remained there about one year; then 
came back to Ohio again, an<l engaged with Mr. 
Jladdo.x for another year, then worked one year 
for an inicle of his. IMr. Maddo.x then married 
and came to Coshocton county, and has been a 
resident of this county since. He was married 
April 4, 1867, to Miss Amanda Norman, daughter 
of George and Susannah (Walcott) Norman", and 
granddaughter of John and Christina (Roderick) 
Norman, and of James and Susannah (Cohagan) 
Walcott, children of Susannah Walcott. She was 
born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 11, 1837. 
They have one child. George ^^'alter, born Sep- 
tember 8, 1871. 

RENFREW THOMAS and ALEXANDER, 

farmers; Keene township; postoffice. Canal Lew- 
isville. They were born in this town.-^hip, and 
raised on the farm. They attended the district 
schools. Alexaniler, after attaining his majority, 
served in the Fifty-lirst O. V. I. during the late 
war. These men are sons of Alexander, Sr., 
and Nancy (Carnahan'> Renfrew. Alexander, 
Sr., was born January 25, 1807, and was the son 
of Jacob Renfrew. Thomas Renfrew was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret Craig, February 23, 1876. 
She was born .tanuary 23. 1844. She is the 
daughter of William and Maria (Murry) Craig. 
Jlr. and Mrs. Renfrew are the jiarents of one 
child, Bessie, who was born April 7, 1877. 

REYNOLDS WILLIAM, Jeflerson township; 
postoffice. Warsaw; bai-bpr; born !May 3. 1851, 
in Coshocton county; son of Thomas and Re- 
l)ecca (Carr) Reynolds. j\lr. Reynolds went with 
his parents, at the age of three years, to Indiana, 
and remained there until the age of eight; then 
came back to Coshocton county, and followed 
farming until the age of twenty; then began the 
carpenter trade, with his father, and worked at 
that about nine years. He then ojicned a barber 
shop, in ^^'ar.■^avv, and, by his gentlemanly man- 



772 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ners, has gradually extended his business, until 
he now has a very fair amount of patronge. 

RICHKSON JOHN, Tuscarawas township; su.- 
perintcndent county infirmary; postotiiec, Co- 
shocton ; was born February 10, 1842 in Holmes 
county; son of James and Maria (Highlands) 
Richeson, of Irish ancestry. John was raised on 
the farm, and came to this county about Is')',! 
and located at Canal Lowisville. In the spring of 
1861 he enlisted in Company E, Second O. V. I., 
and served to the close of the war in Gen. Sher- 
man's command. Mr. Richeson was married 
'March 1, IStJG, to Jliss Jane, daughter of George 
and Mary (Lee) Smyth, of Muskingum county. 
Their children are Dora and Jesse. Mr. R. was 
appointed superintendent of the, county infirm- 
ary iu 1S72, and reappointed each succeeding 
spring to 1880. 

RINE BENJAMIN, farmer; Washington 
township; postolhce. West Carlisle ; born in 1817, 
in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and \yas 
brought to this coun"ty in 1818. He was married 
in 1844 to Miss Elizabeth Camp, of this county, 
who was born in 1820. They arc the parents of 
twelvechildrcn, viz: Lucinda, deceased ; Amanda, 
deceased; Mazy E., Mary E., David W., William 
B., Violet L., Francis M , Ida E., Benjamin A., 
Eliza A. and Lauer E. 

RINE ISA.VC H., Pike township; postoffice, 
West Carlisle; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county in 18:33; son of Jesse and Margaret 
(Wheeler) Rine. He was married in 18.33 to 
JUiss Sarah E. Smith, daughter of Richard and 
Sarah R. (Taylor; Smith. They are the parents 
of six children, viz: Emma C, deceased; Alice 
M., Austin L., Sylvia B., Clara F. and H. M. 
Three are married. 

RINE JESSE W., Perry township ; farmer and 
stock raiser ; postoffice. West Carlisle ; was born 
in this county in 1825; son of Jesse W. and 
Margaret (Wlieeler) Rine, and grandson of Cas- 
per Rine and of Gilbert Wheeler; married in 
1.847, to Jliss Hannah Toothman, daughter of 
Jacob and Margaret (Gault) Toothman. Mr. 
Rine is the father of eight children, viz: Gilbert 
W., Samuel A., John Milton, Jessie W.; Martha 
D., deceased ; Margaret iM., deceased ; Thomas H., 
deceased, and Adam G., deceased. 

RINE J. C, Perry township; postoffice, New 
Guilford; born in this county in 1831; son of 
John and ^Matilda Rine, and grandson of Ru- 
dolph and Barbara A. (Conaway) Rine, and of 
Casper and Margery Conaway. He was married 
in 1801, to Hannah Taylor, daughter of Abraham 
and Mary Taylor. IMr. Rine is the father of six 
children^ viz: Rudolph, Mary E., Matilda I., 
Liza E., John S., and Zora E. 



RINE WILLIAM T., Perry township; New 

Guilford pi istoffice; liorn in this county in 1841; 
son of J(.)hn and Matilda. Rine, and grandson 
of Rudolph and Barbara E. Rine. He was 
married in 1SG9 to Miss Mary L. Norris, daugh- 
ter of William and Nancy Norris. They have 
seven children, viz : Margery E., Minna J., 
Lcweva M., Clara M., Alanzo L., (dead), Milton 
Millard, Arley M. 

RINE WILLIAM, Perry township; New 

Guilford postoffice ; farmer and stock rai.ser ; 
born in this county in 1831 ; sun of William and 
Nancy Rine. He was marrie<l in 1801 to Miss 
Martha A. Busa, daughter of John and JIary A. 
Busa. They are the parents of nine children, 
viz: Sarah M., Nancv A., John .W., George H., 
Alfred W., James C", Mary E., Sanuiel T. and 
Eliza E. 

RIDGELY G. G., Coshocton ; freight Agent of 
P., C. and St. L. R. R.; born January 21, 1832, in 
Baltimore, Maryland ; son of Archibald G. Ridgely, 
a native of Baltimore, whose ancestors came to 
America from Glocester county, P2ngland, in 
1032, and who was a LTnited States marshal for 
about twenty years. Young Ridgely at the age 
of seventeen entered a jobbing and dry goods 
house in his native city; at nineteen years of age 
he came to this city, and was a dry goods clerk 
until 1850, when he established a dry goods store, 
which he continued three years; then became 
banking clerk in Riekett's bank, where he re- 
mained till JIarch 7, 1805, at whicli time he as- 
sumed his present duties. Mr. Ridgelv was mar- 
ried October 30, 1853, to Miss Henrietta Ricketts.. 
This union was blessed with three children — 
Thomas R., married to Miss Hattie Switzer, 
daughter of M. Switzer, Newark, Ohio, Anna H. 
and ]\Iary B. jNIr. Ridgely is heir to a realty in 
Jlaryland, which was transferred by Leonanl 
Calvin, in 1032, to one of Mr. Ridgely's ancestors 
and has been in possession of the family since. 

RIDGWAY DAVID, Franklin township; farm- 
er; born February 12, l82'.i. in Behnont county; 
son of Basil and Mary Ridgway. His grand- 
father moved from Maryland to Belmont county 
about 1808, when his father was about four years 
old. David was only ten months old when his 
father came to Muskingum county, Ohio. He 
has lived since in Marion county, Ohio; Ma- 
rion county, Iowa; Linton township, in this 
county, and in Muskingum county, until ho 
moved to Franklin township in 1870. He was 
married January 17, 1850, to Mary, daughter of 
David and Sarah Ruse, and granddaughter of 
John and JIary (Fitzgerald) Ruse, and of Garri- 
son and Jane (Vanander) Vermillion, who came 
from Loudon county, Virginia, with her father, 
in 1840. They have eight children, viz : Louisa, 



BIOGRA PHICAL SKETCH ES. 



77;? 



Francis William, Abraham Lincoln, Clegget C, 
Mary Ellen, Anna Elmira, Sophia and Clara May. 

RICKETTS .t JACOB, hardware dealers, 2:M 
Main street, Coshocton, Oliio. U. Wortli Kicketts, 
the senior niemher of this tirtn, wjw born Octo- 
ber 12, 1S47, in Tuscarawas comity, near (inaden- 
hutten;son of llobcrt F. and .lulia .\. (Thistle) 
Kicketts, and grandson of Benjamin an<l Nancy 
Ricketts, who were pioneer settlers of Coshocton 
county. Mr. Ricketts wiis brought uj) on the 
farm, until seventeen, when he entered Harlem 
Springs ciillege, and subsequently attended the 
Ohio We.sleyan university and MouiU Union | 
college. He began his present business in 1874, 1 
in this city, lirm name G. W. Kicketts ct Co. In j 
1W7, Mr. Ricketts purchased his partner's in- 
terest in the firm, and conducted the business 
alone, until January, 1880, when the present firm 
was formed. They carry a complete assortment 
of general hardware, having the largest stock of 
the kind in the county. Mr. Ricketts was mar- 
ried, October 8, 1877, to IMiss May, daughter of 
Sanford and Elizabeth (Watkins) Ro.se, of this 
city. Thcv are the parents of two children viz : 
T. H., deceased, and Earl Thistle. Robert Jacob, 
junior member of the lirm, was born January 
It), 1856, near New Fhilailelpliia, Ohio; son of 
E. P. and Mary L. (Ricketts) Jacob. J [r. Jacob 
was brought up on the farm, and taught school 
four terms. He was married, April 4, 1S78, to 
Miss Abbie, daughter of John and Catherine 
(Whedon) Wallace. John Wallace was a descend- 
ant of the family of Sir William Wallace, one of 
Scotland's greatest heroes. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 
are the parents of two children, viz: William W. 
and Edna P. 

RICKETS THOMAS HUGH, prosecuting at- 
torney; postollice, Co.<hocton ; was born Decem- 
ber 9, 1S4."), in Franklin Townshi]); son of F. 
Rickets, native American of English descent. 
Young Rickets remained on the farm until he 
was seventeen years old, when he enlisted in 
Company I, Twelfth O. V. C, and served to the 
close of the war. On his return to his peaceful 
home he attended school one year, and then en- 
tered Ohio Wesleyan university, and remained 
two years, wh(>n he commenced the study of the 
law in the otiice of A. L. Neely,of New Philadel- 
phia, Ohio, and read about one year. In 18G8 lie 
entered the law department of the New York 
State university at .Mbany, and was graduated in 
186i> with the title of B. L. In this year attorney 
Rickets was married June 30 to Miss Annie 
Powell, .laughter of Hon. T. W. Powell of Dcla- 
w'are, Ohio. Soon after his marriage he located 
at Clinton, Iowa, where his wife and infant son 
died in 1870. He next practiced his profession 
in Chicago, Illinois, with attorney S. F. Brown as 
l)artner. They, for the time being, re;u:hed be- 



yond their i)rofession and invested in the lumber 
and manufacturing business, in 1873; which en- 
teriirise, in common with others, went down in 
the linancial wrecks of that jieriod. In thes])ring 
of l,87t') he resumed his profession, and estab- 
lished an ollice in this city. In thespringof 1S7S 
he was elected mayor of the city, and in the fall 
of the same year was elected to the office which 
he now holds. 

RICKETS BENJ.VMIN F., Tuscarawas town- 
ship; farmer; postoflice, Coshocton; born in La- 
fayette township November 20, l.s40;son of Bar- 
zilla Rickets, a native of Virginia, who came to 
this township in 1847, and to his present resi- 
dence in 18.')6, with his parcnt,s. He was brought 
UJ) on the farm where he has wisely remained, 
engaged in agriculture and husbandry ; having 
all his stock .selected and bred from the best 
blood in the country. 

RIDEBAUGHJOSIAH, Perry township; post- 
office, Mohawk Village ; farmer and stock raiser; 
born in Carroll county in 18;W; son of George 
and Margaret Ridebaugh ; married in I860 to 
Miss Mary E. CuUison, daughter of Ephraim and 
Harriet CuUison. They are the parents of two 
children — John William, deceased, and George F. 

RICHARDS ,rOHN J., Perry township; post- 
office. New Guilford; farmer and stock raiser; 
born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 180-1 ; 
settled in this county in 1822; son of Henry and 
Elizabeth Richards, and grandsim of jNIichael and 
Elizabetli Uieliards, and of Cary and Isabelle 
Caldwell. Mr. Richards has been twice married, 
first, to Miss Margaret CuUison, who became the 
mother of nine children, viz : Henry, Samuel, 
Elizabeth, J. W., Margaret J., William R., Loui.sa 
M.; Jessie L., decesised, and Eliza C, deceased. 
In 1S41 he married Jliss Mary Smith, daughter 
of Henry and Susan Smith, who were blessed 
with ten children, viz : Jlary E., Susan, W. S., 
Sarah K., ]\Iahala A., R. Z., Rebecca A., R. M.,T. 
F., and J. T. M. Mr: Richard had four sous in 
the United States army, who rendered gallant 
services for their coimtry. His son Elijah was 
killed at the battle of Mission Ridge. 

RICHARD ELIJAH, Perry township; postof- 
lice, New Guilford; born in'Belmont county, Ohio, 
in 1816; settled in this county in ls2."); son of 
Henry and Elizabeth (Copeland) Richard, .and 
grandson of Carey M. and Elizabeth (Snaiip) 
Richard; married in l.*<37, to .M:iria CuUison, 
daughter of Jesse and Nota CuUison. They have 
four children. W. H. was m:irried to Jlary J. 
Morgan in ls."J8. They have nine children. Mr. 
Richard's grandfather was in the war of 1812. 
Mr. Richard is cngitged in selling dry goods and 
notions in East Union, Ohio. 



774 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



RICHARDSON JAMES. Bethlehem township; 
farmer; son of Josejih Rich;ii-d,-:on ; was bora De- 
cember 13, 1S2.S. ,Ji)sciih l\ichards(m rame to 
this county at an early day, when it wa.s a wilder- 
ness inhabited by Indians and wild animals. 
James Kifhardson. Jr., was married November .'1, 
1848, to Mi.ss Sarah Carr, of this county, who was 
boni in 1828. They are the parents of throe chil- 
dren, viz: Julia A., Alonzo and Leander. Mrs. 
Richardson died Aniiust 2.j, 185.3. 3Ir. Eicliard- 
son married Miss Ethliah Dunlap, of this county. 
They are the i)arents of tive ehddren, viz: James 
B., Josei)h K., Elmira, Setii and Howard. Mr. 
Richardson was raised on tlie farm, and has al- 
ways remained a resident of this county. 

RK'HM(«D JOHN, O.xford town.ship: mer- 
chant and farmer; postothce, Evansbursh, Ohio; 
son of Edward and JIartha (Nott) Richmond; 
was born Jfarch 1. 1881, in Salina, New York. He 
came to this state with his parents in 1822. and 
located in Morgan county. His parents formerly 
came from Vermont While in Salina his father 
was ensraged in the salt trade. He also sold good*. 
After they came to Morgan county he was en- 
gaged in" the carpenter trade. 3Ir. Richmond 
<?ame to this county with his parents in June. 
1824, and located on the banks of the Walhond- 
ing si.x miles above Roscoe In 1826. they moved 
to Roscoe. !Mr. Richmond's father was engaged 
as a stone-cutter, and boanled hands engaged in 
the construction of the W.alhonding canal. In 
June, 1828, the family moved to Oxford townshij) 
and engaged in the building of the Ohio canal. 
Mr. Richmond's mother died in Marcli, 182'.'. 
His father kept tavern and a station on the Ohio 
canal from that time up to his death in 184G. 

Mr. Richmond Avas married March o, 1830. to 
Miss Elizabeth Reed, of this county. They be- 
came the parents of six chil<lren. viz: Catharine 
A., George U., John E., Jlary E., James J. and 
William H. Mr. Richmond had followed boat- 
ing from his boyhood until he married. He 
then purchased a boat and followed boating for 
fifteen years. During that time he was also en- 
gaged in the dry goods and grain business. Ill 
April, 1850, Mr. Richmond started on an over- 
land journey to California, as captain of a com- 
pany of fifteen men. They were on the road 
four months and fifteen days. While in Cali- 
fornia he was engaged in mining and trading. 
Ho returned by ve.ssel July 4. 1.^.52. via Panama. 
Mrs. Richmond died in February, 1852. He mar- 
ried November 2s, 18.32. Mi.ss Elizabeth Higbee, 
daughter of J. C. lligboe, Esq. They became the 
parents of five children, viz: Elizabeth N.. Jesse 
F.. Charles H., Francis \. and Lottie C. His 
wife died in June, l.'^tU. His third marriage took 
place in January, lSt'>5, to ^[ary J. McClain, of 
this county. Mr. Richmond has been engaged 
in farming and mercantile business. He has 



amassed a fortune. Starting in the world a 
jioor boy. meeting reverses after reverses, he 
nevertheless by his own honest labor accumu- 
lated a fortune. He has always worked hard, 
and has been regarded as honest and upright in 
his dealings, thereby gaining the esteem of all 
who knew him. He operates largely in grain 
and wool. He owns a splendid farm of over GdO 
acres, a dry goods store, a ware-house, and town 
jiroperty in the town of Orange. Mi'. Richmond 
had two sons who served in the rebellion. James 
J. was a member of Company C, Fifty-tirst Regi- 
ment. O. V. I. He died at Green Lake, Texiis, 
and was buried there. John E. was a member of 
Company H. Eighty-eighth Regiment. O. V. I. 
He served three months, and was then discharged 
on account of sickness. 

RICHMOND JOHN E.. Oxford township; farm- 
er; postoffioe, Evansburgh; was born in this 
township, in 1842; son of John Richmond. In 
1870, he commenced the dry goods and grocery 
business at Orange, and went out of it in A])ril, 
1880, and is now living on a farm of 108 acres. 
He w:is married, in 1803, to Miss Mary A. Wood, 
of this township, daughter of Thomas Wood. The 
result of this union has been four children, as fol- 
lows: Charles M., sixteen years old; Harry M., 
twelve years old; Mary E., ten years old, and 
Noah ii.. eight years old. He has been school 
director for the past nine years, in No. 5 school 
I district. He owns and lives in a substantial new 
I residence and is highly esteemed. He and his 
I wife are members of the M. E. church at Orange. 
He scrve<l four months in company F, Eighty- 
eighth O. V. L 

RICHIE WILLIAM, Keene township; farmer; 
born in Donegal, Ireland, August, 1808 ; son of 
George and Susan (Williams) Richie, and grand- 
son of William and Martha (Hogg) Richie, and 
of Charles and Mary (Cunningham) Williams. 
Mr. Richie followed weaving in his native 
country until the age of twenty-nine, when he 
came to America, and took up the ocoujiation of 
a quiet farmer. He has spent thus much of his 
life in single blessedness. 

RICHIE RICHARD, Keene township; farmer; 

born December, 1812, in Donegal. Ireland; came 

to America when twenty-one years of age, and 

settled in Coshocton county ; son of George and 

' S.usan Richie, and grandson of William and 

j Martha (Ilogg) Richie, and of Richard and Mary 

(Cunningham) Williams. He was married 

I December 23, 1831:1. to ^Margaret INIarshall, w'ho 

was born in January, 1815, in Jelii^rson county, 

Oliio, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Jlar- 

shall, and granddaughter of William and Jane 

(Lemmon)Marshall, and of Robert and Jane 

(Riddle) .Vdams. Their children were : Elizar 

bcth, born December 30, 1840; Susannah, de- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



•ceased; Jane, deceased, born October 17, 1844; 
Sarah M., born March 2G, 1S47; Josi-ph ^l.. born 
May 2i), 1850; George \V., born November 2, 
1.S52, and Anna M., born October It), 1856. Mrs. 
Richie died September 15, 1880. 

RINNER G. A., Crawford to\vn>*hip; postoflice, 
New Bedford ; of the tirni of G. A. Rinner it Co., 
merchants; born January 8, 1859, in New Bed- 
ford; son of George C. Rinner, predecessor of 
the above firm. After obtaining a good elemen- 
tary education in the public and select schools of 
his native townsliip, he took a commercial course 
at the Cleveland Spenccrian business college, and 
received a diploma from tlie college, receiving 
100 per cent on examination, May 31, 1879. On 
returning home he resumed clerking in his fath- 
er's store, which position he held when the above 
firm wivs formed. 

RINNER GEORGE C, Crawford township; 
retired merchant ; postotftce. New Bedford, Ohio ; 
born August 18, 1831, in Langenschwarz Kerfen- 
steuthuen, Hessen, Germany; son of John and 
Margaret (Saleman) Rinner. At thirteen he quit 
.school to clerk in a store at Fulda, on the Tulda. 
This position he held until ho started to America, 
where he arrived June 2, 1851, and located at Ap- 
pleville, where he attended school and worked on 
a farm one year. Then he clerked in Wooster 
and Nashville, Holmes county, each about one 
year. He commenced business in New Bedford, 
as clerk, in ls.34, first for Landcckcr & Cc, after- 
ward for Bell. Then he became partner in the 
firm of Rinner & Pocock, subsequently Rinner. 
Pocock ct Doak, which was succeeded by the firm 
of Rinner tt Cox. which firm continued until the 
death of Mr. Cox, in 1S74. After that Mr. Rinner 
continued business alone until he sold out to his 
son, George Albert, and J. A. Lahm, January 21, 
1879. Mr. Rinner was married Ajiril 8, 1858, to 
Nancy, daughter of Elijah and Christiana (Shep- 
ler) Cox. Seven children were born to them, viz: 
George Albert: Flora, deceased ; Ida Rachel, de- 
ce;i.sed: Elijah Calvin, Mary Etta, Amanda Jane 
and John Sheridan. Mr. Rinner started in this 
country with about .*100, but by faithful attention 
to business, retires with a competency. He en- 
joys the respect of a wide acquaintance. 

RICHCREEK \V. D., Jackson township ; post- 
office, Tyrone; born in Harrison county, Vir- 
ginia, in 1820; settled in this countv in 1837; son 
of John and Nancy Richcreek, and grandson of 
Philip and Sarah Richcreek ; married in 18,39 
to Estis Philips, daughter of John and Elizabeth 
Philips. Mr. Kichcreek is tlie father of nine 
children, all married but two, viz : George and 
William. 

RICHCREEK D.VVID W., Bedford township; 
farmer and thresher; postoffice, Tyrone; born 

35 



in 1852 in this connty. His father, D. W., was 
born in 1802, in Jefferson county, Virginia, and 
came to Muskingum coimty in 1821. He was 
married in 1843 to Miss Nancy M. Tidball, o 
Muskingum county, who was born in 1821 in 
Allegheny county, Pennsvlvania. Thev came to 
this comity in is48. He died in 1880. They 
are the jiarents of eleven children, six of whom 
are living. Thc^ subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried in 1S77 to Jliss Mary .V. Dickey of this coun- 
ty, who was bi>rn in 1849. They are the parents 
of two children, viz : Estellc B., and an infant. 

RICE Dr. G. W., Adams township; postoflSce, 
Bakersville; was born in Shanesville, Tuscara- 
was county, Ohio, .\ugust 24, 18.")4: son of J. W. 
and Elizabeth (Fisher) Rice; grandson of John 
Rice and John Fisher; great-grandson of Peter 
Fisher. His ])arents came from Pennsylvania. 
He attended sclmol until the age of seventeen, 
when he began teaching, in which capacity he 
continued seven years. While teaching he read 
medicine, and during the winters of 1878-79, 
and 1879-80, attended lectures at the medical de- 
partment of Wooster university, at Cleveland, 
Ohio. He began practicing in April, 1880, at 
Bakersville, an<l is making fine progress in his 
profession. He was married September 2, 1875, 
to Miss Hester Flexer, daughter of Daniel and 
Mary Flexer, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
August 26, 1855. They are the jiarents of three 
children: Charles, born August 13, 187G; Wil- 
liam, born November 23, 1877, and Harry, born 
January 25, 1880. "' 

RIPPL JOHN GEORGE, Adams township; 
blacksmith ; postoffice, Bakersville : born in Bak- 
ersville, March 22, 1.S57; son of Joseph and Maria 
A. (Busier) Rippl, and grandson of Joseph and 
Mary (Fisher) Rijipl. He began his trade in 
1876, learning it of his own accord, never serving 
an apprenticeshi)), and is now a first-class work- 
man, doing an extensive business in ironing and 
trimming wagons. He was married November 
27, 1879, to Jliss Elizabeth Gintz, daughter of 
John and Caroline (Coii]ile) Gintz. She was born 
February 11, 1859, in Tuscarawas county. 

RIPPL FRANCIS J., Adams township; post- 
office, Bakersville; wagonmaker; born in Bakers- 
ville, January 30, 1.860 ; son of Joseph and Maria 
A. (Busier) Rippl, and grandson of Joseph and 
Mary (Fi,sher) Rippl. His father and mother 
came from Austri.i in 1850. He began his trade 
July 16, 18S0, with his father, and is making fine 
progress, being an energetic young man and a 
great reader and lover of literature. He has two 
brothers and two sisters. 

RILEY ORANGE, Jefferson township; farmer; 
postoffice, Warsaw; born in Jefierson township, 
Coshocton county, November 14, 1S49; son of 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Reuben and Hilpa (Darling) Riloy, and grandson 
of Isaac and Mahala (Severns) Darling. He has 
alwaj's l.iecn a resident of this township, except- 
ing one year that he was in IIHnois. He was 
married, Fcliruary 5, 1S74, to Miss Anna M. 
Simpson, daughter of Robert and Eliza (MfilTat) 
Simpson, who died April 20, 1S7G. Ett;i V. 
is their only child. He was marrie<l Septem- 
ber 26, 1877, to Miss Kiith Simpson, sister 
of his first wife, who wius born June 27, 1848. 
Anna M., born September 13, 1878, is their 
only child. Mrs. Riley has two sisters living, 
Isabella and Flora J. Isabella is one among the 
first class teachers in the schools of Coshocton 
county. Mrs. Simjison, the mother of these three 
girls, is the daughter of Jtjhn Motl'at, who died 
February 25, 1877. He was a blacksmith, and 
worked in the enij)loy of Robert Fulton, and did 
the smithwork of the lirst three steamboats that 
ever ran on the Ohio river. He was a son of 
Alexander Molliit, who served seven years in the 
war of the revolution as a minute man, was taken 
prisoner at Fort Montgomery, and remained a 
jjrisoner nine months. He was a son of Hugh 
Moffat, who was b(^rn in Orange county. New 
York, whose falher, a farmer, with three brothers, 
Presbyterian ministers, came from Antrimcounty, 
Ireland, and settled in Orange county, New York, 
some time in the eighteenth century. 

ROLLER CASPER, Franklin township; farm- 
er; postofRce, Wills Creek, Ohio; was born Sep- 
tember 23, 1834, in Alsace, France; son of Andrew 
and Barbara (Sandle) Roller. Andrew Roller 
was born in Weidenberg, Germany, in 1808. His 
father, Jacob Roller, was one of a family of eight 
sons, four of w'hom came to America and served 
in the revolutionary war. Two settled in South 
Carolina, and two in Virginia. Some of their 
descendants are now residents of those States, 
and have tilled offices of trust at Washington, D. 
C. Jacob Roller was a wealthy man, but sold out 
in 1813 and moved to Alsace, France, with two 
sons and three daughters. He suddenly lost all 
his wealth by exchanging, with the banks, his 
specie for paper, which the next day became 
worthless, lie then became a village school- 
teacher, and taught a German school for twenty- 
four years. His sons, Jacob, seventeen, and An- 
drew, five years of age, became shepherds, which 
occupation they followed nntil 1837, when An- 
drew came to America and settled in Franklin 
township, this county. He was the father of ten 
children, eight sons and two daughters, live of 
whouT are dead. Of those living. Casper, William 
H. and Elizabeth live in Linton town.ship; 
George, in Franklin towuship, and Philip J., in 
Douglas county, Illinois. Casper Roller, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was married March 5, 18.')2, to 
Elizabeth, daughter of James M. and Mary (Nel- 
son) Brannon. They are the parents of eight 



children, viz: George McClelland, deceased ; Cas- 
sius Clay, Edward Henry, Jessie Roe, John 
Floyd, Annetta Delle, Casper Herbert and Lizzie 
Agnes. !Mrs. Roller was lirst married to Samuel 
Erwin. They became the parents of two chil- 
dren, viz: William Augustus and James Mad- 
ison. 

ROBISON J. C, Pike town.ship; postoffice. 
West Carlisle ; farmer and stock raiser ; born in 
Licking county, in 1816; settled in this county 
in 1813; son of John and Bulah (Rakestraw) 
Robison. and grandson of Maximillian and Lu- 

cinda Robison, and of John and Rakestraw. 

He was married, in 1841, to Miss Nancy E. Coul- 
ter. They are the parents of eight children, 
viz: Rush, John W.; Samuel, deceased; Joseph 
B.; James R., deceased; Richard A., Elonzo L. 
and Susannah B. Two are married. Jlr. Robi- 
son 's grandfather was three years in the revolu- 
tionary war. His father was in the war of 1812. 

ROBINSON E. LETTS, deceased; Franklin 
township; was born January 26, 1818, in Frank- 
lin township; the son of Col. James Robinson. 
He was married, in 1844, to Miss Mary J. Roe, 
daughter of Rev. Jesse Roe, who was a pioneer 
Methodist minister in Muskingum county. Mr. 
Rf)binson was a life-long resident of his native 
township, engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing. His children are James W., Anna M., Sallie 
J. (Bell), S. Roe, L. Viola and Edmund L. 

ROBERTSON JA IMES, Keene town.ship ; farm- 
er; born in Derry county, Ireland, May, 1808; 
son of JIatthewand Rebecca (Anderson) Robert- 
son, and grandson of Rebecca Denny. In 181;J 
he left his native land for America, but was cap- 
tured by the British on the sea and detained at 
Halifax two years. He there witne.-Jsed the 
burial of the gallant captain, James Lawrence. 
Upon his release his father came to Coshocton 
count v. I^Ir. Robertson was married Jlarch 11, 
1S20, to Eliza McFetredge, born i\Iay 22, 1808. 
Her ancestry is as follows: Parents, James and 
Elizabeth (McDonald; McFetredge, natives of 
Ireland; paternal grand parents, Archibald and 
Eliza (C<x'hran) McFetredge; maternal grand 
parents, John and Mary (Loyd) McDonald. Their 
children are: Levina G., born January 8,1830; 
William, deceased, January 31, 1832; Mary L., 
dccea.sed, July 29, 1833; James M., deceased, 
March 25, 1835; Elizabeth C, March 26, 1837; 
Annie J., Fcbruarv 23, 1839; Rebecca A., Au- 
gust 31, 1841 ; John. February 23, 1843; Amanda, 
January 17, 1845; Joseph R., March 24, 1847; 
Milo R., deceased, June 15, 1850; Louisa, April 
28. 1853, and Lewis K., March 31, 1855. Jcjhn 
was in the 100-days' service, and Joseph served 
his country till the close of the war. Lewis K, 
married Jlaggie, daughter of Robert and Marga- 
ret (Hood) Boyd, September 16, 1880. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



779 



ROBIXSON A. S., Monroe "township ; was born 
in 1811, in Fairfax conntv, Virt;inia; son of A. 
S. and Elizabeth (Duval) Kobinson, and grand- 
son of John 0. and Verlinda (Siininiprs) Robin- 
son, and of William and Nancy (Johnson) Du- 
val. Mr. Robinson, while very young, wjis taken 
by his parents to Prince Williams county, where 
he lived luitil 1S21. After the death of his 
father he lived with his grandfather Kobinson, 
in Fredrick county, ^'irginia, two years. From 
there he went with liis grandfather to Hamp- 
shire county. After living there two years, he 
left his grandfather and went to Loudon county; 
then to Prince Williams county; thc,n back to 
his mother; thence to Loudon county again, 
staying but a year or two in each place. In 18.30 
he began the wagon-makers' trade, serving an ap- 
prenticeship of two years. After spending one 
year in Fredrick county, he came to Perry 
county, Ohio; followed farming there two years; 
farmed eight years afterward in ^Muskingum 
county; then was a minister in the Protestant 
Methodist church for nine years. Ever since 
then he has followed farming, near Spring 
Mountain, Coshocton county, Ohio. He married 
Jliss Mahala Lyder, February 9, 1832, in Loudon 
county, Virginia. She was born in December, 
ISOCi; daughter of Lewis and Susannah (Brad- 
field) Lyder, and granddaughter of Jacob and 
JNIargaret Lyder, and of .Jonathan Bradfield. 
Their children were as follows: Susannah, de- 
ceased ; Samuel, married to Frances Jlenifee, 
whose children were Charles, Mary E., George T., 
Lou A., and Letitia, deceased. .John W. married 
^riss Martha Duval, whose children are, Clifford 
L., Emma, Joseph, William A., Roberta, and 
Dinkey. Arthur L. lives at home. 

ROBISON D. C, Perry township; New Guil- 
ford postofiice ; born in this county, in 1S45; son 
of John and Mary (Torrence) Robison, and grand- 
son of John and ^Jary Torrence. He went West 
in I860, and returned to this State in 1880, and 
was married in b'^OG, to Caroline; Cochran Mr. 
Robison is the father of three children, viz: Ella 
M., John and Lillie M. Mr. Robison has been 
engaged in teaching school for the past fifteen 
years. Entered Ohio We.slcyan univ(>rsity in 1802, 
staying there some three years. Volunteered in 
First U. S. Engineer Regiment, Company I, Cap- 
tain John L. Tliomas. ^Ir. Robi.son's senior, was 
a revolutionary soldier. 

ROBINSON L. W., Coshocton ; general sui)er- 
intendent Union Coal Mining Company; was 
born September l".i, IS-l.!, in Hudson, Ohio; son 
fif Warren Robinson, a native of Connecticut, 
and Sarah A\''oodward, a native of Maine. Wlien 
about seven years of age he moved to New Ha- 
ven with his father's family to be educated, and 
received a good elementsiry education in the 



public .schools of that city; was then placed under 
a private tutor for three years. At the age of 
eighteen years he entered Yale college, and was 
graduated at the age of twenty-one. After com- 
pleting his college course he engaged as en- 
gineer in the coal fields of Pennsylvania, and was 
transferred to this place to take general charge 
of the company's interests here, and do the en- 
gineering of the place. Mr. Robinson was mar- 
ried September 9, 1880, to Miss (Dollie) Ruth 
May, daughter of Lewis De >Ioss, Esq., of this 
city. 

ROBINStJN W. IL, Co.shocton; insurance 
agent, Equitv building; was born Januarv 11, 
1812, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; son of Will- 
iam Robinson, American born of Scotch ances- 
try; lived on a farm until the age of ten years, 
when with his parents he moved to Savannah, 
Georgia; attended school until the age of seven- 
teen, then went to New York City and attended 
sciiool there a short time, from which city he 
moved to Orange, New York, and was appren- 
ticed to the carpenter trade, and served four 
years. In 1S.3G, came to this city and followed 
his trade until ls71,whcn he established his pres- 
ent agency, and conducted it to the pre.sent time. 
His first marriage was January 0, 18;J4, to Miss 
Sarah Anne Matthews, daughter of James Mat- 
thews, of Orange, New York. By this marriage 
he becamethe father of si-^t children, two of whom, 
Esther M. and Charles C, have died. Their living 
children are Mary E., married to Calvin Skinner, 
of this city ; Harriet N., married to James Stone- 
bock, now residing at Crystal Plains, Smith coun- 
ty, Kansas; William H., married to Louisa John- 
son, of this city, and Sarah Frances. Mrs. Robin- 
son died February. 18(54. Mr. Robinson after- 
ward married Miss Susan C. Deman, and by this 
marriage became the father of two children, viz: 
Clara D. and Howard. 

RODEHAVER G. H., New Gistle township; 
postoffice, W.-dhondlng; was born in Jefl'erson 
township, Coshocton county, in February, 1846; 
son of David and Louisa (Butler) Rodehaver ; 
grandson of Noah and Rebecca (Cox) Butler; 
was educated at Coshocton ; brought up on the 
farm until the age of twentj'-one ;" then engaged 
with Shall'ner Brothers, merchants, in Warsaw, 
one year. He then engaged with Cassingham ct 
Crowley, grocers, for three years; then went into 
the boot and shoe business in Coshocton, remain- 
ing in it two years, when he was employed by 
Fleek it Sherwood, of Newark, Ohio, as shipping 
clerk two years; then returned to Coshocton 
and clerked for Cassingham ct Co. one year, when 
he purchased a half interest in the firm, contin- 
ueil a year, dissolved the iiartnership and went 
to New Orleans and engaged in the erection of 
iron bridges six months ; after which he re- 



780 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



turned to Coshocton and engaged with C. A. 
E(_'kert in tlie grocery and baking business one 
year, after which he moved to Walhonding, 
where, in the spring of IST'J, he began merchan- 
dizing for himself, and is having a fair trade. 
He married Miss Mary F. Dixon, March 13, 1870, 
daughter of Roljert Dixon. He is father of four 
children, viz: Emnm, Willie, Minnie, (decea.sed), 
and Frank. 

ROOT J. W., Tuscarawas township; farmer; 
born in Bloomtield, Holmes county; son of L. L. 
Root and Clarissa (Morgan) Root, who are na- 
tives of Connecticut. J. W. Root came to this 
county when a child, with his parents, in 1840. 
May 20, 18G6, he married Nancy E. Thomas, 
daughter of Levi Thomas and Annie (Salyards) 
Thomas. They became the parents of the fol- 
lowing named children: Annis, Clara, Lyman, 
John, L. L. and Alpha. 

ROSS GEORGE, Coshocton ; saddler and har- 
ness-maker; born October 15, 1826, in the 
County Donegal. Ireland; son of Hugh Ross. 
Young Ross lived on a farm imtil fifteen years of 
age, when he went to his trade and worked six 
years in his native island, then came to America, 
landing in New York City, August 1, 1851, where 
he worked at his trade a few years. He came to 
this city in March 1853, and worked on the rail- 
road nineteen years as foreman of repairs, after 
which he worked two years in tlie steel works of 
this city. After leaving the steel works he re- 
sumed his trade, which he has followed to the 
present time. By industry and good manage- 
ment, he has acquired a competency. Mr. Ross 
was married August 6, 1860, to Miss Ehzabeth 
Hill, daughter of James Hill, of Roscoe Her 
mother's "maiden name was Elizabeth Dunlap. 
James Hill and Charles G., are their children. 

ROSE JOHN J., Coshocton, 0.; of the firnr of 
D. Rose & Son, JIain street. Daniel Rose, of the 
above lirm, came to Roscoe about the year iSlH. 
His parents were from the island of Guernsey. 
His father built the foundry in Coshocton county, 
at Roscoe. D. Rose was married iu 1850, to Miss 
Alcinda G. Rickets, whose parents were natives 
of Virginia. D. Rose is the father of six sons, 
viz: John J., of the above lirm. who was married 
January 5, 187(), to Miss Weltha L.. daughter of 
Alonza and Carlotte (Denman) Ransons. They 
arc the parents of one I'hild, viz: Carlotte R. 
The other sons are : Charles F., Marion, William 
E., A. R., and Walter B. The above firm was 
formed in 1876, with a small cash capital, the 
senior member having lost almost everything by 
fire and the junior member having a small capi- 
tal made by plastering at which he worked about 
six years, but by adhering to the policy of cash 
purchases they have been very successful, now 



having the most extensive trade in their line in 
the countj-. 

RODERICK SIMON, Linton township; farm- 
er; born near Dayton, September 26, 1825; son of 
Samuel and Mary Ann (Cram]iton) Roderick. 
His father, a miller by occupation, about 181.3, 
came with his brother, John, from Maryland to 
Linton township, remained a year or two, returned 
to Maryland, married, and then moved to Jlont- 
gomery county, where he remained till 1826, 
then came to Linton township and resided here 
till his decease. Mr. Roderick, in 1851, married 
Margaret MeCleeary, daughter of George Mc- 
Clecary. 'She having died, he, in 1866, was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of Thomas Williams and granddaughter of Rich- 
ard Williams. 

ROGERS JAMES L., Lafayette township; 
farmer; was born in Harrison county, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 19, 1840; son of Joseph and Mary (Burk- 
head) Rogers, and is the sixth of ten children. 
He came to this county in 1866, and was married 
April 15, 1877, to Miss Harriet Burt, being the 
thirty-third marriage anniversary of her father, 
the well-known Judge James M. Burt. Thej* 
have had four children, viz: J. Burt, Maggie, 
Mary Anna, and Lewis Bradner. Mr. Rogers 
enlisted in Company F, Ninety-eighth 0. V. I., 
organized in Harrison county in August, 1862, 
and served two years and ten months, taking part 
in every engagement in which his regiment was 
engaged, a few of which were the battles of Per- 
ryville, Chickamauga, jNIissionary Ridge, Keriesaw 
Mountain, Atlanta, Joncsborough, Peach Tree 
Creek, Rome, Georgia, and Bentonville, North 
Carolina. He was in Sherman's march to the 
sea, witne.s.sed the grand review at Washington, 
traveled over 5,000 miles while out, never rode 
but one-half a day in an ambulance, was never 
sick a day. and was mustered out at Cleveland as 
a second lieutenant in June, 1865, although lie 
had entered the service as a private. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

RODRUCK LEWIS, Franklin township; farm- 
er; born in Franklin township, March 1'.), 1824; 
son of Thomas Rodruck, who was born in Ilamp- 
.shire comity, Virginia, and emigrated to this 
township May 1, 1811, with his father, Lewis 
Rodruck. In 1823 his father married ^lary Hines, 
who came from Virginia in 1822. INIr. Rodruck 
enlisted in the Nineteenth O. V. I. in 1864, and 
remained in service nine months, serving with 
Sherman in his Georgia campaign. He was mar- 
ried January 21, 1849, to Ethalinda Hawk, who 
became the mother of two children, viz: Mary 
Elizabeth, who died in infancy, and John Alvin. 
He was married September 17, 1863, to Ann, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



781 



daughter of William Haukins, an early settler of 
Franklin township. 

ROYER ADAJf. Franklin township; fanner; 
postoftice, Wills Creek: born May 17, 1848, in 
Loraine, France (now Germany); son of Nicho- 
las and Anne (Lago) Royei\ Adam came to 
near Sonora, 5Iuskin<;uni county, with his pa- 
rents, who remained there about six years prior 
to coniins; to .Vdam's present residence, in Frank- 
lin town.ship, which he obtained by paying .SI, 2()0 
to each of six other heirs. He has since bought 
forty-two acres adjoining the homestead. Mr. 
Royer was married, November 10, 18C8. to Miss 
Susan, daughter of Benjamin and Susannah 
(Michael) Roof. Her father was a native of 
Germany, and her mother of Switzerland. Mr. 
Royer, by this marriage, became the father of 
six children : Alice Jane, John Nicholas. Emma 
Agnes, Cora May, Harvy Edward and Delia 
Anne. 

RUSSEL JOHN N.; farmer; postoffice, West 
Lafayette; was born in JelTerson county, Ohio, in 
1817, and was married in 1838, to Harriett Will- 
iams, who was born in the same county, in 1820. 
They had nine children, six living, viz : Emily, 
Williams A., Similda, Sue. Freeman, and Leila 
Adda. The deceased are, Francis, John, and an 
infant daughter. ;\f r. Russell came to Coshocton 
county in 18().'), and locate 1 in this township, and 
owns a good farm, and is an intelligent, enter- 
prising and progressive farmer. 

S 

SALRIN JOSEPH, Franklin town.ship; born 
in France, Dciiartment of Moselle, Canton of 
Foulquemont, Vittoncourt village, April 10, 1812; 
son of Stephen Salrin. He left his native land 
March 5, 1840, for America, and, coming by way 
of New Orleans, landed at Zanesville June 10. 
He located at Adamsville, following his tra<le, 
cabinet making, until 1852, when he moved to his 
present home in Franklin township. He has 
here engaged in farming and also worked at his 
trade to some extent. In 18;?i) he married Made- 
laine Nichols, and has had six children, viz: 
Basil; Justin .Vlbcrt, of Brown county, Illinois; 
Laura, a sister in St. Francis hospital, Columbus, 
Ohio; Madelaine, deceased; Nicholas, decciwcd, 
and Joseph. Basil, Justin and Laura were born 
in France, the others here. His wife died Feb- 
ruary 20, 1870. 

SALRIN B.VSTL, Franklin township; farm- 
er; born in France, ,Iune 12, 183H; eldest son of 
Josei)h Salrin. When seven years old he came 
with his father to JIuskingum county, where he 
lived until 18.')2, then moved to Franklin town- 
ship, and h.as lived there since. He married, 
October 7, 1874, Anna Marraine, born in France, 



in June, 1800, and emigrated to America August 
13, 1874. Their family consists of three boys, 
viz: Joseph Basil, Ernst Alexander and Frank 
Sherman. 

SALRIN ANDREW, Franklin township; farm- 
er; born near IMetz, France, May 10, 1848. His 
parents, Andrew and Barbara (Mitchell) Salrin, 
emigrated with their three children directly to 
this township, from France, in 1853. His two 
sisttM-s, both older than himself, are now living in 
the West, Victorine rDavid) in Kansas, and JIary 
(Sherresl) in Chicago, Illinois. He was married 
Januarv 10. 1872, to Martha Jane, oldest daughter 
of William M. Clark, of Franklin township. The 
children born of this marriage are Francis Ann, 
Mary Ellen, Andrew William ; Barbara Elizabeth, 
deceased, and Emma Jane. 

SALRIN JOSEPH M., Franklin township; 
farmer; born September 25, 184!», in Franklin 
townshi]i; married, in ls72, to ^lary, daughter of 
Charles Schmueser, of Muskingum county. By 
this marriage he had two children, viz: Mary 
Bertha and Joseph Milton. His wife having died 
May 9, 1879, he married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Samuel Moffet, of Guernsey county, March 28, 
1880. 

SANGSTER COLONEL CHARLES F., La- 
fayette town.ship; farmer; postoffice, Plainfield, 
Ohio. Colonel Sangster was born September 15, 
1810, in Fairfax county, Virginia, sixteen miles 
from Mount Vernon. He is son of James and 
Priscilla (Ford) Sangster. His father was of 
Scotch descent; his mother, of EInglish descent, 
her father being a minister of the Church of 
England and her mother a descendant of the 
Barry family o'f Ireland. Mr. Sangster was 
raised on a f.arm. He removed to Loudon coun- 
ty, Virginia, in 1830, where he remained until 
1849. He then came to Linton townshij). Cosh- 
octon county, Ohio, where he lived until 1800; 
he then reniovcd to Lafayette township, where 
he has since resided. Colonel Sangster was 
married February 24, 1.845, to Miss Sallie E. 
Gore, of Muskingum county, Ohio. They be- 
came the parents of seven children, viz : Ella C, 
James. Annie, Mollie. Charles and Laura, twins, 
and Hattie. Two, James and Ella C, are mar- 
ried. In 1852 Colonel Sangster was cho-^en pres- 
ident of the first agricultural society organized 
in (.'oshocton county He was re-elected the fol- 
lowing year, and again in 1857. In 18.57 Colonel 
Sangster was elected to the Ohio legislature, and 
served two years. He was elected inlirmary di- 
rector and "served six years. In 18.S() he was 
chosen by the eighteenth senatorial district as 
monber Of decennial board of equalization, run- 
ning between one and two hundreil ahead of his 
state ticket, which shows the esteem in which he 



782 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



is held by his countrymen. He i.s at present en- 
gaged inthe duties of his offli'e. In 1832 Colonel 
Sangster united with the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and has ever since remained an influ- 
ential and ctficicnt member. He has always mani- 
fested an interest in educational matters, holding 
office and otherwise. 

SANDEL CASPER, Franklin township: farm- 
er; born in Muskingum county, April 1, 1841; 
son of Valentine and Salonia (S.uier) Sandal. 
His father was born in Alsace, France. In 1809 
he moved from Jluskingum county to Franklin 
town-ship and lived here over since. He enlisted 
August 12,1802, in Company A , One Hundred 
and Second O. V. I., and was discharged June 
30, 1865. He saw service principally in Tennes- 
see, Kentucky and Alabama, was in the battle of 
Decatur, Alabama. Married January 2.3, 1808, 
Harriet Barclay, daughter of Joseph H. Barclay, 
of Muskingum county. Their children are : 
William Howard, John Francis Barclay, Theraby 
May, and Chester Valentine. 

SAUNDERS WILLIAJI, Keene township; 
farmer; born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about 
1810; son of Joseph Sanders. At the age of thir- 
ty-five he emigrated to this county and has been 
a farmer all his life. He was married in 1829, to 
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Catharine 
(Markley) Miller and granddaughter of John 
Miller. His children were Jolin,decea.sed; Cath- 
erine, Isabelle, Harrison, and Elmira, deceased. 

S.-^YER STEPHEN D., deceased; born in 
Orange county. New York, 1814. He came to 
this county in 1837, and was married to Sarah A. 
^Morgan, who was a native of the same county in 
New York, and was born in t+io year 1813. They 
had eight children, viz: Lvdia, Samuel K., Marv 
A., Robert F., Elizabeth. Thomas, Caronand Will- 
ard, six of whom are living. All those living are 
married except Lydia, who is staying with her 
mother. Samuel K. lives in Iowa, Elizabeth in 
Tuscarawas county, Mary Ann in Indiana, there.st 
in this county. Jlr. Saver located on the farm 
where his widow now resides, when he first came 
to this county. He died March 1879, aged sixty- 
five years. Samuel K. enlisted in Company H, 
Fifty-first 0. V. I., at Coshocton. He was taken 
prisoner at Chickamauga, was confined in Libby 
prison and endured the hardships of that place. 
Thomas enlisted in the 100-<lay service in the One 
Hundred and Forty-fourth O. N. G. He took sick 
and died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and was 
buried there. 

SAYER R. F., Coshocton ; miller, of the firm of 
Saj'er, Balch tt Co. ; was born April 2.3, 1842, in 
White Eyes township ; son of Stephen D. Sayer, 
native of New York, of English origin. Mr. 



Sayer remained on the farm until he was about 
thirty-four years old. In 180-5 lie went West 
taking a wagon train, and settled in Carroll 
county, Missouri, wdiere he remained seven years, 
after which he returned to the old homestead 
and remained three years. January 10, 1870, he 
came to this city and engaged in his present bu- 
siness, which he has closely followed to the pres- 
ent writing. Mr. Saver was married April 23, 
ISGo, to Miss M. J. Bidch, daugliter of John W. 
Balcli of Lafayette township. This union was 
blessed with six children ; two deceased — Sadie 
M. and Eugene Ellsworth ; the four living chil- 
dren are Laura M., Elmer E., Josephine, and 
Emma J. Mr. Sayer is doing a good business in 
custom and merchant work. 

SCHOOLEY MAILEN, Jefferson township; 
was born in September, 1820, in Belmont county, 
Ohio. He is the son of !Mailen and Honor (La- 
fevor) Schooley, and grandson of Henry Lefevor, 
who was a native of France. Mr. Schooley was 
brought up on a farm, till the age of eighteen, 
when he began the carpenter trade, under Henry 
Schooley, and .served seven years; but during this 
time he worked at the manufacturing of boots 
and shoes in the winter season. Since that time 
he has devoted his entire attention to the shoe- 
maker trade. In 1848, he opened a shop in Knox 
county, and continued three years; from there 
he went to Jetlersou township, Coshocton county, 
where he yet remains, and is following his trade 
with good success. He was married to Miss 
INIary J. CuUison, in February, 1843, daughter of 
James and Sarah Cullison. One chdd, Thomas 
O., born November 8, 1844, is tlie issue of this 
marriage. Postoffice, i\lohaw-k Village. 

SCHLEGEL FREDERICK, Crawford town- 
ship; farmer; postoffice. New Bedford; born 
Sejitember 2S, 1846, in Crawford township; son 
of David and Elizabeth (Barkley) Schleg'el. His 
father's nativity was Germany; his mother's, 
Ohio. Young Schlegel has been accustomed to 
farm life from infancy. He was married March 
27, 1874, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Balthaser 
and Catharine (Hothem) Pretcens. Three child- 
ren were born to them— Charles Henry, Her- 
bert Balthaser and Mary Martha. iNIr. Schlegel 
has made farming his sjiecial vocation, and has 
been successful. 

SCHWEIKERT GOTTLEIB, Crawford town- 
.ship; wagon maker; postoffice. New Bedford, Ohio; 
was born March 16, 1849, in Wurlemberg, Ger- 
many. At tlie age of fourteen he left school and 
went to his trade, which lie has followed to the 
present time. He came to America in July, 1866, 
and located at New Bedford. Mr. Schweik^rt 
was married June 14, 1873, to Miss Mary, daugh- 
ter of Frederick A. and Elizabeth (Magenan) 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



783 



Baad. By this union he had three children, viz; 
Magsie E.; Annie L., deceased, and Mary Annie. 
Mr. Schweikert is considered a first-class work- 
man. 

SCIIUTZBACH FRANK, Crawford townsliip; 
painter; postotlice.New Bedford, Ohio ; was born 
February 5, 1847, in \\'urtenihpr,[,', Germany ; son 
of Xavicr and Anna Mary (J)ili;er) Scliutzbach ; 
«ame to America in 1866.' and located at Wash- 
ington City, D. C, where he remained about one 
year, working at his trade ; also worked in Phil- 
adelphia He came to New Bedford about 1S68. 
Mr. S. was married October 18, 1S68, to Miss 
Rachel, daughter of John and Mary (Seidel) Hal- 
terbauni. They have one child, John Charles. 
Mr. S. is considered a first-class workman in 
graining and house painting. 

SCHUMACHER JOHN, Crawford township; 
farmer; postoflice, Chili; born December 15, 1821, 
in Bavaria, Germany; son of Frederick and Eliza- 
beth (Klide) Schumacher. Quitting school at 
fourteen, he came to America in 1836, and stopped 
in New Jersey for nine months, then located in 
Bucks township, Tuscarawas county, where he 
remained until the fall of 1871, when he came to 
his present residence. Mr. Schumacher was mar- 
ried, in December, 1844, to Miss Catharine, daugh- 
ter of Philip and Elizabeth (Smith) Stilgenbancr. 
Twelve children blessed their union, four of whom 
died in infancy and eight are living, viz: Caro- 
line, Frederick, Catharine, Mary, Philip, Charles, 
John and Mag<lalena. Mr. Schumacher began 
business for himself without any capital but 
hardy hands and an honest good will. In 1846, 
he bought a small piece of timber land in Adams 
county and moved to it with his young wife; but 
the only shelter they had was a log house, with 
only a bed quilt to close the doorway. But now 
he iias an abundance for himself and family, also 
for his mother, who is eighty-one years old and 
lives with her devoted son. 

SCOTT JOHN W., Crawford township; farm- 
er; postoflice. Chili; born in Brooke county. 
West Viri^inia, Februarv 20, 1830: son of James 
V. and Ellen (Tumbleson) Scott, of Pennsylva- 
via; was brought to Ohio when about seven 
years of age, and to his present residence in 1878. 
Mr. Scott \\us married, first. October 31, 1851, to 
Miss Lavina, daughter of Vincent and Eleanor 
(Cordery) DeWitt. They have had si.x children: 
Vincent, deceased; James; Osee, deceased; Ma- 
rion, Marv C.,nnd Rebecca Jane, deceased. Mrs. 
Scott died January 21, 1871. Mr. Scott h:is ac- 
ceptably served three terms as township assessor. 
He married JMiss Sarah Everhart for his second 
wife. 

SCOTT JOHN L., farmer; postoflice, West 
Lafayette ; was born in Keene township, in 1854, 



and was married, in 1876, to Mary Catherine 
McCary, who was born in White Eyes township, 
in 18.57. They have three children, viz: Will- 
iam R. John E. and Oda. He is engaged in farm- 
ing. 

SELLS B. F. CAPTAIN, Coshocton, Ohio; 
livery man, west Main street. Mr. Sells was 
born November 12, 1824, in Coshocton, Ohio; son 
of Abraham and Phobe (Hartj Sells. Mr. Sells 
chose the cabinetniaking business, which he fol- 
lowed until June. 1846, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, Third O. V. I., for the Mexican war. 
The company left Coshocton in canal boats June 
5, 1846. He served one year in General Taylor's 
comnianil. After his discharge he came home 
and followed his trade until the fall of 18.52, when 
he was elected county auditor. At the expira- 
tion of his term of ofiice he again resumed the 
furniture business, which he followed until Sep- 
tember 30, 18G2, when he recruited Company I), 
One Hundred and Twenty-second 0. V. I., and 
was commis-sioned its captain, and served until 
March, 1864, when he was honorably <lischarged. 
After his discharge he was, for some time, en- 
gaged in furnishing horses for the government, 
which was merged into his jiresent livery busi- 
ness. Captain Sells was married February 6, 
1849, to Miss Eliza, daughter of William and 
Elizabeth (Ludington) Shaw. They are the par- 
ents of eight children, viz: William, Howard 
A., Joseph B., Emma Adelia, Clara E., B. F., 
Charles and John. 

SENFT CHARLES, Jefferson town-ship; post- 
office, Warsaw; born in Baden, Germany ; son of 
George A. and Elizabeth (Danner) Senft, and 
grandson of George Albright. His father was 
born April 11, IT'.n He attended the public 
schools until the age of 15, then went to Baden 
to learn the saddler's trade with Wilhelm Isen- 
holdt, and served an apprenticeship of three 
years. He then traveled as a journeyman, and 
worked one year in the city of Charles-rest, in 
Baden, then one year in Zurich, Switzerland. 
He then came to .Vmerica. landing in the city of 
New York on the 10th of May, 184.5. From there 
he went to Bufl'alo and worked at his trade about 
eighteen months, then to Uricksvillc, Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, and engaged with Christo])her Mid- 
daugh, and worked for him six months: from 
thence to Canal Dover, in the same county, and 
worked with Simpson Shandler eighteen months; 
thence to Rogersville. and engaged for three 
months with John (iroft: then to New Bedford, 
Coshocton county, anil work(>d two years with 
John Gard ; then came to Warsaw and began 
business on his own responsibility, and has been 
there about thirty years. He was married Febru- 
ary 2-5, 1849. to Jliss Barbara Baad, daughter of 
Adam and Barbara (Erb) Baad, and granddaugh- 



7S4 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ter of Christain Frederick and Agnes (Shriver) 
Ott. Their children are iis follows: Margaret, 
born October H, 1850, deceased; Christianna, 
born February 11, lS5o; William, born J^nnary 
28. 1857; Louis, born July 24, 1859; George A., 
born January 27, 1S02; Charles J., born May 10, 
1866; Jacob G., born December G, 1868; Nettie, 
born October 6, 1872, deceased, and Agnes, born 
June 24, 1876. 

SEWARD G. W,, proprietor of Arlington 
House, corner of Main and Railroad streets, Co- 
shocton, Ohio; was born March 5, 18.37, in Beth- 
lehem township, Coshcton county, Ohio; son of 
Albert Seward, Esq.; mother's maiden name was 
A. Cranes; was raised on the farm; enlisted in 
1861, in Company K, Thirty-second 0. V. I., and 
served eighteen months in that regiment, in Vir- 
ginia, and surrendered to the enemy at Harper's 
Ferry, and after being exchanged, went down the 
Mississippi and ran the blockade at Vicksburg. 
After the surrender of Vicksburg, he was trans- 
ferred to the Signal Corps, and served for the 
Seventeenth Army Corps until the surrender of 
Atlanta, Georgia, when he was honorably dis- 
charged. Mr. Seward was married August 30, 
1877, to Mi.ss Sadie M. Richeson, daughter of 
James Richeson ; mother's maiden name was 
Maria Highland. This union was blessed with 
one child, a son, Clyde L., born October 23, 187!.t, 
in Coshoction, Ohio. 

SEVERNS JACOB, Coshocton ; sheriff of Co- 
shocton county; was born April 16, 1S32, in New 
Castle township, Coshocton county, and raised on 
the farm; married September, 1855, to Mi.ss 
Elizabeth Dillin, daughter of William Dillin, of 
Perry township. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Sevcrns 
moved with his wife to Schuyler county, Illinois. 
During their sUiy there a son was born to them, 
but died at the age of si.xteen months. In 1868 
Mr. and Jlrs. Severns returned to their native 
county, but Mrs. Severns survived their return 
only a few weeks, having contracted consumption 
in their western home. Mr. Severns was mar- 
ried to Mi.ss Eliza Dillin, of Perry township, in 
1860. The result of this union was one daughter 
and two sons, viz : Eva, William E. and John L. 
Ml". Severns was elected to the office of .sheriff' in 
1877, and re-elected in 1879. Sheriff' Severns is a 
very efficient and competent public officer. 

SHAEFFER EJIANUEL, Coshocton ; general 
smithing shop; was born October 1, 1822, in Co- 
lumbiana county; son of Nathaniel Shaeffer, a 
native of York county, Pennsylvania, of German 
ancestry. Young Shaeffer spent his childhood 
at New Lisbon, Ohio, and in youth worked at 
different employments. At eighteen commenced 
his trade at New Lisbon with Hiltabiddle; also 
■worked in carriage shop of Polland & Wells of 



same place. He then formed a partnership with 
Diivid Kisinger, which continued one year; then 
established a shop, which he conducted until 
1851, when he began traveling, and worked in 
several different States for four years. In 1855 
he settled in this city, and has remained to the 
present time. Mr. Shaeftl'r recruited Company 
I, Ninety-seventh O. V. I., and was commissioned 
its captain, but owing to sickness resigned in 
1863. Capt. Shaeft'er was first married Decem- 
ber 18, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Ba.xter of Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, who became the 
mother of three children, viz : Charles, deceased ; 
Samuel L., and Mary Lettitia. The mother of 
these children died in October, 1851. Captain 
Shaeff'er was afterward married, .\ugust 16, 1855, 
to Su.sannah, dau.ghter of John Miller of this 
county, who became the mother of eight chil- 
dren, viz: .\lmeda, John W., Sarah E., Louis C, 
Charles, Roberta, Leonora, and Hattie. The cap- 
tain and his son, Sanniel L., are doing a very 
active business in general smithing and machine 
repairing. 

SHAFER EDMUND; farmer; postoffice, Plain- 
field ; was born in this township in 1847, and 
was married in 1870, to Jennie Scott, who wa* 
born in O.xford town.ship in 1851. They have 
three children : Sanniel, Steward and Emma- 
He is engaged in farming the home farm. 

SHAFER GEORGE; farmer; Lafayette town- 
ship; postoffice, West Lafayette; was born in 
Albany county. New York, in 1822, and came to- 
Ohio when quite small; was married in 1847, to 
Miss Margaret Smith, a native of Pennsylvania. 
Their children were: Jacob, deceased; George 
W., Martha E., John F., Mary C„ William W., 
Benjamin, Edward; Lizzie S., deceased, and 
Jennie. George, the eldest son, was out in 
the three-months service, and was a member of 
Company H, Ei.ghty-eighth O. V. L The subject 
of this sketch owns 116 acres of good land in this 
township, and is regarded as an honest, indus- 
trious citizen. 

SHAFER A., Lafayette township; farmer; 
postoffice, Jacobsport; was born in Albany 
county. New York, in 1809, and came to this 
township, in 1836; and is one of the oldest resi- 
dents of this township. He was married to Miss 
Maria Davis, of Schnectady county. New Y'ork, 
in 1836. They have had six children : Steven, 
decea.?ed ; Elizabeth A., Peter, Catharine, Baxter 
and' Alonzo. Mr. S. was county commissioner 
one term, township trustee two terms, and super- 
visor numorous times. His parents were New 
Yorkers of German descent. He owns 240 acres 
of land and although at an advanced age, is in- 
dustrious, and regarded as one of the prominent 
men of the township. 



BIOCiUArillCAL SKETCHES. 



785- 



SHANNON NATirAN R., Mill Creole; post- 
office, Keeiie ; born in ISol, in this county. His 
.snuulfather, Nath;ui Sh;innon, was born in 17'JC, 
in Wrtshington county, Pcnnsylviinia. He came 
to Harrison county in 18(1.3. He was married 
twice. His first wife dying, he married, in 1818, 
Miss Mary Endsly, of Harrison county, who was 
born in 1799, in Cinnberland county, I'ennsyl- 
vania. They were the parents of eleven children. 
John P., the father of the subject of this sketch, 
is the third child. He was born in 182;'), in Jef- 
ferson coimty, Ohio; came to tliis county in 182(i, 
with his father, and was married, in 185(1, to Miss 
Sarah A. ]\IcConneIl, of this county, who was ; 
born in 1830, in county Donegal, Ireland. They , 
are the parents of one child, the subject of this 
sketch. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Emma 
A. Clark, of this county, who was born in 185('), 
in this county. They are the parents of one 
child, John Earl. 

SHANNON J. J., Mill Creek township; farmer; 
postoffice, Keene; born in 1847, in this county. 
His father, J. M. Shannon, was born in 1800, in 
Pennsylvania. He came to this county, in 1828, 
and was married the same year, to ^fiss .lane 
John.son, who was born in 1810, and died in ]8();1 
They were the parents of eleven children. The 
subject of this sketch is the eighth. He was 
married, in 1880, to Miss M. .V Foster of this 
county, who was born in 1849, in this county. 
\Vm. B., brother of the subject of this article, 
was killed at the battle of Kene.'^aw .Afountain, 
June 27, 1864. He was a member of the Fiftv- 
first O. V. I. 

SHANNON WILLIAM, Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice, Tyrone; born in ]8o5, in this 
county. His father was born, in 1804, in Fayette 
county, Pennsylvania, and came to llarrisini 
county when a child. He was married, in 1820, 
to Miss Sarah Stone, of Harrison county, who 
was born in 1806, in Jcflerson county. They 
came to this county in 1831. She died in 1877. 
They were the parents of nine children, the sub- 
ject of this sketch being the fourth. lie was mar- 
ried, in 1859, to Miss Elenora JlcCluggage, of 
this county, who was born in 1839, in Allegheny 
county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of 
eight children, three of whom arc living, viz: 
Sarah E., Lulu B. and Bertie F. 

SHANNON CYRUS W., Monroe township; | 
born April, 1855, in Clark township, Coshocton j 
county, Ohio; son of Jeremiah and Sophia (Buck- [ 
master) Shannon, and grandson of I.saac and j 
Sarah (Stone) Shannon, and Richard and Eliza- , 
beth (Mattock) Buckmaster. He has si)ent the 
most of his life thus far in educating himself. 
He was married, Octobpr, 1880, to Miss Mary 
Brillhart, daughter of John and Jane Billhart. 



SHANAMAN ELLIAH, Mill Creek town.ship; 
farmer; posloflicc, New Bedford. Ohio; was born 
in Holmes county, April (i, I860, and is the son 
of Jonathan and Barbara Shanaman. 

SHARPLES JAMES, Bedford township; P. 
O. Warsaw; born in 1823 in Jefrerson county, 
Ohio, and came to this cpunty in 1833 with his 
father, who was born in 1778 in England. He 
was married twice. His second wife's maiden 
name was Miss Elizabeth JIarsdow. She was 
born in 1788. They came to Jetl'erson count}-, 
Ohio in 1819 or '30." She died in this county in 
18.j0. He went back to Jetl'erson county in 1856 
and died there in 1861. They were the parents 
of si.x children, James being the lifth. He was 
married in 1847 to Miss Ann E. Gelsthorpe, of 
this county, who was born in 1826 in England. 
They are the parents of eleven children, viz: 
Thomas S.; Eliza A., deceased; Alonzo, Russell; 
Sarah E., deceased; James B., Mary E.; Alice E.; 
deceased, an infant, deceased; Nannie R., and 
Ida M. 

SHARPLES RUSSELL, Bedford town.-hip; 
farmer; P. O. Tunnel Hill; born in 1853 in this 
comity, and was married in 1877 to Miss Clara 
Tredway, of this county, who was born in 18.57. 
They are the parents of two children, namely: 
Etta and an infant daughter. 

SH.VW DANIEL, Bedford township; farmer; 
postoffice, Warsaw ; born in 1821, in this county. 
His father, James Shaw, was born in 1790, in 
Harford county, jNIaryland, and was married in 
1820, to Jliss Sarah Tredway, of the same county^ 
who was born in 1798. They came to this coun- 
ty in 1820. He died in 1862. and shi> died in 
1870. They weare the i)arents of twelve chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the oldest. 
He was married in 1848, to Miss Athalia Wright, 
of this county, who was born in 1823. They are 
the jiarents of eleven children, viz : Viola, James 
W., William II.. Sarah L., Lewis C, Mary M., 
Meda, (deceaseil), Libby, Nathan E., Sabina and 
an infant, (dccea.sed). 

SHAW JAMES, Jackson township; postoffice, 
Roscoe; born in this county in 1828; son of 
,Iames and Sarah Shaw, and grandson of Joshua 
Shaw : married in 1.^.59. to Mary Cotn-twright, 
daughter of Jacob and Susan Courtwright. Mr. 
Shaw is the father of si.x children, viz: Frank, 
Sarah, Charles. Lewis, James M., Eward E. 

SHAW J. W., Coshocton; sewing machine 
agent; was born Se])teinl)er 14, 1838. in the County 
of Sligo, Ireland. His father, William Shaw, is 
yet living in Ireland. J. W. worked on the farm 
until he was about twcnty-eigiit years of age, 
when he came to America and settled in this 
city, in 1867. He farmed two years, then en- 



786 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



gaged in liis jirescnt business, which he has fol- 
lowed up to the present time. Mr. Shaw is doing 
a good share of the trade in his line in this place 
and vicinity. He was married November 19, 
1SG3, to Miss Martha Slorrow, daughter oj 
Thomas Morrow, of the County of Shgo, Ireland. 
This union was blessed with live children, one 
deceased, viz: Tliomas.. and four are living, viz: 
William, James, Sarah and Mariah. 

SHAW D. R., queensware and glassware 
dealer. Second .street, Coshocton. i\Ir. Shaw is a 
native of this city, and was born March 1, 183G; 
son of Hon. 13. R. Sliaw, American born, of 
English ancestry. At iifteen years of age he en- 
tered the drj' goods .store as clerk: at eighteen 
was appointed deputy postmaster. At twenty- 
one he bought a farm antl manafjed it eight years ; 
at twenty-nine returned to the city and engaged 
in the hardware business; at forty clianged his 
business from the hardware to that named above, 
in which he has ahnost the exchisive trade of the 
place and vicinity. j\Ir. Shaw served as quarter- 
master sergeant of the One Hundred and Forty- 
third O. N. G. for live months. He has very ac- 
cejitably tilled the office of township clerk and as 
member of city council, and is at present piresi- 
dent of the board of directors of the M. E. 
church, of this city. Mr. Shaw was married 
December 2.3, 1S.5G, to Miss Aljiha J. Benson, 
daughter of John Benson, of Perry township, 
and cousin to James A. Garfield. This union 
was blessed with four children, one of whom 
died in infancy, and three are living, viz: Emma 
Frances, William Walter, and Benjamin Lewis. 

SHEAFER WILLIAM, Newcastle township; 
■farmer; was born in Lancaster comity, Pennsyl- 
vania, October 22, I^SI ; son of John and Cath- 
arine (Price) Sheafer, and grandson of John and 
Elizabetli Sheafer, and of William and Jane 
Price. He spent liis boyhood days attending 
public school and working at farm work. He 
went to Knox county in the year 1834, and in 
1836 moved to Newcastle, where lie now resides. 
He is an enterjirising farmer and an obliging 
neighbor. Mr. Sheafer was married to Miss Pau- 
line Lewis, daughter of Henry and JIary McVey. 
Her father was of Welsli and her mother of Irish 
descent. Slie was born in East Union, Co.shoctoii 
county, December 7, 1843. They have been 
blessed with one child, viz: John, born Mav i>, 
1875. 

SHEARN WILLIAM, Jackson township; Ros- 
coe postoffice; born in South Wales, in 1826; set- 
tled in this county in ISol; son of Henry and 
Hannah (Gulifer) Shearn; married in 18.54, to 
Zillah Stubbs. Mr. Shearn is the father of seven 
children, viz: Jonah, deceased ; WilHam, deceased; 
Bettie H.. born February 18, 1850; Sarah E., born 
October 28, 1860; Ester^ born August 21, 1863; 



Susannah, born October 5, 186.5; Joseph B., born 
October .30, 1867. Elizabeth H. was married in 
1877, to Martin H. Carter. 

SHEPLER A. J., Coshocton, jihotographcr, 
west Locust street ; was born in Coshocton coun- 
ty, August 22, 1842; son of Peter Shepler, of Ger- 
man and French extraction; was brought up on 
the farm until the age of seventeen, when he be- 
gan to learn photography at ^lillersburg, Ohio. 
He has traveled extensively, working in most of 
the princijKil cities of the West. By special re- 
quest, in Atilhony's Pli(ftiigrapl(ic Bti!ldin,he de- 
scribes the process by which lie jiroduced pic- 
tures exhibited at the Chicago exposition in 1874. 
Also, in the Philadeljihia l'li(A',r/r(iplier,'MT. Shep- 
ler's improved method of worlcingatiink for wash- 
ing prints, is given. He is very suece.ssful inhisart. 
Mr. Shepler was married September, 1860, to Miss 
Nancy, (-laughter of James and Mary A. Gray, of 
Holmes county. Their children are named Laura 
E., E<ldie L., James P. and Henry V. 

SHIELDS JOHN, Bedford township; black- 
smith; postoffice. West Bedford; born in 1819, in 
Harrison county; came to this county in 1844, 
and was married in 1844. to Miss Jane Harrison, 
of this county, who was born in 1820, and died in 
ISGO. They were the parents of six children, viz: 
Thomas H", William J., Margret J., Minerva A., 
S. P. and Mary E. He, in 1867, married Miss 
Mary Hillary, of this county, who was born in 
1834, in Licking county. Mr. Shields,, besides 
being a blacksmith, also makes hayrakes and 
wagons. 

SCHOTT M. J., foreman in the Empire mills, 
Roscoe, Ohio ; w-as born November .5, 1848, in 
Roscoe; son of Nicholas and Caroline (Rosen- 
berger) Schott. Y''oung Schott began life a poor 
boy ; but by careful economy and industry, he has 
been quite successful. Mr. Schott was married 
to Jliss Mary, daughter of John and Margaret 
Clark. They are the parents of one child, viz: 
Caroline Estella. Mrs. Schott was born October 
9, 1850, in Sandusky, Erie county, Ohio. When 
two years of age she was abducted from her par- 
ents, by Clarinda Montgomery (maiden name 
Mathews), an aunt of the child. She was taken 
first to Utica. New York ; then to Newark, Ohio; 
thence to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and finally to Roscoe, 
where she was rescued by the neighbors of the 
party holding the child, then about ten years of 
age.' She was taken by ;\Irs. Smith, one of the 
kind deliverers, with whom she found a comfort- 
able and happy ho;nc until her marriage, as 
stated before. 

SHAW WILLIAM, proprietor Central Hotel. 

corner Main and Second streets, Coshocton, Ohio, 

I Mr. Shaw was born INIan'h 5, 1834, in Leesburg, 

Ohio ; son of Uriah and Sa 



xirah (True) Shaw. Mr. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



787 



S. was brought up on the farm, where he re- 
mained until he was about twenty-eiglit years of 
age, wlien lie began merchandising in Hogers- 
ville, Ohio, where he remained about twelve years, 
when he sold out his stock and moved to Avon- 
dale and took charge of the Avondale House, 
which he kojjt three years and establislied a wide 
reputation as a good landlord. In the spring of 
ISSl he took charge of his present house, which 
in his care has become very ])opular. Jlr. S. was 
married lirst August 20, 1857, to Sarah Garver, 
who died without children, in 1n72. He was 
married the second time February 2ti, 1874, to 
Mrs. IMartha, daughter of George and Sarah (Tor- 
ton) Wilson. Mrs. Shaw was married lirst, Au- 
gust 20, 18GG, to Hugh Leonard. They became 
the parents of two children, viz: Mary Grace 
and Josie Bell. Mr. Leonard died .July 12, 1872. 

SHROYER C. A , FrankHn township; born in 
Franklin towushi]i, August 21, l.'^42; son of An- 



drew J. Sh 



■nlisted August 22, 1SG2, in 



company i). One Hundred and Twenty-second 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry; partici]iated" in the 
liattles of the Wilderness. Spotsylvania Court 
House, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, etc. At 
Winchester, while in the Hospit;il, was captured 
and imprisoned in Libby, and afterward on 
Belle Island, but was exchanged about si.x weeks 
afterward ; married October 24, 18C7, to Mary 
Craig, of Lafayette tcjwnshiji, and lias two chil- 
dren, viz : Jennie L. and Rose Estella. 

SHULTZ ALKX.VNDER, Adams town.ship ; 
farmer ; postotlice, Evansburgh ; boru in Jellerson 
county, September 24, 1841; son of Jacob and 
Eliza J. (Cook) Shultz, and grandson of Henry 
Shultz and Jesse Cook. He enlisted J.anuary 1, 
1862, in Company G, Eightieth O. V. I , under 
Capt. Marshall, went into camp at camp Meigs, 
thence to camp Cha.se at Columbus, Ohio, thence 
to camp Joe Holt, thence to Paducah, Kentucky, 
and from tliere to Hamburg, Tennessee, thence 
to camp Clear Creek, 5Iississip]ii, and from there 
was sent to Evansville ho.spital, Indiana, where 
he remained seven months, and from there came 
home, having received his discharge on the Sth 
<if February, 1~-G.'3, on account of disability. He 
has devoted most of his time .since then to farm- 
ing; was also proprietor of Shultz House in 
Chili for eight year.s. He lived one and a half 
years in Tuscarawas county. From there he 
moved to Adams township, this county, where 
he is at present living, in very prosperous con- 
dition He was married January 20, 1867, to Miss 
Catharine E Gee.se, daughter of Sanuiel and 
Lydia (Killian) Geese, and grandilanghler of 
(^atharine Geese, and John and Elizalieth (Long) 
Killian. Mrs. Shultz was born in Cumberlan(l 
county, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1848, and 
came to Ohio in Mav of the same vear. Thev 



have two children — Edgar G., born June 4, 1868, 
and Lydia J., born January 3, 1870. 

SHULTZ JACOB, farmer; White Eyes town- 
ship; a native of Belmont countv, and was born 
February, 1819. In 1,S40 he married Miss Eliza 
J. Cook, of Jeflferson county. They have four 
children living: Alex., born 1841, is married and 
lives in Adams townshiji; Elizabeth, born Janu- 
ary 1848, is married and lives in l)avis county, 
Indiana; Laura B., born August 28, 18G3, and 
Agnes C.born January 21, 18(JG, are unmarried 
and live in Chili. Mr." Shultz enlisted in ISGl in 
Co. C, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvana Regiment. 
He was in the battles of I^ihcrty, Hoovers' Gap, 
Pittsburg Landing, Chickamauga, and a number 
of skirmishes. He was in the service over three 
years. He is now living on a farm of eighty acres 
south of Chili. 

SHRIGLEY GEORGE J., carpenter and con- 
tractor, of the firm of Shrigley and Hughes, Co- 
shocton, Ohio. Mr. Shrigley was born August 4, 
1844, in Adamsville, Salem township, Muskingum 
county, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Werts) 
Shrigley. They were natives of Loudon cotnity, 
Maryland. Young Shrigley was brought up on 
a farm; in 18G9, went to his trade; came to this 
city in 18G8. He enlisted in company E, One 
Hundred and Sixtieth O. N. G., and served four 
months. Mr. Shrigley w:is married, October 11, 
18G6, toMiss Lyde, daughter of Rev. J. H. and 
Rebecca (Samiile) Rogers. They are the parents 
of two children, viz: Clara Belle and Hamilton H. 

SICKER JOHN H., Linton township; farmer; 
born August 25, 1819, in Albany county. New 
York ; son of John and Charlotte (Kirker) Sick- 
er; grandson of Lewis and Margaret (Fratt) 
Sicker, and of Henry and Marg.-iret] (Campbell) 
Kirker. His grandmother Kirker was from 
Holland ; his other grandparents, from Germany. 
His grandfather Sicker, born in Wittemburg, 
Germany, crossed the ocean at seventeen years 
of age, about 1755, as a German .soldier in the 
English service, and served in the Canadian 
war. By permission of his general he re- 
mained here, working on a farm in Schenectady 
county, New York; while there his employer 
sent him with two .slaves to a Mr. Fratt, in Al- 
bany county. Fratt invited him to remain over 
Simday ; he stayed, loved and married his daugh- 
ter. In 1835 Mr. Sicker moved with his parents 
to Linton townshiji, and has livc<l here since. 
In 1839 he married Jane Rodruck, daughter of 
Lewis Rodruck. Children living are— Charlotte, 
Margaret J., Rebecca, John L., Anna, Elmira 
and Alice. 

SIMMONS CALVIN, farmer; Tiverton town- 
shi]); iiostoffice, Gann. Knox county; born in 
18;54, September 28, in this comity. He w;is 



788 



HISTORY OP COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



married in 18.)9, to Miss Rebecca J., daughter of 
S. Day, of Coshocton county, who was born ^hiy 

3, 1840, in Knox county, and died December 4. 
1863. They were the parents of two cliildren, 
viz: Edwin E., b<irn December 22, 18o'.»; William 
E., liorn September 29, 1863. He was married 
December 18, 1866, to Miss Eda II. Bailey, 
dattghter of John Bailey, of this township, who 
was born August 27, 1840. They are the parents 
of two children : Carlos H., born April 10, 1868, 
and Benjamin B., born December 6, 1869. 

SIMMONS ABRAHAM; farmer and Justice 
of the Peace; Tiverton township; P. O. Gann, 
Knox county; born in 1832, in this township. His 
grandfather, Abraham Simmons was born in 
1764, in Massachusetts, and was married in 17i>4, 
to !Miss Polly Borden, of Massachusetts, who was 
born in 1778. They came to this county in 1817. 
He died in 1846. She died in 1S55. They were 
the parents of six children, the oldest child, Ben- 
jamin, being the father of the subject of this 
sketch. He was born in 1796, in JIassachusetts, 
and wa.s married September 19th, 1820, to Miss 
Lovey Giffin, of Knox county, who was born in 
1861 in Indian Wheeling. He died December 

4, 1874. They w-ere the parents or five children, 
the subject of this sketch being the fottrth. He 
was married in November 1854 to Miss Margaret 
Winslow, of this township, who was born in 1838. 
They are the parent.s of live children— John, 
died August 9th, 1880; Hetty, Benjamin, died 
September 6th, 1863 ; ilary L., died May 6th, 
1879, and Sarah E, Abraham Simmons' grand- 
father Robert Gilfin, was born in 1776, in Vir- 
ginia. He was married in 1800 to Miss Hetty 
Harris, of Virginia. She was born in 1779. They 
came to St. Clairsville Ohio in 1800, and to this 
county in 1807 They moved to Knox county in 
1812, and moved back to New Castle, this county, 
in 1847. He died in 1847. She died in 1851. 
They were the parents of twelve children, Lovey, 
the mother of Abraham Simmons, the subject of 
this sketch, being the oldest. 

SINDEN WILLIAM, Lafayette township; 
farmer ; was born in Sussex county. Parish Pen- 
hurst, England, in 1849; came to America and to 
this county in 1855. He was married in 1.S74 to 
Miss Margaret Shirer, of Muskingunt county. 
They have had two children, Harriet, aged three 
years, and Clare, one year. Mr. Sinden lias lived 
on what is known as the Miller farm for the past 
eight years, and is licmest and industrious. He 
visited his native country during the war. 

SISLEY PERRY, Bedford township; farmer; 
postotlice, Tunnel Hill ; born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, and came to this county in 18.39, 
with his mother, his father, Jacob, having died 
in 1827. in Pennsylvania, His mother died in 
1865. They were the parents of seven children. 



the subject of this sketch being the sixth. He 
was married in 1870, to Miss Eliza A. Ogle, of 
this county, who was born in 1853, in this comity. 
They are the jxirents of four children: Lora J., 
William K., Silas T., and Charlie N. 

SKINNER WILLIAM T., Keene township; 
farmer; born February 6, ISOO, in Hartford, 
Connecticut ; son of Nathaniel .Skinner, a revolu- 
tionary soldier, born July 28, 1745, and Margaret 
(Hunt) Skinner, born September 14, 1757. By a 
previous marriage to Rebecca Bigelow,born Jan- 
unary 10, 1750, his father had two children— 
Rhoda and JIary. His two grand fathers were 
John Skinner and .\Iexander Hunt. He was 
married May, 1831, to Mary, datighter of Timothy 
and Polly (Trowbridge) Emerson, born in 1806. 
Their children are: Julia, born March 22, 1832; 
Adeline P., October 28, 1836; Timothv, deceased, 
born in 11^4.3, and Mary E , in the fall of 1854. 
Mrs. Skinner died in February, 1860. 

SMAILES S. H., Virginia township ; born 
June 7, 1839, in Washington township, Coshocton 
county, Ohio; son of Thomas and Sarah (McCoy) 
Smailes. Mr. Smailes was brought up on a farm, 
and was educated in district schools. At the age 
of twenty-one years he began life for himself. 
When the rebellion broke out he enlisted in 
Company I, Ninety-seventh Regiment, 0. V. I., 
and was in the army of the Cuml>erland, serving 
from August 13, 1862. !Mr. Smailes was engaged 
ill the battles of Chattanooga, Chickamauga, 
Resaca, Dalton and Kingston, and was mustered 
otit of the service July 27, 1S65. In the month 
of March, 1869, he opened a store in JIoscow, 
where he still continues to do business. He mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth A. Spayde, January 2, 1869, 
daughter of John and Margaret Spayde. They 
were blessed with four children. 

SMART J. S., .superintendent of paper-mills, 
Coshocton ; born iMay 15, 1843, in Queen's coun- 
ty, Long Island, New York; son of Robert T. 
Smart, a native of New York City, of English an- 
cestry. At eighteen years of age, young Smart 
t<iok charge of his father's paper-mills, at Troj', 
New York. In 1869 he went to Great Bend, New 
York, and superintended a paper-mill. In 1873 he 
built and was part owner of a paper-mill at Bloss- 
ville, Oneida county, New' York, firm name of 
Holsead, Parry & Sn'iart ; sold his interest in 1875 
and moved to Michigan, and superintended a 
paper-mill until 187s, when he settled on a farm 
in Nebraska, and remained one year, when he 
sold a part of the farm at a good profit and came 
to this city and entered upon his present duties. 
Married September 29, 1S64. to Miss Margaret 
Martin, daughter of James G. Martin. They have 
had three children, one of whom, Grace, died in 
infancy. Frank Everet and Harry are the two 
living children. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



SMITH MISS EMILY, Adams township; 
teacher; postoffice, Avondale; was born in Adams 
township; daughter of Daniel and Mary (Funk) 
Smith, and granddaughter of Eilwaril and Han- 
nah (Morris) Smitli, and of Mirhael and Savina 
(Shisher) Funk; also great granddaughter of 
Edward and Elizabeth (Davison) Smith, and of 
Bazel and jMargaret Morris, Peter Funk, and 
Frederick and Margaret (Huntsiker) Slusher. 
Her father was born in Washington count)', 
Pennsylvania, December 29, 180;5, and came to 
Clark "township in 1S36. Her niotlicr was also 
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Oc- 
tober 1, 1803. They were married June 10, 1833. 
Emily has one broth.'r, Edward, and one sister, 
Meliiida. She is a teacher of common schools, 
and, as such has always met with success. 

SMITH CHRISTIAN, Adams township; tin- 
ner; postoffice, Bakersville; born near Berne, in 
Switzerland, May 3, 1844; son of Peter and Mary 
(Cower) Smith. " He came to America with his 
parents when he was but four years of age, 
landing in New York after a voyage of eight 
weeks. From there he went to Stark county, 
Ohio, where he remained about fourteen years. 
He enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and 
Fourth O V. I., under Captain Slerl, and served 
three years. After coming home he worked at 
his trade, which he had learned with his father 
before the war. He spent several years in Jlis- 
souri, and, in 1872. came to Bakersville, where he 
established himself in business. He was mar- 
ried in May, 1874. to Miss Mary Shannon, daugh- 
ter of Isaac Shannon, and granddaughter of Will- 
iam Shannon. They have one child, Peter, born 
jMay 3, 1875. 

SMITH JOSEPH, Coshocton; barber; born 

June 7, 1857, in Zanesville; son of Joseph Smith, 
born in Germany. When eight years old he came 
to this city with "his father, and'attend(« the pub- 
lic schools here until he was thirteen years old, 
when he went into the Coshocton iron and steel 
factory to work, and continued there until June, 
1876, when he began his trade, and linished it in 
two years, since which time he has been em- 
ployed in the same shop, on a salary. 

SMITH M. S., grocer and confectioner, corner 

Second and Chestnut streets, Coshocton; ;- 

Smith, business manager and salesman. This 
tirm was established July 1, 1879, and occupies 
l)leasant and commodious rooms in J. Gundishci- 
mer's building, twenty-two by forty feet, where 
they carry a good stock of staple and fancy fam- 
ily "groceries,"confectioneries, stoneware, wooden- 
ware, sugar-cured and pickled m<\its, river and 
Dover salt, flour, salt tish, oysters in season,_ tobac- 
cos and cigars; also, pays cash for all kinds of 
country produce. 



SMITH GEORGE, Coshocton; blacksmith; born 

November .'<, 1851, in Lafayette township; son of 
John Smith, born in Pennsylvania, of English 
ancestry. Young Smitii was raised on the farm. 
At the age of twenty he went into his father's 
shop to learn his trade. In 1808, he, with his 
father, moved to Illinois, but only remained eight 
months, when all came back to the old home- 
stead in Lafayette. On returning, George worked 
at Jacobsport, from which jUace he came to this 
city and established a shop on Second street, 
where he is doing a fair business in smitfiingand 
shoeing. Mr. Smith was married in .\pril, 1878, 
to Miss Mary Dufi'ey, of Lafayette. The result of 
this marriage is a son, named Charley. 

SMITH WILLIAM, O.xford township; farmer; 
postoffice, Evansburgh; son of George Smith, de- 
ceased; was born in England, in 1834. His 
father was born in England in 1810, and came to 
this country in 1844, and died in 1873. His 
mother was born in ISVit. and died in 1880. He 
was married to Miss Ann Taylor, of this county, 
daughter of Joseph Taylor, in 1859. The chil- 
dren are as follows: John M'esley, born in 1860; 
George CliHVjrd, born in 1862; Joseph Sherman, 
born in 1804; William, born in 1807; Emma, 
born in 18(;8; Sarah Catherine, born in 1870; 
Franklin, born in 1872; Burt, born in 1875, and 
Richard, born in 1878, Mr, and Mrs. Smith are 
both members of the M. E. church, and are re- 
spected citizens of this township. He was super- 
visor one year in this township; owns some 336 
acres of land, in a high state of cultivation, etc. 

SMITH THOMAS F., Oxford township; farm- 
er ; postoffice. Newcoinerstown : was born in Eng- 
land, and was married in 18.57, to Miss Everall, 
daughter of John F^verall, of this township, who 
came from England in 1830 Their children are 
as follows : Lawrence Wellington, Laura V,; Mary 
A„ dece.a.sed; Harriet E., John T,, M. E A., 
George W. W. and Lotta. He has been trustee 
for two years in this township, and school direct- 
or. He owns a farm of 230 acres in this county, 
and is a representative citizen. He and his wite 
are members of the United Brethren church. 

SMITH MRS. ISABELLA E., Keene town- 
shij) ; widow of James F. Smith ; born in Rhode 
Island, September 25, 1811; son of William C. 
and Hannah (Richmond) Smith. She was born 
March 5, IslO, near Adams, New York, The 
daughter of Samuel and Lucinda Crowell, and 
granddaughter of Solomon Crowell, and Phineas 
and Sybil Leonard, When a year old she moved 
to Sackett's Harbor and there lived till about 
twenty-two years of age, when she came to New 
Haven, Holmes county, Ohio, where she married 
Mr, Smith, a drv goods merchant of this place, 
November 14, 1838. In 1842 they moved to St. 



790 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUIJTY. 



Louis, where Mr. Smith diccl of throat disease, 
April 3, 1.S63. In 1808 she returned to this 
county. Their children were: Alice Gertrude, 
born October 1, 1840, and married January 24, 
1800, to Francis C. Sprague, and resides in St. 
Louis ; Charles F., born October 20, 1842 ; Frances 
R., born August 12, 1848 ; Carrie B., born July 8, 
1855, and married to H. Bell, of St. Louis; and 
William C, born July 24, 1852. jNIrs. Smith has 
one grandchild. Lulu B. Sprague, born Septem- 
ber 10, LS66. 

SMITH JOSEPH, Jackson township; post- 
• office, Tyrone ; born in Fayette county, Penn- 
sylvania,"in 180.3; son of James and ]Mary Smith, 
and grandson of Thomas and Mary Smith; mar- 
ried, in 1827, to Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of 
James and Martha Hiwtings; settled in Jackson 
township m 1834. Jlr. Smith is an old and much 
respected citizen of Jackson township, and is 
widely known as " Uncle Jo Smith." He is the 
father of twelve children, seven of whom are 
(lead and five living. He had one son, George 
W., who gave up his life for his country. He 
was a member of Company H, Ninetv-seventh 
O. V. I. 

SMITH MRS. NANCY, Bedford township; 
postoffice. New Bedford; born in 1802, in Jetier- 
son county, Ohio; was married, in 1822, to Mr. 
William Smith, of the same county. He was 
born in 1801, in Virginia; came to this comity 
in 1834, and died in 1804. They were the i^a- 
rentsof eight children, viz: JIary A.; Ruth, de- 
ceased; Matilda, James L.; Richard M., deceased; 
Nathaniel, deceased; Susan, deceased; and Al- 
fred L. Richard and Nathaniel were in the 
Fifty-lirst O. V. I. Immediately upen the death 
of Mr. Smith, she purchased the property where 
she now lives. 

SMITH THOMAS, Bedford county, farmer; 
P. O. Warsaw; born in 1840 in this county. His 
father, George W. Smith, was born in 1810, in 
Virginia, and was married in 1838 to Miss Lu- 
cinda Brickcr, of this county, who was born in 
1814 in Pennsylvania He died in 1850. They 
were the parents of .six children, Thomas being 
the fifth. He was married in 1808 to Miss Eliza- 
beth J. Carrel!, of this county, who was born in 
184S. They arc the parents of .six children, viz: 
David C, infant, deceased; Perry F., Charley G.; 
John N., deceased, and Nelly. Mr. Smith en- 
listed in February, 1804, in Company F, Fifty- 
first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. Wood com- 
manding. He was mustered out in November, 
1865. 

SMITH HENRY M., Bethlehem township, 
farmer; was born May 20, 1838, in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania. He was married January 
10, 1801, to Miss Isiibella Golden, of Washington 



county. They had one child, J. Alva, born in 
1802. " Mr. Siiiith's wife died A]iril 10.1804. Mr. 
Smith enlisted as a private in the Eighty-first 0. 
V. I., of Washington county, and served eighteen 
months. He came to Coshocton count}' in 1862. 
He was married October 22, 1806 to Miss Martha 
J. Milligan, of Coshocton county, who was born 
December 4, 1842. They are the parents of 
seven children, viz : Jesse P., Sarah E., Celia J., 
Mary L., James H., John H. and an infant. Mr. 
Smith has always followed the occupation of a 
farmer, and has accumulated some property. 

SMITH T. J., M. D., Tuscarawas township; 
postofBce, Canal Lewisville; was born November 
30, 1846, in Washington town.ship; son of James 
M. Smith, a native of Ohio. James M. Smith was 
raised on the farm until about 17 years of age, 
when he began teaching scliool, and tiiught two 
terms, and in the meantime attended school until 
he was nineteen years old, when he began the 
reading of medicine with Dr. Edwards, of West 
Carlisle, and attended lectures at the Cincinnati 
college of medicine and surgerv, and was gradu- 
ated February 10, 1870, with the title of M. D". 
Dr. Smith first practiced his profession at Plain- 
field, where he remained five years, then located 
in Coshocton and practiced there a short time, 
and then went to his present location, where he 
has an extensive practice. Dr. Smith was mar- 
ried April 14, 1870, to Miss Olivia Ingraham, 
daughter of Dr. Ingraham, of Coshocton. This 
union has been bles.-icd with one child, Stella J. 
In connection with his general practice. Dr. 
Smith has been physician to the county infirm- 
ary two years. 

SMITH WILLI.VM, M. D., Pike township; 
born in 1825, in this county. His father, Edward, 
was born in Ireland, in 1702. He came to this 
country in 1812, and to this county in 1815. He 
married Miss Jane Richardson, of this county, 
who was ijorn in Virginia. He died in 1872. 
She died in 1876. They were the parents of 
seven children. William Smith began to read 
medicine in 1848, under Dr. Simmons, of Bed- 
ford, this county. He practiced under an act of 
the State Legislature, it granting a diploma after 
ten years reputable practice. He was m.arried 
in 1855, to Jliss Mary J. McKee, of this county, 
who was born in 1830, in this county. They are 
the parents of one child, Maria .V., deceased. 

SNEDIKER G. P., Jackson township; Roscoe 
postoffice; born in (3hio county. West Virginia, 
in 1823, settled in this county in 1840; son of 
Jacob and Eleanor Snediker, and grandson of 
Garrett and Elizabeth Snediker, and of Joshua 
and ^Margaret Porter. He was married in 1850, 
to Rutha McCoy. His second wife was Edith 
Ingraham. Mr. Snediker is the father of eleven 
cliildren. The names of those living are: Will- 



BIOGl{APinCAL SKETCHES. 



791 



iani, Siimli A., Martha J., Miirgrct, James, Joseiih, \ 
Laura Lovenia and Charles K. 

SNIDf^R J. T., Keeiio township; jihysician ; 
bom in Knox county, Ohio, Dooembcr 2, l.s.'il ; 
sou of J. F. and Mary (J:)oan) Hnidcr, both born 
in Germany, and grandson of ,J. T. Snider and 
Carl Dean, of Lichten, Germany. His fadier en- 
listed November, 1.'-'61, in Company K, Forty- 
third O. V. I., and re-enlistcd in the same com- 
pany in 1.S63; served to the close of the war, but, 
broken down in health, he died soon after his re- 
turn. Dr. Snider attended school at New Caslle 
from twelve to .seventeen, then taught .school live 
years in Ohio, and two, in Illinois. He then be- 
gan the study of medicine under Dr. McElwee, 
and graduated at the medical department of the 
Wooster university, in l.'^77,and began practicing 
at Mohawk in March, 1S77, and in October, 1678, 
came to Keene. 

SNOW DA K lUS, Jfonroe township; was born 
in May, 184t>, in Monroe township, Coshocton 
county, Ohio; son of Alonzo and Catharine (Mc- 
Bride) Snow, and grandson of Darius Snow. He 
was brought up on a farm and educated in the 
district school. His father died while lie was 
quite young, and the responsibility of taking care 
of his mother and sister was a duty which he 
performed faithfully. He married Miss Eliza- 
beth Blubaugh, in January, ISGO, who was born 
in March, 1842, daughter of Benjamin S. and 
Charlotte (Heckle) Blubaugh, and grandilaughter 
of John and Elizabeth (Saj)p) Blubaugh. Their 
children were: Mary F, born .Vpril 2.% l.SGl ; 
Eliza B.,born December 23, 18ti2; Alonzo B., born 
December 22, l.*G4; Nancv Jane, born June .31, 
1809; Martha, born July '1.3, l.s73; John, born 
Jnly 2, 187o, and one not yet named, born Jiilv 
20, 1877. 

SNYDER DANIEL, Coshwton ; miller, of the 
lirm of Sayer, Balch cfe Co.; was born October 2(5, 
1843, in Tucarawas coimty ; .son of I'eter Snyder, 
a native of 'Switzerland. Young Snyder was 
brought up on the farm, where he remained un- 
til twent}--one years of age, when he went West 
and stopped in Indiana, where he remained 
about two years, then removed, sullering from a 
bad case of fever and ague. On recovering his 
health he went to Starke county and romaineil 
one }-ear. -Vt twenty-four years of age he began 
the carpenter trade. After working at the trade 
two years, he again visited the West, stopping in 
Indiana one year, then going to Kansas City, 
where he did the carpenter work of several bniUl- 
ings in that city. In Jaiuiary, 1871, he returned 
to the city and stopped at Chili a short time, 
then came to this city and followed his trade un- 
til August 1880, wlien thcabove firm was formed. 
Mr. Snyder was married March 2.8, 1875, to Jliss 



Catharine Madison, daughter of Joseph Madison, 
of Chili. This union has been bles.sed with two 
sons, Charles C. and Frank Snyder. 

SNYDER S. W., Coshocton; dealer in pelts, 
hides, furs, tallow, dried fruits, etc. .Air. Snyder 
is a native of this county, and was born June 23, 
1S40. He received his education in the district 
schools, and learned the harnessmaking business. 
After serving his tim(^ he embarked in business 
for him.self at Roscoe, in l8G(j. lie also com- 
menced ati- the same time to deal in hides, pelts, 
furs, etc., in connection with the harness business^ 
which he continued for twelve years, when, in 
1873, he relinquished the harness bnsiness and 
has since given his entire attention to the present 
department, in which he does a business of about 
§35,000 per year. He also has a half interest in 
the lirm of Snyder & Andrews, in the livery bus- 
iness, and in which they have a stock (jf eleven 
head of horses and eleven vehicles, consisting of 
single and double carriages, buggies and ba- 
rouches, all of which are in good con<lition, and 
aftbrd tirst-cla.ss accommodations for the travel- 
ing public. Mr. Snyder is a self-made man in <he 
strictest sense of the word, having been always- 
dependent on his own etlorts, and in commencing, 
life his only capital was his energy, pcrseverence 
and integrity, and at present he owns valuable 
real estate, besides doing a successful business. 

SNYDER NOAH, Crawford township; jew- 
eler; postofhce. New Bedford, Ohio ; born April 
16, 1855, in German township, Holmes county. 
He was brought up on the farm. .Vt the age of 
twenty he began teaching school and taught three 
terms, after which he farmed three years. In 
the spring of 1880, he took a prospecting trip to 
the West, visiting the States of Illinois, Michigan 
and .Indiana, and returned in the same; year, sat- 
isfied to "let well enough alone" for the" present. 
Ri December, 1880, he established his present 
business, in which he is having good success. 

SNYDER B. M., Crawford township; farmer; 
postoflice, New Bedford; born October 31,1844, 
in Germ.an township. Holmes county; was 
brought up on the farm, where he remained un- 
til l<s(1.5, when he engaged in oil i)roducing in 
Noble county one year, and was subsequently en- 
gaged one year each in the mill business and 
ware-house at Millersburg, Holmes county, then 
with a portable .saw-mill, until 1878, sincewhich 
time he has given his entire attention to farming. 
Mr. Snyder was elected justice of the peace of 
Crawford township in 1877, and re-elected in 
1880. 'Scpiire Snyder was married June 14, 
1872, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Ferdinand 
and Elizabeth Smith. Mrs. Snyder was born on 
the farm where they now resiile. They are the 
parents of two children — Etlwin F. and Marv 
Jeiizabcth. 



792 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



SPANGLER E. T., Coshocton ; attorney of the 
firm of Spangler tt Pomereno; w;is born Janu- 
ary 20, 1832, in Zanesville, Ohio; scjn of Hon. 
D.ivid Spangler, who was American born, of 
German ancestry. When E. T. was but one 
year old, he was l)rought to this place by liis pa- 
rents. Young Sjiangler spent his childhood and 
early youth attending school. At the age of 
sixteen years, he entered Kenyon college, at 
Gambler", and was graduated in 1852. On his re- 
turn home he entered, as a student, tli(; law office 
of his fatlier, and was admitted to the bar in 
185i. He first practiced with his father, until 
his decease, in October, 1856. He then formed a 
partnership with his brother, A. H., the lirm 
name being E. T. & A. H. Spangler, which lirm 
continued al)OUt two years. From its close, E. T. 
continued his practice alone, until 1808, when the 
present firm was formed. Attorney Spear was 
married, in May, 1808, to Miss Helen King, 
daughter of Attorney Samuel D. King, of New- 
ark," Ohio. They are the parents of one child, 
Charles E., born in June, 1809. 

SPECK JOSEPH, Jeflferson township; postof- 
fice, Warsaw; born in Baden, Germany, Novem- 
ber 7, 1808; son of Starnus and Avon Speck. At 
the age of seventeen he began the blacksmith 
trade with Ignatius Storts, and served three 
years, then worked as a journeyman one year. 
He then served six years in the German army; 
then sold clocks two years; then embarked for 
America, and after a voyage of eight nicmths 
landed in New York, and from there he came to 
Jeli'erson township, Coshocton county, where he 
has remained a resident ever since. After com- 
ing to this country he sold clocks one year, and 
since then has been farming. He was married 
in May, 1837, to Miss Caroline Gamertsfelder, who 
died January 0, 1844. They hail two children' viz : 
Christian and John. He married, in June, 1844, 
Miss Margaret Straum. They had seven children, 
viz: Gotlieb, Joseph; Caroline, deceased; David, 
\A^illiam. Daniel and George. 

SPECKMAN JOHN, Jefferson township ; shoe- 
maker ; postotRce, Warsaw ; was born in Jeffer- 
son township, Coshocton county. May 15, 1840; 
son of John and Ros* A. (Frederick) Speck- 
man, and grandson of George and Christina 
Frederick, natives of Canstadt, Wurtembcrg, 
Germany. He lived on the farm luitil the age 
of seventeen, at which time he enlisted in Com- 
pany I, Fifty-first O. V. 1., and served twenty 
months. He was engaged in the battles of the 
Atlanta campaign, under Gen. Sherman; then, 
under Gen. Thomas, was in the battle of Frank- 
lin, Tennessee; was afterwards sent to Texas, 
and was among the last troops discharged at the 
close of the war. He was married July 1, 1809, 
to Miss Matilda McPeek, daughter of James and 



Margaret (Boyd) McPeek, of Harrison county. 
They have three children, viz: J. M., born No- 
vember 17, 1871 ; George W., born July 19, 1874 ; 
and Dora A., born (X'toljer 31, 1875. Mr. Speck- 
man began the shoemaker's trade in 1.807 with 
F. Seal, and served seven months apprenticeship. 
He then began business for himself m Princeton, 
and worked there ab(Hit eight years. Then came 
to ^^'arsaw and opened a shop, where he is doing 
a good business in shoemaking. 

SPENCER W. K., Bedford township ; teacher ; 
postoffice, West Bedford ; born in 1843, in Mus- 
kingum county, Ohio; came to this county in 
1852, with his mother, his tiither having died in 
1,845 in Muskingum county. W. K. Spencer was 
married in 1873, to Miss Ada Thonjpson, of this 
coimty, who was born in 1.S55. They are the 
parents of four children, viz : Maud, Amos P., 
Charlie C. antl Blanche D. Mr. Spencer began 
teaching in 1807 and has made it a business, al- 
ways teaching in this county, and principally in 
town. He entered the army November 15, 1801, 
as a member of General McLaughlin's Independ- 
ent Cavalry, and was in the service for four 
years, being honorably discharged November 15, 
1805. He participated in forty-live battles and 
skirmishes. 

SKINNER C, Coshocton ; soap manufacturer, 
junction of Second antl Water streets ; born 
April 25, 1832, in Madison county; son of Madi- 
son Skinner, deceased, a native of Virginia, of 
German descent. Young Skinner was raised on 
a farm, which lie left, in 1804, and followed saw- 
ing, with a portable mill, when he established his 
present business, and has continued till the 
present time. He was married, October 4, 1855, 
to Miss Mary A. Robison, daughter of W. H. 
Robison, of this city. They have had four chil- 
dren, viz: William M., deceased; Sarah Ella, 
Callie, Frances and Alfred Luther. Starting 
business with a very limited capital, he has, by 
honest industry, accumulated some of this 
world's goods, represented by three valuable resi- 
dences in this city. 

SPRAGG HENRY, Linton township; farmer: 
born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1814; son 
of Benajah and Nancy (Barkheimer) Spragg. 
His grandfather, David Spragg, a sailor, was a 
native of England; his grandfather, Barkheimer, 
a native of Germany. Then he was twelve years 
old, he came with his father to Muskingum 
county, and remained there till 1808, when he 
niDved to Linton township. He was married, in 
18,39, to Maria C. Johnson, daughter of Richard 
Johnson, of Muskingum county. Their children 
are: Harriet (Miller), Nancy J. (Morris), Eliza 
A. (Hagan), Richard, Rachel, Hiram and Harri- 
son. 



■I 




\^^r:,„n.-so}i/»eM(r'Z^.^?^'mv-^s!!'mwm^m/::^ 



FARM AND RESIDESCE OP FRANCIS WO 




RANKLIN P. O.), COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



797 



SPURR ABRAHAM, Virginia towiisliip;l.orn 
in Coshocton county, in 1S40; son of John and 
Jane Simrr. He was marriod, in 1839, to Mary 
A. Ervme. Mr. Spnrr lias had fourteen chiUhvn, 
seven hving and seven dead. One son died while 
in the United States service at Nashville. Post- 
office, Adams' ]Mills. 

STAFFORD IS.\.A(", Bethlehem township; 
farmer; was born in England in 1810. He was a 
blacksmith by trade. He came to this county in 
1840, and was married to Miss Susannah Laycock, 
of England. They became the parents of" three 
children, viz: Reuben, born in ISL'S, John and 
Isaac, Jr., born in 18;.!7. ^Mr. Stafford enlisted in 
18G2, in Company H,One Hundred and Twenty- 
second Regiment, O.V. I., and served three years. 
He was honorably dischargeil Jul)' :.'•">, 18(J5. He 
was wounded at the battle of Winchester. Reu- 
ben Stalt'ord was employed by the United States 
marshal to arrest deserters. He was shot while 
attempting to make an arrest. Isaac Stafford, Jr., 
enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-third 
Regiment O. V. I., for 100 days. He was married 
September 19, 1869, to Miss Sophia Lown, of this 
county. They became the parents of five chil- 
dren, viz: John L., William E., Myra F., Cora E. 
and Ida M. 

STANFORD J. W., Jackson township; Roscoe 
postofflce ; grocery and provision store. Main 
street ; born in Jackson townshij), October 27, 
1843; soil of John Stanford, American born, of 
English ancestry. Young Stanford was raised 
on a farm until seventeen years of age, w'hen he 
enlisted in Company D, Fifty-tirst 6. V. I., and 
served two years. He was wounded at the bat- 
tle of Stone River ; was discharged on account of 
disability. On his return home he attended 
Spring Slountain academy, one year; then read 
medicine with Dr. Sajii), and attended one course 
of lectures at the meilical college, Columbus, and 
practiced in the southern i)art of this county two 
years. In 1872 he established his present busi- 
ness. Dr. Stanford was married first, September 
13, ISGIJ, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John 
Chalfant, of Lafayette township, and they have one 
child — Nettie ^lay. Mr.s. Stanford died in June, 
1871. He was married June 13, 1872, to Miss 
Sarah E., daughter of George Edwards, of Ros- 
coe. Their children are — Guy Y., Eddie and 
Susan Lettitia. Dr. Sanford is doing a good, 
steady business, and owns the property in which 
it is conducted. 

STANFORD J. A., Jackson township; born in 
Coshocton county, Jackson township; son of J. 
M. SUmford, and grandson of Joshua and Nancy 
Stanford; married, in 1873, toNancv J. Donley, 
daughter of William and Margaret ll)onley. Jlr. 
Stanford is the father of one child, Rosette. 
Post office, Tyrone. 

36 



STANTON JOHN W., Clark township; post- 
office, Helmick; fanner and stock raiser; born 
in West Bedford, Coshocton county, October 19, 
1840; son of William and ElizaGeth (Pepper) 
Stanton, and grandson of Jolin Pepjjer. His 
father came from Connecticut, attended school, 
and assisted on the farm, until he was twenty 
years of age, when he entered the army, volun- 
teering in Company K, Thirty-second O. V. I., 
and served as a private about two years, when he 
was promoted to the office of adjutant, and 
served one year in that capacity, after which he 
came home, remained about two weeks, when he 
again entered for three months, in the (Jne Hun- 
dred and Forty-second O. N. G. After serving 
his time, he again came home, and engaged as a 
merchant, in Warsaw, Coshticton county, con- 
tinuing in the business about a year, when he 
traded his stock for his present farm of 320 acres, 
in Clark township, on which he now resides, and 
which is in a fair state of cultivation. Jlr. Stan- 
ton is largely engaged in grain and stock raising. 
He was married, February 22, 18(55, to Miss 
Anna Wilson, daughter of Thomas and JIary A. 
(Sykes) Wilson, who was born in Martinsb'urg, 
Virginia, June 18, 1843, Her father is proprie- 
tor of the woollen mills in Roscoe, They are 
parents of si.\ children: Mary, deceased; Will- 
iam T., born October 14, 1867"; George N., Octo- 
ber 10, 1809; Perry C, deceased; Lillie M., De- 
cember 15, 1874 ; Frank S., August 18, 1877. 

STARKER JACOB, O.xford town.ship; farmer; 
postoffice, Newcomerstown ; son of George and 
Hannah (Tingler) Starker; was born in the State 
of Ohio, His father was born in Essex cotmty, 
New York, and his mother near Elizabethtown, 
sSme State. The sul>ject of this sketch was born 
in this townshiji, near his present home, July 4, 
1824, and has since resided in this county. His 
father came to this State June, 1814, and his 
mother in January, 1815. Mr. Starker was mar- 
ried in 185G, to Miss Hannah E Read, of Tuscar- 
awas county, daughter of John B. and Rebecca 
(Hammel) Read. The fruits of this union lias 
been eight children, as follows : Lain-a D., Isadora 
L., Dollie F., Charley R., Willie M,, Thomas I),, 
Jerrj' C. and Caraminta. 

Isadore is in Denver, Colorado, and the other 
children arc at home attending school, Mr. Stark- 
er believing in giving his children a good edu- 
cation. Mr. Starker has an account book kept 
by ills father, dating back close to 1800, and kept 
in pounds, shillings and pence. Mr. Jacob Star- 
ker owns 128 acres of good land. ami is surround- 
ed by a bright family and all tlie comforts of a 
pleasant home. He has lived on the homo farm 
fifty-one years, the other six years having been 
spent on his father-in-law's farm in Tuscarawas 
county — from the spring of 1856 until the sjjring 
of 186"]. His grandfather, Aaron Starker, spent 



798 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



seven years in the revolutionai-y war. His fore- 
fathers were Germans. His father was a carpen- 
ter, and was exjiert in the use of tools, making 
coffins in tlie early times. He is honest and out- 
spoken in liis views, and what he says he means, 
and is one of Oxford's solid men. ]\Irs. Starker 
is a niece of the late poet and artist. Thomas 
Buchanan Read. After the battle of Pittsburgh 
Landing he presented her with a horse which 
was captured at that battle and presented by 
Gen. Rosecrans to Mr. Read. Laura has been 
married three years; is the wife of Arthur Mc- 
Clane, (living in Coshocton), who is the son of the 
late Col. Richard McClane of Lafayette township. 

STEIN CHARLES, Crawford township ; mer- 
chant; postoffice. Chili; born, in 1853, in Bavaria: 
son of Charles Stein and Phoebe ;Daum) Stein, 
both natives of Bavaria. Charles emigrated to 
America in b'-O?, and settled in Tu-scarawas 
county with his parents. He came to this county 
in b'^75; clerked in a store until 187.S, when he 
and Jacob Lenhart went into the mercantile busi- 
ness at Chili, where they still have a dry goods 
store. Married, in bs7\t, Elizabeth Ott". They 
have one child, Wilbert. 

STEVENSON PETER, Jr., Coshocton, saddle 
and harness manufacturer, 199 Second street. 
At the above number Mr. Stevenson is doing a 
very fair business in his line, carrying in stock 
everything that can be found in a lirst-class har- 
ness and saddlery shop. INIr. Stevenson was born 
March 1, 1828, in Harrison county; son of Peter 
Stevenson, deceased, who died at the advanced 
age of ninety-six; American born, of English 
descent. Young Stevenson lived on the farm 
until about twelve years of age, and in 1841 com- 
menced his trade with John Woods, of Zanes- 
ville, and remained live years at $3 per month, 
and one year at S6 per month; came to Keene 
and worked as foreman for Nathan Bassett one 
year, then bought out his shop and carried on for 
himself at Warsaw two years; thence returned 
to Keene, from which ph\ce he came to this city; 
was married May 31, 1852, to Miss Sarah Jane 
Duncan, of !Millersburg, Holmes county. They 
have had seven children: Alonzo L., John D., 
William P., Ella E., Edward B., Francis J., and 
Gillie May. 

STEWART JAMES R., Coshocton; carriages 
and wagons, corner Water and Mulberry streets; 
was born July 29, 185:!, in New York City. At 
five years of age he came to this city with his pa- 
rents; at nineteen years of age entered as an ap- 
]irentice to learn carriage wood-work with E. 
McDonald, and served three years, and one year 
as a journeyiuan, and then established a shop, 
where he is doing an active business, necessita- 
ting an enlargement of his shops. Mr. Stewart 



[ was married May 3, 1877, to Miss Jennie M. Tor- 
i reus, of Licking county. This union has been 
blessed with one child, George Francis. 

STEWART WILLIAM A., Bethlehem town- 
ship; farmer; was born in Ireland, and came to 
this county in 1858. He enlisted, in October, 
1861, in company H, Eightieth O. V. I., and was 
engaged in the battles of Corinth, ^^icksburg, 
Jackson, Lookout ^Mountain, Mission Ridge, and 
others of less impiortance. He was wounded at 
^^icksburg, and returned home in the spring of 
18G3. He remained at home only thirty days, 
re-enlisting in the same company, and was honor- 
ably discharged in 1865. He was married, in 
1876, to jMiss Martha Moore, of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, who was born August 11, 1841. 
She was the daughter of Aaron Moore, who was 
born in the county of Donegal, Ireland, in 1813. 
He came to this county in 1835, and located in 
Philadelphia, where he carried on the boot and 
shoe business until 1877, when he came to live 
with his daughter, Mrs. Stewart. 

STICKLE ELI J , Coshocton, attorney; was 
born August 14, 1854, in Licking county; son of 
Thompson Stickle, of German ancestors, his 
mother being of English extraction. Young 
Stickle is the fifth of a family of ten children. 
He was raised on the farm. At about twenty 
years he began going to school and teaching 
school, which he continued until May, 1878, when 
he entered as a student the law* office of Camp- 
bell ct ^'oorhes, and was admitted to the bar in 
Jlay 1880. He was married September 8, 1880, 
to Miss Emma A., daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth (Helfrey) Miller, of Utica, Ohio. 

STILL JAMES, born in August, 1828, in Co- 
shocton county, Bedford township; son of Jacob 
and Elspey (Lockard) Still, and grandson of ^ 
Gabria! and Cloa Still, and of James and Mar- ' 
garet (Wilson) Lockard. He is a farmer bj' oc- 
cupation ; had three brothers in the Union army; 
was married to Miss Sarah J. Conner, of ancestry 
same as L?aac Conner, named elsewhere in this 
book. James L. was born December 24, 1861 ; 
is now going to school, and is their only child. 

STILGENBAUER JACOB, Adams township ; 
farmer ; postoffice, Bakersville ; born in Bucks 
township, Tuscarawas county, July 12, 1836; son 
of Jacob and- Catharine (Groce)Stilgenbauer, and 
grandson of Philip and Elizabeth Stilgenbauer, 
who came from Prussia. He resided about 
thirty-six years in his native county, and from 
there moved to Adams township, Coshocton 
county, where he has a farm of 130 acres, well 
improved. He was married February 26, 1857, 
to Miss Catharine Schar, daughter of Nicholas 
and Elizabeth Schar. She was born September 
23, 1836. They are the parents of nine children, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



799 



\\z: Sojihia, born April 3, 1S58; Charles, born 
December 12, 1S(>0; Jacob, born November 80, 
1802; Catharine, born January 13, ISCo; Mary, 
born May 20, 1SG7; Louisa, born March 17, 186{); 
Emma, born April 13, 1871, and Albert, born 
May 18, 1878. 

STILLINGER J. R, Tiverton township; post- 
office, Yankee l^idsie, Ohio; farmer; born August 
8, 1829, in Hesse Darmstadt. Germany; came to 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, and to 
Knox county in 1833 He was married in 1853, 
to Rebecca Conner, of this county, who was born 
May 27, 1828. They came to this county in 1S56, 
and are the parents of twelve children, viz : Jen- 
nie, born July 5, 1854; Mary E , boi-n October 13, 
1855, died June 13,1859; infant, deceased, born 
December 7, ISoO; John A., born December 12, 
1857, died October 31 , 1860 ; Hattie A., born March 
7, 1859, married July 4, 1879, to William H. Coop- 
er, of this county; Lucinda E., born April 25, 
1860, died November 9, 1861 ; Susannah, born 
January 30, 1862; William P.. born October 7, 
1863, died Januarv 12, 1870; George 1\[., born Oc- 
tober 8, 1865; Eniily E., born June 5, 1867 ; Ben- 
jamin F., born April 5,1809; and an infant daugh- 
ter, deceased, born December 18, 1872. 

STILWELL A. H., Coshocton; attorney at 
law, office and rooms over commercial bank; 
was born April SO, 1.S50, in Holmes count}'; son 
of Asher and Helen (Boyd) Stihvell ; his pater- 
nal ancestry is Engli-^h, his maternal, Irish. 
Young Stilwell was brought up on the farm, and 
educated in the public schools of his native 
county and the high school at Millersbvirg, also 
Spring Jlountain academy, and at Fredericks- 
burg, Wayne county. At eighteen he began 
teaching and taught four terms. Studied law in 
1870 and 71, with Judge Follctt, of Newark, 
Ohio, and was admitted to practice by the Su- 
preme court in 1872. He began the practice of 
law at Dresden Muskingum county, where he re- 
mained nearly two years. In December, 1874, 
he came to this city and continued in the prac- 
tice of his profession. In October, 1S70, attorney 
Stilwell was elected prosecuting attorney of Co- 
shocton county, and re-elected in October, 1880, 
which office he now efficiently fills. 

STOCKMAN J. S., Coshocton, boot and shoe 
manufacturer and dealer; was born December 
29, 1827, in Harrison county; son of Philip 
Stockman, American born of German descent. 
Young Stockman worked with his father in a 
flouring-mill until he was seventeen years old, 
and worked for a time at cariientering, but found 
it too hard for him, as he had been seriou-sj)- dis- 
abled by a fall from a cherry tree when a boy. 
He then entered as an ajiprentice to his uncle 
James Means, of Cadiz, Ohio, to learn shoemak- 



ing, but owing to ill health he was induced to 
work on a farm for one year, ^^'hen about 
twenty-one years old he came to this county and 
opened a sho)) for him.self at Chili, from which 
])lace he removed to Auburn, DeKalb county, 
Iowa, and remained about ten years, w'orking at 
his trade. From there he went to Knoxville, 
Marion county, Iowa, and stayed three years. In 
the year 1871 Mr. Stockman came to this city 
and estjiblished his business, which he has fol- 
lowed to the present time. Mr. Stockman was 
married first to Miss Little, daughter of James 
Little, of Chili. The result of tliis union was 
four children, three of whom died in infancy and 
one survives, viz: William A. Mr. Stockman 
afterward married Miss Martha Reed, daughter 
of Daniel Reed of this county. The result of 
this union was two children, lioth living, viz: 
Mary Bell and Jennie May. Mr. Stockman is 
doing a good business in custom work. 

STOKUM ADAM, Tuscarawas township; farm- 
er; postoftice, Coshocton, Ohio; born July 4, lS-t4, 
in Linton townshij) ; son of Christopher and Mary 
Anne (Lutz) Stokum. Adam enlisted, in 1S05, in 
company K, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth O. V. 
I., and served nearly one year. Mr. Stokum was 
married, March 22, 1877, to Miss Nancy, daughter 
of Charles and Su.san (Rogers) Wells, natives of 
Washington county, Pennsylvania. This union 
has been blessed with two children, Lubertie 
and Daisv Odessa. Mr. Slokum's father died 
November 12, 1S7S. 

STONEBROOK HIRAM, Adams township; 
teacher and i^rojirietor of woolen mills ; j)Ostof- 
tice, Bakersville; born August 31, 1840, in Salem 
township, Tuscarawas county. His parents 
came to that county in 1835 and settled in the 
wooas on a small tract of land, with only means 
sufficient to pay for their land when first bought 
from the government, and by industry and rigid 
economy they secured means to carry them 
through life, leaving their estate to their chil- 
dren miineumbered. They raised a family of 
three children — one son and two daughters. His 
father died November 19, 1870, at the age of sixty 
years, four months, twenty-one days ; and his 
mother, March 18, 1880, aged sixty-nine vears, 
four months, twenty-nine days, having hved over 
forty years on the same old homestead. He was 
sent to common school until fifteen years of age, 
after which he was sent to the Ohio Wcsleyan 
university, at Delaware, Ohif>, during the years 
1857-58; and after returning home he com- 
menced teaching, at the age of nineteen, and 
continued in that profession until August. 1S02, 
when he enlisted as sergeant of Company G, One 
Hundred and Twenty-sixth O. V. I. ; and after 
remaining in that capacity over two years, was 
promoted to lieutenant, and was soon after 



800 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



assigned to the conuiiand of Company C. of 
the same regiment, and remained in i-ommand 
until the close of the war. He participated in 
the battles of the \N'ilderness, Spottsylvaniii, 
Cold Harbor, VVinche.ster, Fisher's Hill." Cedar 
Creek, Locust Grove, Virginia, Monocacy, Mary- 
land, siege of Petersburgh, capture of Kich- 
mond and surrender of General Lee, and many 
other engagements. He was mustered out of 
the service in June, ISGo, and returned home 
to begin a quiet life. He was married September 
28, 1865, to Miss Kmaline Thompson, daughter of 
James and Jane A. Thompson, who are both de- , 
ceased. She was born November 19, 1843, and 
became the mother of seven cliildren, viz: Ar- 
della J., born November 14, 18GG, died Novem- 
ber 24. 18G8; Alonzo 0., born November 7, 
1SG7; Halley B., born February 17, 18Gti; 
Harry G., born April 111, 1870; James O., born 
November 12, 1871. died March 2, 1S7G; Florence 
B., born December 28, 1.S72; Emma O., born May 
2;i, 1874; William born May 11, 1877, and Ma- 
rion, born September IG, 1880. He is proprietor 
of the Bakersville woolen mills, and also teacher 
of the Bakersville school. 

STONEHOCKER DANIEL, White Eyes town- 
ship; farmer; born in White Eyes, in 1820; son 
of Jacob Stonehockcr, who was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and emigrated to this State in 1.812, and 
settled in Tuscarawas county ; moved to White 
Eyes about 1816, and located on the farm where 
his son Daniel now resides. His father married 
Eli/.abeth Winklepleck, of Penn.sylvania. They 
had eight children, Daniel being the only one 
now living. The subject of tliis sketch married 
Miss Mary Sherid, of Tuscarawas county, who 
was born" in 1828, in the same county. They 
have three children, George, Jacob and Elizabeth, 
all of whom are living at home. Mr. Stonehock- 
cr has always lived on the place where his father 
tirst settled. His father died at the age of seven- 
ty-one years, and his mother, at the age of fifty- 
tive years. 

STONEHOCKER WILLARD W., White Eyes 
township; physician; a native of the township, 
and born in 18.55. His father, Jacob J., was born 
in White Eyes in ISIG, and married Sarah Win- 
klepleck, May 18, hS51. They became the parents 
of the following children : Jessie M.; Jacob, de- 
ceased ; Alichael; John E., died October 1871; 
Ellen, Hester and Harriet. Willard's grand- 
father, Jacob Stonehockcr, was married to Eliza- 
lieth Winklepleck. They were both natives of 
rennsylv;inia. Mr. Stonehockcr came to this 
county in 1816, and was one of the earliest set- 
tlers. ' Willard W. attended the Columbus med- 
ical college two years, graduated March .3, 18S1, 
and expects to practice medicine as his profes- 
sion, but has not, as yet, selected a location. I 



STORM NICHOLAS. Mill Creek township; 
farmer; postoffice ,New Bedford ; born in 1828 in 
this township. His father, John Storm, was born 
in 1777 in Kentucky. He was married in ISOS 
to Miss Elizabeth Slonaktr of Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1784. 
They "came to "this county in 1819. He died in 
1863; she died in 1.854. They were the parents 
of thirteen children. The subject of this sketch 
was married in 1846 to Miss Judah Stull of this 
county, who whs born in 1828 in this township. 
They "are the parents of nine children, six of 
whom are living. 

STOVER ARCHIBALD, Monroe township; 
was born September 24, 1829, in Monroe township, 
Coshocton county, Ohio ; son of IMichael and 
Phcebe (Dickey) Stover, grandson of Michael 
Stover, and grandson of John Dickey. He was 
brought upon a farm, educated in district schools 
and Spring Mountain high school. At the age 
of twenty-one he began the tinner's trade under 
Charles Harmany of Holmes county, and served 
three years. Ever since the completion of his 
apprenticeship, he has worked at his trade in 
Spi ing Mountain. July 1, 18.S0, he was appointed 
mail carrier between Spring Mountain and Hel- 
mick for four years. He was married to Sliss 
Kittie Pettit in November 1SG4. daughter of 
Joshua and Mary (Brillhart) Pettit, and grand- 
daughter of Saniuel and^ Susannah (Whiteshell) 
Brillhart. Their children are Emily, Logan, 
Winfred,and Harry Glide. 

STOVER A. J., Monroe township ; was born 
in November, 1835, on the farm where he now 
lives, in Monroe township. He is a son of Mi- 
chael and Phcjebe (Dickey) Sttiver, who are na- 
tives of Rockingham county, Virginia, and 
grandson of Christoijher and Catharine Stover, 
and of John Dickey. The Stovers are of Ger- 
man descent, and the Dickeys Iri.sh. Mr. Stover 
enlisted in Company I, Fifty-iirst O. V. I., in Sep- 
tember, li'^'Gl, and served under Captain J. 
Crooks, Colonel Stanley Mathews and General 
Nelson. He was lirst lieutenant during the 100- 
days' service. He was married, in May, 1870, to 
Sarah J. McNeil, daughter of Archibald and 
Sarah (Bucklew) McNeil, and granddaughter of 
Archibald and JNIary McNeil, and of Samuel antl 
Hannah Bucklew. Their children were Lizzie 
L., born June 2, 1871; Oraz, born October 27, 
1.872; JIarion C. and Jane Z , twins, born Octo- 
ber 5, 1880. 

STROUSE JOHN, farmer ; Tiverton township ; 
postoffice, Walhonding, Ohio: born December 
13, 1829, in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He 
came fo this county in 1834, with his parents. 
His father died in January, 1.S72. His mother also 
died iu 1872. They were the parents of nine child- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



801 



ren, the subject of this sketch beina; the seventh. 
He was mnrricd in 1S4S to Miss Uretta Brown, of 
Hohnes county, who was born in 1827, in Colum- 
biana county, Ohio. They were the parents of 
six children, three of whom are living, viz: 
Northana C, Sarah E. and Lydia. He was mar- 
Tied in Juno, 1SG2, to Miss Barbara Brown, sister 
of his rtrst wife, who was born in b'>.'l"). Thi\v arc 
the parents of eisht children, six of whom are 
living, viz: Aaron. William L.. Edward, Uriah 
W., Lola M. and Arrilla. 

STROUSE GEORGE, Sr., farmer: Tiverton 
township; po.stoffice, Gann, Knox county; born 
in 1819, in Pennsylvania. He came to this 
county with his father in ]S.'?4, who died in 1872 
His mother also died in 1872. They were the par- 
ents of ten children, the subject of this sketch be- 
ing the oldest. He was married in 1844 to Miss 
Lavina Camp, of Holmes county, who was born 
in 1821, in Columbiana county. They are the 
parents of nine children, viz: Uretta M., Anna 
C, Mary J., Elmira, .Tames K., Charles A., George 
L., Johnson and Taurus E., deceased. 

STUART MRS. EDY, Bethlehem township; 
was born in May, 18(i2. in Belmont county, Ohio. 
Her father, Robert Gitfisn, was of Scotch descent, 
and came to this country in l>il)7, and located in 
New Castle townshiii. His daughter Edy was 
married in 1824, to ]\Ir. ]Matth<'w Stuart, who was 
born in 1802. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He 
was a blacksmith; came to this county in ]82o, 
and was engaged to superintend the construction 
of the Ohio canal. He also assisted in the con- 
struction of the Milan and Huron canal, and 
built several divisions of the Walhonding canal. 
He was engaged extensively in the United States 
Government imprttvements of the Ohio river. 
He constructed the levee at Cairo, Illinois, now 
an important military post. He also aided in the 
construction of several railroads. Mr. Stuart 
emigrated overland to California in 1840, leaving 
his family in Coshocton. After spending a few 
years in that State, he returned home, and 
located near Columbus, Ohio. He died October 
5, 1862, aged sixty year.s. 

Mr. and Mrs.' Stuart became the parents of 
five children, viz: Robert, born ^May 12, l^^i'y; 
Caroline, born May 0, 182G; Carmelia, born July 
28, 1832; Ewing, born in 'i>^:i'<, died January .% 
1841, and Columa E., born January 5, 1844. Rob- 
ert Stuart was employed as a receiver of jniblic 
moneys in the general land office at Olympia, 
Washington Territory. He was married to Miss 
Abby li. Hunt, of Boston, Massacluisetts. She 
was of Puritan ancestry and a graduate of Tre- 
mont college. After graduation, she accepted a 
position as bookkee])er in a large manufacturing 
establishment. The firm tailed and she went to 
Springfield, Massachusetts, and engaged in busi- 



ness. In 18(>6, she sailed to San Francisco, Cali- 
fornia, to take charge of the ofhce business of a 
relative, which ))osition she held for live years, 
when, on account of failing health, she was com- 
jiellecl to go north. She went ;o Washington 
Territory, and became acquainted with Hon. 
Robert G. Stuart, and was married to him. 

After marriage, she volunteered to rejily to all 
letters of inquiry received in regard to the terri- 
tory and its advantages. During the summer of 
1875, she wrote a pami)blet of sixty pages, des- 
cribing the territory. The Legislature published 
5000 copies of the pamphlet for gratuitous dis- 
tribution. Caroline Stuart was marrie<l April 8, 
1851, to Samuel Denman, who was born in New 
Jersey, and came to this county in 1832. They 
became the parents of two children, viz: Mary 
Stuart Denman, born May 17, 1852; and Charles 
Lyon Denman, born in 1854. Carmelia Stuart 
was married July 28, 1832, to Mr. Francis Wolf, 
of this county. 

STUDOR JOHN, Franklin township. Mr. Stu- 
dor's parents, Jacob and (Jatharine (Erhart), emi- 
grated from Alsace, France, near Slrausburg, to 
this town.ship, in '\><S'>. His father, born in 1806, 
had served in the French army seven years John 
is the sixth child of a family of seven, as follows; 
Magdalene (Trottman), of Linton township; 
Elizabeth (Beck), deceased ; Jacob, of Muskingum 
county; Catherine B. (Mayer), of Coshocton; 
Caroline, John and Mary .Vnn (Hohn), of Mus- 
kingum county. He is a farmer, and was mar- 
ried April '.}, 'i860, to Elizabeth Hershman, by 
which marriage he has four children, viz: Jacob 
Edwarii, Milton Elmer, Plenna Allen and Estella 
Vern. 

STURGEON C. L., Coshocton, Ohio; of the 
firm of Sturgeon A Sclby, merchants, 424 Main 
street. Mr. Sturgeon was born October 21, 1855, 
in Mount Holly, Knox county, Ohio; son of Will- 
iam Sturgeon,' who was born in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, January 22, b824,and Mary 
(Baker) Sturgeon, born near Danville. Knox coun- 
ty, Ohio, November 23, 1S20. She died Novem- 
ber 2, 1868. Her grandmother was a Talbot, and 
was in the direct line from the Earl of Shrews- 
bury. Her immediate parents were Pennsylva- 
nia Germans. AN'illiani Sturgeon's parents were 
natives of Pennsylvania, of English and Scotch 
ancestry. His father died at the age of eighty- 
two yeiirs, and his mother at sixty-six. William 
Sturgeon and Mary Baker were married October 
17, 1S;")4, and became the parents of seven chil- 
dren, viz: ClitV rd L., Melville S.. Clara Victoria, 
Ada E.. Elmer E., Lizzie I. and Charles \y. Clif- 
ford L. attended the public schools until nineteen, 
when he entered, as a student, in 1876, the Ohio 
AVe.sleyan university, and remained one year. In 
1877 lie formed a i)artnershi]i with his brother, 



802 



HISTOitY OF COSHOCTON (ilOUXTY. 



Melville S., iind his present partner, firm name, 
Sturiceon Brothers & Co. In the spring of 1881 
the above lirni was formed, Melville S., withdraw- 
ing. 

K. O. Si'll)y, of the above firm, was born in 
Kno.x county, Ohio, May 30, 1857; son of Profes- 
sor .1. B. and" Isabel (Sturgeon) Selby, wlio were 
the i)arents of eight children, viz: Milton Clif- 
ford and Charles, deceased, and Walter L.. E. O., 
Mina B., Lillie M. and Oscar E., living. The five 
were born in Kno.K county, and the others at 
Spring Blountain, Coshocton county, wliere their 
father was principal of the Spring Mountain 
;u-adeniy for a number of years prior to his going 
West, where he died in 1.S71. His widow and 
children, excejiting E. O., are now on the farm 
which he purchased there. E. O. was clerk in a 
store and bank in the West prior to his locating 
in Coshocton. 

SQX'IRE J. S., Jackson township; farmer; 
postoftice, Roscoe ; born October 24, 1846. on the 
farm on which he now resides. When about 
eighteen he went into a drug store as clerk, at 
Worthington, Indiana, where he remained two 
years. In May, 18(>4. he enlisted in Company G, 
One Hundred and Fortieth 0. X. G., and served 
four months. He was elected justice of the 
peace of Jackson town.ship in the spring of 1880, 
whit'h office he now holds. In 1S7G he was 
elected a member of the board of education for 
his township, and held the office three years. 
He was marriccl January l',', 1800, to Miss Sarah 
Anne, daughter of Garret Snedeeker, of Jackson 
township, but a native of Knox county. They 
became the parents of four children, viz: Emma 
E., Nora, James William, and Lucretia. 

SUMERS JOHN, Lafayette township; farmer; 
postoflice, ^^'^est Lafayette, Ohio, son of John and 
Margaret (Mitchel) burners; was born April 8, 
l8r)2, in Zanesville, Ohio. His parents are of 
German descent. He came fron^ Zanesville when 
four years old and located in Coshocton, remain- 
ing two years. He then removed to Linton town- 
ship witli his parents, and remained eight years; 
then removed to ( )xford township, remaining five 
years. His parents then returned to Zanesville, 
and he has .since remained in Lafayette township. 
Mr. Sunnnei's was married, September l.'J, 1.S72, 
to Jliss Melissa Loos, of this county. The\' are 
the parents of three children, viz: William, de- 
ceased ; Asa, deceased, and Leona. 

SWIGART JAMES H., farmer; White Eyes 
townshi]); born in Harrison county in 1824; 
son of Joseph .'^wigart, who was the father of 
three children ; James is the only one living, and 
he was left fatherless at the age of three years. In 
184C he married Miss Rozena Hamilton, of Tus- 
carawas county. She was a native of thatcoimty, 



and wa.s born in 1820. They have five children : 
Mary E , born 1848, and is married to Henry 
Swigart; Elisha A., born in IS.'jll, is married to 
Althea Ewing, the daughter of Daniel Ewing, of 
this townshiji; JIargaret, born in 18;>t, and Wes- 
ley born in 18(31, are both single and live at 
home. Mr. Swigart lived in Harrison coimty un- 
til he was twenty years ef age. In 1.^44 he moved 
to Tuscaraw.-\s county, and came to ^^'hite Eyes 
in 18(i2, and he is now the largest land holder in 
the township. 

• T 

TAFE LEWIS, Coshocton; proprietor barber 
shop, opera house block. Main street; born Oc- 
tober 10, ISo.O.in Germany; son of Philip Jacob 
Tafe. Lewis remained at home until seventeen, 
working with his father, in a jewelry store, and 
going to school. In 1807, he came to America, 
landing in New York City, and immediately 
went to St. Charles. Missouri, and learned his 
trade; remained two years; then went to St. 
Louis, and remained six years ; then came to 
Dennison, Ohio, four years, working at his trade 
all the T\ hile. In January, 1870. he came to this 
city, and established his present shop. Mr. Tafe 
was married, June 2, 1879, to Miss Ida Eliza 
Rolley, daughter of Daniel Roily, of Trenton, 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio. This union was blessed 
with, three children, one, Elvira, dead, and two 
living, Oscar L. and Victoria C. Mr. Tafe is 
doing a good moderate business. 

TALLMADGE HENRY, Jackson township; 
Roscoe postoHice ; born in this coimty, in 1832; 
son of Joseph and Frances Tallmadge, and grand- 
son of Moses and Rebecca Tallmadge; married, 
in 1854, to Mary Williams, daughter of Lewis 
and Rebecca Williams. Mr. Tallmadge is the 
father of ten children, viz: Sarah A, RacheL 
Benjamin, Rebecca F., L. E., Rosa J., Mary S., 
William H., James H. and Hannah C. 

TAYLOR LYMAN,farmer; postoffice,Warsaw; 
born in 1855, in this county. His father, John 
Taylor, was born in 1.818, in Muskingum county, 
Ohio, and was married to Miss Sabina Dennis, of 
Knox coimty, who was born in 1821. They are 
the parents of six children, the subject of this 
sketch being the fourth. He was married in 
1878, to Miss Sylvia Frederick, of this county, 
who was born in 1859, in this county. 

TAYLOR JOHN. Jefferson township; born 
October, 1818, in Jefferson township, Muskingum 
county, Ohio; son of Samuel Taylor, w^ho was 
elected captain in the war of 1812, and served 
under General Miller and Colonel Heath. He 
enlisted in Allegheny county, Maryland, and 
served his country w'ith distinction. Hismother 
was Mary Taylor, born in Hartford county, Mary- 
land. His parents came to Muskingum county 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



in 1814. He is a grandson of John and Hannali 
Taylor, and Ezra and Elizaboth (Rrown) T;iylor. 
He was educated in tlie old log srhool-liousc, yet 
standing on his farm. Mr. Taylor liUed the oihcc 
of coimty commissioner six years, justice of the 
peace, fifteen years, and land appraiser, one. In 
1824 he came with his father to Coshocton 
county, being his father's only child, he lived 
with him till his father's death. He was married 
May 12, 1842, to Mis,s Sabina Dennis, of Kno.x ! 
county, d.aughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Horn) 
Dennis, natives of Pennsylvania. Their children ! 
were Samuel, deceased ; Dennis. Mary; Elizabeth, t 
deceased ; Arminda, Lyman, Xornian and Clara, i 
Mary married Da\nd \\'alker, decea.sed, and re- 
sides with her parents; Arminda married Joseph 
Haines, a farmer of Bedford township; Lyman is 
a farmer in Bedford township, and Married Syl- | 
via Frederick; Clara is at home, single. Both of 
Mr. Taylor's grandfathers were patriots in the 
revolutionary war, and servinl under Wat^hing- 
ton. His grandfather Taylor served seven years, 
was taken prisoner five times and wounded once, 
in the breast, where he carried an ounce ball for 
a nuniber of years, the extraction of which linally 
caused his death. 

TAYLOR DENNIS, Jeflerson township; was 
born in December, 1845, in Jeflerson townspiji, 
Coshocton county; postoffice, War.saw; son of i 
John Taylor, who was a native of Muskingum 
county, .ami Sabina (Dennis) Taylor, who was a 
native of Knox county. For further ancestry, 
see his father's {John Taylor's), biogra)ihy. Mr. 
Taylor wa.s brought up on a farm, and eilucated in 
district schools. He lived at home with his jiarcmts 
until the age of twenty-two, when he married 
Miss E. A.Porter, in December lSi;7, daughter of 
Joseph and Mary (Dean) Porter, who was born 
in January, 18.5G." The following children were 
born to them: Ennna, born October 30, 18GS; 
John P., February 29, 1872; J. \V., June 8, 1875; 
Iva M., September 1, 1877, and Mary M., October 
30, 1879. Mrs. Taylor is a granddaughter of 
Samuel and JNIary (JlcCurdy) Dean, and of Eliz- 
abeth Wilky. 

TAYLOR E. T., Virginia town.^hip ; bfirn Sep- 
tember 17, 18111, son of Ebenezer and ^fargaret 
Taylor; married in 1^41 to Louisa Walraven. 
Mr. Taylor has eleven children, viz: William, 
May, Marv .lane, John P., Caroline, Louisa, Sam- 
uel' B., James IL. Margaret L.. Clare I , and John 
P. Postoffice, Dresden, Muskingum county. 

TAYLOR HIRAM A., engineer in Coshocton 

iron and steel works ; was born Se(.tember 20, 
183S in Hollingsworth, Lancashire county, Eng- 
land; son of John and Maria (Dainkrey) Taylor. 
In 1814 he accompanied his parents to America, 
who located in Coshocton. Mr. Taylor wa.s mar- 



ried September 20, 1800, to Miss Ellen, daughter 
of \Va.shington and Georgiana (Fi.sk) Burt. They 
are the parents of live children, viz: Elmer B., 
<lied in infancy; Annie M., .VmyB. ; .Vda K., 
died in infancvi and Nellie. September 20,1861, 
Mr. Tavlor enlisted in Company E, Fifty-first O. 
V. I. He wa.s appointed fourth sergeant, and be- 
came first sergeant and followed the fortunes of 
the Armv of the Cumberland until after the bat- 
tle of Lookout Mountain, when his regiment 
veteranized. On ai)plication Sergeant Taylor 
wa,s appointed third a.ssistant engineer in the . 
navv, but before being mustered in he declined 
the "position, and was assigned to duty under 
Provost Marshal Wisewell," where he remained 
until October 3, 18G4, when he was honorably 
discharged. 

TEALE WILLIAM, Jackson township; born 
on Santa Cruz Lsle, in 1828; son of Martin and 
INIary A. Teale; settled in Co.*hocton county, in 
1837"; married in September. 1.8(io, to Catherine 
Loder, daughter of Aaron and Reliecca Loder. 
Mr. Loder is the father of five children, viz : Ida 
J., William, Franklin, Etha. Alberta. Mr. Teale 
is engaged in farming and stock raising. Post- 
office, Roscoe. 

TIDBALL N. R., Coshocton; butcher; of the 
firm of Shaw* Tidball, 44(1 Main street; born in 
Belmont county, in is;?(i; son of attorney John 
C. Tidball, who came to this city in 1848, and died 
in 1863. N. R. was married first in 1865, to Miss 
Amanda, daughter of Jeflerson Brelsferd, a farmer 
of this countv. Their children arc: .Vnnie M., 
Frank B., Elizabeth, Stella A., and Addash. Mr. 
Tidball enlisted first in Company A., Sixteenth 
O. V. I. (three months men) and re-enlisted in 
Company H., Eightieth O. Y. I., December 2, 
1801, and resigned in .Fuly, 186.% on account of 
ill health. He enlisted as a private, but was com- 
missioned second lieiitenant in each company 
named above and cai)lain of Conipanv D., One 
Hunilred and Forty-third O. X. G. Jlr's. Tidball 
died in February 1Si;3, and is buried at Coshoc- 
ton. Cai)tain Tidball's second marriage was in 
.Vugust, 18.S(), to Miss Sarah F., daughter of R. F. 
Baker, of this city. Captain Tidball was super- 
intendent of the yards of the penitentiary two 
years, under Governor Hayes. 

TIMMONS JOHN, Coshocton; carpenter and 
contractor; was born December 25, 184.3, in Lin- 
ton township. He is son of William Timmons, 
American born, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Young 
Timmons was raised on ;he farm until about 
fifteen years old, when he began the wagon making 
trade and worked two years, then returned to 
farming for two or three years, after which he 
went to his iire.-ent trade with .lames Williams. 
On completing it, he worked for some time in 



804 



HISTORY OF CeSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Franklin township. In the fall of ].S62, he en- 
listed in coni]iany C, Ninth O V. I., and served 
to the close of the war, being in one engagement 
three or four tlay.s after LeeV surrender. On his 
return home from the war, he resumed his trade 
in this city, which he has successhilly followed to 
the jircsent. Mr Timmons was married, in Jan- 
uary, 1862, to Mi.*s Kesilva Williams, daughter of 
Thomas Williams, of Linton township. This 
union was blessed with three children, two de- 
ceased and one living — Simon W. Timmons. 

TINGLE JOE R., Franklin township ; born in 
Franklin townshiji, Ajn-il 2'.i, ixy,- ^^on of EUlred 
I), and Elizabeth Tingle, and grandson of John 
Tingle and of James Rice. His father, a car- 
penter by trade, was born in Guernsey county, 
and moved here about ].s4o. His mother was 
born in Franklin township. He is the youngest 
of three children, viz: Anna. John and Joseph. 
AVhen about nine years old he moved to Tusca- 
rawas township, on what is now the Moore farm, 
two miles south of Coshocton. There he re- 
mained till some time after his mother's death, 
which occurred December 14, 1867; then spent 
two years at Kenyon college. Gambler, Ohio. At 
fifteen he began railroading, as brakeman on the 
Pan Handle road, and after three years spent 
liere' he went on the L, B. and W. railroad, be- 
tween Indianapolis and Peoria, for a year. Re- 
turning to Coshocton, he worked in' the steel 
works about eighteen months at an iron lathe, 
and then was employed as fireman on the Pan 
Handle road till December, 1876, when he turned 
his attention to farming and stock raising. He 
was married February 29, 1876, to Sadie Tingle, 
daughter of John Tingle, a ])hysician of Cam- 
bridge, (Juernsey county, and has two little chil- 
dren, viz: Edna, and AtUi Rice. 

THOMPKINS JAMES M., Tuscarawas town- 
ship; Canal Lewisville jwstoffice; carpenter; 
born September 22, 1832, in Rapi)ahannock 
county, Virginia; son of James and Mary, and 
grandson of Jonathan Thompkins and William 
Bailey. James M. was raised on the farm. He 
came to this county in 1847, and first located in 
Jackson township, from which he removed to 
Jefferson township. In 1870 he was apjiointed 
superintendent of county infirmary, which po- 
sition he held fcir two years. On leaving the in- 
firmary, he moved to Warsaw, and came to his 
jH-esent residence in 1870. In 1872 he learned 
the carpenter trade, which he has followed to the 
l)resent time. Mr. Thompkins was married Au- 
gust 1, l.S-'57, to Miss Mary Chambers, daughter of 
John Chambers, of Bedford township. Her 
mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Maston. 
Their children are: Isaac E., Charles E., Sarah 
M., W. Fr.ank, Alice Lutilla and William Allen. 

THOMPSON JOHN, Bedford township; mer- 



chant; postoffice. Tunnel Hill ; born in 1817, in 
Muskingum county, Ohio: came to this county 
in 1819, with his father, William R., who was 
born iu 1774, in Hampshire county, Virginia. 
He was married in 179.5 or 69 to Miss Sarah Tay- 
l<ir, of the same place, who was born in 1781. 
Thev came to Muskingum countv in 1809. He 
<lied in 18.50 She died in l.'<60 " They are the 
parents of seven children, the subject of this 
sketch being the fifth. He was married in 184.5 
to Miss Elizabeth Sheppard, of Zanesville Ohio, 
who was born in 182.5. They are the parents of 
five children, three of whom onlv are living, viz : 
Thomas W., George E. and Willard S. Mr. 
Thompson was a member of the Thirty-second 
O. V. I. He entered the army .\ugust, 1861, and 
was discharged in 1864. He was taken prisoner 
at Harper's Ferry, and remained in prison five 
months. He was in the Seventeenth Corps, under 
General JlcPherson, and was in the battles at 
Vicksburgh and Atlanta, and in several lighter 
engagements. 

THO^fPSO^^ GEORGE, JefTerson township; 
born in Washington township, Coshocton countv, 
.May 21, 1828; son of Joshua and Emily (Will- 
iam.*) Thompson. His father died when he was 
but twelve years of age, leaving a widow and 
large family for him to care for, he being the 
eldest child. The labor of bringing up the 
younger brothers and sisters devolved princi- 
pally ui)on George, as did also the care of the 
farm. At the age of eighteen he went to West 
Carlisle to learn blaeksmithing with A. H. Ly- 
ons, and served one year; then went to Roscoe 
and worked two years with William Thomas; 
then went to West Bedford and worked at ma- 
chine making seventeen years; then toMidberry, 
and on account of ill health his time was dinded 
between the farm and shoj) for seven years. He 
married ]\Iarch 28, 1859, Jliss Mary Haynes, 
daughter of Henry and Margaret (Martin) 
Haynes, and soon after moved to Illinois, and re- 
mained three years, working at his trade. He 
then came back to Co.shocton county, where he 
has successfully ajiyilied his time to his trade to 
this time. Mrs. Thompson died in 1869, and 
three years afterward he married Miss Mary 
Severns, daughter of William and Hann-ah 
(Treadway) Severns. Flora B.; Endora M., de- 
ceased ; JIary M. and Louvina I. were the 
children of the first marriage, Millie B. and Mina 
A. of the second marriage. 

THOMPSON SAMUEL G., Keene town.^hip ; 
farmer; born in Jeti'erson county, Ohio, January 
.5, 1809; son of Moses and Catharine (JIcGuire) 
Thompson, and grandson of Thomas Thompson. 
His father was a soldier of the war of 1812; his 
maternal grand parents were John and Mary 
(Tipton) McGuire, he having been a revolution- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



805 



iiry soldier. They came to Mill Creek township, 
•Coshocton county, in 1815, with his father, who 
built his lirst cabin March 20, TSU;, liis being the 
third family in the township. He was married 
April 4, 1S44, to Esther, daughter of John and 
Ann (Sweeney) Carson, antl granddaughter of 
James Carson, who was one of two children of a 
large family, who survived an attack of yellow 
fever in Philadelphia. Mr. T's family is "as fol- 
lows: Robert William, born Januarv 20, 1845; 
Mary E., July 3. 1847; Sarah C, September 26, 
1849, died December 25, 1868 ; John C, December 
15, 1851, and A. Jennie, October 26, 185t>. 

THOMPSON T. M., Co.shocton; of Thompson ; 
Brothers, manufacturers of foreign and domestic i 
marbles; was born February 14, 1830, in Gran- | 
ville, Licking county, Ohio. He is son of R. M. \ 
Thompson, American born, of Scoldi-Irish an- 
cestry. Young Thompson was educated in the 
schools of his native village. In 1850, he came to 
this place and engaged in farming, which he fol- i 
lowed for five years. In 1.S55, the present firm 
w-as formed, which has continued to the present 
time. 

Thompson, James M., of the above firm, and 
br(jtljer of T. M., was born September 8, 1833, in 
Granville, Licking county, Ohio. These brotliers 
were associates in childhood and youth, and part- 
ners in business to the present time. James M. 
Thomi)son was married, June, 1861, to Miss 
Hilpha B. Lamb, daughter of R. M. Lamb, of Co- 
.shocton. This uniijn was blessed with live chil- 
dren, one deceased, Annie, and four living, viz r 
Jessie, Mattie, Nora and Nellie. This firm deals 
extensively in foreign and domestic marble and 
Scotch, red and American granite, doing general 
cemetery work. 

TREADWAY G. S., Coshocton; wool mer- 
chant. Chestnut street; was born October 8. 1843, 
in Jeflerson township; son of Thomas Tread- 
way, a native of Hartford county, Maryland, of 
English ancestry. Young Treadway was raised 
on the farm, where he remained until nineteen 
years of age, when he entered S])ring Mountain 
academy, where he remained one year; after 
which, he entered the dry goods store of Will- 
iam Sturgeon, as clerk, where he remained six 
months In May, 1804, he enlisted in the One 
Hundred and Forty-second O. N. G., in which he 
served six months, participating in the seige of 
Petersburg and other engagemcnt.s of the Poto- 
mac army. On his return, he enlisted ior one i 
year; then entered Iron City commercial col- 
lege, remaining six months, and was graduated. 
He then remained three years as clerk in the 
store of John G. Stewart, at Rosco. In 1870, he 
formed a partnership with John Orr, iinn name, 
Treadway A Orr, dry goods merchants. AA'arsaw. 
This firm continued until February, 1.873, when 



the entire stock, books and buildings were de- 
stroyed by fire. In the following summer, he 
bought wool extensively, for William Shields, 
Newark, Ohio. Early in the year 1874,he went into 
the wholesale house of Ilains, Stranathan A Co., 
Zanesvile, and remained one year In the spring 
of 1876, he became partner in the firm of 
Thomas Lee tt Co., wool commission merchants, 
Pliiladcljihia, and remained in the city two years. 
In the spring of 1878, he engaged with H. C. 
Judd it Root, commission wool merchants, of 
Hartford, Connecticut, with whom he yet re- 
mains. Jlr. Treadway was married to Miss 
Catherine Lynch, of Roscoe. and was blessed 
with one child, Karnia D. Mrs. Treadway died, 
and Mr. Treadway was married, December 31, 
1870, to Miss .:Mary E. Linebaugh, daughter of 
Noah Linebaugh, of \\'arsaw. 

TREADWAY T. F., Perry township; postof- 
fice. West Bedford ; fanner and stock raiser. IMr. 
Treadway keeps some very fine thoroughbred 
sheep. He was born in this county in 1848 ; son 
of Thomas and Mary (Dennis) Treadway, and 
grandson of Cris^iin Treadway ar.d of Isaac Den- 
nis ; married in 1870, to Jliss Elvina Dickison, 
daughter of Joseph and Mary Dickison. They 
have one child, viz : Thurz Maud. 

TREADWAY REASON, Jackson township; 
]iostotfice, Roscoe ; born in this county in Sep- 
tember, 1832; son of Thomas and Olive Tread- 
way, and grandson of Crispin and Elizabeth 
Treadway ; married September 10, 1806, to Mary 
Welling, daughter of William and Rebecca 
Welling. Mr. Treadwav is the father of three 
children, viz : Olive R., Etfie V., Thomas A Mr. 
Treadway enlisted in 1802, Company I, One 
Hundred and Twenty-third regiment Illinois 
volunteers, army of the Tennes.see. Mr. Tread- 
way was engaged in the following battles, viz : 
Perrysville, Chickamauga, Kenesaw, Milton 
Heights, Rock Springs, and others. 

TREDWAY CRISPEN, Bedford township; 
farmer; postoffice. Tunnel Hill; born in 1834, in 
this county. His father, Thomas, was born in 
1700. in Hartford county, ^laryland. He' came 
to this county in 1817, and was married in 1825, 
to Miss Olive Severns, of this county, who was 
born in 1802. She died in 18::5.8. They were the 
parents of eight children, Crispen being the 
seventli. He was married in 1856, to !Miss La- 
vina James, of this county, who was born in 1840. 
Siie died in l.'<70. They were the parents of six 
children. His second marriage was in 1878, to 
Miss Susan Leas, of this county. They have one 
child. Mr. Tredway has lived on the same farm 
twenty-four years. 

TitOTTMAN JOHN, Franklin township; 
school teacher; postottice, Wills Creek, Ohio. 



806 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTOX COUNTY. 



born April 3, ISoS; son of George find Magtla- 
lona (StU(ler) Trottman. His father is a native of 
Baden, Germany ; his mother of Melz, France. 
They were the parents of fourteen children, two 
deceased. Seven daughters and live sons are 
now living. John, first named above, began his 
first teaching in the snnnner of 1880. 

TJ 

ULMAN JACOB, Monroe township; was born 
December 1.3, ISIG, in Berne, Switzerland ; son of 
Jacob and Mary (Sagaser) Ulman. At the age 
of two and a half years became with his parents 
to America, and settled in Bucks county, Penn- 
sylvania, find lived there three ye;irs ; then move<l 
to Columbiana county, Ohio, and rem:iined there 
about six years ; from there he went to Carroll 
county, Ohio, and lived there twenty years; 
thence to Holmes county, where he spent eight 
years ; from there to Monroe township, Coshocton 
county, where he follows farming and black- 
smithing. Mr. Ulman is a blticksmith by trade. 
The names of his brothers and sisters that came 
to this country are Mary, Peter,* Elizabeth, Bar- 
bara, Ann, Eosannah, John, Samuel, Louisa, and 
Issftac. He was married first to Frances Honze 
in 1839, daughter of John and Elizfibeth (Nezbet) 
Houze. Their children were Orlando, decetised ; 
Albert, Franklin, Eliea, tnid William. After the 
death of Mrs. Ulman in lsC4, Mr. Ulman mar- 
ried Mrs. Marissa (Yorker) Harris, February 25, 
1870, daughter of Peter and Lucinda (Tilden) 
Yorker. Mr. Ulman's present wife is the mother 
of one child, Franklin L , who resides with his 
mother. Albert married Miss Letta Dunman, 
and resides in Nodaway, Missouri ; Franklin 
married Lydia Weatherwax, and resides in Co- 
shocton ; Eliza married Thomas Johnson. Will- 
iam is teaching school in Holmes county. 

UNDERWOOD LEWIS, Jackson township; 
P. O. Roscoe; born in Washington comity, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1823; married to Lucy A. Stillee, 
daughter of Jacob and Eliz;d.icth Stiflee; settled in 
this county in 1867; son of Obed and Mary Un- 
derwood, and grandson of Obed and Nancy Un- 
derwood, and of George and Francis Myers. 
They have eleven children, seven living, viz: 
Jacob. JNIfiry L.. Nancy E., Leroy, Dora B., Rebecca 
J. and Lewis. 

v 

VALENTINE WILLIAM, Bethlehem town- 
ship; farmer; son of Andrew Vfilentine; was 
born in 1806, in Bedford county, Pennslvania. 
He was niised on the farm and has always f<il- 
lowcd that occupation. He was man-ied to Miss 
Polly Baker, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, 
who was born in 1808. They came to this county 
in 1830, and have since resided here. They be- 



came the parents of six diildren, viz : Jacob, EliziX- 
beth. Martha, Margaret, Rachel and Hiram, all of 
whom are married except Rachel. Mrs. Valen- 
tine died in 1846, aged thirty-eight years. Mr. 
Valentine afterward married Miss Abigail Grif- 
fen, of Coshocton county, who was born in 1815. 
They are the parents of six children, viz: Daniel, 
Benjamin, Rebecca J., Steward. Margaret and 
Samuel, all of whom are married and linng in 
this county. 

VANCE ISAAC, Laffiyette township; was 
born in Guernsey coimty, Ohio, the lOtli of Jan- 
uary. 1845, and came to this coimty in 18.i2; was 
nifirried to Sarfih Angelino Shoyer, .Vpril 2, 1872. 
They have had three children : Luella, age seven 
years; Thurman Allen, deceased, and Nancy 
Elizabeth, aged two yeara. He lives two miles ■ 
west of West Lafayette; owns fifty acres of land; 
believes in education, and gives his children all 
the advantages offered in tliat direction ; is hon- 
est and well spoken of by his neighbors. 

VANDUSEN SYLVESTER R.. butcher ; post- 
office. West Lafayette ; was born in this county. 
He Wfis a soldier in the late war. enlisted in No- 
vember, 1861, a member of Company G, Eightieth 
O. V. I., and wtis in the following engagements : 
Corinth, Jfickson, seige of Vicksburg, Missionary 
Ridge, find in Sherman's march to the sea ; and 
was honorably discharged. 

VAN SICKLE GEORGE, Lafayette township ; 
farmer ; postotlice, West Lafayette ; was born in 
Harrison county, in 1840; and was married to 
Miss Anna Wiggins, in 1871. Their children 
were Harry. Thomas, Magnolia, Ella find George 
E. Mr. Vfin Sickle took an active part in the kite 
war, going out in Company H, Fifty-lirst O. V. I. 
and served two years and over. ilr. Van Sickle 
lives on a farm of his father-in-law, T. M. Wig- 
gins. Mr.s. Van Sickle belongs to the Bfiptist 
church. 

VICKERS L., farmer ; Washington township ; 
P. O. Dresden ; born in 1819 in Fauquier county, 
Virginia, and came to this county in 1827 with 
his lather, who was born in 1790 in Prince Will- 
iam county, Virginifi. He married Miss Hen- 
rietta Romine, of the same county, who was born 
in 1792. He died in 1863. She died in 1873. 
They were the parents of six cliildren, the sub- 
ject "of this sketch being the second. He was 
married in 1844 to Miss Mahala McKee. of this 
county, who was born in 1821. They are the 
parents of si.x children. 

VOORHES ABRAHAM C, Coshocton; law- 
student ; born in Scio, Harrison county, April 9, 
18.56; son of George Voorhes. a native of this 
Stiite. Abraham C. was raised on a farm until 
fourteen years of age, when he came to this city ; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



807 



in 1S77 and 187.'^ he attended llopcdale college, 
Harrison county, then entered the law oilice of 
t'anipbell A Voorhes, of tliis eity, as law student, 
witli wlioni he is still reading. 

VOORHES CAPTAIN rjCHAim jrAKtON, 
attorney at law, (\ishoeton, Ohio; was born in 
Harrison eoimty, Ohio, Otobcr (i, ISoS; youngest 
son of Jacob and Elizabeth (tioshill) Yoorhes; 
educated at Hojiedale, llarri.son county, Ohio; 
studied law with his brother. Hon. C. F. Voorhes, 
then of the law tirni of Barcroft it Voorhes, Mil- 
lersburgh, (lolnies county, Ohio; admitted to the 
bar July ti, 18(50, locating imnicdiately thereafter 
at Coshocton, Ohio, where he is still actively en- 
gaged in the practice of the law. He was one of 
the first men to volunteer from Coshocton county 
in the three months' service, in the war of ],*<G1 ; 
perhaps was the (irst signer of the volunteer roll 
from Coshocton county, his company (Company 
A) going out with the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, serving through the term of enlistment 
in the "campaign of West Virginia. After the 
muster out of the three months' men, Captain 
Voorhes re-enlisted in tlie service as a private hi 
Company F, Si.xty-tifth 0. V. I., on the '2Xth of Oc- 
tober, L'^Ol. joining the company at Jfillersburgh. 
He was promoted to captain of said company on 
the ."Oth day of November, A. D. l!-'til. He, with 
his company and regiment, participated in the 
battles of Pittsburgh Landing, scige of Corinth, 
Perrysville and Stone River. He was .severely 
wounded in the latter engagement, on tlie 31st 
day of December, 1.^62, while engaged in the 
thickest of the fight. Being disabled from active 
service by reason of his wound, he was afterward 
transferred to the veteran reserve corps, luid 
connnissioned, by the president of the United 
States, a captain in said corps, which position he 
held until November 18, 186.), when he resigned 
anil returned to his home at Coshocton, Ohio, 
where he has resided ever since, engaged in the 
practice of the law. He was married on the -7lh 
day of November, 1862, to Miss Georgiaiina, 
daughter of Washington and Georgia (Fisk) 
Burt. They have three children, two boys and 
one girl, viz: Mari"on Campbell, Burt Fisk and 
Gcorgianna. 

WABLE WILLIAM. Bedford township; farm- 
er; postotiice. Tunnel Hill : born in 1815, in Har- 
rison county, Ohio. He came to this county in 
1830, with his mother, his father liaving died in 
1816, in Harrison county. She died in 18(12. They 
were the parents of si.x children, the subject of 
this sketch being the voungest. He was married 
in 1832, to Miss Ella Welling, of this county, who 
was born in 1813, in Harrison county. They 
were the parents of eight children, four of whom 
are living. 



WAGNER JOHN, Coshocton. His father, 
Philip Wagner, deceased, was a native of Bavaria, 
Germany; his mother's maiden name was Bar- 
bara Fox. The family came to America in 1837, 
ami settled at Roscoc^ where he remained but a 
short time, then to a place near Warsaw, from 
thence he moved to Tiverton township and en- 
gaged in farming, which business he followed 
until his death, October 8, 1874. When Philip 
Wagner came to Roseoe he had but $8.50 in 
money, but he liad that which was better than 
gold, an honest heart, determined will, and a 
strong hand, which he used untiringly until he 
had earned an<l saved enough to secure forty 
acres of land. To this beginning he added until 
he had a good farm of 270 acres. John Wagner, 
the subject of this sketch, was born December 8, 
18;!.3, in Bavaria. Germany, and shared the for- 
tunes of his father's laliorious and trying life un- 
til November 27, 185K, when he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Kaiser, of Holmes county, Ohio. 
This union was blessed with three children, one 
deceased, and two living, viz: John F. and Mar- 
garet Emma. Mr. Wagner visited Dallas county, 
Iowa, with a view to settle there, in 1868. But 
owing to the extreme severity of the winter and 
the ill health of Mrs. Wagner.' returned to theold 
neighborhood in Ohio, where he remaineil until 
I87(i, when he came to the city to attend to the 
duties of the office of treasurer to which he had 
been elected the previous year. 

WAGNER M C, Virginia township; born in 
1819; son of Joseph and Rebecca Wagner, and 
grandson of Peter and Rachel Wagner. He was 
married November 18. 1.^41, to Mary Marquand. 
Mr. Wagner's family consists of the following, 
viz: John. Martha M", Joseph, Mary, James D., 
William G., Lydia. Jane G., Elizabeth M., Louisa 
T., aiKl Margaret C. Postoffice, Moscow. He is 
a farmer. 

WAGONER ELTJ.VH, Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Muskingum county; son of John 
and Barbara Wagoner. His father was born July 
18, 17'.i3, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
and emigrated from that State to Muskingum 
countv shortlv after the close of the war of 1812; 
married in December, 18o0, to Elizabeth Sturtz, 
whose parents brought her from Pennsylvania to 
Muskingum county when six ye:irs old. Mr. 
Wagoner moved to Franklin townshi])in March, 
LS.").'); his three children, viz: Lavinia (Wirtz), 
Mary Ann (.\ronhalt) and Melinda Catharine, 
are all living in tliis township. 

WAGONER .JOHN. Franklin township; farm- 
er; P. O. Coshocton, Ohio: born June 21, 18,^, 
in .Vdams town,-hi]i, Jfuskingum county ; son of 
John and Barbara (Shurtz) Wagoner, natives of 
Pennsvlvania, of (uM-man descent. John re- 



808 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



mained with his f;ither on the farm until he be- 
came twenty one years of age, when lie began 
teaching school in the winter and working on 
the farm in the summer seasons, In 1S59 he lo- 
cated on the I-iohinscin farm in Tuscarawas town- 
ship, and remained four years. He came to 
Franklin township in 1803. and to his present 
residence in 1859. Mr. Wagoner was married 
August 18, 1858, to Miss Catharine, daughter of 
Valentine and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Zinimer, 
natives of Alsace, France They became the 
parents of six children: Ada Alice, married to 
Andrew Brannon ; Henry H.; Ehzabeth F.. de- 
ceased ; Judson E.,William A. and Alta Theodosia. 
Mr Wagoner was elected .Justice of the Peace of 
Franklin township, in April 1870, and was re- 
elected three times, now servhig his fourth term 

WAGONER H.VRRISON, Coshocton : carpen- 
ter and contractor; born September 2, 18i;i, in 
Muskingum county ; son of John and Barbara 
(Shurtz) Wagoner, and came to Tuscarawas 
township in 1854, and to this city in 1870. Mr 
Wagoner was raised on the farm until nineteen 
years of age, when he went to his trade, which 
he followed three years; then rented a farm and 
conducted it four years, when he bought a farm, 
which he worked in connection with his trade 
for about seven years jirior to coming to this 
county. Since coining to this city he has given 
his entire attention to contracting and building. 
Mr. Wagoner served about four months In Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Forty-third 0. N. G. 
He was married March 19. 1843, to Miss Malinda. 
daughter of .John Shroyer, of Muskingum county. 
Her mother's name was Elizabeth, daughter of 
Peter and Susannah Wertz. Their children are 
— Mary Elizabeth; Barbara Jane, deceased; Eliza 
Annie, Margaret. John Oliver and George Bar- 
tholomew. 

WAITE R. D., Coshocton ; dental surgeon ; 
.son of John Waite, deceased; was born March 
16, 1851, in Canada West. His father died when 
the son was but three years old. Soon after, the 
boy, with his mother, moved to a farm in White 
Eyes townshi)), this county. Here on this farm 
the son learned what it is to "earn his bread Ijy 
the sweat of his Jirow." When about twenty 
years old he, with his mother, came to this place, 

, and young Waite commenced the study of dent- 
istry with 'Dr. F. O. .Jacobs, and was recognized 
by the State as a ]iractitioner in 1873, since which 
time he has been engaged in his profession, at 
his present rooms, 220 Main street, Coshocton, 
Ohio. These rooms are )ilcasantly located and 
handsomely furnished. Dr. Waite is a self-made 

•man, having educated and established himself in 
his profession by his own energy and persever- 
iinee. 

WALKER JOHN, Bedford township; farm- 



er ; postoffice, A^'est Bedford ; born in 1838, in 
this county. His father, James Walker, was 
born in 1802, in Ireland. He came to this coun- 
try in 1823, and settled at Albany, New York. 
He was married in 182G, to Miss Jane Little, of 
Albany, who came from Ireland in 1822. They 
came to this county in 1827. He died in 1840, 
she died in 1879. They were the parents of six 
children. The subject of this sketch is the fifth. 
He was married m 18GG, to IMiss Narcissa M. 
Barnes, daughter of Judge Barnes, of this county. 
She was born in 1844, in .Jelferson county. They 
are the parents of seven children, viz: Blanche, 
deceased; Charles B., William J., Frank and 
Fred., who are twins, and Wade and Worth, 
deceased. Mr. Walker has lived in town since 
186G. 

WALKER WILLIAM. Coshocton; clerk in 
county treasurer's ollice ; born Otober 4, 1833, 
in Smithlield township. Jefferson county; son of 
Nathaniel Walker, a native of the County of Don- 
egal, Ireland. William was raised on the farm 
until about twenty years of age. when he began 
teaching scliool and taught eight years, then re- 
turned to the farm where he remained four 
years, then followed merchandising until 1.S71, 
when he was elected county auditor and re- 
elected in 1873, and remained one year as deputy 
after the expiration of his term of office. He 
J)egan his present duties September, 1880. Mr. 
Walker was married S;^ptember 2, l.%2. to Miss 
Catharine Lockard, daughter of John Lockard, 
deceased, of Crawford township. They have 
three children, viz: John M.. Clement L. and 
Laura E. 

WALTON D. C. Fafayette townshi]); telegraph 
operator; iiostotfice. West Lafayette; was liorn in 
Tuscarawas county, in 1852; son of David Walton ; 
was raised on a fai'in. which he left in 18G8 and 
commenced learning his art at Port Washington. 
After working in different places, lie came here 
in 1873. where he has since remained. He was 
married to Miss Emma Hunt, of Muskingum 
county, daughter of Setli Hunt. They have had 
three children : Edgar, Carle and Anna. Mr. 
Walton owns a pretty jiroperty in the village and 
is a highly respectable citizen. 

WALSH WILLI.\M, Keene townshiii; born 
in Orange county. New York, December 19, 1810; 
son of Thomas and Sarah Walsh, and grandson 
of Thomas and Elizabeth Walsh and William 
and Hannah Wood. His grandfather Walsh was 
a revolutionary soldier. Mr. Walsh was raised 
on a farm, and at the age of sixteen learned the 
wagonmalcer trade. He moved lo Kecne town- 
.ship when twenty-six years old. and -after work- 
ing a year at carpent<>ring o))ened his present 
wagon shcip at Kecne. His first marriage was 
with Eliza Thayer, October 13, 1841, who was the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



SO'J 



daughtpr of Ephraini nml Snilie (Green) Thnyer, 
and gr;nulil:ui_t;liter of BartholniiuMV and Eli/.abolh 
(Blanchard) Thayur. Bai'tholonuMV was a soldier 
of the revolution By his first \vif(^ Mr. W. had j 
two children, JNIary E., born September '.t, 1842; | 
and Sarah, April 0, l,S4.5. He married Miss Sarah, 
daughter of John MeMichael, April '2ii. lS5;i, who 
became the mother of two children, Eliza .1., de- 
ceased, born March 19, 1854, and Frances, April 
8, 1857. 

WARD WILLIAM, Coshocton; bookkeeper; • 
born April I'J, 1880. in Paris, Pennsylvania ; son 
of Richard and Martha (Hay) Ward. Attheageof 
fourteen, he left his native vilta;j,e and spent live 
year.s in Indiana; then came to Coshocton; here 
he engaged as clerk, for a while; then began the 
mercantile business for himself — tirst, in dry 
goods; afterwards in drugs. In 1872. he became 
connected with the Coshocton iron and steel 
works, serving in the capacity of shijijiing clerk; I 
subsequently, he was made secretary, and, when 
the firm closed, was secretary, cashier and di- 
rector. He was then appointed assignee, by the 
court. In 1874, he took charge of the books for 
H. Hay, the present proiirietor. Mr. Ward was 
married, in 1862, to Miss Frank Hutchison, daugh- 
ter of John Hutchison, of this city. Death has 
claimed the three children born unto them, 
Willys Kerr, Katie and an unnamed infant. 

WARING DAVID, deceased, Bethlehem town- 
.ship; farmer; was born in l(8(i, in Essex county, 
Virginia. His parents were of English descent. 
Mr." Waring came to this county in 18."0, and 
settled in Bethlehem township. He was married, 
in 1811, to ili.ss Loui-sa Beynhan. of Essex county, 
Virginia, who was born in 17'.il. They became 
the parents of nine children, viz: Elizaheth E., 
Maria L., Martha A., William T., Henrietta, David, 
.lames S., Arthur L. and Mary. Six are at present 
living. Mr. Waring was a man of integrity, and, 
by his own industry, accunudated some i>roperty. 
He followed agricultural jmrsuits all his life, and 
died February 24, 18(54, aged eighty-four. Mrs. 
Waring died "December 18, 1832, aged forty-one 
years. 

WEATHERWAX JOHN A., Monroe town- 
■ship; farmer; postoflice. Spring Mountain; was 
born March 15, 1841, in the village of Si)ring 
Mountain. Coshocton county, Ohio; son of .Jacob 
and Susannah (McCoy) Weatherwax, and gr.and- 
son of Ailani and Elizabeth (Felton) Weather- 
wax, and of John and Sarah Weatherwax He 
was educated at Spring Mountain academy, and. 
at the age of eighteen, began teaching scliool, and 
followed that business lor two years. About this 
time the late civil war broke out, and, Mr. 
Weatherwax, being possessetl of patriotic princi- 
ples, enlisted in Company I, Fifty-lirst Regiment 
0. V. I., September, 1861, and" served tift«en 



months, when he was discharged on account of 
sickness, caused by talking cold while having the 
measles. Thinking himself sulliciently recovered 
for the service, he re-enli.sted with the lOO-days' 
men. Since the close of the war he has followed 
farming, and very successfully. He has, at pres- 
ent, over two hundred acres of land. Mr. 
Weatherwax was married to Mi.-is Sevilla Will- 
iams October 5, 18l>4. She is a daughter of John 
R. and Elizabeth (Fowler) Williams, and grand- 
daugnter oi Richard and Elizabeth (Bracken) 
Williams, and of Richard and Jane (Elsin) Fow- 
ler; also, great granddaughter of James and Re- 
becca (Johnson) Williams, and of Archibald and 
Hannah (Rolierts) Elsin, and of Jcihn and Chris- 
tina (Hopkins) Elsin. Their children were: 
Jacob O., born Julv U), 1865; William R., March 
18. 1867; Cora J.." February 18, 186ii; Warner, 
Februarv 21,1871; Abram, August 1, 1874, and 
Ada, August 27, 1878. 

WEATHERWAX ABRAM, Clark township ; 
farmer ; postoilice, Helmick ; born in Clark town- 
ship, Coshocton county, January 18, 1825 ; son of 
Andrew and Lydia (Felton) Weatherwax, and 
grandson of John L. ^^^>atherwax and Olive Ful- 
ton. The Weathcrwaxcs came from Holland at 
an early day and settled in New York State; 
from there, enugrated to Ohio. His father came 
to Clark township in 1821, and raised a family of 
seven children, Abram being the youngest. He 
owns 235 acres of tine laml, and is an enterpris- 
ing and successful farmer. He was married to 
Mi.ss Naomi Pettit, daughter of George and Han- 
nah (Severn) Pettit, who was horn in Pennsyl- 
vania, August 31. 1824. and died August 27, 1875. 
Thev have had six children— George, born July 
8, 1848; Lvdia.born Mav 11, 1850; Sarah E., born 
February '2'.t, 1><52, died March 11. 1857; Nancy 
A., born .\ngust 2, 18">4 ; Louvina A . born June 
18, 1857 ; Ma'ry W., born October 2, 1850. George, 
Lydia, Louvina and JIary are married. Mary is 
married to Mr. William H. Burrell. son of Ar- 
chibald and Charity (Norman) Burrell, and 
grandson of Josejjh and Nancy (Clark) Burrell, 
and Josejih Norman. He was born in Beth- 
lehem township. Coshocton county, Februarj' 5, 
1852. Mr. Burrell is a teacher of common 
.schools; has had seven years experionce and is a 
successful teacher. Thev have onlv one child — 
Frank D., born September 1, 1880. " 

WEISNER ANDREW, dealer in stoves, house- 
furnishing goods and tinware, 141 Second street, 
Coshocton, Ohio. Mr. Weisner is a native of this 
county, and was born in Ro.scoe, November 25, 
1.S55, and was educated in the j)ublic schools of 
this county. His first luisine.ss engagement was 
learning the tinner trade with the firm of Hirt 
cfe Palm, with whom he served three years. At 
tlie expiration of this term in ls78, he bought out 



SIO 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the fii-in, and has since been conducting the 
business himself. He manufactures all kinds of 
tin,co])per and sheet iron ware, does roofing and 
spouting, and deals in all kinds of cook and heat- 
ing stoves, granite iron ware, pressed tinware 
and general house-furnishing goods. Mr. Weis- 
ner has thus far made a success of business, and is 
a young man of energy, business tact and integ- 
rity. 

WEIR JOHN C, hotel keeper; postofRce, 
West Lafayette; is a native of Guernsey county. 
His father was a native of Ireland, who came to 
America in 1819. Mr. Weir came to West Lafa- 
yette in 1875, and established the present hotel — 
Weir House — having been engaged in the same 
business in Guernsey count}' for several years. 
With years of experience, Mr. '\\'eir is prepared 
to meet the wants of the people. He has built 
an extensive addition to his building, having 
ample room. He has also erected a new and 
commodious barn, ^^'ith these late improve- 
ments he is fully prepared to accommodate the 
public. Mr. Weir was married to Jane Stewart, 
who was born in Irelanil, and came with her 
]iarents to America when a child. They have 
four children, viz: William, deceased; Sarah 
Ellen, Edward, and Charlie. 

WELKER DAVID, Linton township; farmer; 
born in Union township, Kxox coiintv, January 
11, 1816; son of David and Sarah (McMillan) Wel- 
ker; the second of a family of eight children. His 
father moved from Allegheny county, Pennsylva- 
nia, to Knox county, before the State government 
was formed, being among the foremost settlers of 
Knox county. His mother, also from Pennsyl- 
vania, settled there soon after. His grandfather, 
Robert McMillan, was a revolutionary .soldier, 
serving seven years. Mr. Welker remained in 
Knox county till his removal to Linton town- 
ship, about 1838. He has lived here since. He 
was married October 1835, to Miss Maria, 
daughter of Jonas and Sallie (Gaumer) Fox, of 
Muskingum county. The children by this mar- 
riage are George, deceased; Sarah, deceased; 
Susan, deeeased; Ellen (Lawrence), Sylvester, 
Hiram, and David, deceased. His wife died 
December 29, 1852. He was a second time united 
in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jackson, Maj' 10, 
1857. She was the daughter of Becker and Mary 
(Bainter) Jackson. Children : Charles, Lemon, 
Flora, Paul, John and Margaret. 

WELLING THOMAS, Mill Creek township; 
farmer and stock raiser ; postoffice, New Bed- 
ford, Ohio; was born in Harri.son county, Ohio, 
January 15, 1823; son of Henry and Mary Well- 
ing, and was married, September 29, 184-1, to 
Catharine Cox, daug^hter of Elijah and Christena 
Cox, born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 20, 



1827. The children born to them were John, 
Elijah, Sheridan, Henry, Jacob, Samuel, George 
T., Nancy, Albert and James. 

WELLING S. D., Pike township; carriage- 
maker; born in 1835, in New Haven, Harrison 
county, Ohio; came to this county in 18.50, with 
his father. He learned the trade" in Wheeling, 
West Virginia, and was engaged in the business, 
in 1858, in Carlisle. He enlisted, August 15, 
1S61, in Company K, Thirty-second O. V. I., 
Colonel Thomas Ford, commander. He was in 
a large number of battles, among these, Vieks- 
burg, Atlanta and Macon. He was mustered out 
August 7, 1864. He engaged in the carriage 
business in February, 1805, and has been in the 
business ever since. He makes spring work, 
consisting of buggies and spring wagons and 
sleigiis. He is the patentee and owner of a 
patent carriage top. 

WELLS JOHN M., Tuscarawas township; 
farmer; postoffice, Coshocton; was born in Harri- 
son county, August 22, 1822; son of Francis and 
Nancy (Moflett) Wells, natives of Wa.shington 
county, Pennsylvania, and grandson of Charles D. 
Wells. John M. was married, June 4, 1848, to 
Mi.ss Lucinda, daughter of James and Annie 
(Douglas) Conner. They have been blessed with 
eleven children, viz: James, deceased; Perry F.; 
John H., deceased ; Hiram D., Isaiah P., Luella J., 
Samuel Thompkins, Charles Howard, Hattie M., 
Haivey E. and Marj- A. jNIr. Wells is a man 
highh' esteemed by his acquaintances. 

WERNETT F. A., D. D. S., of Finley ct Wer- 
nett, Coshocton ; born March 27, 1842, in Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania. His father was a French- 
man, born on the ilayof the birth of Louis Napo- 
leon. His mother's name was Catharine Rom'ne, 
daughter of Joseph Romine, who, with his father, 
accompanied Napoleon to Moscow, in Rus.sia,and 
was at the famous battle of Waterloo. She was a 
neice of Romine the great land holder, who ex- 
erted a powerful influence in the French revolu- 
tion, in the latter ]iart of the eighteenth century. 
At the age of eight years, his father came to 
America and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- 
nia. Young Wernett's childhood was spent in 
his native city. At fourteen he went to AVooster, 
Ohio, and attended public school about four years, 
then returned to Pittsburgh and attended school 
one year. In the spring of 1860 he returned to 
Wooster and clerked in the store of J. B. Childs 
until 1863, when he went to Mount Vernon, Ohio, 
and clerked for L. Munk until January, 1866, 
when he settled on a farm in Fayette couny, Illi- 
nois. But not being schooled to this business, his 
efforts to induce mother earth to yield to him her 
increase were a decided failure. In the fall of 
1869 Mr. Wernett returned to Mount Vernon 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



811 



flnd commenced the study of his profession with 
Dr. Kelsey. At the close of his reailing he at- 
tended two courses of lectures at the Ohio college 
of dental surgery, and graduated with the usual 
honors of the class of 1.S71-2. Sixm after, the 
present firm was formed, and his interest and 
success have been nuitually shared with his part- 
ner. Dr. Finley. Dr. Wernett was married to 
Miss Normanda Sapp, of Mount Vernon. The 
result of this union was four children, viz : Will- 
iam H., Pauline, Francis and Mary Louise. 

AVERTS SOLOMON H., Linton township; 
farmer ; iiost(jfRce. Coshocton ; born January 30, 
1815, in Loudon county, Virginia ; son of Peter 
and Susannah (Hufl")" Werts, born of German 
descent. In ISVi ihey came to Muskingum coun- 
ty, where Solomon H was brought up, working 
in the blacksmith shop with his father, and on 
the farm. He came to his present residence in 
Linton township in 1848. On March 22. of the 
same year, he was married to l\Iiss Malinda, 
daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sturtz) Gau- 
mer. They became the parents of six children, 
viz: Susannah, married to William S.Simon; 
Elizabeth, married to Lewis B. Barcroft ; Mary 
Catharine, deceased ; Jacob Howard ; (ieorge R., 
deceased, and John C. 'Mr. and Mrs. \A'ert.s be- 
gan in this county with 120 acres of woodland, 
and with a little "help from their parents, they 
n6w own over ooO acres of good and well im- 
proved land. 

WERTS JACOB F., Franklin township; farm- 
er; born September 9, l.S4G,in Linton township; 
son of John Werts, an early settler, who was born 
in Loudon county, Virginia. His grandfatlier, 
George Peter Werts, was an emigrant from Ger- 
many. He enlisted in the spring of 1S64, in 
Company F, Fifty-first 0. V. I.; was at Kenesaw 
Mountain, Franklin. Resaca and Buzzard's Roost. 
At Kenesaw ^Mountain he was struck by a shell 
•and confined to hospital several weeks; mustered 
out October .3, 186.5, in Texas, and reached home 
November 3, 1865. He married Lavina, daughter 
of Elijah Wagner. October 21, 1869, and has three 
children, viz : Laura Idella, Carrie Luberta and 
Sylvester. 

WIER SAMUEL, White Eyes town shij); farm- 
er; born March 18, 1829; son of John W ier and 
Margaret (Boyd; Wier, who were natives of the 
countv Tyrone. Ireland. His father died before 
the fiimiiv came to the United States, and his 
mother died in White Eyes, June, 1868. The 
familv emigrated to this country in 1844, and 
located on a farm in Wiiit« Eyes. Samuel Wier 
was married April 4. 1854, to Eleanor Elliott, 
daughter of John H. Elliott, who was one of the 
earliest settlers oi the township. They have a 
familv of three children: Allen, born March 23, 
1855;" Martha Jane, born November 24, 1862, and 



Margaret A., born April 27, 1871. IMr. Wier 
bought a farm in 1854, and moved upon it in 
1855. He sold that farm in 1868, and bought the 
Brown ])lace, wlun-e he now resides,and added to 
it the Dunlavy farm, in 1875. 

^VHITE L. P., Pike township; grocer; born 
in 1847, in this county. He was married in 1.868, 
to Miss Pha?ba Billman, of this county. She 
was born in 1845, in this county. Tiiey are the 
parents of two children — Presley B. and Clarence 
H. In May, 1874, he bought a stock of groceries 
in Mt. Vernon of $20-5. He continued in this 
room until 1880, when he went into the room he 
now occupies. He had no shelving at first, but 
kept enlarging, until he now has the finest room 
in town. 

WHITE DANIEL. Pike township: manufac- 
turer and dealer in shoes; West Carlisle ; born 
in in 182.8, in this county. His father. Lewis, 
was born in 1802, in Fatiquier county, Virginia. 
He was married in 1851, to Miss Maria AA'atson, 
of this county, who was born in 1832, in Harri- 
son county. They are the parents of six chil- 
dren — Nancy J., deceased; William L., James B.; 
Charles H.. deceased; Mary I. and John L. They 
carya stock of ready made boots and shoes. He 
manufactures and repairs work, and the son is a 
shoemaker and harnessmaker. 

WHITE JAMES B., Pike township; jeweler; 
born in 1856, in this county. He was married 
in 1877, to Miss Avila Billman, of Sullivan county, 
Indiana. He Ci>mmenceil the jewelery business 
in February, 1878, with S6.90 worth of stock. 
He now has a stock of jewelry, watches aiid 
clocks and silverware. 

WHITESIDES JENKIN, Oxford township; 
farmer; postoffice, White Eyes Plains; son of 
James and Mary Whitesides, both natives of 
Chester county, Peujisylvania; Wixs born in same 
county and Oxford township, in 1814, .and went 
from there to Tennessee, and then came to this 
county. He was married to IMiss Elizabeth Neigh- 
bor, of Tuscarawas county, in 1836. Their chil- 
dren are as follows: William; James, deceased; 
Sarah Jane, deceased; Thomas Jeft'erson, Samuel 
F.; Isabel!, deceased; Nettie, deceased, and Jenkin 
L. He has held the office of Justice of the peace 
for twenty -six years, beating the Knownothing 
candidate when there was a majority of fifty-two 
against him, and is popular and one of Oxford's 
most respected citizens; owns 158 acres of the 
home farm, and is well situated as to this world's 
goods. 

WHITMER GEORGE, Crawford township; 
farmer ; postoffice, New Bedford ; born July 2, 
1816, in Union county, Penn.sylvania; son of 
Jacob and Mary (Row) Whitmer. He came to 



812 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



German township, Holmes countv, when quite 
young, and remained there until October 28, 
i83S,Vhen lie w'as married to 3Iiss Catharine, 
daughter of Peter and Sarah (Moore) Young. Of 
their fourteen children, seven have died, viz: 
.lacob, Michael, George W., and fotu' died nM 
named. The seven living children are: Elizabeth, 
married to James Alexander Naragon; Jo.el, mar- 
ried to Catharine ArLSe ; Edward, married to 
JIary Harning; Rebecca; William, married to 
Clara Gonser; Daniel and Joseph. Mr. Whilmer 
came to hi.^ present residence in 1839, with his 
young wife, it being then an unbroken foi-est. 
He "took out the first grub," and has induced 
mother earth to yield to him an abundance of her 
incrfease, which he now enjoys with the partner 
of his youth. 

WHITTEMORE D. G., Keene towiiship; 
merchant in Keene; born in Keene townshiiJ in 
the year 1840 ; son of D. B. and Lavina Whitte- 
moore. His grandparents were Ebenezer and 
Lydia (Richards) Whittemore, and Robert and 
Lucinda (Collins) Goodhue. His grandmother, 
Lydia's parents, were Daniel and Eunice (S*niiei- 
by) Ricliards. Wm. Whittemore was his great- 
grandfather. Mr. Whittemore begun business 
in general merchandise in Keene, in 1868, with 
his father, and in 1873 purchased his father's in- 
terest, ami has since conducted the business alone. 
His cash sales per year amount to about $18,000, 
which shows an extensive trade. He was mar- 
ried May, 1S78, to Miss C. C. Foster, daughter of 
Ralph Foster, of Keene township, and has one 
child, George F. 

WIGGINS THOMAS, Lafayette township; 
farmer. His father and mother were natives of 
Virginia. The subject of this sketch was born 
in this comity in 1811, and was married to Miss 
Marv Miller in l.'^.S/. They have had seven chil- 
dren, viz: George, Sarah, Hannah, Ehuira; Jane, 
deceased; William, and Thomas. Thomas Wig- 
gins was a trustee of this township from the time 
the railroad was built till 1875, when he was 
elected to the office of infirmary director, which 
otlice he holds at present. He owns 045 acres of 
land, and is comfortably situated. 

WIGGINS THOMAS T., Lafayette township; 
farmer; son of T.M.Wiggins; was born Novem- 
ber 6, 1843, and married to Eliza Phillabaum 
November 17, 18tl4. Their children are as fol- 
lows: an infant, deceased; Sarah Alice, born 
September 27, ISOG; Henry, born May 19,1868; 
Ross E., born January 23, 1870; Mary M., born 
September 27,1873; Ida J., born July 17,1874; 
Lola B., born July 12, 1876, and Ira F.. born No- 
vember 8, 1878. "Deaths: Henry L., died March 
ll,ls72,aged two years, four months and twenty- 
two days ; Lola J., died August 25, 1875, aged one 
year, one mouth and eight days. They have 225 



acres of land belonging to his father. He ha* 
been supervisor in this township, and is honest 
and industrious. 

WIGGINS WILLIAM, Lafayette to\\-nship: 
farmer; postoffice, West Lafayette, Ohio; son of 
Thomas M. and Mary M. (Jliller) Wiggins; was 
born June 23, 1842, in this county. His parents 
were born and raised in this county, and are 
among the oldest inhabitants. Mr. Wiggins was 
raised on the farm, and has always followed that 
occupation. He enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in 
Company E, Fifty-first O. V. I., and served one 
year. He was married, October 29, 1863, to Miss 
Lydia Marlatt, of this county. They became 
the parents of one child, Mary O. Mrs. Wiggins 
died March 13, 1867. He was married, March 
29, l.'?68, to Miss Jennie Smith, of this county. 
They arc the parents of two children, viz : 
Charles C, and Sarah E. 

WIGGINS EDWARD, Lafayette township; 
farmer; P. O. West Lafayette; (son of Isaac Wig- 
gins, deceased ; was born in this township in 1829,. 
and married in 1870 to Mrs. Miller, of this town- 
ship. Their children were as follows: Jennie, 
born July 2, 1871; Eddie, born February 4,1.S73;, 
Emma, born December 22, 1876. Their step- 
children were Delia, born October 4, 1862, and 
Isaac, born December 22. 1863. Mr. Wiggins 
took part in the late war, going out in the Fifty- 
first O. V. I., and was out two years. He owns 
one hundred acres of real estate, and enjoys the 
esteem of his neighbors. 

WIGGINS BENJAMIN, Linton township; re- 
tired farmer; Plainfield ; born in Linton town- 
ship, July 13, 1820; the son of Edward and Slary 
(Greentree) Wiggins. His parents emigrated to 
his native township in 1807, from Brooke county. 
Virginia. His grandfather Wiggins emigrateii 
from Ireland to the wilds of Virginia at an early 
day, and there selected as mudi land as he want- 
ed by blazing the trees arcaind the tract W'ith a 
tomahawk. iMr. W. was married November 14, ■ 
1839, to Jamima, stepdaughter to George Mag- 
ness. Their children are Charity, deceased ; Ed- 
ward ; Thomas, deceased; Seth, deceased; Sam- 
uel, John, Harvey, Mary (Williams), Amanda 
(Workman), and Benjamin, deceasad. 

WILCOX GEORGE, Franklin township; farm- 
er; born April 6. 18.34, in Muskingum county; 
son of Charles Wilcox. His grandfather, James 
Wilcox, emigrated at an early day to Muskingum 
county, from Vermont. Mr. Wilcox lived in 
Muskingum county till about 1870, then moved 
to Franklin township, this county, and has resided 
here ever since. He was married, in 1861, to 
Mary J., daughter of Sylvester Preston, of Mus- 
kingum county. Their family consists of seven 
children, viz: James Marion, Dorothy Elizabeth, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



815 



Alice Bell, Ann Eliza, John P., George L. and 
Hannah J. 

WILCOX CHARLES,, Franklin township; 
farmer : born in Muskingum eoim ty. May 1 2, 1 S44 ; 
son of Charles Wilcox, born in Muskinguin county, 
and grandson of James Wilcox, one of the (irist 
occupants of Franklin township. Enlisted, in 
1862, in company E, Second 0. V. I., and served 
a year, during which he was engaged at Stone 
River. He again enlisted, in 1SG4, in company 
K, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth 0. V. I., and 
served about a year. He married, in 1 S6G, Cynthia 
Clark, daughter of Hugh Clark, of Muskingum 
county. Their children are: Nancy, EHzabeth; 
Jesse 0, decea.sed ; Franklin P., deceased ; Elenora, 
deceased; William Allen: Carrie, deceased; Sam- 
uel, and an unnamed infant. 

WILCOX IRA, Franklin township; blacksmith; 

P.O., Wills Creek; born April 21, l."^52, in Musking- 
um county; son of John and Sarah .\.(Cruml)aker) 
Wilcox. He went to his trade when about nine- 
teen years of age, and establi.shed business for 
him.self first at Mohawk Village, where he re- 
mained until March, 1877, when he opened a shop 
at Frew's Mills, where he is doing busine.s.s in 
general smithing. Mr. Wilcox was married Sep- 
tember 13, lS7-t, to Miss Mary Josephine, daugh- 
ter of Findley and Elizabeth (Hawk) Smith 
They became the parents of one child, Nora 
Ellen born August 16, 1877. Mrs. Wilcox died 
December S, 1878. His only sister, Alice B.,died 
March 2, 1879. They are "both buried at Mays- 
ville. 

WILLIAMSON ISA.ACClark town.ship; farm- 
er; postoffice, Helinick; born in New Jersey, 
March 28, 1819; son of Piatt and Sarah Wil- 
liamson. He came to Zanesville with his parents 
when an infant, and lived there about seventeen 
years, at which time he moved to Clark town- 
ship, where he has remained since. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Louisa Matticks, February 21, 1841, 
daughter of Jacob and Jane Matticks, born July 
4, 18a5, and died October 10, 18.52. They iiad 
four children, viz: Piatt, born January 28, 1842; 
William 11., born September 8,1844; .lacob A., 
torn November 17, 1846; Sarah J., born Feliruary 
3, 1851, died September 22, 1852. His second 
marriage was February 2, 1.8.54, to Miss Sarah 
Martin, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mac- 
key) Martin, and granddaughter of James Mar- 
tin, and Andrew and Sarah Mackey. She was 
born in Holmes county, Ohio, March 27, 1819. 
Their children are Elizabeth, born February 17, 
1856, died September 27, 1857; John M., born 
September 5, 1857, and Anna A., born December 
7, 1862. 

WILLIAMSON PIATT, Monroe township; 
■was born in January, 1842, in Clark township, 

37 



Coshocton county ; son of Isaac and Louisa 
(Matticks) Williamson, and grand.son of Piatt 
Williamson and of Jacob and Jane Matticks. 
He was brought up on a farm, and attended dis- 
trict schools. August 15. l.S()l, he enlisted in 
Company K, Thirty-second O. V. I., and served 
till December 14, 1863, when he veteranized and 
serve<l till .Inly 20,1865, under Generals McPher- 
son and Howard. He was in the following bat- 
tles: Cheat JVfountain ; McDowell, Virginia; 
Cross Keys, Harjjcr's Ferry, where he was taken 
prisoner and paroled next day. He participated 
in the siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, and 
Atlanta, and was with Sherman on the march to 
the sea. At the close of the war he returned 
home, and married Mi.ss Eliza Brillhart, August 
24, 186-5, daughter of david Brillhart, whose an- 
cestry is given elsewhere in this book. Their 
only child was Samuel D. R., born December 31, 
1866. 

WILLIAMS JAMES M., Coshocton ; attorney; 
■was born July 22, 18.50, in Plainfield, this county; 
son of the Hon. Hesli)i Williams, formerly State 
senator, now deceased. He attended the" public 
schools until April 11, 1864, when he entered the 
army as a member of the Third Regular Cavalry, 
Company C, Seventh Army Corps, in which lie 
served until the close of the war. In 1866 he 
commenced teaching school, and graduated June 
56, 1.873, at .Allegheny college, Mcadville, Penn- 
sylvania. He commenced the study of law August 
14, 1873, with Messrs. Spangler & Pomerene, of 
Coshocton, and was atlmittcd to the bar Septem- 
ber 16, 1875. He commenced the practice of 
law July 1, 1877. January 14, 1878, he was ap- 
pointed colonel on Governor Bishop's military 
staff, and served two years. Colonel Williams 
was married May 21, 1S79, to Miss Mary S. Brock- 
way, only daughter of Charles B. Brockway, of 
Ripley, Chatauqua county. New York. 

WILLI.\MS M. H., Monroe township; was 
born July 24, 1838, at Eiist Plainfield, Co.shocton 
county; son of John R and Elizabeth (Fowler) 
Williams, and grandson of Richard Williams. 
Mr. Williams was brought up on a farm and 
educated in Coshocton and Spring Mountain. He 
has followed farming all his life, except eight 
years, when he w-as in the milling business with 
his father .and brother. He married Mary J. 
Weatherwax Octob(>r 6, 18(;4, who was born May 
18, 1847, granddaughter of .Vdam and Elizabeth 
(Felton) WeailK'rwax. and daughter of Jacob 
and Susannah f McCoy) Weatherwax; also grand- 
daughter of John and Sarah (Stevens) McCoy. 
Their children are Lizzie S., born in 186.5, and 
Howard D., born February 26, 1870. 

WILLIAMS WILLIAM H.. Lafayette town- 
.ship; physician ; was born in Tuscarawas county, 
in 1820, and came to this county in 1860; 



816 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



attended the university of New York in IFoO and 
1851, and commonocd practice in l<So2; was 
married in November, 1875, to Miss Alice 
Powers. They have two children —Austin Apollo 
and Louis Odeseus. Ur. Williams was at one 
time engaged in a large practice here and vicin- 
ity, but confines himself to office jjractice at 
l)resent, iW he is engaged writing a work on the 
book of Revelations, which he hopes to have 
completed some time during the year 18S1. 

WILLIAMS JAMES F., Jackson township; 
miller; Roscoe po.stoffice ; was born in Linton 
township, March 17, 1835; son of John R. Miller, 
a native of Pennsylvania, of Welch ancestry. 
He was brought up on a farm, where he re- 
mained until he was twenty-three years of age, 
when he commenced his present business, which 
he has principally followed until the present 
time. Mr. Williams was married, in October 
1.S56, to Miss Margaret E., daughter of J. D. 
Johnson. Their three children are George M., 
Charles E. and Ida. Mr. Williams is doing a 
first class merchant and custom business. The 
building of this mill was begun April 1, 1880, 
and commenced doing work August 1, of the 
same year. 

WILLIAMS H. A., Jackson township; post- 
office, Tyrone, born in this county in 1854 ; son 
of Lewis and Sophia Williams, and grandson of 
James and Rachel Williams. Married in 1878, 
to C'lemma Sutton, daughter of Jesse and Jane 
Sutton. He is the father of- one child, Ray M. 

WILLIAMS W. D., Franklin township ; teach- 
er; ])Ostofiice, Coshocton; born January 19, 1856, 
in Putnam county, Ohio ; but came to Coshocton 
county in January, 187VI; son of David M. and 
Elizabeth Anne (Roberst) Williams. W. D , not 
being born to wealth, he of necessity was com- 
jielled to work indu.striously ; his education was 
therefore neglected until the spring of 1879, 
■when he gave his attention to study, and by 
September 4, 1880, he began his first term of 
teaching, in which he has succeeded well. 

WILLIAMS C. M., Clark township; farmer 
and fur dealer ; post(]flice, Clark's ; born in Holmes 
covmty, Ohio, Jaiuiary 23, 1835; son of John M. 
and Lydia (Courtright) Williams, and grandson 
of Charles and Susan (Carpenter) Williams and 
Jacob Courtright. His grandfather is closel}' 
connected with the early history of the county, 
being one of the jiioncers. He was married 
December 1, 1857, to Miss Sarah Miller, daughter 
of Abram and Nancy (McNcal) Miller, and grand- 
daughter of George and Mary (Good) Miller, and 
of Archibald and Mary (Airly) McNeal She 
was born in Clark township, March 22, 1835. Her 
parents came to this county at an early day, and 
settled in Clark township. 



WILLIAMS .lOHN R., Linton township; 
farmer; born March 28, 1802, in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania; son of Richard and Eliza- 
beth (Bracken) Williams. In 180S he came with 
his father to Linton towhship, where his father 
died November 28, 18.30. When a yoimg man, 
Mr. Williams worked some at hou.se cari^enter- 
ing and ciibinet making, but he has farmed prin- 
cipally. He was married November 27, 1828, to 
Elizabeth Fowler, born February 2S, 1808, the 
daughter of Richard and Jane (Elson) Fowler, 
married February 5, 1807, and granddaughter of 
Archibald and Hannah (Roberts) Elson. They 
have had eight children, viz : Richard, deceased; 
John F., James, Marion; Elizabetli, deceased; 
William M., who died at Fortress Jlonroc, August, 
1864; Sevilla (Weatherwax) and Warren. 

WILLIAIMS DR. HESLIP, deceased, Linton 
township. Dr. Williams was born in Guernsey 
county. May 4, 1815; the son of Levi and Han- 
nah (Lemon) Williams. His father was born in 
Virginia, and, when only fifteen years old, served 
under " Mad Anthony " Wayne, in his Indian- 
campaign, and afterward moved to Guernsey 
county. Mr. Williams, read medicine, at Win- 
chester, in that county, and, in 1836, began a 
long and eventful practice in Linton township. 
He represented his county in the State legislature, 
both as representative and senator. He was 
married, September 6, 1842, to Miss Charlotte, 
daughter of James and Catherine (Bartmess) 
Miskimen, pioneers of Linton township, and 
grand daughter of David and Rachel (Free) 
Miskimen. Her grandfather David was a native 
of Ireland. Their children are Sarah H. (Kirk), 
Levi Dwight, James M., Wilbur G., Emma C , 
Laura E., Charles E. and George L. John en- 
listed in Company I, Sixty-ninth O. V. I., in 1862, 
and died January 24, 1863, from a wound re- 
ceived at the battle of Murfreesboro', a few days 
previous. 

WILLIS S. W., Bethlehem township; farmer; 
postolflce, Warsaw, Ohio; son of Ste)ihon and 
Mary (Severns) Willis ; was born March 21,1846, 
in JeflTerson township, Coshocton county, Ohio. 
Mr. Willis was ra!.sed on the farm until fifteen 
years of age. He then enlisted in Company F, 
Eightieth O. Y. I. He was in the service one 
year, serving under Generals Thomas, Pope, 
Ro.«ecrans and Grant. He was engaged in the 
battles of luka, and Corinth, Mississijipi. lie 
was wounded at Corinth, and honorably dis- 
charged because of his wounds, December 19, 
1862. In 1808 Mr. Willis removed to California 
and remained nine years, engaged in the book 
and stationery business. He served nine years 
as postmaster in Auburn. California. He came 
back to Coshocton county in the fall of 1877. 
Mr. Willis was married June 6, 1872, to Miss 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



817 



Martha J. Frederick, of this county. They are 
the parents of two children, viz:' Williain R., 
born April 8, 1873, and Nellie Grace, hi )rn .lime 
15, 1880. Jlr. Willis is following the occnjiation 
of farmer, and owns a tine farm in Bethlehem 
township. 

WILMAX R. A., Tuscarawas township; pro- 
vision and grocer dealer, Canal Lewisville; was 
born in October, 1S22, near the District of Colum- 
bia; son of John Wilman. His mother's maiden 
name was Elizabeth Hall. When an infant he 
came to JefTerson with his parents and was 
raised on the farm, and came to this covmty in 
January, 1847. He worked in Ro.scoe "and 
various other parts of the State at chair painting. 
In May, 1868, he went to Illinois and engaged in 
merchandising, and remained until October, 
1874, when he returned and located at Warsaw, 
and established a grocery, which was entirely 
destroyed by tire, April 4, ls7o. He reestab- 
lished himself in the same bnsinesss and con- 
tinued about a year, when he bought his present 
comfortable and convenient propert)', in which 
he is doing a pleasant retail business Mr. Wil- 
man was married August 9, 1849, to Miss Ellen 
E. Thomas, daughter of Philiji Thomas, of Jack- 
son township. They have eight children, viz: 
Winlield Scott; Robert, who is married and now 
residing in Illinois; Sada A., Josephine, married 
to Weslev Babs, now residing in Edgar county, 
Illinois ; William L., Stephen, John D. and Eel- 
ward. 

WILSON ROBERT W., O.xford township; 
farmer; postoffice. White Eyes Plains; son of 
Robert and Margaret Wilson ; was born in Penn- 
sylvania, in 1816; married, in 1844, to Miss Sarah 
Craig, of this county. Their chil<lren were as 
follows: Jcrusha, Isabel, Robert W., Mary E., 
Arnall; Charles, decea.sed. Mr. Wilson has held 
offices of trust in the townshij), owns 120 acres of 
land, and he and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian church. 

WILSON GEORGE B., New Castle township; 
postoffice. New Castle; was born December 2, 
1819, in Bethlehem township, Coshocton county. 
His father, John Wilson, was of Irish descent. 
His mother, Rebecca (Kay) Wilson, was of Ger- 
man descent. He remained with his parents 
until he reached his maidiood, working on the 
farm and attending school occasionally. He then 
worked four years by the month, after which he 
began farming for himself and has followed farm- 
ing successfully ever since. On the 1st of Decem- 
ber, 1861, he volunteered in the United States 
service, to serve for three years or during the 
war, under Captain Metham, Companv F, 
Eightieth O. V. V. I. He entered his" first 
engagement at luka, under (Jeneral Nelson, 
from tliere he was ordered to Vickbburg, and 



then to Chattanooga and Atlanta, and from 
thence with General Sh(>rman on his famous 
match to the sea, and from the sea U) Columbia, 
South Carolina, thence to Goldsboro' North Car- 
olina, and from Goldsboro' to Richmcjnd, and 
thence to the city of Washington and attended 
the grand review, and from there to Louisville, 
Kentucky, thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, where 
he was mustered out of the .-iervice in July, 1865. 
He tlien came to Columbus, Ohio, and received 
his discharge on the 25th of August, 1865. Dur- 
ing his entire term of soldiering he never was 
wounded. He tilled all the offices from first cor- 
poral to first lieutenant. He was married to Miss 
Maria Butler, Se])tember 4, 1S44, daughter of 
James and Elizabeth Butler, and grand(Iaughter 
of Thomas Butler. They have been blessed with 
seven children, viz: Charles, Elvira, Sarah, James, 
Clara, Frank and Polina. 

WIMMER M. W., Franklin township ; school 
teacher; postoffice, Coshocton. His father, An- 
thony Wimmer, Sr., was born May 9, 18tH, in 
Alsace, France ; son of Thomas and Barbara 
(Rickets) Wimmer, who were the parents of 
eight children, viz: Thom;is, George, Michael, 
Lorenzo, Jacob, Mathias, Anthony, and Loudon. 
Anthony Wimmer, Jr., was married in Novem- 
ber, 1827, to Magdalena Shue. They came to 
America and landed in New York City Septem- 
ber 28, 1830. They became the jiarcnts of nine 
children, viz: Wilhelmine, who died in France; 
George, deceased; Magdalena, married to Fred- 
erick Hornung, now residing in Dresden, Ohio: 
Catharine, deceased; Josej)h, deceased ; Anthony, 
married to Margaret Armbrueler, now residing 
in Kansas; Barbara (deceased), married, to Wen- 
del Ilendrick; Lorenzo, married to Magdalena 
Hiscr;and Michael W., married October 25, 1870, 
to Adaline Gunlher. The last named are the 
parents of four children, viz: Nora May; Amelia, 
deceased; Alice and Frank Longdon. M. W. 
Wimmer was brought ti]) on the fnrni, but early 
devoted him.self to education, and at an early 
age began the profession of teaching, in which 
capacity he has been very successful. He has 
al.so been elected and served two terms as county 
auditor, and now holds the office of notivry ])ublic. 

WINSLOW DR. J. W., Monroe township; born 
September 2, 1S.'5S, in Tiverton townshij), Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio; son of John and Elizabeth 
(Harris) Winslow, grandson of John Harris, and 
great-grandson of \\'illiam Winslow. He was 
brought upon a farm and attended district schools 
luitd he was twenty years old; he then went to 
school at the Si>ring Mountain academy a short 
time,, then tjiught school in the winter season 
and went to school in summer for three years. 
He then took up the study of meilicine under 
Dr. W. R. Wing, and read three years ; attended 



818 



HISTOKY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1861 ; then 
practiced till 1860, when he took another course 
of lectures at Columbus; then returned to Spring 
Miiuntain and resumed his practice, where he 
continued, having a fair practice. Dr. Winslow 
was married to Miss Harriett Moore, daughter of 
Silas and Mary (McCoy) Moore, October 8, 1863. 
Their children are: Edward E., born August 24, 
1SG4; Gladys A., born May 15, 1873, and Mattie 
G., born July 28, 1875. 

WOLF JACOB, Oxford township: farmer; 
postofflce. White Eyes Plains; was born in Cum- 
berland county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and came 
to Ohio with his parents in 1806. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Leighninger of this town- 
ship: who became the parents of four children, 
a« follows : Margaret, Sarah, Hiram and George. 
Jacob's wife died in August, 1879. He is a mem- 
ber of the Bajitist church, and is an honest aVid 
industrious citizen,sWorking as if he was still in 
the prime of life. He is one of the oldest men 
in O.xfo-d lown.ship. 

WOLF FRANK, farmer; O.xford township; 
P. O. West Lafavotte; was born in 1842; son of 
John and Sarah (House) Wolf, both of this State. 
Mr. Frank Wolf was married in the year 1867, 
to Miss Nancy E. Foster, of Keene township. The 
fruits of this union has been four children: 
Addie, deceased; Mary, L., decea.sed ; Eddie, Jesse, 
deceased. He owns ninety-four acres of land in 
this township. They are members of the Protest- 
ant Methodist church. He took an active part in 
the late war, going out in Company C, Fiftv-first 
O. V. I., in the fall of 1861, and taking part'in all 
the battles in which that regiment was engaged, 
and was mustered out November 4, 1865. 

WOLF HENRY, Oxford township; farmer; 
postoflBce, Evansburgh; was born in 1819, in this 
township; was married November 18, 1852. to 
Miss Elizabeth Fletcher, of this township They 
have had the following children: Eliza, born in 
1853; Walonia, born in 1855 ; Albert, born in 1858; 
Lutie, born in 1865, and Carrie, born in 1869. 
Lutie died October 2, 1867. They own about 
400 acres of the finest land in this township, or 
in Coshocton county, and are surrounded by all 
the comforts of an elegant home. They are 
members of the Protestant Methodist church, and 
are esteemed for living up to their professions. 
He has been a school director for a number of 
years, believes in education in all its branches,- 
smd supjKirts the same in a financial way that is 
most encouraging to the cause of education. 
Eliza was married to Mr. Burne and resides in 
Harrison county, and Malonia was married to 
Mr. Leland and resides in Knox county, Ohio. 
The rest of the children are at home. 

WOLF WILLIAM, Oxford township; farmer; 



postoffice, White Eyes Plains, Ohio ; son of Philip 
and Margaret (Wagner) Wolf; was born Feb- 
ruary 27, 1821, in Oxford township, this county. 
His parents were of German descent, and came 
from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. 
Wolf was raised on the farm, and has always fol- 
lowed that occupation. He has also been an ex- 
tensive dealer in stock for forty years. He drove 
cattle over the mountains before there was a rail- 
road in the State. Mr. Wolf was married. April 
6, 1848, to !Miss Mary Forsythe, of this county. 
They became the parents of one child, Emma A. 
Mrs. Wolf died April 7, 1851. He was married, in 
1864, to Miss Louisa Loos, of this county. They 
became the parents of one child. Ella, decea.«ed. 
Mrs Wolf died in 1869. Mr. Wolf Wiis married, 
in 1871, to Mrs. Fransanna Culbertson, of this 
count}'. Five children were born to them, viz: 
Violet: Lilian, an infant, not named; Jemima 
and Henry W. Mr. Wolf owns a fine farm, of 
440 acres, situated in the Tuscarawas valley. Mr. 
and jMrs. Wolf are influential members of the 
Protestant Methodist church, and are esteemed 
by all their acquaintances. 

WOLFE GEORGE L., farmer; postoffice, Ev- 
ansburgh: was born in Oxford township, and 
was married to Anna Foster, who was born in 
England. They had three children, Elmer J., 
Orelia D., and an infant, deceased. Mr.s. Anna 
Wolfe died in 1877, and was buried in White 
Eyes Plains cemetery. Mr. Wolfe married Olive 
A. IMaxwell, who was born in this county. Mr. 
Wolf owns a beautiful farm, and has erected a 
tine residence. 

WOLF MILLTON N., Oxford township; farm- 
er; postoffice, Evansburgh ; was born in this town- 
ship, in 18.37; son of Phillip Wolf, and was mar- 
ried to Miss Harriet A. Emerson, daughter of 
Timothy Emerson, in 1861. They have tive chil- 
dren, as follows: Norah E., Lulie L., Clariden C, 
Minnie L. and Ina M. They live on 148 acres 
in Oxford township. He is a member of the M. 
E. church. He served four months in Company 
E, One Hundred and Forty-second 0. V. I., and 
is a good citizen. 

WOLF HIRAM, Oxford township; farmer; 
Evansburgh, postoffice ; son of Jacob Wolf ; was 
born in 1829; married in 1853, to Miss Hannah 
House, their children being — Clara Ellen, born 
in 18.55; James Irwin, born in 1860; Mary Net- 
tie, born in 18G6, and Jennie Alta. deceased, aged 
five and a half years, born in 1872. Mr. Hiram 
Wolf has held offices of trust in the township, 
and he and his wife are members of the Baptist 
church. He lives on his farm of ninety-three 
acres, and is possessed of other real estate in this 
township. 

WOLF GEORGE L., Oxford township; farmer; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



819 



postoffice,Evan!sbiirgh; son of Jiipol) and JfaryE. 
(Leighninger) Wolf; was born July 3. IsyG, in 
tills county. His parents were of Gorman de- 
scent, and came from Pennsylvania. Mr. Wolf 
was raised on the farm, and has always followed 
that occupation. He was married April 14, 18G1, 
to Miss Annie Foster, of this county. They be- 
came the parents of three children, viz: An in- 
fant, not named; Elmer J. and Orelia. ^Irs. 
Wolf died (k'tober 2t), 1077. He was married 
February 20, 1,S79, to Miss OUa Maxwell, of this 
county. Mr. Wolf owns a line farm of 137 acres, 
situated in the Tuscarawas valley. 

WOLF JOHN, Oxford township; farmer; 
postoffice, Evansbnrgh, 'Ohio; son of Philip and 
Margaret (Wagner) Wolfe ; was born August 2'.t, 
1813, in Oxford township, and is the oldest living 
resident of the township. Mr. Wolf was raised 
on the farm, and has always followed that occu- 
pation. He was married June 2, 18,36, to Miss 
Sarah House, of Knox county, Ohio, who was 
born November 1."), 1817. They became the 
parents of ten children, viz: Samuel H., born 
May 20, 1837; Jlargaret A., born October 30, 
183S, and died February 5, 1841; Mary, born 
October 14, 1840; Francis H., born October 11, 
1842; David, born October 2.S, 1844, and died in 
the army November 12, 18l>4; Henry, born Feb- 
ruary 20, 1847, and died June 6, 1847; Elizabeth, 
born" October 12, 1849; John W., born February 
6, 18.51, and died December 14, 1.S68; Richard 
W., born March 13, 1853, and Rebecca J., born 
February 6, 1850. 

Mr. Wolf's second marriage took place Octo- 
ber 29, 1857, to Miss Lavenia Howard, of Knox 
county, Ohio. They became the parents of eight 
children, viz : Joseph C, born .Fulv 30, 1,S)8; Ar- 
minda, born March 8, 1801, died March 31, 1862 ; 
Almeda, born July 0, 1862; Luella J., born Octo- 
ber 7, 1804; Jasoii G., born February 13, 1800; 
Addie, born November 8, 1808, died March 3, 
1S09; Nettie, born June 22, 1870. His second 
wife died September 30, 1870. He was married 
the third time, August 24, 1871, to Miss Lavina 
Page, of Stark county, Ohio. Mr. Wolfs parents 
came from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
and are of German decent. In 18;i7 Mr. Wolf 
moved to Knox county, Ohio, and remained ten 
years. He then returned to this county and has 
since remained. Wr. Wolf liiis dealt extensively 
in stock for twenty years. He owns a splendid 
farm of 305 acres, situated in the Tuscarawas 
valley,' near the town of Orange. Two of his 
sons," David and Frank, were in the army. Da- 
vid was wounded in the battle of Chicamauga, 
and died from the wound. They were members 
of Company C, Fifly-lirst regiment, O. V. L 
Frank served three years. 

WOLFE L. B., dealear in white, bronze monu- 



ments, statuary, etc., 1.39 Second street, Co.shoc- 
ton. Ohio; born June 2, 1834, in Evansburgh, Ox- 
ford township; son of Philip and Elizabeth, 
daughter of Rev. Jacob Meek, of Tuscarawas 
countv. He spent his early life at the tanning, 
sadlery and harness business. In Di'cember, 
1866, he enlisted in Company K, Captain G. H. 
Stewart, Fourth V. S. C, Colonel, later General 
E. V. Suinner. He reported for duly in the 
spring of l.s37, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and 
assisted in the survey of the southern boundary 
of Kansas, wliich required exactly six months. 
This was the first to succeed, after two previous 
attempts had failed, from the hostilities of the 
Indians and scarcity of water in the American 
desert. 

The subsequent fall and winter, the command 
was engaged to keep the peace and guard the 
elections in Kansas. March 18, 1.858, he started 
for Utah under command of Col. Hull'man, to 
escort supplies for Col. Johnston, at Fort Bridger. 
Xi Laport creek, si.xty miles west of Fort Lara- 
amie, on the morning of .Vpril 1, the snow was 
three feet deep, all having fallen the previous 
night. One quart of corn for each horse was 
all the grain they had ; and for ten days the only 
feed the horses got was the bark from Cottonwood 
poles which were cut and carried to the horses. 
Onlv one horse died ; the others kept in good 
condition. Going through the South Pass, they 
arrived at Fort Bridger July 4, in a severe snow 
storm. Thev returned under command of Capt. 
Dessashore, through Bridger's Pass, via Fort Lar- 
amie, to Fort Leavenworth, having been absent 
eight months and traveled 2,200 miles. Remain- 
ing about two weeks, they started for Fort Riley 
under .Major, afterward (Jeneral, Sedgwick. 

In 18,39 the command was ordered to the Santa 
Fe crossing of the Arkansas, to guard the Santa 
Fe travel from Kansas City to Santa Fe, from the 
Kiawa and Comanche Indians. Returned in the 
fall to Fort Kiley for winter quarters. .Vfter re- 
maining about two weeks, were ordered back to 
the Pawnee fork of the Arkansas to establish a 
jiost, guard mail stations and mail trains from 
that point to Santa, Fe. At this jilace the com- 
mand remained about one month, and built a 
sod corral and winter quarters. Leaving a de- 
tachment of thirty men, th^^y returned to Fort 
Riley On this inarch they were caught in a 
" northwester," which froze their horses so badly 
that they could not stand, and had to be shot. One 
man's lower limbs were frozen so that they had 
to be amputated. 

In the .-iiring of 1800, ho was ordered, under 
Major Sedgwick, to scour the plains for Comanche 
and Kiawa Indians. In the fall, their command 
was ordered to "Big Timber" of the Arkansas, 
where thev built Fort Lyons, where they re- 
mained during the winter and next summer. In 



820 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



the fall, he was discharged, having served five 
years and witnessed many thrilling incidents, 
among which was the fatal shooting of Pawnee, a 
war chief, while attempting to escape, after having 
been cajitured. Returning home, he resumed 
his trade, learned when a youth. In the summer 
of liSG3, he was tmanimously elected captiiin of 
Company E, Sixty-ninth Battery, and was ordered 
out in the 100-days' service, and served four 
months. At the close of the war, he again re- 
sumed his trade, and continued until the spring 
of 18.S0, when he assumed his present business, 
in which he has succeeded beyond his most san- 
guine expectation.s. His first job was put in the 
Waggoner cemetery, in Oxford township, over 
the remains of Mrs. Switzer and family. Captain 
Wolfe was married, September, 1N(J2, to Miss 
Sarah J., daughter of Adam and Rebecca (Wig- 
gins) Loos, of Oxford township. They have had 
five children, viz : Adam Cooper, deceased; Lanna 
Jane, Ivan ililton, Esther Ella and Chat Lambert. 

WOLF WILLIAM, Coshocton; county aud- 
itor; was born May 11, 1833, in Keene township, 
this county. Mr. Wolf was engaged in farming 
until 1871, when he went into the tanning busi- 
ness in Jloiiroe township, this county, and con- 
tinued the business until he was elected to the 
office of auditor of Coshocton county, Ohio, in 
1875, and re-elected to the Siime office in 1877. Mr. 
Wolf was married February 19, 1861, to Miss 
^lalinda Manning, of Tuscarawas township. This 
union was blessed with three children, viz : Or- 
lando D., Eugene and Ida May. Mr. Wolf's fath- 
er, George Wolf, was of French or German ex- 
traction. His mother's maiden name was Han- 
nah McGuire. 

WOLFE SAMUEL; farmer; postoffice, Mt. 
Vernon. He was born in Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1810; came to Ohio in 1829, and 
was married in 1830, to Sidney Ocker, who was 
born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 
1810. They had three daughters, namely : Mary 
Ann, born in 1832, and was married to Charles 
Matheny, and resides in Coshocton county ; Su- 
sannah, born in 1838, and was married to John 
Matheny, and are residents of Coshocton county; 
Permilla, born in 18-Hr. Mr. Wolfe emigrated "to 
Coshocton county in 1831, and lived there forty- 
four years. In 1873 he moved to Pike township, 
Knox county. He owns an improved farm, in 
good cultivation, with good buildings, and is a 
farmer after the Pennsylvania style, and is an 
honest, industrious man. 

WOLFE GEORGE, Keene township; wa.sborn 
April 3, 18(J2, in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- 
vania; son of Philip and JNIargaret (Wagoner) 
AVolf, natives of Pennsylvania, and grandson of 
John Wolfe. He came to Ohio in 1810, and .set- 
tled in Oxford township, Coshocton county. Mr. 



Wolfe is a tanner by trade and for fifty years has 
worked at his trade in connection with farming. 
He married Miss Hannah McGuire February, 
1826, who was born in 1804; daughter of Francis 
and Mary (;SIiller) McGinn. The namesOf the 
children areas follows: Francis, Margrct, Will- 
iam, Mary A., George W., Thomas and Joseph. 
After the death of his first wife Mr. Wolfe mar- 
ried to ilrs. Alice Salvard Th(jmas. born Septem- 
ber 9. 1829, daughter" of William and Julia (Mof- 
fatt) Salyard ; granddaughter of John and Mary 
(Ayers) Salyard, and great-granddaughter of 
Equilla and Nancy (Sleeper) Mofiatt. Equilla was 
a soldier in the revolutionary war. Mrs. Thomas 
gave birth to four childr^i : Nancy, William, John 
and IMary; Mrs. Wolfe to four: Jacob, Judge, 
Julia and Alpha. 

WOLFE JOSEPH B., Franklin township; 
farmer; born in Keene township, October 20, 
1845; son of George and Hannah Wolfe. His 
father was a tanner by trade, and carried on a 
tannery in connection with farming He moved 
to Franklin township, March, 1871 ; married, 
October 31, 1872, to Cynthia P. Shannon, daugh- 
ter of John Shannon, of Mill Creek township. 
They have one child, Clara Belle. 

WOLFE THOMAS, Franklin township; born 
April 25, 1841, in Keene township; son of George 
and Hannah Wolfe ; remained there till 1865, 
when he came to Franklin township, and has 
lived there ever since, engaged in farming. He 
was married, December 31, 1862, to Mis Annie, 
daughter of Isaac White of Clark township. 
By this marriage, he has five children, viz: 
Power, Charles F., Zenona, Lulu and W.Clyde. 

WOLFE FRANCIS, Franklin township; 
farmer; eldest son of George and Hannah Wolfe; 
born December 19, 1826, in Oxford township. 
His father was a son of Phillip and Margaret 
( Wagner) Wolfe, who came from Carlisle, Penn- 
sylvania, to Oxford township in 1808. His moth- 
er was the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth 
(Miller) McGuire, who emigrated from Romney, 
Virginia, to the Tuscaraw;is valley, near New- 
comer's town, about 1804. and in 1807 came to 
Lafayette township. Mr.- Wolfe moved to Keene 
townshi]! when four years old, and remained 
there till he came to Franklin township in 1850. 
He was married February 28, 1854, to Camilla 
Stuart, daughter of Matthew and Eda iGiflen) 
Stuart. Her maternal grandfather, Roltert 
Grifl'en, was among the earliest settlers of New 
Castle township. Her father was a contractor in 
Coshocton. Their children are five in number, 
viz: Charles, Robert S., Edith, Perry C, and 
Howard A. 

WOLFE WILLIAM, Linton township; re- 
sides in Plainfield ; born April 28, 1843, in Lafay- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



821 



•ette township; son of David and Eliza (Gilbert) 
Wolfe. Ilis father was from Carlisle county, 
Pennsylvania. He was a member of the One 
Hundred and Forty-second O. N. G. jVfler his 
return he farmed a while, and in 1S71 begun 
business with James F. Williams in a planing 
mill. In 1H7S a grist mill was added, and Marcli 
1880, he purchased his partner's interest, and 
has since conducted the business alone. His 
custom is large and increasing, covering a radius 
of many miles. He WiW marrie<i in 1808 to Miss 
-Catherine, daughter of William and Elizabeth 
Fowler. Their children are Kva May, William 
F., Melvern E., and Laura, deceased. 

WOODWARD vS. P., Linton township; born in 
Tuscarawas county, July 5, 1S44; sonot J. M. and 
Tamar (Dicken) Woodward, grandson of Presley 
and Jane (McFee) Woodward, and of Stephen 
Dicken. His grandfather, Presley Woodward, 
came from near Fredericktown. Virginia, to Jef- 
ferson county about ISIS, here his father was 
born. His grandfather Stejihens. came to Tu.sca- 
rawas county from near Cumberland, Pennsylva- 
nia. His mother died when he was two years 
old. In 18.55 his father, previously a carpenter, en 
tered the Protestant Methodist ministry, and his 
place of residence was frequently changed. His 
family lived in Monroe county, in Illinois, in Iowa, 
in Tuscarawas, Monroe, Belmont, Guernsey and 
Coshocton counties successively. Here the sub- 
ject of this sketch left his father's family. He had 
begun teaching school in Guernsey county in I.*-'61, 
and continued it in Coshocton till the spring of 
18(30, when he became salesman in David Brels- 
ford's store in Plainlield. In November, 1871, he 
began business for hiTnself in Plainlield, but in 
January, 1874, sold out his stock of goods and has 
been teaching since. He was a member of Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Forty -second O. N. G., 
serving four months. FromlS7l!to 187',Mie tilled 
the oliice of township clerk, and in .Vpril, 1870, 
was elected justice of the peace. Marrie<l June 3, 
1800, to Miss Belle, daughter of David Brelsford, 
and they have three children, viz : ,f. D., C. B.and 
Verne L. 

WORKMAN WILLIAM, Keene township; 
farmer; j)ostoffice, Roscoe, Ohio; son of General 
Jesse II. Workman; was born January 14, 18;i;J, 
in Bethlehem township, this county. His fatiier 
was of tlerman descent, and came from Maryland 
in 18(K),nnd settled on the banks of the Walhond- 
ing, above Roscoe. He went from there to Co- 
sh(5cton and engaged in the tanning business, 
which he followed for thirty years. He then 
moved to his farm near Coshocton, where he 
spent the remainder of his day.-*. He died in 
August, 1S70, aged seventy-three >-eai-.s. He was 
conmiander of the musters of the military com- 
panies at Coshocton, and thereby received the 
title of brigadier general. 



William and Barbara Markly, the grandfather 
and grandmother of William Workman, came 
from Frederick county, Maryland. William Mak- 
ly died November 2.5, ls*5,"aged tifty-live years. 
Barbara Markly died March 15, 1877, aged ninety- 
eight years. .Vdam Markly, the great-grandfath- 
er of William Workman, came from Frederick 
comitv, Maryland, in April, 18()S, and settled in 
Bethlehem township, this county. He brought 
with him eight sons and four daughters, viz: 
Martin, William, John, Frederick, .\mos, David, 
Abraham, Benjamin, Hester, Catharine, Elizabeth 
and .Vnna. 

M'illiam Workman was raised on the farm, and 
has always followeil that occupation. In ,\pril, 
1877, he went to California on account of his 
health, intending to make it his permanent 
home, but, being dissatislied with the State, he 
returned in S,'|itember of the .same year, and has 
since remained, engaged in farming. 

WORKMAN JESSE H., Tuscarawas township; 
postoffice, Coshocton; farmer; born June 12, 
1.8,59, in Coshocton; son of Jesse H., a native of 
Maryland, and grandson of Isaac Workman, 
whose father was a native of Holland. His 
mother's maiden name was Eliza Helabrant. 
She died in 1800 and his father in 1.S70; they 
are buried in the Coshocton cemetery. Jesse 
Workman is at present proprietor of a 375 acre 
farm, one and a half miles north of Coshoc- 
ton, in the Tuscarawas valley. 

WORKM.VN H. B., Tiverton town.ship; farm- 
er; postotfice, Gann, Kno.K county; born in 1838, 
in this county. His father, James Workman, 
was born in 1812, in Belmont county, Ohio, and 
came to this county in 1824, He was married in 
1833, to Miss Hannah Walker of this county, 
who was born in ISIO. He died in 1.878, she died 
in 1858. Thev were the parents of eight chil-' 
dren. The subject of this sketch being the sec- 
(md. He wa.s married in 1800, to Miss Isabella 
Parmenter, of this county, who was born in 1841, 
near Hornesdale, Pennsylvania. They are the 
parents of eight children, viz: .\ll)ert, Calona B., 
Ida J., Alexander, Jlarv E., Irvin, Nettie and 
Pery W. 

WORKM.VN STEPHEN, Tiverton township: 
farmer; postoflice, Gami, Kno.x county; born in 
1S24, in this township. His father, .Vbrahani, 
was born in I77'.>, in .Maryland. He was married 
in Virginia, in ls()0, to Jili.ss (Jracie Conner, who 
was born in 17S2, Thev came to this c<iunty in 
1S20. He died in ISOO, and she died in the same 
year. They were the ])arents of twelve children, 
the subject of this sketch being the eleventh. 
He was married in 1S47, to Miss Mary Johnston, 
of this conntv, who was born in 1830, in Richland 
countv. She'diedin 1877. They were the parents 
of si.x'teen children, twelve of whom are living. 



822 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



WEIGHT JOHN W., M. D., Coshocton; born 
July 17, 1842. in Harrison county, Ohio; son of 
Benjamin Wright, who was American born of 
Englisli ancestry. His mother's maiden name 
was Lucinda Kager, daughter of Conrod Rager, 
founder of Ragersville, Tuscarawa.s county, Ohio. 
Young Wright spent his childhood and early 
youth on the farm. At the age of fifteen he com 
nienced teaching school, and taught seven con- 
secutive years, during which time he read medi- 
cine with Dr. William Vanhorn. In the winter 
of 1864-5 he attended a course of lectures at 
Cincinnati college of medicine and surgery. In 
the summer he attended a course at Starling 
medical college, in 1867 a course at Well's Eye 
and Ear hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
and in June, 1873. was graduated at the first named 
college with the title of M. D. Dr. Wright tirst 
entered upon the practice of his profession at 
Port Washington, Ohio, and remained two years; 
then for the same period at Ragersville. In the 
spring of 1869 he came to this city, and opened 
an office in his present residence, Miiin street. 
January 14, 18S0, he established his office in Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, considering that point as offering 
superior inducements for the practice of his 
specialty, the treatment of the diseases of the eye 
and ear. Dr. Wright was married August 9, 
1S64, to Miss Belle Hesket, daughter of John 
Hesket, Esq., sheriff of this county. This union 
was blessed with six children, all living, viz: 
Frances Neva, Nellie Corena, John Hesket, Hal- 
sted, Columbus Clinton, and Mary Lucinda. Dr. 
Wright has successfully performed several diffi- 
cult surgical operations in this county, among 
which is the operation for cataract, which he has 
removed, thereby giving sight where there was 
total blindness. 

WRIGHT PIENRY, Virginia township; born 
October 24, 1817. in this county; son of Joseph 
and Elizabeth (McCoy) Wright. He was raised 
a farmer and educated in the district schools. 
At the age of twenty-one he commenced business 
in life for himself. He married Emily Croy, 
August 22, 1841. They had six children, viz: 
Emanuel, Lucinda, B. F., Catharine, William O., 
Isadora A. Two are living in this township, one 
in Washington township, and three in Jackson. 

WRIGHT LOYD, Virginia township; born 
in Coshocton county, Ohio ; son of Joseph and 
Elizabeth Wright; married in 1839, to Rachel 
Houser, who died July 5, 1878. Their union was 
blessed with eight cliildren, viz: Henry, Mary, 
Jlargaret J.. AVilliam, Malissa, John, Laura, and 
Elizabeth. Postoffice, New Moscow. 

WEIGHT HIGHLAND, Virginia township; 
born in Eastern Virginia, May 21,1811; settled 
in this county in the years 1835, and was married, 



April 19, 1835, to Miss Mary Wright, who died in 
18G2. Mr. Wright has nine children living and 
seven dead. Postoffice, Willow Brook, Coshocton 
county. 

WRIGHT LEWIS, Perry township; postoffice, 
West Carlisle ; farmer and stock raiser; born in 
this county, in 1839; son of William and Martha 
(Clark) Wright, and grandson of Edward and 
Elizabeth Wright; married, December 16, l.'^GO. 
to Miss Martha E. Cochran, daughter of Montra- 
ville and Elizabeth (Aslicraft) Cochran. They 
are the parents of five children, viz: Malis.sa, 
Sylva J., Dora A., deceased; Joseph A. and 
Wheeler O. 

WRIGHT NATHAN, Jefferson township; 
born February 19, 1798, in Bedford township; 
son of Natlian, Sr., and Hannah ( Warly) Wright, 
and grandson of Acre and Elizabeth Warley, 
American Iwrn. He came to Coshocton county, 
in 1814. He was a blacksmith and sicklemaker. 
Mr. Wright was married, August 22, 1822, to 
Elizabeth Ripley, daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth (Sheets) Ripley. Their children were Atha- 
liali, Darius, Acre, Ethan, Ellen, Hannah, Lucas, 
Mary, William Cass and Almeda, all living. 

WRIGHT DARIUS, postoffice, Warsaw; was 
born in Bedford township, Coshocton county, 
January 17, 1825. He worked with his father 
in the shop, and on the farm, until the age of 
twenty-two, when he began business for himself, 
in his father's shop, where he remained two years, 
then went to Washington township crossroads, 
and opened shop, and carried on business there 
about twenty-two years; then came to Warsaw, 
and has been engaged in smithing in this village 
since that time. He has a fair amount of trade, 
and a splendid shop. Mr. Wright was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Grove, daughter of David 
Grove. They are the parents of eight children : 
Nathan, Mary E.. Lurintha, Sarah, William, 
Hampton, Franklin D. and Darius E. 

WRIGHT B. F., Jackson township; born in 
Virginia township. Coshocton county; son of 
Henry and Emily Wright; married in 1871 to 
Martlia McCoy, daughter of A\'illiam and Catha- 
rine McCoy. Mr. Wright is the father of five 
children, viz : Edward, Earl L., Mertie L , Arit- 
ta, Harry G. Postoffice, Roscoe. 



ZIMMER VALENTINE, Franklin township; 
farmer ; born December 9, 18.34, in Allegheny, 
Pennsylvania. His father was a locksmith, and 
was born October 1, 1797 ; emigrated from Al- 
sace, France, landing at Baltimore, June 9, 1830, 
and after farming awhile in Muskingum county, 
worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, eight years- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



823 



in a cannon manufactory. Mr. Zimmcr was 
married in 1S5.5, to Elizabeth Gnuss, born July 
10, 1887 ; (laughter of David and Elizabeth Gra.-<s. 
Their children are — William, born March '>, 
1858; David, March 18, 1860; John, July 10, 1804; 
Kosa Caroline, March 1, 1869; George Henry, 
May 3, 1871, and Ann Eliza, January 14, 1874. 

ZIMMERMAN JACOB, Adams township; 
farmer; postoffice, Bakersville; born in Switzer- 
land, near Berne, January 28, 18o8; son of Chris- 
tian and .\nna (Margh) Zimmerman. He came 
to this country October 2S, 18.>4. when he was 
but sixteen years of age. He came to Tusoara- 
wa.s county and remained there eighteen years, 
then moved to Adams township, this county 
and has been a resident of this place since. Mr. 
Z. was married November 30, 1850, to Sarah 
Young, daughter of Abraham and .Vnna(Harger) 
Young, and granddaughter of Christian Young, 
born August 16, 1840, in Tuscarawas cfiunty. 
They are the parents of nine children, as follows : 



Ira, born August 13, 1860; Christian, born June 
10, 1862; Joim E., born November 12, 1863; 
David, born October 22, I860; Minnie, born No- 
vember 3, 1867; Susan, born .\i)ril 10,1869; Dan- 
iel, born July 3, 1871; .Vbraham, born Jnnc 23, 
1873, and Anna E., born November 24, 1875. 

ZUG.SCHWERT CHRISTIAN; saloon and 
grocery, 140 Second street; born August 31,1822, 
in Wurtcmberg, Germany. His father's name 
Wiis .Vdam Zngschwert. At fourteen years of 
age he went to the shoomaking trade, which he 
followed twenty -seven years. He came to Amer- 
ica in 1849, worked a few months in New York 
and Buflalo, and came to this city in the same 
year. In 1864 he began his present business, in 
which he is doing moderately well. Mr. Zugsch- 
wert was married February 1, 18.36, to Miss Lena 
Gasbach, of Franklin township. They are blessed 
with live children, viz: Lizzie, Annie, Adam, 
William and Martha. 



824 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 




WHITE BRONZE MONUMENT — SEE PAGE 831. 



ADDENDA, 



The following biographies and other matters of historical importimce were placed in the hands of the printers too late for 

insertion in their proper places. 



AGNEW JOAB M., miller in Empire mills, 
Eoscoe, Ohio. Mr. Agnew was born June 21, 
1816, in Princeton, New Jersey, of Irish ancestry. 
He was brought up in a hotel, where he remain- 
ed until he w:is twenty-one years of age, when he 
came to Roscoe. In 1842 he commenced mill- 
ing, which occupation he has followed to the 
present writing. Mr. Agnew has assisted to 
build two large flouring mills, one of which was 
burned, and has been miller in the finest mill in 
the county for twenty-five years. Mr. Agnew 
has in his possession an ivory cane weighing one 
and a half pounds, which was presented to his 
grandfather, Joab Mershon, by Richard Stogdon, 
one (jf the signers of tl:e Declaration of Inde- 
pendence; also a seven-bladed razor, with shift- 
ing handle, making a razor for every day of the 
week. These razors are from 1.50 to 200 years 
old, having been an heirloom for si.x generations. 
He also has a seven-dollar continental bill, which 
his grandfather received as pay for services in 
the revolutionary war. 

BERRY WILLIAM, Perry township; New 
Guilforil ]K)stolHce ; born in Rclmoiit couutv, 
Ohio, March 1, 1,^20; son of ,lohn and Elizabeth 
(Yostl Berry, and grandson of .fohn Berry, and 
of Peter Yost. Mr. Berry's father settled in this 
county in 1.S2S, and died in 1.S57. Mr. Berry has 
been twice married; first, to Jliss Gernunia Lee, 
with whom he had eight children. Airs. Berry 
was killed by a hor.se nmning away with her. 
Mr. Berry married Miss .lane Dillon, in 1,S74, 
daughter of .lohn and Keziah Dillon. Mr. Berry 
has been twice elected to the office of county 
commissioner, and is now serving his second 
term. 

BURNS SAMUEL, the progenitor of the present 
Burns family; was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, March 12, 1770. Of his pareiUa, 
nothing is known more than they were of Saotch- 
Irish origin, and come to this coimtry at an early 
date, and he made his home with them until his 



seventeenth year. He had three brothers, 
James, John and William, all of whom served in 
the war of the revolution. William died in the 
service, of camp-fever. John was taken prisoner 
at (iuebec, and he and two others made their es- 
cape by approaching one of the sentinels, on the 
walls, to whom they offered an empty bottle to 
take a drink. As he tipped the bottle up John 
Burns struck him under the chin, and knocked 
him oil the walls. They then made their escape 
acro.ss the frozen river, enduring terrible suffer- 
ings from hunger and exposure, before reaching 
the American army. 

Samuel Burns, when fourteen years of age, 
came to Wheeling Creek, West Virginia, and 
from thence to Pittsburgh, where he took passage 
on a boat to New Orleans. He related that on 
his passage down the river there were but two 
river settlements on the Ohio, one at Marietta 
and one at a place called Limestone. Arriving 
at New Orleans, he took ])assage on an ocean ship 
and sailed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arriv- 
ing there he went to Pine Grove Iron Furnace, 
near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he remained 
until married in the year 1792 to Mr.s. Jane Lam- 
bert.son, and moved to Millerstown, Shenandoah 
county Virginia. He tlien worked for four 
years learning the hatter's trade. He then 
moved to Waynesbnrg, Augusta county, Virginia, 
where he lived for a period of seventeen vears. 
He then came to New Philadelphii, Ohio, in the 
fall of 1,S15, where he remained until .\iiril. l.'^'G, 
when he came to Coshocton, coming down the 
Tn.scarawas river in a canoe with his family, 
where he followed his traile until ol<l age ren- 
dered him unable to endure the hardships of 
that trade. He also served as Justice of the 
Peace for many years, and was familiarly known 
as " Squire Burns." He died September 21 , 1,*n52. 

Jane Hums, his wife, whose maiden name was 
Jane Leggett, was born near Carlisle, Pennsyl- 
vania, in the year 1767; was first married to 
Richard "Lambertson, grandfather of Samuel 



826 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



Lambertson, of this city. He being killed at 
a raising near Bedford, Pennsylvania, she re- 
turned to her father's, where she remained until 
slie was married to Samuel Burns, as before 
stated. Her father was born in Ireland and sold 
for his [passage to this country. Her mother was 
born near Little York, Pcmisylvania, and was of 
Pennsylvania Dutch descent, her maiden name 
being Sarah Yost. Jane Burns died November 
29, Itiio, being 78 years old. She w;is the mother 
of ten children, three of whom died at an early 
age. The eldest of the family was Mary Burns 
Crowley, born February 5, 1796. She married 
John Crawley, Sr., of this place, and was the 
mother of four children, one of whom is one of 
our prominent grocervmen, John Burns Craw- 
ley. She died February 24, 1S;34. 

Joseph Burns, Sr., was born March 11, IStXI, 
in Waynesburgh, Augusta county, Virginia. 
He was sixteen years of age when he came to 
this county. He, and the rest of the family, with 
the exception of his mother and youngest sister, 
walked the whole dist;mce from Waynesboro' to 
New Philadelphia. He early showed a dislike 
for his father's trade, and, when eighteen years 
of age, wrote for General Adam Johnson, then 
clerk and auditor of this county. In 1821 he was 
elected county auditor, which office he held 
until 1S3S, when he resigned, ha\-ing been elected 
a member of the State Legislature, serving in 
that capacity from 1838-40. In 1843 he was 
elected county clerk, which office he filled a term 
of eight years. In 1857 he was elected congress- 
man from this district, where he served his coun- 
try for two years. He then engaged in the drug 
business in the town of Roscoe, where he re- 
mained in business until elected probate judge 
in the year 1809. He remained in said of- 
fice until his death, which occurred May 9, 187.'). 
When the old St;Ue militia was in order he was 
a prominent officer, having been elected to the 
rank of a major general, and was known by all 
as General Burns. At the close of the war he 
was made a pension agent, and was, perliaps, the 
most successful person holding that office here. 
Never exacting as to fees, and always free with 
his purse among his friends and fellow-citizens, 
he left at the end of his days only a moderate 
portion. Many men, with more greed, or less 
honest or frugal, would have amassed fortunes 
with his opportunies. He was twice married, 
his first wife was Rebecca Lewis, and his second 
wife was Mrs. Alexander Hay. His oldest son, 
William, was educated at West Point, and was, 
during the late war, a brigadier general. He 
had, in all. six sons and two daughters, five of 
those and his widow survive him. 

William Burns, the only surviving one of the 
Burns brothers, was born in Waynesboro', Vir- 
ginia, December 20, 1802, and came to this county 



with his father's family. In the fall of 1816, De- 
cember 4, he commenced carrying the United 
States mail to Zanesville, Freeport, Harrison 
county, and Ml. Vernon, for his father. On the 
road to Freeport (at the head of White Eyes 
plains I, there was but one house to the distance 
of twenty-one miles. On the ridge road to Mt. 
Vernon, after leaving lower Roscoe, there was a 
distance of fifteen miles without one house. He 
served at this for about one year. When his 
brother Joseph left, he took his place in the 
hatter .shop, and followed the trade until 1842, 
when, owing to large importations of hats on the 
canal, brought from eastern cities, and sold at 
lower prices than they could be made here, he 
quit the trade and engaged in farming. He fol-- 
lowed this occupation until the year 1850. Be- 
ing desirous of living an easier life, he quit farm- 
ing, and has since been living a retired life in 
this city. He was married twice. His first wife 
was Mary McGuire, who died in 1844, two years 
after marriage. He was again married December 
17, 1850. to Eleanor M. Ferguson, of Roscoe, daugh- 
ter of Mathew Ferguson, of that place. He had, 
in all, two children, one of which died. William 
Burns, Jr., his only son, is now engaged in the 
business of a watchmaker and jeweler. Was 
born June 29, 1859, in Coshocton, Ohio. WiUiam 
Burns, Sr., is now in his seventy-eighth year, and 
enjoying good health. He is regarded as one of 
the most prominent pioneers of the county. 

Sarah Burns, fifth child of Samuel and Jane 
Burns, was born September 28, 1804. She was 
never married, makingher home with her brother, 
William Burns, and at time of death, and some 
time prior, with her younger sister, Mrs. James 
Hay. She died in the" year 1807, July 27, of can- 
cer of the breast, of which di.sease she suffered 
many years. 

John Burns was born in Waynesboro',Virginia, 
September 18, 1805. He came to this county 
with his father's family, and worked at the hat- 
ter's trade until twenty-four years of age, when 
he went to Chillicothe" with his brother-in-law, 
John Smeltzer, where he remained one year, he 
then came to Roscoe, and clerked with Smeltzer 
and his successors. (Medherry & Ransom) until 
1838, when he was made a partner, under the 
name of Medberry, Burns it Co. In 1S40 he re- 
tired from the firm and entered into partnership 
with Samuel Moflatt, for the sale of dry goods. 
In 1845, Jlotl'att retired and the firm was changed 
to Burns A Le Retilley, and remained so until 
1800, when he bought Le Retilley out and con- 
tinued to do business in his own name until his 
death. He was married in 1837, to Rachel Retil- 
ley, by whom he had four children, one son and 
three" daughters, the eldest daughter being the 
wife of one of our ])rominent attorneys, J. M. 
Compton. Allhischildrenandhis widow still sur- 



^VDDENDA. 



827 



vivehim. He diedJuly 30, 1871. His good sense 
and his integrity were niiirlce<l qualities. Thor- 
ouglily interested in public affairs, and always a 
zealous partizan, and ready to help his friends to 
public office, he never had" any desire in that di- 
rection for himself, and, it is believed, never held 
any official position. He was a pains-taking and 
successful business man. 

Nancy Burns (Smeltzer) was born August 20, 
1807, in Waynesboro', Virginia. In 1826 she was 
married to John Smeltzer, afterward of Troy, 
Ohio. Her husband was elected a member of 
the legislature of 1827-8, afterward engaging in 
the firm of Medberry tt Ransom She removed 
to Roscoe and lived there a few years. Slie then 
moved to Troy, Ohio, where her husband died. 
She then moved to Lima, Ohio, where she now 
resides. She was the mother of four children, 
only one, a daughter, now living, and with whom 
she makes her home. 

.Jane Burns (Hay) was born in Waynesboro', 
Virginia, August 2o, 1811. She was married to 
James Hay in 183-t, and is the motlier of six chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living, her daughter 
Sarah being married to the late James Wilson, a 
prominent business man. She has been lately be- 
reaved of her husband, who died September 24, 
1881. A noteworthy fact of the Burns family is, 
they all reached a ripe old age, and are all higlily 
respected for their integrity and good sense. 

DEMOCRATIC STANDARD. 

The Dt'mocmtic Sl'tndnnl. Coshocton, Ohio, was 
est;xblished October 1, 18S1, by H. D. Beach, editor 
and projirietor. It is an eight-column folio in 
.size and Democratic in politics. It pays partic- 
ular attention to gathering the l<ical news of the 
county and is in a prosperous condition. 



LIST OF DECEASED SOLDIERS. 

In the following communication from J. M. 
Compton will be found many additional names 
of deeea.sed soldiers: 

The following is a list of soldiers who entered 
the Union army during the war of the rebellion 
from Co.shocton county, and who lost their lives 
in battle or died from wounds received or disease 
contracted while in the service, and is as near 
correct as can at this time be made : 

FIRST OHIO ARTILLERY. 

George Wilson, died November 6, 1863. 
James D. Evans, died at Camp NeLson, 1862. 

NINTH OHIO VOLUNTKER CAVALRY. 

Jjhn Glass, died at Athens, Alabama, April 15, 
1864. 



Lewis Barton, died at Athens, Alabama, May 
27, 1864. ^ 

Daniel Sentcr, died at Mooresville, Alabama, 
June 8, 1S64. 

B. F. Wright, drowned on the Sultana, April, 
1865. 

Abert Wells, killed by guerrilLis in the year 
1865. 

Robert Deems, killed by guerrillas in the year 
1865. 

Lewis Longbaugh, killed by guerrillas in the 
year 1865. 

Franklin Felton, died in Virginia in 1864. 

FORTIETH O. V. I. 

Thomas Hicks, starved to death at Anderson- 
ville. 

SI.XTEEXTH O. V. I. 

John Lynch, died February 15, 1862. 

TWE.VTY-FOrRTH 0. V. I. 

John Jennings, died at Andersonville. 
John Powelson, died at Andersonville. 

THIRTY-SECOND O. V. I. 

Alfred Bailey, died at Chestnut Mountain, Vir- 
ginia. 

Addison Carnes, died in army. 

Thoma.s C. Seward, drowned' in the attempt to 
run the blockade at Vicksburg. 

John Beall, killed at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864. 

FIFTY-FIRST o. v. I. 

Capt. William Patton, died at Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, in 1862. 

Martin Roberts, died at Nashville, Tennessee, 
in 1862. 

Thomas Hutchinson, died at home, Roscoe, 
Ohio, in 18G4. 

Ed. Conn, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

Gabriel Kingkade,died in Tennessee. 

James H McMichael, died in 1863. 

Samuel Bagnall, died in the South in 1862. 

James Cooper, died at Annapolis, Maryland, in 
1864. 

William Wales, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

George Murphy, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

Christian Meek, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

Benjamin Day, died at Murfreesborough in 
18C2. 

William Welch, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

McDonald Ffirtune, died in the south in 1862. 

Sidney Br^wn, killed at Stone River in 1862. 

Samuel Panic, died in the south in 1863. 

Captain Samuel Stevens, killed at Kenesaw 
Mountain in 1864. 

James Stevens, died in the south. 

William Blackford, died at Columbus, Georgia, 
a prisoner. 



S:2> 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



William Smith, blown up on a steamboat. 

William H. Dickerson, missing at battle of 
Chickaniauga in 18G3. 

Levi Williams, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, 
1804. 

Martin Lateer, died on the way home. 

Chrispin Ott, killed at Chickamauija battle 
in 1863. 

Laben Ogle, died at Murfreesborough, in 1863. 

Thomas Reed, killed at battle of Nashville, in 
18()4. 

Thomas Wright, died at home during war. 

William N. Stanton, killed at Roscoe, Georgia, 
in 18.34. 

Joseph Martin, died at Nashville, in 1864. 

Abram Steel, starved to death at Andersonville. 

Harrison B. Turner, died at Harper's Ferrj', 
in 1864. 

Jacob Fulks, died at Nashville, Tennessee in 
1SG2. 

L). L. Lash, died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1803. 

John Bowen, died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 
1802. 

Samuel McCoy, brought home and died. 

Lcander Stone, died crossing the Gulf of Mex- 
ico. 

John Chalfant, died in the army. 

John Wesley Norris, died at Nashville, Tennes- 
see, in 180.3. 

Daniel Weaver, died fit Na,«hville, Tennessee. 

Thomas Smailes, died at Nashville, Tennessee. 

J. N. Coreler, died at Murfreesborough, in 
1803. 

Joseph Coreler, same as above. 

William Kimball, died at Murfreesborough. 

Philip H. Gashbaugh, wounded and died at 
Kenesaw Mountain, in 1864. 

William Starkey, died at Nashville, Tennessee, 
in 1802. 

Frederick Blosser, killed at Memphis, Tennes- 
see. 

Philip Williams, died in the army. 

Captain B. F. Hesket, died from the effects of 
womids received at Stone River. 

John Q. Winkleplcck, died from efl'ects of 
wounds received at Stone River. 

Robert DeWalt, died at Nashville, of disease, in 
1862. 

Everhart Caton, died at Camp WicklifT, Ken- 
tucky. 

Henry Crossgraves, killed at Stone River, in 
1863. 

George Morton, killed at Mission Ridge, in 
1803. 

Cyrus Richeson, died irom wound received at 
Mission Ridge. 

David Carnahan, died at Camp WicklifTe, Ken- 
tucky, in 1862. 

David Gibson, died at Washington, in hospital, 
in 1802. 



James Brister, died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 
1862. 

Lester P. Emerson, died in hospital at Nash- 
ville, Tennessee. 

William Shannon, killed at Mission Ridge in 
1864. 

John Armstrong, died in the South. 

B. Cullison, died in Texas in 186.5. 

James Atkins, died in the South. 

Frank Landers, died at Nashville, Tennessee, 
in 1802. 

James Fox, died at Nashville in 1863. 

John McCuggage, died in the South. 

George Ferguson, died at Macon, Georgia. 

Andy Ellis, mi.ssing in battle. 

Orimell Richardson, killed in battle. 

FIFTY-.SECOXD O. V. I. 

Cyrus Denman, died Blarch 16, 1863. 

SEVENTY-SIXTH O. V. I. 

Jacob Clurman, died in service. 

Jackson Hughes, died at Nashville, Tennessee. 

EIGHTIETH O. V. I. 

J. T. Drummond, killed at luka, Mississippi, in 
1863. 

George Roe, died of hiccough during the ad- 
vance on Corinth, in 1862. * 

Cone Culter, killed at Jackson, Mississippi, in 
1863. 

G. B. Boyd, died in the army. 

H. L. Magness, died in the army. 

Sidney N. Brown, died in the army. 

Cajitain John Kinney, killed at Mission Ridge 
in 1803. 

Leander Kinney, son of the above, killed at 
Mission Ridge. 

Reuben A. Mack, died in the army. 

John T. INIurrell, brought from Tennessee, and 
died at home in 1803. 

John Mowery, died in the South, and is buried 
at home. 

George Adams, killed at Resaca, Georgia, in 
1804. 

John Bechtol, died at Memphis, Tennessee. 

Charles Inlield, died and is buried at Clear 
Creek, Mississippi. 

Sylvester Levitt, buried at Manchester, New 
York. 

John P. Davis, died at Brandy Station, Vir- 
ginia. 

William Nash, shot himself accidentally at 
Corinth, Mississippi. 

John Wise, killed at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 
1863. 

Henry Ross, killed at Mission Ridge in 1863. 

John Hout, died at Cairo, Illinois. 

Albert Spellman, killed by cars at Nashville, 
Tennessee. 



ADDENDA. 



829 



Alexander Tecs, died at Wilson's Landing, 

Mississippi, while battling. 

Thomas Hincs, died at Rock Island, IlHnoi.s, 
in 18G4. 

Levi Cross, died at Murfreesborough, Tennes- 
see, in 1862. 

Abel Fuller, killed in battle. 

John Feiler, died in the south. 

John Mills, killed at Jackson, Mississippi, in 
1803. 

John N. Henderson, died at Corinth, Misssis- 
sipjii. 

George Traxler, died at Paducah, Kentucky, 
in 18G2. 

Samuel Compton, died at Paducali, Kentucky, 
in 1862. 

James Longhead, died at Vicksburg, Missis- 
sippi, in 1863. 

Lieutenant William Doyle, died at Rienza, 
Mississippi, in 1862. 

Jonathan Longshore, killed at Mission Eidge 
in 1863. 

Eli Cross, died at Rock Island, Illinois, in 1863. 

Jonas Thatcher. 

Major Richard Lanning, killed at battle of 
Corinth, Mississippi, in 1862. 

Patrick S. Campbell, died in the army in 1862. 

NINETY-SEVENTH O. V. I. 

George McCrarv, died at Nashville, Tennessee, 
in 1863. 

James S. AVilson, buried at Jeffersonville, In- 
diana. 

Jabez Norman, died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 
1863. 

Cassady, killed in line of battle. 

Charley Norman, wounded in battle and died 
at home while on furlough, in 1863. 

Abram Balo, killed at Rockyface Ridge, in 
1804. 

Salathiel Wright, died at Nashville, Tennessee, 
in 1863. 

D.miol Simon, died at JIurfreesborough, Ten- 
nessee, in 1863. 

Richard Cassmer, killed near Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, in 1862. 

James Thomas, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, 
in 1864. 

.Vlbert Taylor, killed on Kenesaw Mountain, 
Tennessee, in 1864. 

William Thomsis, died at Murfreesborough, 
Tennessee, in 1863. 

Samuel Browing, died from wounds received 
at Stone River. 

.loscph Thornsley, died from wounds received 
at Slission Ridge. 

William Ray, died at Murfreesborough, Ten- 
nessee, in 1863. 

Peter Ray, killed at Mission Ridge, in 1863. 

John Worthington, killed in battle. 



George W. Smith, died at Gallatin, Tennessee, 
in 1863; is buried at home. 

Julian Suit, died and was buried at Silver 
Springs, Teinies.«eo. 

William Collins, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, 
in 18(i4. 

Jesse Devina, died in Kentucky, in 1862. 

Joseph Turnbull, killed in battle, in 1863. 

Elijah Richards, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, 
in 1864. 

Samuel H. Lynch, died after reaching home, 
in 1863. 

Thomas Young, died from disease, at Nashville, 
in 1863. 

Joseph Lacy, killed at Jlission Ridge, in 1863. 

Alonzo Barton, died at Danville, Kentuckv, in 
1862. 

Charles Funk, died from disease, at Pulaski, 
Tennesse, in 1864. 

William Rogers, killed at Mission Eidge, in 
1863. 

Adam Weisor, died at Nashville, in 1863. 

John Blackburn, killed at Franklin, Tennessee. 

Daniel Owens, killed at Mission Ridge, in 1863, 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND O. V. I. 

John Carsbier, died in Virginia, in 1863. 

John Darr, died at Winchester, Virginia, in 
1864. 

Corporal Stevens, died at Winchester, Vir- 
ginia. 

Martin Vance, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia. 

Thomas Mullen, died Alexandria, Virgina. 

Robert Brink, killed at Opequan creek, Vir- 
ginia. 

Lieutenant Joseph Work, killed at the Wilder- 
ness battle, Virginia. 

James Saxon, killed by bushwhackers, in Vir- 
ginia. 

Henry Hoagland, killed by bushwhackers, in 
Virginia. 

John Norris, died in Danville prison, Virginia. 

Corporal Keefer, died at Cumberland, Marj-- 
land. 

Thomas Nelson, died at Cumberland, Mary- 
land. 

William Rotlerick, died at Winchester, Vir- 
ginia. "~" — ^ _ 

Joseph O'Donald, died at home, during the war., 

James Fields, died at Coshocton, during the 
war. 

Henry Force, killed at Cedar Creek, Virginia. 

John Rovy, killed at Cedar Creek, Virginia. 

Thomas Pherson, died at Winchester, Virginia. 

First Sergeant Josiah Norman, wounded and 
died in service. 

Ezekiel Poland, killed at Cold Harbor, Vir- 
ginia. 
. Emerson, killed at Winchester Virginia. 



«30 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND O. X. G. 

Daniel Maloane, died at home from disease con- 
tracted in the service. 

William Dodd, died in the army. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THIRD O. N. G. 

Joel Glover, died at Wilson's Landing, Virginia, 
in 1864. 

Reuben Jennings, died at Wilson's Landing, 
Virginia, in 1864. 

Addison E. Hay, died at Hampton Roads, Vir- 
ginia, in 1864. 

John Dennis, died ]at Wilson's Landing, Vir- 
ginia, in 1864. 

F. C. Sayre, died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, 
in 1864. 

Hiram Church, died from disease on return 
liome. 

Eli Seward, died at Wilson's Landing, Vir- 
ginia, in 1864. 

Daniel Overholt, died at Portsmouth, Virginia, 
in 1864. 

John Walters, died at Portsmouth, Virginia, in 
1864. 



John Clark, died at Hamj)ton Roads, Virginia, 
in 1864. 

William Steward, died at Wilson's Landing, 
Virginia, in 1864. 

Thomas Scoot, died at Wilson's Landing, Vir- 
ginia, in 1864. 

Edward McJIichael, died at Wilson's Landing, 
Virginia, in 1864. 

Franklin Miller, died in the army in 1864. 

Elias West, died at City Point, Virginia, in 
1864. 

Samuel Bechtol, died at Hampton Roads, Vir- 
ginia, in 1864. 

The soldiers from this county whose regiments 
were not known, and who died or were lost in 
the service, are as follows : 

William A. Ricketts, Hiram Compton, Stephen 
Compton, Ale.xander Lockard. Oscar Bunn, Perry 
Riper, Thomas Brow-n, Allen Brown, Reuben A. 
Mack, Lanceon Kimble, James Raney, Thom.as 
Raney, Hamilton Raney, Christopher Cott, J. W. 
Jobe, and William Griffee. 



ADDENDA. 



831 



WHITE BROXZE. 

Captain L. B. Wolfe, general agent for the 
" Monumental Bronze Company " of Bridgeport, 
Connecticut, at Coshocton, furnishes the follow- 
ing regarding an article now attracting very gen- 
eral attention : 

No article appears more important at present 



A little over seven years ago the first exixri- 
ments were maile in this country in producing 
cemetery work from refined New Jersey zinc, 
and given the trade name of " White Bronze," it 
being a light colored, non-corrosive metal, pos- 
sessing far greater enduring qualities for this 
]>ur])ose than any of the diflerent kinds of stone 
now used. The^beginniug of this enterprise was 
on a small scale. Soon the fact was developed 




than the white bronze for monumental and ceme- 
tery purposes. Professor Ogdon Dorenuis, of New 
York City, asks: "Why wsis this not thought of 
years ago?" The accompanying cuts exhibit 
some of the designs, and the following is a brief 
history of its rise and progress: The Monu- 
mental Bronze Company is located at Bridgeport, . 
Connecticut. 



that a good idea was embotlied in the under- 
taking, and a company in Bridgeport, Connecti- 
cut, was not slow in accepting an offer to de- 
veloj) the matter, and became the sole manu- 
facturers. Step by step the work went on, until 
a point was reached where a large increase of 
capital was necessary, in order to meet the grow- 
ing demand for the work. In the winter of 



832 



HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 



l?^79-80, tlie ildiiumental Bronze Company was 
organized, with a (•apital of $300,000, and soraiiid 
has been its growth in popular favor, that the 
company was compelled to establish a new man- 
ufactory in the winter of 1880-81 in Detroit, 
Michigan, making a combined capital now in- 
vested in their business of $500,0^0. 

Uji to January 1, ISSl, there were standing in 
the diflercnt cemeteries of the land over 8000 of 
these monuments, they having sold in 1880 over 
lOOO jobs. From Janu"ary 1, to July 1, 1881, there 
were over 200<1 jobs sold, and both manufactories 
crowded to their utmost to till orders. The com- 
pany now has under contemplation the establish- 




ing of a third manufactory. So closely is the 
artistic combineil with the mechanical, that, from 
a small photograph of the living or dead, they 
can put the portrait on their work, showing every 
Uneament of ihc features just as plainly as the 
picture represent,-* ihem. They also manufacture, 
in connection with their beautiful monuments, 
statuary, medallion portraits, portrait busts, etc. 
All scientific works endorse its durability, and we 
will quote from tlie standard authority of the 
scientilic world, i. e. Watt's Dictionary of Chemis- 
try : " When zinc is exposed to the air or placed in 



water, its surface becomes covered with a gray 
film of oxide, which does not increase. This film 
will resist the cliemical effects of the atmosphere 
at all times." 

The Anierunn M'trhinist asserts that zinc is four 
per cent harder than granite — zinc being twenty- 
si.K and granite twenty-tw^o. Why superior to 
stone? It never rusts or cracks by the action 
of the atmosphere, and will not grow moss 
upon its surface. Quite the contrary is the 
case witli marble and granite, both of which will 
moss, crack, chip, and granite will rust Granite 
is formed of alumina, feldspar, hornblende, iron, 
mica, potash and silica. Our climate dissolves 
the feldspar and potash, and the iron rusts. 




Marble is the crystalized carbonate of lime, and 
eorbonic acid in the air is a solvent, hence it gets 
dingy and rough after a few years exposure to 
the action of the elements. Both, being porous, 
absorb moisture and are great feeders of moss 
and cryptogamous j)lants. Hence it is that the 
white bronze is one of the important discoveries 
of the day. The Detroit manufactory now has 
completed a medallion portrait of our late Presi- 
dent Garlield, which is pronounced perfect by 
his friends. The company is also designing a 
statue of him, heroic size, in white bronze. 



ADDENDA. 



833 



BARGAR CAPT. G. H., of the firm of Bargar 
& Forbes, Attorneys at Law, Coshocton, O., son 
of Dr. Valentine and Alice (Lee) Bargar. Capt. 
Bargar read law with his unele, B. S. Lee, gradu- 
ated at Columluis Law School in 1801; served ;us 
Captain of Comijanv G, 122d O. V. L, from the fall 
of ISGl to Dec, 1864 ; elected Clerk of Court of 
Common Pleas of Coshocton county, and served 
six years. Married in 1863 to Miss Sophia J., 
daughter of \Vm. and Maria Lakin. Family of 
six children, viz : Minnie Alice, Byron, Gilbert, 
William, Fannie and Fred. Elected as repre- 
sentative to Legislature from Coshocton county 
in the fall of 1881. 

JUDD LLOYD T, dealer in pianos and organs, 
158 Second street, Coshocton. He was born Au- 
gust 27, 184!), in Fairfield county, Connecticut. 
He is a son of William and Elizabeth F. (Seeloy) 
Judd. His ancestors came to America in the 
" Mayflower," and settled in Connecticut, where 
they became numerous and influential. Both 
his great-grandfathers served in the war of the 
revolution, and his grandfather .Judd in the war 
of 1812. In 1S68, W'm. .Judd, with his family — 
excepting Elizabeth, who had married David 
Runyan, and who lived in Brooklyn, N. Y. — came 
to AJianii county, Ohio, where they remained 
till 1874, when they came to Coshocton. His 



family consists of the following children, viz : 
Harriet (deceased), John S, who was mortally 
wounded at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, and died 
at Army Square HospiUil, D. C, May 30; Wm. 
.Vrthur (deceased) ; Elizabeth V., Lloyd T., Alice, 
Edward, Ida, Stella and Ora. 

SNYDER S. P., M. D, Crawford town.ship, waa 
born May 5, 18.>2, in German township, Holmes 
county, Ohio, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Sower) 
Snyder. Young Snyder began teaching common 
schools, October 21, 1872, and ended March 16, 
1878, teaching in all seven terms. He began 
-eading medicine in April, 1876, with Dr. P. J. 
Lenhart, of Chili, and remained under his instruc- 
tion six months, then tiiught one term of school. 
In the spring of 1877 he restmied his medical 
studies with Dr. J. Guittard. of New Bedford, and 
completed under his instructions. September 
26, 1878, he entered the medical department of 
Wooster University at Cleveland, and was gradu- 
ated with the first honors in a class of forty, 
Alarch 4, IS.st). In the fall of the same year the 
Doctor began practice in New Bedford, and luxs 
been eminently successful. Dr. Snyder was 
married May 13, l.'^77, to Miss Amanda, daughter 
of John and Melinda Luke. They are the pa- 
rents of one child, viz : Myrtle. 



ERRATA. 



Page 310. — Thonuis Campbell, he\ng dead, shou\d 
be omitted from the list of practicing lawyers in 
Coshocton. 

Page 642. — The name Burkmaster should be 
Bufkmasti/r. 

Page 732. — The name McCammant should be 
J. J. McCammant. 

Page 774. — Date of John Richmond's birth 
should be changed from 1881 to 1817. 

Page 787, First column, third line from top— 



Rogersville should be Ragersville ; same page and 
column, isth line, Josie should be Jessie. 

Page 797. — Date of Abraham Spurr's birth 
should be 1810 instea^l of 1840. 

Page 803.— Date of Mary Porter's birth should 
be 1846 instead of 1856. 

Page 803, first column, second line from the 
bottom— The date should be 1844 instead of 1814. 

Page 804, second column, fifth line from the 
top— 69 should be 96. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
IIP W Mini' I'll' '" 



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